ALUMNI
PHOTO CREDIT: KRIZIA KETCHUM
INTERESTING
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
WRITTEN BY: Alexandra Cartaya
EMAIL: [email protected]
JOSE FELIX DIAZ
Jose Felix Diaz is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 116th District, which stretches
from Doral to Kendall in northeastern Miami-Dade County, since 2012, previously representing the 115th District from 2010 to
2012.
State Representative Jose Felix Diaz was born and raised in
the Westchester area of Miami-Dade County (FL); the same area
that he now represents in the Florida House of Representatives.
Representative Diaz began a lifelong commitment to leadership,
faith, and public service in high school serving as the President of
the Student Council at St. Brendan Catholic High School. He was
later admitted to the University of Miami where he graduated with
honors while serving as the President of Student Government
his Senior year. His accomplishments and academics earned
him the Florida College Student of the Year award, the first
Hispanic student to get that honor. Representative Diaz was then
admitted to Columbia University School of Law where he earned
his law degree. He continued his commitment to public service
while in law school serving as a Senator in Student Government
and representing law students as a member of the American
Bar Association’s legislative body, achieving several notable
distinctions including the ABA’s Silver Key. Upon graduation, he
was selected from a pool of over one million people to appear
on NBC’s “the Apprentice” with Donald Trump. After filming,
Representative Diaz returned to Miami and joined the law firm
of Akerman Senterfitt. His practice includes litigation, land use
and zoning. Representative Diaz served on the ABA House of
Delegates, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors
of the CHARLEE Homes for Children, the largest foster care
agency in Florida and the Board of Directors of the Cuban
American Bar Association. In November 2010, Representative
Diaz was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. In his
first few years in the Florida legislature, Representative Diaz has
passed significant reforms in child welfare, growth management,
and energy policy.
Today, Representative Diaz serves as the