Connection Inside UWF President Dr. judith bense
Staff List Advancement Staff Dr. Brendan Kelly, Interim Vice President of University Advancement Martha Lee Blodgett, Assistant Vice President of University Advancement Gretchen VanValkenburg, Executive Director of Development & Alumni Engagement Missy Grace, Alumni Relations Director
Marketing & Creative Services Staff Editorial
Managing Editor Sabrina McLaughlin, Executive Director, Marketing & Creative Services
Copy Editor Brittany Carr, Communications Specialist, Marketing & Creative Services Creative Director Pola Young, Creative Director, Marketing & Creative Services
Graphics & Photography Jennifer Morgan, Graphic Designer Lauren Smith, Assistant Director of Digital Media John Blackie, Photographer
Editorial Contributing Writers Melissa Brode, Claire Caillouet, Brittany Carr, megan Gonzalez, Missy Grace, Margaret Roberts, Matt Rowley, Sean M. Sullivan, Alyssa Townsend, Gretchen VanValkenburg, Jevon Young
Contact Us Web alumni.uwf.edu Email alumni@uwf.edu Phone 800.226.1893 Mail UWF Alumni Association, 11000 University Pkwy., Building 12, Pensacola, FL 32514
To Give Online uwf.edu/give Direct Kenda Hembrough at 850.857.6112 or khembrough@uwf.edu UWF Connection is published semi-annually by the Alumni Relations Department with the assistance of Marketing & Creative Services. The purpose of Connection is to communicate and engage with UWF alumni, donors, friends and others interested in the activities of UWF.
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Fall 2013 UNIVERS IT Y of WE ST FLOR IDA
3 PRESIDENT’S Q&A LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
ENGAGEMENT
4 Alumni Board 5 news & notes 8 Calendar of Events 10 National Flight Academy AFFINITY
1 6 College of Business 18 Athletics 20 Class Notes 24 Alumni Success 26 Snapshots
GENEROSITY
29 German MBA Program 30 Biomechanics Lab 33 M eet an Ambassador 34 APP River 35 From the Editor’s Desk
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Feature The University of West Florida and the National Aviation Museum Foundation have teamed up to develop the Ambition onboard the National Flight Academy. The handson, immersive learning experience engages middle- and high-school students in aviation-based missions in an effort to bridge the gap in STEM education.