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Inside º£½ÇÉçÇø— November 21, 2024

º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics soars to success

Collage of º£½ÇÉçÇøathletesIt's a great time to be a supporter of º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics with numerous teams experiencing unprecedented success leading into the new year.
 
“The past month for º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics has been historical. We talk often about setting a standard and putting in the work necessary to meet our goals,” said Nick Morrow, director of º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics. “I am so proud to be part of a group of student-athletes and coaches who are disciplined and focused on being great in everything they do.”
 
Here's a glimpse of how the Ospreys are impacting the collegiate sports world. 

Men's Basketball

In early November, with a 74-71 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks, earning the program's first-ever victory against an SEC team. Following this performance, they beat a second power conference opponent in the same week with a and received votes in the AP Top 25 national rankings.

Men's Cross Country

In their only 10k race of the season, the on Friday, Nov. 15. They finished ahead of Atlanic Sun Conference (ASUN) rival Lipscomb and multiple Power Four schools, including Georgia Tech, Florida, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Miami.

Women's Cross Country

The on Friday, Nov. 15, finishing ahead of teams such as South Alabama, Mercer and UAB. Both the and cross country teams finished second at the 2024 ASUN Conference Championships.

Men's Soccer

For only the second time in program history, after securing a 4-3 victory in penalties against Central Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Hodges Stadium. New head coach Jamie Davies and his coaching staff lead the Ospreys from the worst record in the ASUN last season to tournament champions in their first year at the helm. Today, in program history in the first round with a matchup against the Sun Belt champions, West Virginia.

Women's Soccer

when they battled EKU in the ASUN Championship Quartefinals on Sunday, Nov. 3 at Hodges Stadium. They concluded their season with a record fo 6-1-4 in gamed played at home, and an overall of 9-4-7.

Women's Volleyball

Today, after finishing their regular season with a conference record of 9-7 to earn the sixth seed.

º£½ÇÉçÇønamed a leading school for graphic design

º£½ÇÉçÇøcampus scene outside of Carpenter LibraryThe º£½ÇÉçÇø was recognized by Animation Career Review as a top school for graphic design.
 
Animation's review rankings rate 696 colleges and universities based on academic reputation, employment data, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, graduation rate and retention rate. 
 
 
Info provided by º£½ÇÉçÇøMedia Relations

º£½ÇÉçÇøresearchers awarded NSF grant for dark matter research

Dark matter in spaceTwo º£½ÇÉçÇø physics professors were recently awarded a National Science Foundation grant to research dark matter. Drs. Chris Kelso and Greg Wurtz will serve as part of a global research team that combines engineering, physics, geo- and materials sciences experts to develop a convergence framework to establish whether evidence of interactions between dark matter and ordinary matter can be found through "mineral detection.”
 
Overwhelming evidence from astrophysics and cosmology shows there is about five times as much dark matter as ordinary matter in the universe. While ordinary matter makes up everything people can see, like stars, planets, and ourselves; dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that has yet to be directly observed and has only been previously detected through its gravitational influence on visible matter.
 
 
Info provided by º£½ÇÉçÇøMedia Relations

º£½ÇÉçÇøannounces collaboration with Sunrise Surf Shop

Ozzie surrounded by surfboards inside Sunrise Surf ShopThe º£½ÇÉçÇø is excited to announce the latest collaboration between the University and the Jacksonville community as º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics and Sunrise Surf Shop announce a new partnership.
 
Sunrise Surf Shop held a pop-up table selling a new line of North Florida and Sunrise Surf Shop branded hoodies, pullovers and t-shirts at the º£½ÇÉçÇøvs. UNC Asheville men's basketball game held on Monday, Nov. 18 at the º£½ÇÉçÇøArena. The apparel will be available to purchase at the Sunrise Surf Shop at a later date.
 
º£½ÇÉçÇøalumnus Kendrick Kidd helped design the new line of Osprey apparel, featuring an Osprey mid-Swoop and the North Florida text wordmark logo.
 
Learn more .
 
Info provided by º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics

Faculty Feature: Dr. Blake Rayfield

By Byron E. Jones
 
It is safe to say that 2024 has been a year of new experiences for Dr. Blake Rayfield, an assistant professor of finance at the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Coggin College of Business. After receiving acceptance into the Fulbright Specialist Program last fall while teaching at Northern Arizona University (NAU), he jumped on his first opportunity to teach abroad this past summer. Fresh off the heels of that experience, Rayfield is navigating his first semester at UNF. 
 
The Fulbright Specialist Program allows U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants at academic institutions abroad for a period of two to six weeks.

Dr. Blake RayfieldExperience as a Fulbright Specialist 

In July, Rayfield spent three weeks at Universiteti Haxhi Zeka in Kosovo working with faculty and students on the digitization of finance courses and best data analytics practices. He says his experience living in Kosovo was life changing, reflecting on the region's people-first culture, the welcoming nature of everyone he encountered and the delicious cuisine. 
 
“Kosovo is a really beautiful country, and I hope more people take the opportunity to visit,” he said. 
 
While at NAU, Rayfield applied to the Fulbright Specialist Program based on conversations with his colleague Dr. Vlora Berisha, professor of finance and vice-dean for finance, budget and infrastructure at Universiteti Haxhi Zeka. They previously met when Berisha visited the states as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at NAU. She observed him teaching a finance course and they began discussing a professional project that would allow him to share modernized methods of teaching finance to the faculty at Universiteit Haxhi Zeka. 
 
During his visit abroad, Rayfield had the opportunity to speak at seminars and collaborate with faculty from Malta on creating a Ph.D. in finance program to be taught in English. He also spent time teaching students from Poland, Albania and other European countries about fintech solutions. 
 
“I taught a class to students on cryptocurrency and blockchain and they really loved it,” said Rayfield. “They were so appreciative to learn more about the technology. It was a great experience.”

Career in Finance and Joining The Nest 

A native of Ocala, Florida, Rayfield began his undergraduate studies at Florida International University as a music composition major playing the French horn. While enrolled in a music business course, he realized that he liked finance and pursued it as his major. He proceeded to earn bachelor’s and graduate degrees in finance and financial economics respectfully, while also spending time working in the finance industry before teaching at NAU. 
 
Desiring a return to the Sunshine State, he accepted a position in the Coggin College in November 2023, before officially arriving on campus in August. According to Rayfield, º£½ÇÉçÇøand the greater Jacksonville community offer the perfect setting to indulge in his professional and personal interests. The fintech scholar and enthusiast says there are multiple reasons he decided that º£½ÇÉçÇøwas the perfect place for him — citing UNF’s new fintech programs as one of them. 
 
“The opportunity to increase my research output, focus my attention on teaching a subject I really enjoy [fintech] and live closer to home are what attracted me to UNF,” Rayfield said. 
 
Currently teaching graduate courses in financial modeling and investments, he will begin teaching fintech courses in the spring 2025 semester. Rayfield says his experience at º£½ÇÉçÇøthus far has been amazing and he is glad to be part of the Osprey community. 
 
“It’s been great,” said Rayfield. “From the day that I accepted the job to now, everyone has been welcoming.”

School of Computing hosts programming competition

Computing students competing in the NestforAwhile competitionThe º£½ÇÉçÇø School of Computing recently hosted the Fall 2024 NestForAwhile Team programming competition, an in-person coding contest challenging students to display their best coding and problem-solving capabilities. VyStar Credit Union sponsored prize awards.
 
Categorized as “nestling” or “fledgling” based on Programming II course completion, the 41 teams of 100 º£½ÇÉçÇøstudents worked on solving 10 programming problems with varying difficulty levels and associated points. Most submissions were written using Java, Python and C.
 
Students who solved at least one problem received a license to access Google Cloud Skills Boost, which is a training center for Google Cloud infrastructure.
 
 
Info provided by º£½ÇÉçÇøMedia Relations

Staff Spotlight: Dalton Nordquist

Dalton NordquistBy Byron E. Jones

Life at The Nest has come full circle for Dalton Nordquist (‘20), who returned to the º£½ÇÉçÇø in May as the adventure trips and gear checkout coordinator for Eco Adventure.

The alum also worked for Eco Adventure during his undergraduate years as an Osprey Challenge Course team member. Nordquist graduated from º£½ÇÉçÇøwith a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in environmental studies and leadership. Before his return to UNF, he worked as a backpacking guide for a wilderness therapy company in Colorado and as a program coordinator at a New Jersey YMCA.

In his current role, he oversees the outdoor gear checkout program, renting tents, sleeping bags, canoes, kayaks and more to the º£½ÇÉçÇøcommunity for both on and off campus use. He also coordinates and leads planned Eco Adventure trips, handling budgets, itineraries, staffing and more. Some of the trips he leads include white-water rafting, climbing trips, ski trips and others.

As one who obviously enjoys nature's beauty, Nordquist says he’s glad to be back on campus and serving the Osprey and local communities. "I’m excited to be back at UNF,” said Nordquist. “I really enjoy being here and connecting with both old and new colleagues in Eco Adventure. They are all great people.”

In addition to his love of nature, Nordquist says he has always been a mental health advocate and his reason for majoring in psychology was to find ways to combine his love of the outdoors with his efforts to promote mental health. Furthering these efforts, Nordquist recently began taking courses in the Master of Social Work Program.

The St. Petersburg, Florida native said he’s always had a passion for exploring the great outdoors and appreciating nature’s beauty, and that his love of nature was passed down to him from his family, recalling many family camping trips with his parents and grandparents.

“I come from a long line of outdoor enthusiasts,” Nordquist said. 

Describing himself as a “travel enthusiast,” Nordquist says he has visited more than 15 countries, citing hiking in Peru, traveling through Iceland and exploring the southern region of the Appalachian Mountains as some of his favorite experiences. 

Nordquist says he finds being outdoors to be both a calming experience for the mind and a fun recreational experience, which he loves to share with others.

“In the outdoors, I am able to center myself and calm and regulate my body,” said Nordquist. “My passion is being able to help others find that same sense of calm and peace in the outdoors to help with other facets of life.”

More About Dalton

Hobbies: Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and collecting plants
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, Association for Challenge Course Technologies Level II certification

Osprey community share Thanksgiving memories

Thanksgiving dinner table with a turkey in the middle
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of year that’s all about gathering with family and friends, sharing delicious food, and reflecting on what we're grateful for.
 
This year, we asked a few of our º£½ÇÉçÇøfaculty and staff family to share a memorable Thanksgiving memory.
 
Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter and gratitude. May your day be as wonderful as the people you share it with.

Hunt Reagor, Enrollment Communication Specialist, Enrollment Services

"Almost like clockwork, I remember every year growing up watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with my mom and throwing the football in the front yard with my dad before my grandparents came over for lunch. Thanksgiving was always, and continues to be, a holiday I look forward to each year."

Bob Boyle, Assistant Vice President, Housing and Residence Life

"Thanksgiving last year was a unique one for my kids and I as my son William, currently a º£½ÇÉçÇøsophomore, was home from his college for the first time after moving onto campus at º£½ÇÉçÇøas a first-year student in August 2023. His younger sister Madeline and I enjoyed having Will back in the house and we all fell right back into family traditions of food, movie watching and hitting downtown St. Augustine for the annual Nights of Lights event."

Sheila Lopez, Associate Director, Physical Facilities

"Potluck dinner with my shipmates on the USS Canopus-AS 34. Each sailor made a dish from their culture, most of all it was the fellowship of friendship sharing a meal."

Beryl White-Bing, Virtual Learning Librarian, Thomas G. Carpenter Library

"I remember the Thanksgiving that my Aunt Eva Mae Roberts came and spend the time with my family. She died the next year at the ripe old age of 100 years and 11 months."

Justin Begle, Director, Academic & Research Technology

"The best thing I could share of a Thanksgiving tradition, is every year, we take an ITS group photo at our Thanksgiving gathering. It's neat to see how much ITS has changed (and grown) over the years."

Ryan Schneader, Club Sports & Facilities Coordinator, RecWell

"My favorite Thanksgiving memory is going to my grandparents' house as a child and spending quality time with my extended family. I always enjoyed eating my mom's homemade mac n' cheese, and I still do today."

º£½ÇÉçÇøMarcomm hosts marketing summit

º£½ÇÉçÇøMarketing and Communications held its first annual Marketing & Communications Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 19, hosting nearly 50 representatives from various colleges and departments in communications or related roles. 
 
Vice President Andrea Jones, welcomed participants and discussed the various methods of communications and their importance in higher-ed. In addition, she provided a recap of UNF’s new brand expression. Directors and leaders within MarComm provided helpful tips and valuable information from guidance on social media postings to best ways to capture a moment or event through photography/videography, how to measure and track through web analytics and what makes a compelling story.
 
Speaker standing in front of a classroom speaking to an audience º£½ÇÉçÇøemployees conversating with each other at a conference
Audience at the 2024 º£½ÇÉçÇøMarcom Summit listening to a speaker

Osprey Profile: Michele Thomas

By Joy Batteh-Freiha
 
As the youngest of three children with a considerable age difference between them, Michele Thomas didn’t grow up around kids close to her age. So being around children in her grandmother’s Sunday School class made her feel like a “big sister.”
 
It was from that experience that her desire to major in psychology and work in behavioral health with children was formed.
 
º£½ÇÉçÇøstudent Michelle Thomas“I was never around kids who were younger than me, and it was one of the first times I encountered kids on the spectrum who needed extra help when it came to learning or social interactions,” said Thomas. “It sparked a desire in me to understand the diverse ways children learn and communicate and to help make an impact in their lives and their families. It felt like I became their big sister in a way.”
 
The 23-year-old Jacksonville native will graduate this semester with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her time at º£½ÇÉçÇøhelped her learn more about psychology and students.
 
Thomas is passionate about working with children. Enrolled in Hicks Honors College, she was introduced to the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) last fall and was encouraged to apply. The two-semester scholarship program only accepts 30 students from various disciplines each fall. Students are assigned to work with a community leader on a project related to the environment.
 
Thrilled to be assigned to work with the Girls Scouts Gateway Council, Thomas created lesson plans and activities for different age groups to be used during Earth Day this past April.
 
“This project was so satisfying and such a great experience working with different age groups of kids,” Thomas said. “This past Earth Day, about 15 Girl Scouts came to º£½ÇÉçÇøand we all worked on the lesson plans together. They earned a badge, and I did too!”
 
Thomas said the positive experience she had with ELP gave her a better appreciation for the environment, and while she has little time for extracurricular activities, she has joined forces with the environmental honors society Kappa Alpha Omicron (KAO).
 
“Being part of KAO has connected me with like-minded individuals who share the same passion for sustainability of our environment as I do,” said Thomas. “It has been a fulfilling experience.” 

Balancing act 

Balancing classes, work and projects is a common challenge for many college students, and effective time management is crucial.
 
Thomas has learned to manage her time well.
 
In addition to being a full-time student, Thomas works both a full-time and a part-time job. She said she relies on her support system of family, friends and advisors and being willing to adapt to unexpected challenges is key.
 
A transfer student from Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she earned her associate in arts degree, Thomas said having the right mindset and not being afraid of tackling challenges is what drives her to stay motivated and grounded as a busy student at UNF.
 
“I have a great support system and a proactive mindset,” said Thomas. “I don’t dwell on problems; I just shift my focus on finding solutions.”
 
While Thomas is passionate about psychology and behavioral health, she’s quick to say she’s just as passionate about her programming courses. She’s even discovered beneficial similarities from both disciplines such as collecting and analyzing data and sharpening her problem-solving skills.
 
“I love a challenge, and I certainly get a fair share of it from my programming class,” Thomas said. “It’s exciting to dig deeper to find new ways to answer problems, but it requires discipline. I’ve learned to prioritize and master better study habits from this class. It is humbling in a good way.”
 
Associate Instructor in the School of Computing, Larry Snedden, teaches the programming class at º£½ÇÉçÇøand says Thomas is one of his students who is actively engaged in class.
 
“It is very easy to observe which students are more mature and properly prepared for university courses in this early computing course, and Michele's maturity is revealed in how she prepares for class and completes the learning objectives,” Snedden continued.
 
Thomas said another favorite class was the Lifespan and Development course she took online over the summer with Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons.
 
Thomas said learning about the different stages of life from birth to death and understanding the psychosocial changes that occurs in a person’s life was fascinating.
 
“This course fits in with my career goal of being a behavioral therapist because it covers how we all grow and change throughout our lives,” said Thomas. “From how the environment and relationships shape who we are to a better understanding of the challenges kids face at different ages. Overall, it helped reinforce my passion for helping children and their families.”

Empowered to graduate 

Balancing a busy college and work life isn’t easy. She said her professors and advisors were attentive and responsive, and she also sought additional help from peer tutors.
 
“Peer tutoring was a great help and a resource I took advantage of many times,” said Thomas. “It bolstered my confidence and commitment to academic excellence.”
 
While Thomas is excited to be graduating in December and proud of her accomplishments, she’s not leaving the º£½ÇÉçÇøcommunity just yet. She will be returning in the spring to continue her education with a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
 
“I‘ve always been a person who always wanted to know and explore more,” explained Thomas. “While a psychology degree is very different from a masters in cybersecurity, I am interested in learning how these two can correlate and fascinated to learn how technology intersects with human behavior and how we can protect digital spaces from threats. Continuing my education feels like the natural next step in my journey, and I’m excited about pursuing a career in both fields.”

Simple recipes for holiday gatherings

hand pouring dressing on a kale saladKale Salad with Apples and Toasted Almonds

Ingredients for the dressing

  • 1/2 c. olive oil
  • 1/4 c. red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 Tbsp. minced shallot
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for the salad

  • 2 large bunches of kale, ribs removed and roughly chopped
  • 1 apple, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 c. dried cherries
  • 1/2 c. toasted sliced almonds
  • 1/4 c. crumbled feta

Directions

  • In a medium bowl whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, orange juice, and shallot. Season with salt and pepper. 
  • In a large bowl toss together kale, apples, cherries, and almonds. 
  • Toss with dressing and top with feta to serve.

two baked apples in small individual baking dishes on a tableCinnamon Baked Apples

Ingredients

  • 6-7 medium to large apples (a mix of sweet and tart works great!) 
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil (optional)
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar) 
  • 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp fresh grated ginger*
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • 3 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot starch 
  • 3 Tbsp fresh apple juice or water
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • Optional for serving: Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and set out a 9×13-inch (or similar size) baking dish.
  • Peel and core apples, quarter, and use a paring knife to thinly slice lengthwise. The thinner the better! Just try to be consistent so they cook evenly.
  • Add to baking dish and top with lemon juice, coconut oil (optional), coconut sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cornstarch (or arrowroot), apple juice (or water), and a healthy pinch of salt. Toss to combine. Then loosely cover with foil.
  • Bake for 45 minutes (covered). Then carefully remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the apples are very fork tender (especially in the center of the dish) and slightly caramelized.
  • Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (vegan ice cream or whipped cream are great as well!)

Inside News Roundup

Faculty & Staff Appreciation

Join your colleagues for Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night TONIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. to cheer on the Men's Osprey Basketball team as they go against Edward Waters College. start at $205 for Faculty/Staff members.

Happy Thanksgiving

The University will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Nov. 29 for Thanksgiving.

2025 Professional Development Forum Call for Sessions

The window for submitting session proposals for the 2025 Professional Development Forum is now open. The PD Forum Committee will accept proposals through midnight on Friday, Nov. 29. Proposals must be . The 2025 Professional Development Forum will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Adam W. Herbert University Center.

º£½ÇÉçÇøcommencement showing the back of capsCommencement Volunteers Needed

º£½ÇÉçÇøCommencement is seeking volunteers for Fall Commencement on Friday, Dec. 13 in the º£½ÇÉçÇøArena. , or for questions, please visit the Commencement webpage or contact commencement@unf.edu.

New Library Digital Exhibit: Eartha M.M. White

The Carpenter Library has published a new digital exhibit celebrating the birthday of Eartha M.M. White. View the exhibit .

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Maximum Contributions Increased for 2025

The IRS has increased the maximum contribution for 2025 FSAs to $3,300, an increase of $100. The carryover maximum increased to $660, a $20 increase from year 2024. Employees may increase the annual FSA contribution amount up to $3,300 through 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 15, by logging into People First or calling the Service Center at 1 (866) 663-4735. Employees who have elected the 2024 FSA maximum contribution before the 2025 increase was announced will receive an email regarding the update.

º£½ÇÉçÇøWebsite Publishing on Dec. 16

The main º£½ÇÉçÇøWebsite will be set to publish on Monday, Dec. 16 for maintenance purposes. All drafts of incomplete pages must be completed and ready to publish or be placed in department archive folders by Friday, Dec. 13. For questions or concerns, please reach out to webmaster@unf.edu for assistance.

Student Union Reservations

To ensure the success of all meetings, events and activities, this is a courtesy reminder that Student Union reservations not finalized by the communicated deadlines will be canceled. For questions regarding a reservation, please contact the Student Union Administration or your assigned event coordinator.

Osprey Café Conference Room

An additional conference room located within the Osprey Cafe is now available for reservations. This newly designed area is equipped with four large TVs, a projector and comprehensive audio/visual capabilities to support meetings and presentations, all while allowing easy access to dining. For more information or to reserve the space, please contact .

Fresh Check Day Booth Registration

Departments and organizations are invited to host a booth for Housing & Residence Life’s 8th annual Fresh Check Day. This uplifting mental health fair will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature interactive booths, activities, music and food. by Thursday, Dec. 12 to participate, or for any questions, please contact Sheresa Divens at s.divens@unf.edu.

Faculty and Staff News

Osprey Fountain on º£½ÇÉçÇøcampus

Coggin College of Business

Dr. Bill Montford, assistant professor of marketing, co-authored an article “Avoiding Financial Information: The Roles of Fate and Money Beliefs” for publication in the Journal of Consumer Behaviour.
 
Dr. Courtney Azzari, associate professor of marketing, co-authored a chapter “Conducting Research at Times and Places in Crisis” in Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods in Marketing.
 
Dr. Yanji Duan, assistant professor of marketing, co-authored a paper "Blockchain Empowerment: Unveiling Managerial Choices in Carbon Finance Investment across Supply Chains" for publication in the Journal of Business Logistics.

College of Education and Human Services

Dr. Stephen Dittmore, dean of the College of Education and Human Services was interviewed by Crain’s Cleveland Business regarding athletics and enrollment at small universities. In addition, Dr. Dittmore appeared on Trustees and Presidents: A Podcast for University Leaders on College Athletics, hosted by Dr. Karen Weaver of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, with Washington Post reporter Jesse Dougherty, to discuss athletics and enrollment at small universities.
 
Dr. Elizabeth Gregg, professor of sport management, was published in an article by Wallethub titled “Best Sports Cities (2024).
 
Dr. Matthew Ohlson, the Warren and August Hume Foundation Endowed Professor in Leadership and director of the Tayler Leadership Institute, along with Mindy Herrick, Camp Osprey coordinator and Sydnie Steele, assistant director of curricular engagement, presented “Connecting our Rural Communities to College Campuses” at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1.
 
Dr. Nile Stanley, associate professor of literacy education, along with L. Stanley and K. Nguyen, published “Evaluating the use of biblio-poetry therapy to improve resilience in undergraduates” in the Journal of Poetry Therapy, 1-13.

Dateline

º£½ÇÉçÇøDateline balloons

Milestones

Congratulations to the following employees with a milestone anniversary in November 2024:

25 Years

Jean Glasgow, Senior Property Assets Representative, Controller's Office, Property and Records Management

Valerie Stevenson, Assistant Vice President, Controller's Office, Administration and Finance

20 Years

Devany Groves, Chief Budget Officer, Administration and Finance

15 Years

Margaret Cirillo, Senior Small Business Consulting Coordinator, Small Business Development Center

10 Years

Kathleen Leone, Senior Director of Development, Academic and Student Affairs 

Francis Mackesy, Police Chief, University Police Department 

5 Years

Heather Hutchins, Academic Advisor, College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Allison Ladun, Maintenance Supervisor, Housing and Residence Life

Eugenio Mombay, Senior Accountant, Controller's Office General Accounting

Michael Russo, Assistant Director Online Learning Support, Center for Instruction and Research Technology

Shelby Scanlon, Media Developer, º£½ÇÉçÇøOnline

Welcome

The following employees were either hired by º£½ÇÉçÇøor were promoted from OPS positions recently:

Rodrigo Arias, Spinnaker Media Coordinator, Spinnaker Media

Evan Baker, IT Security Analyst I, Cyber Infrastructure

Kevin Cadora, Admissions Processing Specialist, Registrar's Office

Richard Evans, Course Media Developer, Institute of Police Technology and Management

Kyle Hale, Admissions Processing Specialist, Admissions Processing

Emily Horab, Admissions Recruiter, Admissions

Rachel Johnson, Senior Library Associate, º£½ÇÉçÇøLibrary

Amanda Mahan, Assistant Vice President, University Development and Alumni Engagement

Gloria Martinez, Museum Registrar, MOCA Jacksonville

Jessica McDowell, Academic Advisor, Brooks College of Health

Angela Parris, Curriculum Facilitator, Florida Institute of Education

Karna Ramachandraiah, Post Doctoral Associate, Biology

Ahmed Sayed, ERP Analyst II, IT

Logan Shaw, Assistant Athletic Director of Creative Strategy, Athletics

Hannah Sjostrom, Office Assistant, President's Office

Jordan Snow, Senior Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Rachel Srisouvanh, Curatorial Assistant, MOCA Jacksonville

Andrea Hoa Teyechea, Benefits and Retirement Specialist I, Human Resources

Great Job

The following employees were recently promoted:

LeAnn Anderson-Vincecruz, Director, Academic Advising Services-COAS, Student Success Initiatives

Rodrigo Salhuana, Information Technology Coordinator, Campus Technology

Madison Tarrant, Coordinator, President's Office

Michele Verkerk, Assistant Director, Human Resources

Free Things to Do

A Century of Contemporary: 100th Anniversary Exhibition

Exhibit on view now through Jan. 12, 2025, MOCA Jacksonville
This small exhibition traces the history of MOCA Jacksonville, which first began as a series of exhibitions by artists of the day, used as a fundraising tool to support public school education; then as a guild; and later as an art museum and educational leader. Learn more .

Works from the exhibition Art with a Heart in Healthcare: The Power WithinArt with a Heart in Healthcare: The Power Within

Exhibit on view now through Jan. 12, 2025, MOCA Jacksonville
Sponsored by the Florida Blue Foundation, this exhibition is organized by Art with a Heart in Healthcare in collaboration with MOCA Jacksonville, and features art created by local pediatric patients. Learn more .

Senior Exhibition Fall 2024: Opening Reception

Thursday, Nov. 21, 5 - 7 p.m., º£½ÇÉçÇøGallery of Art and Lufrano Intercultural Gallery
The Senior Showcase allows graduating º£½ÇÉçÇøseniors to exhibit their research and celebrate their artistic achievements. Learn more .

The º£½ÇÉçÇøOpera Lab presents: The Bohemians, an abbreviated version of La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini

Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m., Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Center
Libretto by Gueseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica; contemporary English translation and musical adaptation by Stephen Lusmann. Jack Sumrall, conductor and Dr. John Daugherty, director. Learn more .

Lawson Ensemble promo shotLawson Ensemble 10th Anniversary Concert Series presents: Lawson, Percussion and Dancers

Sunday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m, Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Center
Spend a Sunday afternoon listening to fine music featuring percussionists Andrea Venet, Steve Merrill and the Wehner School of the Arts. Learn more .

Mixed Level Yoga

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 5 - 5:55 p.m., Student Wellness Complex
Whether you're a beginner or have been practicing yoga for years, we have something for you. This practice is built for restoring the body and increasing flexibility through a variety of poses and breathing exercises. Learn more .

Pop-Up Library Instruction Returns for Finals

Monday, Dec. 2 through Thursday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Skinner-Jones Hall (Room 2501) and J.J. Daniel Hall (Room 1200)
Pop-Up Library Instruction returns in time for finals! Librarians will be available to provide support in the Writing Center on Monday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 4. Librarians will also provide assistance on the first floor of SASS on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 5. If your students need a research consultation to complete an assignment, or have a quick question, they can drop-in and meet face-to-face with instruction librarians. No appointment required. Learn more and .

Navigating Interfolio to Create Dossiers for Post-Tenure Review

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 3 p.m., J.J. Daniel Hall (Room 1401)
Academic & Student Affairs and the Office of Faculty Excellence are hosting an Interfolio workshop focused on navigating the Interfolio system to create a dossier for the Post-Tenure Review Process. Learn more .

David Sanger: "The New Cold Wars"

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7 - 8 p.m., Adam W. Herbert University Center
When readers of the New York Times want to understand the swirling dynamics of wars, diplomacy, cyber conflict and geopolitics, they look for the byline of senior correspondent and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and White House and National Security Correspondent, David Sanger. With a 40-year career at the Times, Sanger is known for the depth of his sources in the world of national security, his thorough reporting, research and in-depth investigations into the complex events of our time. º£½ÇÉçÇøis proud to partner with the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville to bring distinguished speakers to our campus. Learn more about Mr. Sanger and register to attend his lecture.

Winterfest

Thursday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m., Opsrey Plaza
Participate in a variety of winter-themed activities, indulge in traditional holiday food and drinks, and get excited for giveaways and much more. Learn more .

U-GLIDE 2024

Friday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., John A. Delaney Student Union (Third Floor Ballrooms)
The Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium is an annual interdisciplinary conference at the º£½ÇÉçÇø (UNF) in which undergraduate and graduate students showcase their research or creative projects in the fall semester. Learn more .

Stars and constellationsº£½ÇÉçÇøAstronomy Nights "Quantum Gravity"

Friday, Dec. 6, 8 - 9:30 p.m., Science and Engineering Building
Everyone is invited to learn about the wonders of the night sky and view them through our telescopes. The event starts at 8:00 p.m. in the lobby of Building 50. Guest speaker Dr. Rahul Poddar will give a short talk about "Quantun Gravity" followed by public observing on the roof accessible via the elevator. Dress comfortably and for the outdoors. Learn more about º£½ÇÉçÇøAstronomy Nights.

A Cozy Choral Christmas with the º£½ÇÉçÇøSingers

Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m., Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church

Sachiko Frampton, collaborative pianist and Dr. Cara Tasher, conductor. Learn more .

Swoop Summary

Members of the º£½ÇÉçÇøwomen's swim team floating in the pool

Swimming Breaks 400 Medley Relay Record on Day One of Gamecock Invite

North Florida women's swimming kicked off the first day of the Gamecock Invite on Wednesday, Nov. 20 breaking a seven year-old school record in the 400-yard medley relay and posting three top-ten program times in the 50-yard freestyle. Learn more .

Upcoming events:

Women's Basketball vs. Coppin State
Friday, Nov. 29, 1 p.m.  |  º£½ÇÉçÇøArena  | 
 
Women's Basketball vs. Samford
Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m.  |  º£½ÇÉçÇøArena  | 
 
Men's Basketball vs. Warner
Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. |  º£½ÇÉçÇøArena  |