Education Career Night

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This year’s Education Career Night was a success!  A panel of five dynamic College of Education alumni offered career advice and talked about the distinctly different career paths they each have followed—quite successfully—after earning their education degrees at UF.  The event was held at the Reitz Union on the evening of February 21st.

This year’s panel included Mr. Eric Grunden (Presidential Teacher Honoree), Dr. Eric Smith (a former Florida Education Commissioner), Ms. Sharon Daniels (the CEO of a corporate leadership firm), Dr. Theresa Beachy (the head of a domestic abuse network), and Dr. Jaime Jasser (a University Mental Health Counselor).

For more photos of Career Night click here.

EduGator Nation in Africa

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Jessica Funk (MED ’10, Elementary Ed) tells us about her career after graduation.  Jessica joined the Peace Corps shortly after earning her degree from the University of Florida.  She now teaches to children in Mbala, Zambia in Africa for 10 hours a day, focusing on literary instruction.  One challenge she faces is preparing the children in grades 8 and 9 for their upcoming national exams so that they can continue their education in high school.  Jessica is pictured below with some of her students.

Atlanta Gator & Blue Wave Reception

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The UF College of Education and P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School recently held their Atlanta Gator Reception on February 5, 2013.  Steven and Judy Funk (PKY ’68; BAE ’73) were the reception hosts for the event.  Guests were able to reconnect with former classmates from P.K. Yonge and the College of Education.

Introducing the UF Class of 2029

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Lauren O’Hara May (M.Ed ’09, Early Childhood Ed.) teaches Kindergarten at St. Pius Catholic School in Jacksonville, FL.  She is also the Vice President of Athletics for the Gator Club of Jacksonville.  Her class recently participated in “College T-shirt Day” and photographed her students as “Future Gators”.

EduGator Nation in Greece

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Christos Skaloumbakas (BAE ’91 & MED ’92, Special Ed) tells us about his career after graduation.  For two years, Mr. Skaloumbakas taught at a special school to educate and help emotionally disordered students, before accepting a position in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Panagiotis & Aglaia Kyriakou Children’s Hospital in Athens, Greece.

After several years of working for the Department of Child Psychiatry, he assisted in the staffing of their new ADHD/LD Unit in the hospital.  This new unit was the first of its kind in the public sector in Greece.  Mr. Skaloumbakas later became a founding member and the Vice President of the Hellenic Society for Research in ADHD.  In addition to his current positions, he is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board in ADHD Hellas – The Hellenic Association of Individuals with ADHD, a consultant to the Ministry of Education, and co-authored a widely used computer-based assessment instrument for Dyslexia.

Christos says, “I would like to send my greetings to all the members of the teaching staff who were around when I was graduating; particularly Dr. Paul Sindelar and Dr. Mary Brownell.  I would also like to thank Dr. Stephen Smith whose influence defined my academic interests and whose scholarly work I’ve been following all these years.”

Women’s Council Honors Higher Ed Alum

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Anne M. Kress (PhD ’07, Higher Ed Administration) recently won the 2013 Athena Award presented by the Women’s Council of the Rochester (N.Y.) Business Alliance for her community service, professional achievements and leadership in the advancement of other professional women. Kress has served as president of Monroe Community College in Rochester since 2009 and has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and administrator in higher education.

She previously was provost and vice president of academic affairs at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. Kress earned a doctorate in higher education administration, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English, and a bachelor’s degree with honors in finance, all from the University of Florida. She is a 2012 recipient of UF’s Higher Education Administration Outstanding Graduate Award.

Click here to read the article in the Rochester newspaper.

Higher Ed Alum is Appointed Dean of Faculty Administrative Services

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Dr. Mueen A. Zafar (PHD ’11, Higher Ed Admin) has recently been hired as the Dean of Faculty Administrative Services at Air University in Islamabad.  Dr. Zafar, a native of Pakistan, previously served as the Associate Professor at Riphah International University and the Chair of Business Administration at the International Islamic University.

When Dr. Zafar and his family lived in Gainesville, he worked with the UF Department of Housing and Residence Education and received the Florida Excellence in Housing Award (2010), Outstanding Student Employee Award (2009), and IHLUAC Recognition for outstanding leadership and distinguished service (2008).

Our previous Alumni Update about Dr. Mueen Zafar is here.

Alumnus named chief psychologist at Boys Town central Florida campus

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University of Florida College of Education alumnus Jason Gallant was recently appointed the chief psychologist at Boys Town Central Florida’s new Behavioral Health Clinic.

Boys Town is a national nonprofit child-care agency that provides treatment through a continuum of services for children and families’ behavioral, emotional and physical problems. The Central Florida campus clinic in Oveido offers, among its services, outpatient counseling for at-risk children under the age of 18.

Inspired by his mother, an elementary school teacher with a “genuine passion and enthusiasm for giving children the gift of knowledge,” Gallant pursued a degree in psychology and child development at Florida State University.

He then earned his master’s degree in 2007 and doctoral degree in 2011, both in school psychology from UF. He completed his pre-doctoral fellowship in behavioral pediatrics at the Boys Town national headquarters in Omaha, Neb. between August 2010 and July 2011 as he completed his dissertation. After graduating with his Ph.D., Gallant continued work at the Boys Town headquarters for a yearlong post-doctoral fellowship before assuming his new position at Boys Town Central Florida.

“The thought of being back in Florida, working for a first-rate organization like Boys Town, and to continue living out my passion of healing children and families is a dream come true,” Gallant said. “I really cannot express to you how appreciative I am of the College of Education’s school psychology faculty, staff and my fellow peers for helping me become the person and professional I am today.”

Former COE Alum, Dr. Joseph Bondi, dies

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Dr. Joseph Bondi (BS ’58, MED ’64, EDD ’68) passed away on Tuesday, January 8th. He is the former mayor of Temple Terrace and a longtime educator. His daughter, Pam Bondi, is the Florida Attorney General.

Joseph Bondi served two two-year terms as mayor from 1974 to 1978 following a stint on the Temple Terrace City Council from 1970 to 1974. He also served as the first chairman of the Hillsborough County Council of Governments.

Click here to read more.

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Gator Nation U

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Gator Nation U is your connection with the University of Florida. Join us for an informative weekend filled with fun and fellowship.  Experience our new UFAA Leadership Academy, connect with faculty and classmates and re-live your days as a student.

For more information, click here.