Boom Boom

Every year, alumni of the University of Miami gather at this time to participate in the week long home coming. Tonight is the biggest night with parade, traditional boat burning (to intimidate foot ball adversaries,) firework and concert. UM's President Donna Shalala is seen here riding the convertible in the parade with UM's mascot Sebastian the Fighting Ibis. They both wear UM's traditional alumni overcoats.

Donna Shalala was nicknamed "Boom Boom" when she served under President Carter as assistant housing secretary. That is to say she is bold, determined and never stops until she wins at whatever she does. At 20 she was a Peace Corps volunteer, living in a mud hut on the plains of Iran and teaching the locals to read English-language agricultural equipment manuals. In 1993 President Clinton appointed her U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) where she served for eight years.

Donna E. Shalala became Professor of Political Science and President of the University of Miami on June 1, 2001.