EVP, University of Miami
Rudy Fernandez truly embodies what it means to be a ‘Cane. As a devoted leader, he serves his institution and community, striving to make transformative changes in the lives of others. In 2024, Rudy participated in his first Dolphins Cancer Challenge, honoring the memory of a man he never met.
The biological father of his two daughters, from his marriage to his wife Jennifer, passed away in 2006 from a rare form of sarcoma at just 33 years old. In a moment of reflection, Jennifer shared with Rudy that she would have done anything for her late husband, Henry, to live just 11 more days—to witness the birth of their girls.
“Even as I tell this story years later, I get emotional,” Rudy admits. “That would have been a win for her. She gave me an understanding of what it means to win the battle against cancer.”
As a leader at the University of Miami, Rudy recognizes the unique impact of the Dolphins Cancer Challenge partnership, which has provided over $75 million in support for research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We all want a cure, and the people at Sylvester are looking for cures. The Sylvester mission has always been important to me,” he says.
Rudy’s commitment to growing the DCC is founded on a simple mission—to head towards a world where Henry gets to see his girls be born.
Watch Rudy Fernandez’s full story here at Faces of the DCC.
