Category: Spotlight

How UF helps veterans succeed as they pursue an education

Veterans Day is a time for us to honor those who bravely served our country. Thanks to the GI Bill, thousands of military veterans have been able to pursue an education at the University of Florida.

In a recent episode of From Florida, Roselind Brown of the Collegiate Veterans Success Center, discussed UF’s history of working with veterans, and U.S. Coast Guard Officer and UF|IFAS Ph.D. student Savanna Turner talked about the opportunities and challenges veterans face on a college campus.

McKnight Brain Institute staff member’s warmth and compassion inspire others

Greta Walker has worked at UF for more than 20 years in her current role as a custodian for the McKnight Brain Institute (MBI).

Gilbert Rivers Upchurch elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Gilbert Rivers Upchurch Jr., M.D., has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Nurturing Pride in community with LGBTQ+ affinity groups

As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, community organizations throughout Gainesville come together in October to celebrate Gainesville Pride.

An unexpected conversation builds trust, overcomes one man’s hesitance

Mark Hall was skeptical about the COVID-19 vaccine and unvaccinated. One night at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., renowned cancer researcher and director of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, sat down next to Mark by chance. The two got to talking about the vaccine and Mark asked Dr. Mitchell all of the questions he had about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. After three hours of respectful conversation, Mark decided he was ready to get vaccinated if Dr. Mitchell would be by his side when he did. 

Bridging the gap between UF and Spanish-speaking communities throughout Florida

Since 2010, the population of Hispanics in Florida experienced one of the biggest population increases at over 1.4 million. This dramatic growth created the need for programs that can adequately and inclusively serve this population.

In 2017, a group of UF/IFAS Extension agents seeking to address this issue created the Coalition of Florida Extension Educators for Latino Communities, or CAFE Latino; a grassroots organization with the goal to create science-based educational materials for the benefit of Spanish-speaking communities.

Aid-a-Gator provides a lifeline to employees in need

Aid-a-Gator is an emergency relief fund for UF employees experiencing financial hardship. Funds are not meant to replace income, but to provide needed assistance in a crisis. Over the past four years, the program has expanded beyond hurricane relief, assisting over 400 employees as they weather hardships such as sudden illness, family crisis or natural disasters.

Any UF employee, including graduate assistants, can apply for emergency relief through Aid-a-Gator; and applicants can receive a maximum of $1,500 per calendar year. A committee of staff and faculty work alongside the UFHR Benefits team to review each application and a decision is usually made within the month.

Florida Women’s Athletics celebrates 50 years

Florida women’s athletics have long been a source of pride for UF, with the competitions of more than 2,700 female student-athletes claiming 165 national or conference championships.

Claiming a space for community with the Latinx Staff & Faculty Association

What does it take to create a community of belonging and inclusion? In the fall of 2016 — when racial tensions flared up around the presidential elections — several Latinx staff and faculty came together to envision what would ultimately become the UF Latinx Staff & Faculty Association. 

From the outset, the association has sought to create a community for all UF employees that identify as Hispanic/Latino. This space has proven to be integral for many who previously felt isolated. 

UFHR welcomes new director of employee relations and engagement

Robert Cancellieri, JD, recently joined UFHR as its new director of employee relations and engagement, and last fall, former Employee Relations Director Brook Mercier was promoted to UFHR’s assistant vice president for human resources.