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.”

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Mary Hausch (BAE, ‘71) is the winner of The Gainesville Sun’s 2012 Spirit of Gainesville Award for her contribution to the arts. Hausch is the producing director and co-founder of the Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville. The award recognizes talented individuals for their significant contribution to the city. Since graduating from UF, Hausch helped found the Hippodrome and continues to lead the theatre’s educational and art programs. She also produces, directs, or acts in many of the theater performances.

“I feel that through my role as an artist and administrator, I can help integrate arts into the lives of so many people, I can help assure the survival of theatre as a vital art form and help create the audiences of tomorrow,” Hausch says.

UF math education professor Tim Jacobbe also was nominated for the Spirit of Gainesville Award for his leadership and volunteering with Caleb’s Pitch, which he founded. The group arranges memorable experiences for children and families confronting serious childhood diseases.

Monique Perry (Ed.D ’13, Higher Ed.) recently was appointed Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing and Chief Public Information Officer for York Technical College.  She will oversee marketing, employee communications, presidential communications, media/public relations and the Speakers Bureau for all three YTC campuses. Perry is believed to be the first minority appointee in this position.  She previously worked at the college as a Communication/English instructor and academic adviser.

Perry wrote in an email, “I cannot forget how my UF professors and other members of Gator Nation helped lay the foundation for me to get this opportunity. Your core lessons to us about not just focusing on our academic matriculation in the program, but balancing that with building relationships, focusing on consistent job performance, and maintaining contemporary knowledge immediately set me apart from my peers, allowing me to bring value-add and knowledge that positioned me for this opportunity.

Perry is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Administration at UF and is expected to graduate in 2013.  Her primary research centers on the impacts of the multi-generational workforce on higher education and its ability to attract and retain future leaders.

UF College of Education alumna Kassie Erenstoft was named the Dr. Theron Trimble Teacher of the Year among elementary school teachers by the Florida Council for the Social Studies.

The council is a professional organization of social studies educators aimed at promoting social studies instruction in the state.

Erenstoft graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of Education. She has been teaching at Spessard L. Holland Elementary School in Bartow, Fla., since 2006. In 2011, Erenstoft was a finalist for Brevard County’s Teacher of the Year award for her engaging and meaningful classroom techniques and her role in connecting teachers with best practices across the district.