College of Arts and Sciences - Spring 2021 - University of Miami

Jessika Contreras, B.A.’06,
is a visionary and successful
Miami real estate broker and
entrepreneur. Living in
Florida for more than 19
years, Contreras and her
brother Andrés Gómez
created the Global Prestige
Development Group, a
company that specializes in
the construction and remodeling
of luxury apartments
and homes. In addition,
Contreras is the CEO and
broker of Global Prestige
Real Estate specializing in
selling luxury homes and
projects throughout Florida
Cindy Seaburn, B.A. ’06,
began working as an
Adjunct Professor for the
University of West Florida in
Fall 2020, teaching English
Composition in the College
of Arts, Social Science, and
Humanities.
Jason Smith, B.A. ’07,
published a book on female
offenders entitled, Understanding
Female Offenders. It was
a major accomplishment that
took ten years to produce.
Smith says his ’Canes
education helped propel his
future psychology career.
Jess Page, B.A. ’09, cofounded
the company, Open
Water, with UM alumna,
Nicole Doucet, Class of 2010.
The company produces 100
percent, recyclable, and
reusable aluminum bottles
and cans of purified water. In
2020, it became the world’s
first carbon-neutral bottledwater
company. The
company’s tag line is "more
ocean, less plastic," and it
was named the #1 fastest
growing company in the
Midwest by INC magazine.
10s
Jonah Robinson, M.F.A.
’18, turned to his hobby of
songwriting and produced
his first album during a time
when the theatre industry
shut down due to the
pandemic and many artists
were looking to find outlets
to keep the creativity alive.
Robinson invites you to
check out “Not The Whale”
on Spotify or Apple Music
(@NotTheWhale). Robinson
started songwriting in his
Stanford dorm room and is
grateful that it has stayed
with him all this time.
20s
Chuan Liu, B.A. ’20, is a new
adjunct faculty member in
the Chemistry Department at
Miami Dade College.
Alexandra Lejarza, B.A.
’07, completed her Ph.D.
in higher education, added
a new puppy to her family,
and started a master’s
degree in web design—all
of these changes happened
while in quarantine.
Edwin Murillo, Ph.D ’09,
was promoted to Associate
Professor of Spanish in the
Department of Modern and
Classical Languages and
Literatures at the University
of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Jamie West, B.A. ’10, is
happy to welcome a future
’Cane to the family during the
pandemic.
casmagazine@miami.edu
ARTS | SCIENCES 31