MOUNT OLIVE — The University of Mount Olive will commemorate 73 years of providing Christian higher education during its annual Founders Day celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. in Southern Bank Auditorium. This year’s guest speaker is UMO alumnus Luis Miranda, an accomplished pastor and educator with deep ties to the UMO community.
Miranda is the senior pastor of Rivermont Baptist Church and principal at Wayne Christian School. A first-generation college graduate, his journey reflects his dedication to education and faith. He was born to immigrant parents who came to the U.S. in the early 1980s and moved to North Carolina at the age of 12. Miranda earned his bachelor’s degree in religion from UMO in 2008, where he was a Gates Millennium Scholar and honor student. He later pursued a master’s degree in management and leadership.
Before he transitioned to full-time ministry and education, Miranda held notable roles in the corporate world, becoming the youngest sales manager and store manager in U.S. Cellular’s history. He served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Geographic Technologies Group and later as Director of UMO’s New Bern location. Alongside his wife Brandy, Miranda has been involved in ministry for over 15 years, impacting lives in Wayne and Lenoir counties.
