Judy S. Adler, B.E.D. ’73
Barbara Hecht. Havenick, A.B. ’72, J.D., ’75
Barbara Havenick is president and CEO of Magic City Casino and general partner of Hecht Properties, Ltd., a property leasing company based in Coral Gables. Mrs. Havenick’s community and philanthropic involvement is extensive and her affiliations include the Circle of Giving for Temple Beth AM, Miami Children’s Hospital as well as several of the Arts.
Mrs. Havenick was elected to the University of Miami Board of Trustees in 2002. Mrs. Havenick’s mother, Florence Hecht, was also a UM Trustee, who served for 30 years. Campus facilities named in honor of the Hecht Family include the Florence Hecht Residential College, the Isadore Hecht Athletic Center and Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute’s Isadore Hecht X-Ray Lab.
University and Board Affiliations
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Serves on the School of Education and Human Development Dean’s Advisory Committee
- Member of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Translational Institute Board of Overseers
- Member of the President’s Council
External Affiliations
Past chair of the Ransom Everglades School Board of Trustees.
“I have made the School of Education my priority for many reasons. I believe in the importance of education for all people. We do an outstanding job at UM and I want to ensure that continues under our current Dean Laura Woods-Kohn who does an outstanding job. I also have had two of my children graduate from the school. They had wonderful experiences learning here. I would like to help others have that opportunity”.
Richard J. Kurtz, B.E.D. ’62
Richard J. Kurtz serves as CEO of The Kamson Corporation, a property investment firm throughout the Northeast owning and operating 88 properties. He is CEO of Wright’s Impact Window & Door in West Palm Beach, Florida where he is actively engaged in all facets of this well-established company. His altruistic affiliations have earned him several awards such as “Man of the Year” for Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and The Boy Scouts of America. He is a 25-year Trustee of Englewood Health and was Chairman of the Englewood Health Foundation and Facilities Committee. Mr. Kurtz is humbled to be the recipient of the hospital’s Touchstone and Legacy Awards. In the 135-year history of Englewood Hospital he is the only individual to be honored on two different occasions. Residing in Palm Beach, Florida, and a devoted family man, Richard is most proud of the accomplishments of his three children and six grandchildren, with whom he shares his greatest joy. His son Jeff is President of The Kamson Corporation.
“Richard believes the education of our young men and women is vital for the future success of America.”
Jeffrey H. Orloff, B.E.D. ’70
Steve Sorkin, Ph.D. ’90
Dr. Sorkin is a licensed psychologist and has provided clinical services in a range of settings for over 30 years. He has held faculty positions at several universities and a variety of administrative roles, including Campus President at American School of Professional Psychology/Washington, DC, Dean of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology/Washington, DC, and Associate Executive Director of the American Psychological Association. He consults to a variety of educational institutions and has served on several boards.
“As a graduate of the School of Education and Human Development, I am honored to serve on the Dean’s Advisory Council. My experience at the University of Miami was a great benefit in my career and I welcome the opportunity to be of service to the School”.
Abby M. Vicencio
Abby began her career serving others in 1998, working for her community in various non-profit capacities, including developing and directing childhood- and senior citizen-focused health programming. Abby transitioned to medical sales in 2004, working with entire hospital systems and private practice settings. Throughout her career, Abby has independently managed multi-million-dollar entities and built solid relationships with her clients. These experiences provided a strong foundation for her role as a Financial Consultant beginning with Wachovia Securities, a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo Advisors, in 2009. In 2022, Abby transitioned to a Senior Marketing Associate – Vice President with the Vicencio Group of Gardens Wealth Management Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network.
Abby serves on the University of Miami Estate and Gift Planning Advisory Board and the Deans Advisory Committee for the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami. She is also a contributor to the Project New Born Neonatal Special Care Center at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, and STEAM Labs for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Abby earned the 2016 Volunteer Service Award of Wells Fargo Advisors based on her dedicated community service.
Abby earned a Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, IL), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from Rockford College (Rockford, IL).
“I am honored to be part of the Deans Advisory Committee of the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami, as the School of Education and Human Development is doing work that will change lives in such positive ways!”
As a member of the Deans Advisory Committee for the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami, I act in a completely separate role from my position as a Senior Marketing Associate – Vice President with the Vicencio Group of Gardens Wealth Management Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network.
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC (WFAFN). Member SIPC. Vicencio Group of Gardens Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.
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Scott Watt, M.E.D. ’76
“I am very pleased and honored to sit as an advisor for the DAC. I am anxious to help the university anyway I can after having such a successful and memorable time at the University.”
