Category: Spotlight

Take time to improve your financial literacy

Improving your financial literacy can help create a sense of stability that ultimately leads to a healthier lifestyle.

Explore available resources and steps to consider to enhance your financial literacy.

How PHHP women leaders built a tradition of excellence

In 1958, three women served as the founding leaders of the first three departments in the College of Public Health & Health Professions (PHHP).

UF historian Carl Van Ness to retire after nearly 40 years of Gator storytelling

In 1984, Carl Van Ness joined UF’s library staff, later becoming the university archivist. He will retire this June after 38 years of service.

The Association for Academic Women: Carving an equitable path for future generations

“There was a wonderful article printed in the old Ms. magazine by a woman who said, ‘what I need is a good wife, because when I get home, I still have to cook and clean and take care of the kids,’” recalled Irene Thompson, the first director of the UF Women’s Studies Program, in a 2003 interview with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program.  

For Thompson, the quote exemplified the types of hardships women at the University of Florida experienced in the 1970s due to a lack of equity and representation within the workplace. Thompson was acutely aware of these issues — not only as one of the few female faculty members at UF, but also as a member of the Committee to Study Opportunities for Women at the University of Florida, launched in 1971 by then President Stephen C. O’Connell. 

UF honors longtime staff at Service Recognition celebration

UF President Kent Fuchs, Ph.D., and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Charlie Lane, Ph.D., hosted a staff appreciation reception at the Earl and Christy Powell University House in February. The event honored staff who celebrated 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service at UF in 2021. 

Before presenting each recipient with a commemorative plaque, Fuchs and Lane delivered remarks highlighting how the work and dedication from the attendees helped contribute to UF’s success.

The Association of Black Faculty and Staff: Advocating through action

In a Samuel Proctor Oral History Program interview conducted in 2011, Distinguished Service Professor Carlton Davis, Ph.D., recalled the words of his mentor Professor Glenn Johnson as, in 1970, Johnson persuaded Davis to join the University of Florida rather than accept positions at other organizations he was considering.

“The University of Florida needs you more than USAID [the United States Agency for International Development], or, if I dare say, the University of West Indies,” Davis recalls Johnson telling him. “It’s not going to be easy, but I think that you can have an impact on the University of Florida in terms of what you can do — in terms of breaking down barriers.”

College of Medicine staff member goes from cardiac arrest patient to CPR advocate

In April 2020, Steve Ryan experienced sudden cardiac arrest that stopped his heart for 12 minutes.

“It turns out if you really care, it makes a difference.”

When she assumed the role of UF’s vice president for human resources five and a half years ago, Jodi Gentry’s vision was to help create a competitive advantage for the university through people — strong individual contributors, high-functioning collaborators and teams, and excellent leaders — where their best work would be encouraged, enabled, expected and recognized.

UF TREEO Center celebrates its instructors

The UF Center for Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations, or TREEO, recently held a day-long workshop and award luncheon for more than 20 trainers who have helped make the center a leader in environmental occupations training since 1977.

Looking for new listening material? Try tuning into a UF podcast

Whether you’re going for a walk or run, stuck in traffic or just washing the dishes, podcasts can make your daily routine more fun and informative. And because here at UF we have countless experts on what seems like every topic under the sun, it’s likely no surprise that we’re also home to a number of podcasts.

If you’re looking for a new podcast to enjoy, tune into one or more of the podcasts below and be sure to let us know if we forgot any of your favorites!