We continue celebrating America250 at Miami Dade College with an unforgettable concert led by our Dean of Music at The New World School of Arts, Daniel Andai, alongside the extraordinary Alhambra Orchestra, where Daniel serves as conductor and artistic director. 🎶✨

The program took us on a powerful musical journey through the history of Miami and America—beginning with original compositions and building to epic works that reflect the spirit of our nation. From Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Lincoln Portrait, to Leonard Bernstein’s America from West Side Story, the music captured the story of a country shaped by courage and possibility.

We were especially proud to welcome back several New World School of the Arts alumni now performing as members of the orchestra, a full‑circle moment that speaks to the impact of arts education at MDC.

There could be no more fitting venue than the Freedom Tower, a powerful symbol of opportunity and hope, and a reminder of Miami’s role as a city where people arrive with dreams and help shape the fabric of America. 🇺🇸🎼

From internships to careers, co-curricular learning to hosting the first @FIFAcom exhibit in the U.S., MDC is helping bring the @FIFAWorldCup to life. ⚽🌎 Listen to @MDCPresident highlight the impact of this partnership with FIFA.

We welcomed internationally renowned @chefjoseandres to MDC for a special conversation on his latest book, Spain My Way, a work that celebrates the stories, traditions, and people that shape culinary culture. Through this collaboration with @MiamiBookFair and @BooksandBooks, students from our Miami Culinary Institute engaged directly with one of the most influential voices in global cuisine, gaining insight that bridges academic learning with real-world impact. Events like this reflect Miami Dade College’s role in the city's cultural and intellectual life, creating meaningful connections between world-class thought leaders and the diverse communities we serve.

Meet the 2026 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees. We celebrate you and all you do to change lives and show up for others in our community. We’re so proud of each and every one of you.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Alumni Hall of Fame. Tonight, we celebrated our newest class of inductees while also supporting the students who will follow in their footsteps. Together, alumni, partners, and friends of the College helped raise more than $1 million in scholarships, expanding access to education and opportunity for the next generation of Miami Dade College students. The Alumni Hall of Fame is a reminder that the impact of MDC extends far beyond graduation. Our alumni continue to lead, serve, and give back, strengthening both the College and the community we share.

The 2026 Alumni Hall of Fame is made possible by the support of our sponsors. Thank you for your generosity.  Special thanks to our premier sponsors:  Supreme Twins Foundation, whose partnership is advancing our Kendall Learning Academy and EmpowerU Summer Camp for students with unique abilities.  @CityNationalFL, whose investment in our scholar programs helps fuel student success and ensures our students graduate with career-ready skills.  @Lennar Foundation, whose commitment to MDC is expanding pathways in nursing and health sciences for our students.  Together, you’re helping fund scholarships and programs that open doors for our students.

This year’s Alumni Hall of Fame inductees represent the best of MDC. From historians preserving our legacy, to entrepreneurs building and creating opportunity for others, to public servants and philanthropists helping our communities thrive, they reflect the full breadth of what MDC makes possible. As our community’s college, MDC alumni are shaping Miami, and making an impact far beyond it, across industries and public life. We’re grateful for your continued commitment to MDC and for helping us shape the lives of a new generation of MDC students every day.

Last night, alongside iconic artist Rubén Toledo, we presented the next generation of designers from Miami Dade College’s Miami Fashion Institute at our iconic Freedom Tower in the heart of Downtown Miami. With Rubén’s mentorship, our graduating students debuted their award‑winning collections and unveiled a special capsule collection created in celebration of America 250. His artistic vision and guidance helped push creativity, storytelling, and craftsmanship to a new level. This show is about more than fashion, it’s about building local talent, creating meaningful opportunities, and ensuring our designers can launch and sustain their careers right here in Miami. Congratulations to all our student designers and to our MFI Chair, Oscar Lopez, as well as the amazing faculty who invest in our students every day to do great work and follow their dreams.

This week we hosted @SelectFLA for their board meeting, welcoming Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly, SelectFlorida CEO Matt Swanson, SelectFlorida Board Chair Greg Britton and leaders from across the state. As Florida’s international trade and investment promotion agency, SelectFlorida focuses on bringing new businesses and job opportunities to the state. During the meeting, we highlighted how MDC leverages public and private partnerships to connect our students with careers in fast-growing fields like aviation, AI, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and tech. Through initiatives like our Florida Center for Aviation and Aerospace, our AI Innovation Centers and the Construction Trades Institute, students gain hands-on experience tied directly to high-demand career pathways right here in Florida.

We are proud to introduce our newest Alumni Hall of Fame inductees.
 
This Friday, we will gather to recognize these exceptional graduates whose leadership and service reflect the enduring impact of an MDC education.

Learn more about each honoree here: foundation.mdc.edu/events/ha…

Miami Dade College proudly celebrates Eduardo Salcedo on his selection to the 2026 Business-Higher Education Forum (@BHEF) Faculty Innovation Fellows Cohort. The 2026 cohort represents 22 fellows across 20 institutions in 15 states, spanning approximately 15 disciplines. Each fellow was selected to launch or accelerate the adoption of novel and promising practices that expand student access to AI-enabled skills, credentials, and career pathways. At MDC, his work in AI, app development, and industry certifications is already preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow, and now that impact will grow on a national stage.

Miami Dade College is proud to be featured in @MiamiTodayNews “Best of Miami,” recognizing the forces shaping our region into a leading technology hub. We are advancing the talent pipelines that power Miami’s innovation economy through industry-aligned programs in artificial intelligence, applied technology, and workforce training. By strengthening partnerships and prioritizing career-connected learning, we are equipping students with the skills and experience needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy and to help drive Miami’s continued growth.

Our MDC students are gearing up to begin their summer internships across the city as part of the Miami Startup Ecosystem program, supported by @blackstone LaunchPad and JPMorgan Chase. 
To help students prepare for their internships, we hosted an Internship Prep Day at the Blackstone Miami office, where they participated in coaching sessions led by Blackstone employees, gaining career advice, networking strategies, and insights on navigating the workplace. We’re grateful to the Blackstone team for sharing their time and expertise, and for helping us build career‑ready talent right here in South Florida.

Wishing our Baseball team the best of luck as they advance to the final round of the @JUCOWorldSeries in Grand Junction, Colorado!

Dr. Shannon Kennedy is more than a professor, she’s a mentor, leader, and advocate for student success. From the classroom to research to student organizations, she brings empathy, insight, and real-world perspective to everything she does. As one of Miami Dade College’s Endowed Teaching Chairs, Dr. Kennedy empowers students to think critically, grow confidently, and make an impact beyond campus. It’s faculty like Dr. Kennedy who make the MDC community truly one of a kind.

This Memorial Day, Miami Dade College honors and remembers the brave service members who gave their lives in service to our nation. 🇺🇸

Next stop, Colorado ⛰️⚾️ Let’s go, Sharks! Wishing our MDC Baseball team the best as they chase greatness at the NJCAA Division l World Series 🦈

Today at the Freedom Tower, we honored the memory of the four Brothers to the Rescue pilots whose lives were taken in the pursuit of freedom, humanitarian service, and human dignity. Their sacrifice became part of a larger story carried by generations of Cubans who refused to surrender the ideals of liberty and democracy. We are grateful to the United States Department of Justice for its continued pursuit of justice and accountability in the indictment of Raúl Castro and others connected to the murder of these brave men. For the families of the victims and for so many who have suffered under the tyranny of the Cuban regime, this moment represents the enduring belief that truth matters, justice matters, and crimes against freedom cannot be forgotten. The Freedom Tower remains a powerful symbol of refuge, resilience, and hope for families who arrived in America seeking the freedoms denied to them under oppression.

During our commemoration of Cuba’s Independence Day at the Freedom Tower, we were joined by local and state leaders, along with members of the Cuban exile community.   Thank you to @JayCollinsFL, @MayorDaniella, and the many community and state leaders who joined us to mark this important day.   As part of the program, we reflected on Cuba’s continued pursuit of freedom, the importance of building a constitutional and democratic government on the island that leads to real self-governance.