Overall Winner
Jose Diaz
University of Miami
Senior in English and Political Science
3.44 GPA

The average student doesn't have the president of his university as a personal reference. But, then again, the average student doesn't have dinner over at the president's house to talk policy and work together to improve their university.

Jose "Pepi" Diaz, 21, is not an average student.

Florida Leader magazine, SunTrust Education Loans, Office Depot, and a statewide panel of judges are proud to recognize Jose Diaz, a senior in English and political science at the University of Miami, as the 2002 Florida College Student of the Year.

"I knew from my first day at the University of Miami that I wanted to be Student Government president," Diaz says. "In fact, the first person I met at UM was then-Student Body President Andrew Paul. I went up to him and said, 'How can I be you in four years?'" The direct approach was effective, as Diaz is currently serving in that role.

As the former student body president of his high school, Diaz, whose college is paid for almost completely by scholarships, came to UM with plans for major involvement. He began with no small task—he’s the founder of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity on his campus. He "rushed," but nothing appealed to him, which was providential since a month later, he heard from friends at other schools about Sigma Phi Epsilon and knew that was what he wanted to commit himself to. He was drawn to Sig Ep because, among other reasons, it was the first national fraternity to abolish pledging, which eliminated hazing as a problem that plagues other fraternities. "Sig Ep was not on campus, and as a first-semester freshman, I began calling headquarters and meeting with key administrators to make sure that Sig Ep would come to our campus." After gathering a list of over 40 signatures of interested students, Diaz found himself appointed the first chapter president. His service to the fraternity has been on-going, serving as president for five semesters, and in that time, the organization has been "Chapter of the Year" for the last two years, has the highest chapter GPA, won the intramurals championship, and won the "Greek Week" trophy. "Less than half of one percent of all college students have the opportunity to become founding members of a fraternity, and even less as founding president," Diaz says.

"He was the first president and made sure they were our strongest fraternity," says Richard Walker, director of student life. "Being able to start an initiative from scratch that became one of the best in the nation speaks highly of his ability."

"This is my biggest accomplishment on campus," says Diaz of his role in the fraternity. But don't believe for a moment that it has been his only one. “He’s the top student I’ve worked with in 17 years,” says Gregory Singleton, association dean of students. “I wish I could multiply him 50 times.”

Diaz began in SG as a Commuter Senator within his first month on campus and continued without pause on the path that he and Paul mapped out for Diaz in that very first conversation. The following year, he became Interfraternity Conference Senator and then ran for Speaker of the Senate the year after. In March 2001, he became student body president on the "Absolutely Experienced" ticket. "We [Diaz, vice-president Lilia "Lily" Guallar, and treasurer Ben Young] had more than eight years of SG experience at the University of Miami and over 15 years since high school while our competition had no SG experience," Diaz says.

He had far-reaching goals for his new administration, but according to Patricia Whitely, vice president for student affairs, he’s been that way since he was a freshman. “I remember meeting him distinctly,” she says. “He introduced himself saying, ‘I’m going to be doing great things and I wanted to introduce myself.’ He did it humbly. He know how to get the job done, and how to motivate others.”

Of the trio’s 15 goals, almost all had been accomplished by the end of fall 2001. Some goals, like increasing the ethnic diversity of food available on campus, were easier than others. His cabinet got the wheels in motion to create the student safe-ride system, Ibis Ride, a weekend shuttle service, which was finalized in the new administration. "With this new program, students have a safe and free way to get to their favorite hangouts without having to drink and drive," Diaz says. "We’re averaging over 150 people a day, and it has been a tremendous success."

Another goal was far more difficult—gaining a seat on UM's Board of Trustees. "I felt this was important because the Board of Trustees is ultimately the final say on everything that goes on at the university," Diaz says. "Some faces change every year, but in the end, it's the same people making the decisions, and I knew that new blood was needed, especially a student voice.” He began by talking to the new administrator at school—President Donna Shalala. "She was fully supportive of my idea," Diaz says. After months of research and lobbying, the time came to attend the first board meeting in the fall. Diaz spoke even though his computer had died and left him without the sheets of statistics and data he planned to have as support for his position. His speech at the end of the open session was well-received, and the action passed with one student given full rights on the board. "He was able to build a coalition, and there was support among the trustees" Walker says. “What comes across about Pepi is his genuineness and sincerity. You never question his integrity or motives behind something. With every relationship he has, whether it’s with his peers, faculty, or administration, it’s always the same. You know who you’re dealing with.”

Diaz has looked to make his time at UM one of inclusion, not exclusion. "By being a Hispanic, there have been many glass ceilings I've had to shatter," he says. "I was told that I could never get to be president of the Southern Interfraternity Conference because a minority could never get the vote of the southern institutions. Over 250 schools were present, and I was elected as the first-ever Hispanic president of the council." He has looked beyond his own heritage for areas to be inclusive. "I wanted to make a difference in [the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference] so I contracted an African-American speaker to come to the conference and speak about diversity. This was the first time someone ever addressed such an issue in the history of our organization."

Back home, he looked beyond race to gender inclusion as well. "I became the first minority and Hispanic to become a national board member of the Order of Omega Honor Society," he says. "The UM chapter of the Order of Omega was the only group in the nation that still didn’t allow women to become members." Because of his numerous campus accolades, including being a member of Mortar Board, he was inducted into the order as a sophomore, even though students have to be juniors to become members. He served first as secretary and then on the national board of directors, "again, as the youngest member and the first Hispanic." The first action he took as president a year later was to make sure that women were selected. "After a lot of coaxing, we voted unanimously to allow women into our chapter." The first woman initiated into the Order was Whitely. She recognizes that Diaz is an advocate for inclusion without getting overwhelmed by that role. "I think he represents Hispanics well, but hasn't made it his central issue," she says. "It's not the only thing about him." Diaz remains hopeful about how others will perceive their roles on campus as well as his own. "Many minorities see their heritage and background as a handicap, and I see it as an advantage. It has been hard, and I have had to confront the glass ceiling head-first, but it's not been impossible." He even jokes about it: "I love the hamburger as much as I love the empanada!"

His involvement has extended off campus, as he became one of the two student representatives on the City of Coral Gables Community Relations Board. In his role as a voting member, he has been vocal, realizing that since the UM campus is right in the middle of Coral Gables, decisions that are made by one organization affect the other. "I can’t think of anyone in 15 years who has exceeded him in leadership qualities and in the depth and breadth of types of positions he’s had," Walker says. “He’s highly respected by students, and he knows how to maneuver the politics to get his goals accomplished. As far as representing the institution as a leader, I can’t think of anyone better.”

So was it all work, work, work for the four years at UM for Diaz? “He does the fun things too,” Whitely says. “He’s not just a bureaucratic administrator, he’s had a great time here. He’s represented us well.” Diaz made it a priority to have fun before heading off to Columbia Law School, where he hopes to get involved in SG. "Oh, I have had the best time! I don't think anybody's ever had more fun at UM than me," he says. He's a huge sports fan who loves the Miami Dolphins and has had season tickets since he was a little kid. On his intramural teams, he has played softball, football, basketball, even water polo. And he ran for Mr. University of Miami two years in a row, after being nominated by his fraternity. His talent? "The first year, I did some poetry about the university and joked around a lot. Last year, I did a rap, like to the song 'Gangsta's Paradise,' only I made it about McDonald's."

“He’s one of those rare students who has a good balance, can have a good time, yet be responsible,” Singleton says. “He’s a role model for others and his peers respect him immensely. [Diaz] really leads by example more than any other student I’ve known.”  SRR

Contact Diaz at sgpresident@miami.edu