UF recognizes Edugator alumni as 2025 40 Gators under 40 honorees
Since 2006, the University of Florida has honored Outstanding Young Alumni whose achievements positively impact The Gator Nation. 40 Gators Under 40 continues the tradition of honoring Gators who are thriving in their communities and professions.
Recipients are nominated annually by their college and honored during the UF Alumni Association’s Orange & Blue Week festivities. Criteria for the award include being under 40 years old, making a significant impact on their industry and having professional accomplishments at the state, national or international level.
This year, two remarkable EduGators joined the 2025 honorees: Shaunte Duggins (M.Ed. ‘10, Ph.D. ‘15) and Nicole Winningham (B.A.E. ‘07, M.Ed. ‘08).
Shaunte Duggins carries out her passion for education and service daily as the Director of State Initiatives for the UF Lastinger Center for Learning. In 2010, she obtained her master’s degree from the UF College of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Teacher Leadership for School Improvement and a reading specialization while teaching elementary school in Pinellas County.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, so I went to school to become one,” Duggins said. “But when I realized that there was an opportunity to impact children and families on a wider scale beyond the classroom, it really motivated me.”
Duggins moved to Gainesville and served on the Lastinger Center’s advisory board while pursuing her doctoral degree in Special Education with an emphasis on early literacy and teacher education. Since graduating in 2015, she has supported the center’s mission, improving the lives of children, families, and teachers across the state.
Currently, she oversees the Florida Tutoring Advantage and the New Worlds Reading Initiative. She has facilitated the implementation and expansion of New Worlds Reading since its inception in 2021, now managing all aspects of the statewide book distribution and family literacy engagement program.
“I am just honored and excited to represent the College of Education in this way,” Duggins said. “I am really blessed to work with great people, to have an exceptional support system, and to carry out the Lastinger Center’s mission to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Shaunte Duggins, Ph.D.
Nicole Winningham
Nicole Winningham has always had a passion for helping children. A Gator fan her entire life, the College of Education at UF gave her a supportive environment to pursue her calling.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education in 2007, with a focus not on the classroom but on direct therapy. When she couldn’t find a graduate program that matched her vision, she helped create one – paving the way for UF’s first early intervention focus within the Early Childhood Education master’s program, from which she graduated in 2008.
“The great thing about the College of Education is that they are willing to help you find your own path,” Winningham said. “If you’re trying to innovate, if you’re trying to lead, and something is not already put directly in front of you, the College of Education will answer the call.”
Today, she mentors the next generation of early intervention graduate interns who follow the path she helped pave.
For the past 16 years, Winningham has served North Central Florida families through her practice, Partnering with Parents. She’s deeply committed to bridging the gap between research and real-life applications – especially during the critical developmental stages from birth to age three. She has partnered with UF on several research projects and continues coaching providers on current best practices throughout the state of Florida.
“This recognition is such an honor,” Winninham said. “I feel like I’m just doing my job, living my passions, and being recognized by others for having an impact in the community is just so exciting!”