Taylor Munson: “I would not be where I am today without the EEP”

In a recently published article, we gave an overview of the Employee Education Program and how UF faculty and staff can take advantage of the program to advance their careers and achieve their goals. Read it here.

Taylor Munson began her journey with the University of Florida as a volunteer at UF Health Jacksonville. Just over four years later, she now works as a clinical research coordinator III in the department of Emergency Medicine Research and holds a master’s degree from the University of North Florida — successes she credits in part to UF’s Employee Education Program, or EEP.

“I learned about the Employee Education Program from a fellow colleague who had recently used the EEP during her master’s degree,” said Munson. “She shared how easy it was to apply, how nice the EEP team was and how much they were willing to help along the way.

“The EEP supported me through my master’s degree in public health, allowing me to advance my career in clinical research and federal program management.” According to Munson, she was able to learn beneficial skills in classes like Public Health Research and Biostatistics II that she uses in her day-to-day work at UF.

The skills Munson acquired through the EEP have helped her advance her career through more than just her job title. “In the past year,” she said, “I have lead multiple medical device trials and clinical research studies while also managing a federally funded program and a privately funded qualitative program.”

Munson maintains that none of this would have been possible without the EEP’s financial assistance. “I have always worked two to three jobs to financially support myself,” she explained. “Working multiple jobs leaves little to no time for class and studying, but with the EEP I was able to get by with one job while working on my master’s. The EEP helped tremendously with the financial burden, enabling me to balance working full time with being a full-time student — all while graduating with a 3.7 GPA!”

Thanks to the EEP’s substantial impact on her career, Munson is a self-described advocate for the program. “Whenever I hear someone mention going back to school for another degree or that they are currently in school,” she said, “I send them the link to the EEP website, put them in contact with [T&OD Education and Awards Coordinator] Verlissa Ford and share my experience with them.

“I cannot thank Verlissa and her team enough for their support and kindness throughout the two years of obtaining my MPH,” said Munson. “I would not be where I am today without the EEP.”

Are you interested in participating in the Employee Education Program? The deadline to apply for the spring 2024 semester is Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. Visit the EEP website to learn more and apply.