SARAI NUÑEZ - FACULTY DIRECTOR
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE, CREATIVE TRACK

Sarai Nuñez hails from the small Central American country of Honduras. She spent most of her childhood there before moving to Miami and calling it home.

She loves to travel and has been all over the world, collecting pictures and images as she goes along.  As a professor at the University of Miami she always encourages her students to study abroad, and insists that it is a crucial part of a well-rounded education. 

Her favorite cities are Barcelona, Tokyo and Florence. Her travel bucket list is endless and includes over 35 different cities in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

An avid Social Media fan/user she recognizes the ever-changing landscape of communication, and the role that technology and innovation presents.

She speaks English, Spanish, and knows how to ask where the bathroom is in French and Italian. 

Her undergraduate degree, as well as her Master degree brought her to the colder and unfamiliar climates of Boston, MA where she received a Bachelor of Science in Advertising (COM ‘02) and a Master in Fine Arts in Graphic Design (CFA ‘05) from Boston University. 

Her teaching philosophy focuses on strategically solving problems in a creative and innovative way. Her design courses attempt to bring ideas to life with passion and a discerning eye for aesthetics.

She has worked with clients such as Nissan, Six Flags, Sandals Resorts, P&G Beauty and many more. Her work has been displayed all over the country, from subway stops to the legendary billboards of Manhattan’s Times Square. 

Currently, as the Director of Design Experience at YellowHouse Consulting, she helps lead social media campaigns for brands large and small with an all-female team of 9 content creators and social strategists.

MONICA DURAN - CO FACULTY DIRECTOR
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
ADVERTISING LECTURER, STRATEGIC TRACK

Monica Duran was raised between U.S.military bases in Europe and North Carolina and the culturally rich city of La Paz, Bolivia, where she got her start in the manufacturing and telecom industries before finding her true calling in advertising and brand strategy.

Over the years, her career has taken her from Bolivia to the United States, working with Fortune 500 consumer brands and diving deep into U.S. Hispanic and shopper marketing. She’s collaborated on campaigns for well- known names like Kellogg’s, Kraft-Heinz, Colgate-Palmolive, Kimberly-Clark, Nestlé Purina, and many others — helping brands connect with people in stores, online, and everywhere in between.

Today, Monica brings her real-world experience into the classroom as a professor at the University of Miami’s School of Communication. She teaches classes in Advertising Strategy, Account Management, Writing for Account Management, U.S. Hispanic Consumer Insights, and co-leads the Senior Campaigns capstone.

Her students know her classes are hands-on, collaborative, and full of opportunities to learn how to think strategically while staying deeply human.

Monica’s teaching philosophy emphasizes emotional intelligence, curiosity, and connection. She creates a learning environment where students are invited to ask better questions, explore meaning behind messaging, and grow both professionally and personally. She believes strategy should feel as human as it is smart — and that great ideas begin with deep listening.

Monica earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Business Communications at Berry College in Georgia and a Master’s in Marketing from the Escuela Europea de Negocios in La Paz. She’s also a proud mom of adult twins.

She’s traveled extensively, collecting experiences (and plenty of photos) along the way. Some of her favorite stops include Santiago de Compostela, Rome, Prague, and Reykjavik — though her heart always holds a special place for Bolivia.