Connection Fall 2018

FALL 2018 | Alumni & Friends Magazine

Cybersecurity For All p. 15

CREATING HEALTHY CONNECTIONS

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HONORING JANE KUGELMAN

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COACH MORGAN FINDS HOME, LEGACY AT UWF

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Inside 2 PRESIDENT Dr. Martha D. Saunders VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Howard J. Reddy DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS Missy Grace ’10

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Megan Gonzalez ’09, ’15 MANAGING EDITOR Margaret Roberts ’12 PRODUCTION EDITOR Brittany Louhier ’12 ASSISTANT EDITOR Allison Morgan SENIOR EDITORS Brittany Sherwood ’14 Brittany Swinford ’11 ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN Jennifer Peck ’08 PHOTO EDITOR Bernard Wilchusky WRITERS, DESIGNERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND EDITORS Lacey Berry ’12, John Blackie, Colton Currier ’18, Missy Grace ’10, Jennie McKeon ’09, Amy Minchin, Jenny Pedraza, Margaret Roberts ’12, Ashley Kahn Salley, Tom St. Myer, Hana Frenette ’10, Kharas Denson ’18 , Will Kennedy ’93, Michael Lefevre ’17

3 LETTER FROM THE 3 7 11 13

NEWS & NOTES USHA KUNDU, MD COLLEGE OF HEALTH EMERALD COAST ENGINEERING KUGELMAN FAMILY LEGACY

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UWF DAY OF GIVING

26 ALUMNI EVENTS 27 ALUMNI PROFILE:

GINNY CRANOR ’12

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ALUMNI PROFILE: RENEE RICHARDSON ’15

SNAPSHOTS 29 31 CLASS NOTES

Web uwf.edu/alumni Email alumni@uwf.edu Phone 800.226.1893 Mail UWF Alumni Association, 11000 University Pkwy., Building 12, Pensacola, FL 32514

Online uwf.edu/give

UWF Connection is published semi-annually by Alumni Relations and Institutional Communications.

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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15 CYBERSECURITY FOR ALL 21 UWF ATHLETICS

CONTACT US

TO GIVE

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VICE PRESIDENT

15 THE CYBERSECURITY FOR ALL program is designed to enhance workforce development and increase the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals for public and private partners.

Photo Credit: Morgan Givens

CONNECTION MAGAZINE Fall 2018

Q&A WITH PRESIDENT SAUNDERS

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Q&A with President Saunders

The University of West Florida has emerged as a leader in cybersecurity education in recent years, with considerable time and resources invested to prove its belief in the value and future of the field. President Martha Saunders sat down to discuss the University’s efforts to enhance its already innovative cybersecurity programs, as well as its role in establishing the Panhandle as Florida’s “Cyber Coast.”

Why is it important for UWF to help position Northwest Florida to become a cyber coast?

From an economic standpoint, we can build on the strengths we have in place and create more jobs and opportunities for growth. Nationally and regionally, the demand for cybersecurity stays high. A national information security advocacy group, ISACA, estimates that in 2019 there will be a shortage of two million cybersecurity professionals, and in Florida, more than 13,000 jobs are currently unfilled. The average salary for a cybersecurity professional with a bachelor’s degree is at approximately $85,000, well above the national average.

What are the top three ways UWF is driving cyber education/industry growth on campus and in the community?

We have expanded our Center for Cybersecurity and curricula to offer more courses, certifications and training for cybersecurity experts.

This fall, we became one of the first universities in the state of Florida to add a stand-alone Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity.

We continue to work with our community and

industry partners to bring the latest technology and tools to Pensacola to enhance our understanding of cybersecurity and expand research into this challenging field.

What role do partnerships play in the Center for Cybersecurity’s mission and overall impact on the University and the Northwest Florida community?

Universities serve as much more than just institutions of higher learning.

By forming partnerships with industries, businesses and government agencies, we can work together to accomplish mutual goals. For our UWF IS ONE OF THE Center for Cybersecurity, these partFIRST UNIVERSITIES nerships help us advance research in the state of Florida into how to detect, defend and preto add a stand-alone vent cyber attacks. These partnerbachelor of science ships give our faculty and students degree in cybersecurity. access to real-world problems that cybersecurity experts face. This summer, we also worked closely with Florida election officials to train personnel from the Florida Department of State on cybersecurity.

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V P L E TTE R

News & Notes Letter from the

Vice President

Recent news from the University of West Florida

BY COLTON CURRIER ’18 AND KHARAS DENSON ’18

GREETINGS ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,

The end of June marked the close of a record-breaking year for fundraising, with more than $13.8 million dollars received. These incredible contributions will help facilitate unprecedented opportunities for our faculty and students.

In this issue, you will learn about a generous gift naming the Earl and Nancy Hutto Master of Science in Nursing Program, which represents a key investment in our fastest growing college. In addition, you will appreciate the vision and generosity of the late Jane Kugelman and the Kugelman family, which has laid the foundation for the Kugelman Honors Program to excel.

Through their giving and engagement, our donors, alumni and friends have enhanced our ability to provide a first-class education for our students and make an invaluable impact in Northwest Florida and beyond. Under the leadership of President Martha D. Saunders, we have set an enviable pace. Your support and encouragement makes all the difference. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Howard J. Reddy Vice President University Advancement

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UWF earns highest score in University’s history in Florida Board of Governors performance metrics

For the second consecutive year, the University of West Florida is among the top-performing public universities in the state. UWF earned the third-highest score in the system with 86 points out of 100 in the Florida Board of Governors’ performance-based funding model results from the 2017-18 academic year, the highest number of points the University has received. Under the performance funding model, the Board of Governors scores each of Florida’s 12 public universities based on 10 metrics designed to incentivize university excellence and improvement.

N E WS & N OT ES

First case competition hosted by the College of Business

The UWF College of Business and Center for Entrepreneurship hosted its first case competition, with graduate student teams from five universities participating. UWF placed second in the competition, behind the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The teams articulated core competencies and identified revenue sources before presenting their case strategies to JetPay, a Texas-based NASDAQ listed financial company specializing in human resources and payroll services, for their chance at $10,000 in cash prizes.

THE R/V W.T. HOGARTH docked for the first time in Pensacola, allowing UWF faculty and students to use the vessel to conduct marine research.

R/V W.T. Hogarth visits Pensacola

The R/V W.T. Hogarth, a state-of-the-art, 78-foot research vessel, docked for the first time in the Port of Pensacola. UWF students and faculty had access to the R/V W.T. Hogarth as both a floating classroom for marine research opportunities and a platform for grant-funded research. Students in the University’s biology and environmental science programs used the vessel to conduct marine research through the collection of water and sediment samples in support of projects examining artificial reefs and diversity of marine organisms, from bacteria to fish.

28th Annual Open House in downtown Pensacola on Saturday, June 2. Special events took place at UWF Historic Trust properties including children’s activities, exhibit openings, archaeology talks, craft demonstrations, historical music, house tours and living history. The new Rose Garden Story-

telling Circle, funded by the 2017 IMPACT 100 grant, showcased the function of each piece of clothing a colonial woman would wear and make. The event came to life with visits from Susan Alexander Simpson (c.

1845) and Isaac Pugh (c. 1815), as well as a Living History program.

UWF Historic Trust hosts new Rose Garden Storytelling Circle

The UWF Historic Trust invited the public to be a part of Pensacola’s vibrant history and bright future at Historic Pensacola’s Fall 2018

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NEWS & NOTE S

Patti Marine Enterprises donates dive platform to UWF archaeology program

UWF received a new dive platform from Frank Patti Jr. of Patti Marine Enterprises.

The Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, within the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, will use the new platform for staging archaeological and other scientific research. The two newly rebuilt barges replaced the previous 20-year-old platforms, which were rebuilt in 2002 with the assistance of the Patti family. Students, faculty and staff utilize the dive platform for investigating shipwrecks in Pensacola Bay, including the three shipwrecks from the Spanish fleet linked to Tristán de Luna y Arellano’s 16th century expedition to modern-day Pensacola.

UWF hosts grand opening of University Park Center

UWF celebrated the grand opening of University Park Center, a $7 million, 32,700-square-foot facility located at Pen Air Field on the Pensacola campus, serving UWF Intercollegiate Athletics; UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health; and the Florida State University College of Medicine. The first floor houses a customized, state-of-the-art weight room for all UWF student-athletes, as well as a football locker room with 115 custom player lockers and laundry facilities. The second floor provides office space for UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health and FSU College of Medicine, along with a multi-purpose room. The space will foster further integration between the two universities.

Alumni, donors and campus dignitaries partake in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new University Park Center facility on the UWF main campus.

Bench dedicated to honor UWF’s first President, Harold Crosby

The University of West Florida, along with his wife Connie Crosby, placed a bench under the magnolia trees along the Magnolia Walk in memory of UWF’s first president, Dr. Harold Bryan Crosby. This dedication came on what would have been Crosby’s 100th birthday. During his presidency from 1964 to 1974, Crosby broke ground for the first UWF buildings, the University adopted the Nautilus shell as its official emblem, the UWF Foundation was chartered, and the first classes were offered in the name of the University.

For more UWF news, visit news.uwf.edu.

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Higher level graduates. Higher level candidates. Hire UWF.

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UWF H E ALTH

CREATING CONNECTIONS IN THE

USHA KUNDU, MD COLLEGE OF HEALTH

BY JENNY PEDRAZA

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FSU MEDICAL STUDENT collaborates with UWF nursing students in the nursing simulation lab.

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n January, six students from Florida State University’s School of Physician Assistant Practice will come to Pensacola to complete 12 months of clinical rotations in area hospitals and private medical practices.

They are part of a cohort of 40 students admitted to the highly competitive 27-month program that culminates in a master’s degree in physician assistant practice. A new pipeline agreement between the University of West Florida and FSU guarantees spaces for a select number of students coming from Florida’s Panhandle.

UWF graduates filled all eight of the spots reserved for Panhandle students in the class that began this past August.

Dr. Michael Johnson, associate professor for the UWF/FSU Physician Assistant Pipeline Program, said the program aims to support high-achieving UWF students throughout their preparation for and application to PA school. The program positions graduates to connect with jobs in Northwest Florida, where demand for PAs is high and the average yearly salary is approximately $102,000.

“My goal as a PA will be to not only improve individual lives through the care I provide, but also work to meet community needs such as increasing access to care in rural areas and areas with the most need,” said Meghan Albano ’15, who earned a masTHE NEWLY OPENED University Park Center where the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health is housed.

ter’s degree in public health from UWF and began the FSU program this fall.

NEW SPACE, GREATER OPPORTUNITIES The second floor of the University Park Center on UWF’s Pensacola campus is a hub for partnerships and programs like the PA Pipeline. Faculty and staff from the UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health and the FSU College of Medicine’s Pensacola Regional Campus meet with students and community partners in the shared office space. Medical classes for students and continuing education courses for local physicians also take place there. Since 2003, FSU medical students have completed clinical rotations in Pensacola, and several UWF graduates have gone on to attend medical school at FSU. The college’s undergraduate nursing program ranks second in the state of Florida for percentage of students passing the NCLEX exam, with nearly 99 percent of UWF students passing the first time.

In August, a newly created online program, Medical Laboratory Technician to Medical Laboratory Scientist, or MLT to MLS, welcomed its first class of students.

“My goal as a PA will be to not only improve individual lives through the care I provide, but also work to meet community needs such as increasing access to care in rural areas and areas with the most need.”

—Meghan Albano ’15

UWF H E ALTH

“We’re finding ways to innovate and collaborate like never before. It’s about bringing our faculty and students together in an interprofessional way to provide authentic educational experiences that keep our students invested in this community.”

—Dr. Denise M. Seabert, Dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health

IMPACTFUL GIFTS Donor support continues to build the college’s momentum and capacity. In 2017, a $5 million gift from Dr. Usha and Mahadeb Kundu led to the enhancement of educational and experiential opportunities and naming of the college. In 2016, a $250,000 gift from the D.W. McMillan Foundation was given to support UWF’s undergraduate nursing education, naming the program the Dr. D.W. McMillan BSN Nursing Program. Most recently, the college celebrated a $250,000 gift from the Earl Hutto Foundation to name the Earl and Nancy Hutto Master of Science in Nursing program in the UWF School of Nursing.

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COLLABORATION IS KEY Creating these types of partnerships is a key priority of the UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. Under the direction of Dr. Denise M. Seabert, the new dean, the college is poised to strengthen its role in community health throughout the Pensacola region. Focus areas include helping members of our community access healthcare, and working toward establishing a healthy community while preparing students in a variety of health-related professions.

Seabert, who comes to UWF from Indiana’s Ball State University, has spent her career focused on the professional preparation of health educators. For more than 20 years, she has provided leadership in obesity prevention, HIV education and academic standards for health and wellness.

In conjunction with inspiring collaboration in the form of external partnerships, Seabert is looking to internally strengthen and create cohesiveness throughout the college. A new initiative invites each department to host a brown bag lunch, where faculty members can learn about other departments’ programs, outreach and research.

This internal connectedness on campus will inspire interdisciplinary projects and aid student learning and retention.

DR. YOUNGIL LEE experimenting on the ex vivo cardiac perfusion system with a UWF biomedical science student.

EARL AND NANCY HUTTO with UWF nursing students in the Simulation Lab.

UW F H EALT H

Fresh Faces in the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health Several new faculty members have joined the college during this time of change.

Dr. Crystal Lee joined the UWF Department of Public Health as an assistant professor. Born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, her research focuses on Native American/Alaska Native health and examining Indigenous health policies at a tribal, state, national and international level.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Simpson joined the Department of Exercise Science and Community Health as an assistant professor of biomechanics and motor control. He will serve as the director of UWF’s state-of-the-art biomechanics laboratory.

DR. JEFFREY SIMPSON monitoring a UWF exercise science student running through various fitness routines.

LOOKING AHEAD Next on the horizon for the college is to explore a physical community presence in downtown Pensacola and continue to enhance ways students across disciplines can gain meaningful clinical experiences through simulation labs.

“We’re finding ways to innovate and collaborate like never before,” Seabert said. “It’s about bringing our faculty and students together in an interprofessional way to provide authentic educational experiences that keep our students invested in this community.”

Dr. David B. Strohmetz is the new chair in the Department of Psychology. He comes to UWF after 22 years at Monmouth University in New Jersey, where he served as chair of the Department of Psychology and associate vice president for academic and institutional assessment.

Dr. Jacqueline Thomas comes to UWF as an assistant professor in the School of Nursing after 23 years of experience working as a family nurse practitioner in community health clinics, private practice and public health.

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EMERALD COAST ENG INE E R ING

Computer engineering student Aurburn Jones ’20 using the KUKA robot at UWF Emerald Coast location.

Engineering on the Emerald Coast A world-class education, close to home

BY JENNY PEDREZA

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n academic program is only as successful as those it graduates. At least, that’s what the faculty and staff for the engineering programs at University of West Florida on the Emerald Coast believe.

Just ask Dr. Thomas Gilbar, associate chair for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, to tell you where some of his recent graduates go to work after graduation. He can recite the extensive list from memory: Gulf Power Company; Escambia River Electric Cooperative; U.S. Air Force civilian positions; software companies; consulting companies and more.

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the success of each student, and I am very grateful for the amount of time, and perhaps more importantly, the quality of time that they put into this program,” said Daniel Grieco ’18, a graduate of UWF Emerald Coast’s electrical engineering program. “I am confident that my experiences at UWF prepared me for my career and provided me with every single opportunity to succeed.”

Immediately following graduation, Grieco began work for global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics.

He was selected to participate in the company’s engineering leadership program, which exposes employees to aspects of the engineering business. He also has been ac-

cepted into a master’s degree program at Johns Hopkins University, and his tuition will be fully covered through his participation in the leadership program.

“Our students get a lot more one-on-one, personalized attention than students at larger universities,” Gilbar said. “We have the high-tech equipment and the hot topic specializations of larger universities, with the close interaction of faculty, alumni and industry leaders found at smaller universities.

Our program is a perfect mixture, and that’s what sets us apart from other programs.”

More than 100 students study electrical, computer and mechanical engineering in Fort Walton Beach, three of the nine full

programs offered at UWF Emerald Coast.

Engineering has been offered at UWF Emerald Coast since 2001, and three dedicated full-time faculty members work exclusively at the Emerald Coast location. The ABET-accredited programs are steered by an advisory board made up of alumni, industry representatives and major employers in the area to ensure the programs remain aligned with industry needs and workforce demands.

A two-semester capstone, typically taken during senior year, is a hallmark of UWF’s engineering programs. The first semester targets career readiness. Students prepare resumes, participate in mock interviews, build team experiences and connect with leaders in the engineering industry. The second semester involves working with a team of peers to build something that requires a combination of knowledge from all previous engineering courses. Recent capstone projects from Emerald Coast students have included a sight, sound and touch table for the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach, as well as a

robot that remotely inspects power lines for damage.

The rigorous program isn’t for the faint of heart—but it does set students up for successful careers after graduation.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at UWF’s Emerald Coast location this May, Annaly Benitez moved to Seattle for an internship with AVA Retail, which develops technologies that track consumer patterns to impact retail sales. The internship helped further hone her skills. Once she launches her career, she said she plans to pursue a master’s degree in the field.

“UWF helped me get to this point by giving me the skills I need to be competitive in this market,” Benitez said. “The engineering program is very intense. The curricula isn’t about memorizing things—you have to actually practice algorithms, circuit testing and design to fully grasp the concepts. The program pushed me, but it made me realize that I was given all the tools I needed to be successful—I just had to try.”

“Our students get a lot more one-on-one, personalized attention than students at larger universities.”

—Dr. Thomas Gilbar, associate chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

1. With a location close to Eglin and Hurlburt Air Force Bases, U.S. military members are offered an education in engineering at UWF Emerald Coast.

2. Dr. Bassam Shaer with electrical engineering student, Joshua Schantz ’19.

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3. All UWF Emerald Coast engineering students have access to educational resources and tools such as the protoboard.

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4. Electrical engineering is one of the nine full programs offered at UWF Emerald Coast.

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JANE KUGE L MAN

Mrs. Kugelman with three of her grandchildren.

The Honor of Knowing

Kugelman Family Foundation builds a brighter future at UWF and beyond

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ust days before Jane Kugelman’s passing, Dr. Gregory Tomso spent an enjoyable afternoon at her home in Pensacola. The director of the UWF Kugelman Honors Program—named in honor of her family and the work they have done in the name of education—asked Jane if she had any special advice for the program’s future.

She paused thoughtfully before answering.

“Do you mean where you should go after this?” she asked.

“Yes,” Tomso responded. “Where should we be going?”

Her answer surprised him.

“You’re already there. You know what to 13

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do,” she said.

Tomso said this was a quintessential Jane moment.

“She knew she had done her work, and she knew that I had learned to see the world the way she did,” he recalled. “She never pushed, she never insisted and she never micromanaged. Rather, she taught, mentored and gave to those who shared her vision for a better world.”

As Tomso and other University leaders move forward without Mrs. Kugelman, her mark will not be forgotten.

“Her true legacy, even beyond the substantial gifts she has given to UWF and many others, is her vision for a better and

brighter future for the youngest and most vulnerable in our community,” Tomso said.

Together with her late husband, Jack, Mrs. Kugelman was a driving force behind the growth and development of honors education at UWF—and a catalyst for philanthropic leadership and giving throughout the greater Pensacola community.

The Kugelman Foundation, originally founded by Jack’s parents, Edgar and Sylvia, took its current form in Pensacola in the 1990s. Following the closing of the family’s Standard Distributing Co., Jack and Jane made many important contributions in the areas of health care and education, as well as other worthy causes.

LEFT: Mr. and Mrs. Kugelman MIDDLE: Jane McMahon Lauter with Mrs. Kugelman RIGHT: Mrs. Jane Kugelman in the 1980s

Outside of being a mother to four daughters, grandmother to eight grandchildren and great-grandmother to 15, Mrs. Kugelman’s most cherished role was serving as president of the Kugelman Foundation.

Today, Mrs. Kugelman’s granddaughter and namesake, Jane McMahon Lauter, has taken on that role. She said education has always been and will continue to be important to the foundation because it helps push our community and its people forward in all aspects of life.

“Both of my grandparents loved learning, were curious and wanted to make Pensacola a better, thriving community,” Lauter said.

“They were proud of their own educations and successes and wanted others to have the chance to do the same thing.”

She says her family has long been impressed by the quality of education provided

by UWF. “The small size of the school allows us to be involved and show the students our community as well,” Lauter explained. “It allows us to be accessible and help out these young, bright, inquisitive learners.”

When the UWF Honors Program took on the Kugelman name, the foundation directed its previous endowments to scholarships for needs-based honors students.

Additionally, their gifts provide support for facility and equipment improvements and upgrades, along with the program’s highly acclaimed international summer projects.

“As these endowments continue to grow

with ongoing gifts from the Kugelman Foundation, we are able to expand our honors mission of recruiting and educating the highest achieving students in our region,” Tomso said.

“With her help, students found their way to Europe, South America and Asia, with no ‘payback’ required except that they visit with Mrs. Kugelman and share stories of what they saw and experienced abroad.”

—Dr. Gregory Tomso The program director said the incoming class of first-year honors students has grown in size by 75 percent since Fall 2017, a direct impact of the philanthropic support received by the Kugelman family and other donors.

However, Tomso is quick to note that the endowments are not the most spectacular part of Jane Kugelman’s legacy at UWF. Little known to most members of the community is that Mrs. Kugelman, on her own initiative and outside the bounds of the Kugelman Foundation, personally gave to the Honors Program at UWF.

“In total, she gave tens of thousands of dollars to help UWF students experience the world beyond our classrooms, our campus and our community,” Tomso said. “With her help, students found their way to Europe, South America and Asia, with no ‘payback’ required except that they visit with Mrs. Kugelman and share stories of what they saw and experienced abroad.”

That was simply who she was.

When asked about the most important lessons she learned from her grandmother, Lauter said, “She taught me to be kind, to love big and to give the shirt off your back when you are able. She taught me the importance of doing good things in the community and giving back. There will never quite be another, but if I can be half the woman she was, then I know she will be proud.”

For now, Lauter said her primary goal as president of the Kugelman Foundation is keeping her grandparents’ names and legacy alive.

“They were so proud of their community, their family and the foundation; I hope to always honor and remember them in that light,” she said. “They both worked very hard to make sure Pensacola kept moving forward and it is our goal to always do the same.

We hope to continue to support and always give back to the causes that were important and close to the hearts of our grandparents, while also learning about new organizations and being involved in things we are passionate about, as well.”

LEFT: UWF honors students in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.

MIDDLE: UWF honors students with members of the Andean village of Huilloc in Peru.

RIGHT: Members of the Andean village of Huilloc in Peru still practice many of the older customs.

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UWF BUILDING A CYBER-SECURE COMMUNITY

BY TOM ST. MYER

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n today’s world, it’s more convenient to apply for loans, credit cards, medical care and countless other services online, but this comes with the added risk of sharing personal data over vulnerable networks, which means easy pickings for hackers.

Breaches at Equifax, Target and Yahoo! compromised millions of individuals’ personal data in the last few years. The name recognition of the corporations and the number of individuals involved generated national headlines, and shone a spotlight on how easy it is for a hacker to access your Social Security, bank account and credit card numbers.

“Our vision is driven by understanding and recognizing that cybersecurity affects each and every one of us.”

In 2017, identity theft impacted a record 16.7 million individuals, according to Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, Javelin Strategy director of the UWF & Research. AdCenter for Cybersecurity ditionally, it totaled $16.8 billion in stolen funds, a marked increase from the previous two years.

The University of West Florida is committed to reversing that trend by advancing cybersecurity innovation and resiliency.

Military and Department of Defense cybersecurity assets, growing industry and cyberconscious government agencies position Northwest Florida to be a thriving Cyber Coast, and UWF embraces the opportunity to be at the forefront of that movement. The University graduates talented cybersecurity professionals to fill a critical job shortage, and its Center for Cybersecurity is the premier regional hub and national exemplar for innovative cybersecurity solutions.

UWF emerged as a national leader in cybersecurity in 2016 when the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated it as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. One year later, UWF elevated its status with the designation as the Centers of Academic Excellence Regional Resource Center for the Southeast. UWF serves as one of nine hubs nationally and provides leadership to advance cyber defense education among colleges and universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and South Car-

olina. Additionally, the University devotes resources to educate and train cybersecurity professionals to build a cyber-secure community.

“Our vision is driven by understanding and recognizing that cybersecurity affects each and every one of us,” said Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, director of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity. “We need to build a culture of cybersecurity across the board through innovative solutions that integrate multidisciplinary education, research and training. Cybersecurity is everyone’s business.”

That mindset prompted the Center for Cybersecurity to launch its Cybersecurity for All program this year to provide innovative, modular and customizable education and training for business, government, military and academic sectors. UWF President Martha D. Saunders selected the Cybersecurity for All program as a Next Big Thing Initiative.

The Cybersecurity for All program is designed to significantly enhance workforce development and increase the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals for public and private partners. In addition, the Center for Cybersecurity launched the Florida Cyber Range to provide a cuttingedge virtual environment for education, research and training.

This year, UWF partnered with the state of Florida to enhance cybersecurity resiliency. The partnership included training courses for the Florida Agency of State Technology, which oversees cybersecurity across state agencies, and the Florida Department of State, which has made elections security a top priority.

TOP Basil Kuloba ’19 learns the latest in cybersecurity innovation and resiliency.

BOTTOM RIGHT UWF Center for Cybersecurity assistant director Guy Garrett instructs student Caroline Krouse ’20 in the UWF Cybersecurity Battle Lab. BOTTOM LEFT Justin Fruitticher ’20 and Caroline Krouse ’20 work in the Data Center, which provides the computing infrastructure to support the Cybersecurity Battle Lab.

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THE UWF CYBERSECURITY BATTLE LAB provides access to a simulated computer network that mirrors the topology and services of real-world, large- and small-scale computer networks to experiment with network attack and defense methods.

The Department of State proactively partnered with the Center for Cybersecurity to conduct training courses for supervisors of elections and key personnel to enhance cybersecurity resiliency ahead of the 2018 elections.

“The cybersecurity trainings conducted

by UWF’s Center for Cybersecurity were exemplary and provided state and local election officials with tools and information to help protect against the growing threat of cybercrime,” said Wes Underwood ’08, Deputy Secretary of State at the Florida Department of State and a UWF alumnus. “The Florida Department of State appreciates the valuable partnership with UWF and we look forward to collaborating with them in the future.”

The Florida Agency of State Technology initiated its partnership with the Center

for Cybersecurity in March with cybersecurity awareness training courses in Tallahassee. State agency personnel initially engaged in modules such as cyber incident response detection and managing network devices and later participated in a highlevel cybersecurity fundamentals online course.

While the Center for Cybersecurity breaks training barriers through state, industry, military and K12 partnerships, UWF faculty in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering prepare the next wave of cybersecurity professionals to secure the future.

Universities tend to move methodically when launching a program, but with the demand for cybersecurity professionals skyrocketing, UWF opted to act boldly. The College debuted the cyberse-

curity specialization Fall 2015, and three years later, UWF is the first institution in Florida to offer a bachelor’s of science in cybersecurity degree designated by the NSA and Homeland Security. In addition, UWF offers undergraduate and graduate programs and certificates that cater to students’ diverse interests.

The average annual salary for a cybersecurity professional with a bachelor’s degree is $85,000, and experts predict there will be 3.5 million job openings globally by 2021. The number of current cybersecurity job openings tops 13,000 in Florida alone, according to cyberseek.org. UWF graduates highly employable cybersecurity professionals to fill the critical workforce shortage.

“I have had the opportunity to visit many colleges and universities throughout the

DR. EMAN EL-SHEIKH, director of the Center for Cybersecurity, with UWF cybersecurity students in the Data Center.

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CATILINA SELF ’16 as an undergrad, specialized in cybersecurity and was a member of the UWF Artificial Intelligence Research Group.

Southeast, and while all have something to offer, I have yet to visit one with a cybersecurity program on the same level as what is offered at my alma mater, UWF,” said John Corliss ’08, ’10, Department of Homeland Security senior computer scientist. “The program at UWF has expanded significantly since I was a student, but it has kept the elements that make it truly great. From the instructors to the community involvement into and from the program, I definitely consider UWF as representing the best in cybersecurity education. I would highly recommend that anyone considering a career in cybersecurity take a good look at what UWF has to offer.”

Catilina Self ’16, holds the distinction of being part of the first graduating class who specialized in cybersecurity after UWF

was designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence. Today, Self serves on the Target Corporation Red Team in Minnesota, which simulates real-world attacks on the Target environment to uncover defensive control weaknesses.

Self credited her UWF education for preparing her for such a prominent position at the country’s second largest retailer.

“Due to the desperate need for information security specialists, I often find myself in discussions regarding cybersecurity in formal education,” Self said. “I am reminded of how fortunate I was to attend UWF. UWF has provided me a solid foundation that gives me a reference point for the broad topics we are responsible for as information security professionals.”

Self plans to return to her alma mater

this academic year to speak to cybersecurity students and potentially establish a recruiting pipeline for Target. She knows from personal experience that UWF produces cybersecurity professionals who thrive in high-pressure environments.

Academic excellence and innovative training by the Center for Cybersecurity distinguish UWF as a cybersecurity leader devoted to securing your future and protecting our world.

“The threat landscape evolves at a rapid rate,” El-Sheikh said. “We cannot afford to be reactionary. We pride ourselves on continuing to advance cybersecurity regionally and nationally. We embrace the opportunity to bring cybersecurity to the forefront through education, partnerships and community engagement.”

“UWF has provided me a solid foundation that gives me a reference point for the broad topics we are responsible for as information security professionals.”

Catilina Self ’16, Target Corporation Red Team Member

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ATH LE TICS

CORE STRENGTH: COACH KENT MORGAN FINDS A HOME AND A LEGACY AT UWF KENT MORGAN, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

BY WILL KENNEDY ’93

KENT MORGAN is responsible for designing and implementing the year-round Argonaut football strength and conditioning program.

n 2008, University of West Florida Athletic Director Dave Scott ’88 was considering adding a strength and conditioning coach to the Argonauts’ staff. At the same time, Kent Morgan was looking for a place to land after his wife, Amanda, took a job at the University.

It was perfect timing for a match meant to be.

Morgan, who graduated from Sam Houston State and then worked at Texas A&M University, came on board as a part-time coach, dedicated to building the UWF strength and conditioning program from the ground up.

“First thing I wanted to do was to make sure everybody who worked out had a positive experience and saw the benefit of it,”

Morgan said.

Since then, Morgan has helped train Argonaut athletes to go on and achieve more than 40 conference titles and three national championships.

Today, he oversees the daily operations of the Darrell Gooden Sports Performance Center, housed within University Park Center. With more than 5,000 square feet and state-of-the-art equipment and technology, it’s more than just a gym. It boasts one of the most useful, distinctive features of UWF Athletics and serves as a selling point for potential recruits.

“I feel like we have resources that a lot of Division II schools don’t have, which gives us an advantage to train our athletes to a more elite level,” Morgan said.

In the space designed by Morgan, UWF

MEN’S GOLF won the 2018 NCAA South/Southeast Regional and finished as the national runner-up at the NCAA Championships

PALOMA VACCARO finished as national runner-up at 2018 NCAA D2 Women’s Golf Championship

2018 UWF

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN’S TENNIS finished as national runner-up in 2018, ending the year with the highest ranking in program history (#2)

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athletes train on eight custom-built, twosided racks. The racks and equipment also incorporate iPads that track barbell speed and force, allowing Morgan’s staff to keep detailed records on how an athlete is performing during training.

He also coordinates an offseason competition for the football program called the Iron Argo Award. The player with the best academic standing, perfect attendance for weight room training sessions and best overall performance is recognized with the award.

“Kent has done a fantastic job for us,” said Pete Shinnick, head football coach. “He has made a huge impact on the development and growth of our players. We are very fortunate to have someone like him leading our strength and conditioning program.”

Morgan also designed and implemented a year-round strength and conditioning program for UWF football, the results of which are on display in the Argos’ unprecedented success in just two seasons of play.

He oversees a staff that includes an assistant coach and four graduate assistants.

Many of Morgan’s former assistants have moved on to full-time positions in Division I athletic programs. Developing the next generation of strength and conditioning coaches right here at UWF is what keeps him young at heart, Morgan said.

“One of the reasons I’ve stayed here is because at Division I schools, you don’t really have graduate assistant positions,” Morgan said. “You have full time positions. So if you get a job there, you’re not really developing other coaches.”

Morgan said he has turned down offers from other schools. He is building a legacy at UWF, and that fact is not lost on the man who hired him a decade ago.

“Kent Morgan has grown our strength and conditioning program into a highly respected program that not only develops student athletes, but produces graduates who become professionals at other institutions,” Scott said. “He has former Argonaut students working in athletic programs all over the country as strength and conditioning coaches.”

“I can continue to grow as a coach, as a person, but also have the ability to help young strength coaches get in the profession and help them get jobs,” Morgan said. “I find the most joy in that.”

“Kent Morgan has grown our strength and conditioning program into a highly respected program that not only develops student athletes but produces graduates who become professionals at other institutions.”

IRON ARGO AWARD—Football players with the best academic standing, perfect attendance for weight room training sessions and best overall performance are recognized.

ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2018 Kevin Ducros/Men’s Tennis (2008-2013) Shakira Duncan/Women’s Soccer (2009-2010)

Kaley Morris/Women’s Soccer (2006-2010) Daniel Vargas-Vila/ Baseball (2010-2011) Dr. Pat Wentz/Special Achievement (2009-2018)

—Dave Scott ’88, UWF Athletic Director

NEW HEAD COACHING HIRES in Softball (Ashliegh McLean ’12) and Swimming & Diving (Phil Kraus)

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Photo Credit: Morgan Givens

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LOVE AND SERVICE: UWF FOOTBALL’S ANTOINE GRIFFIN TAKES PASSION AND PURPOSE ON THE ROAD

BY WILL KENNEDY ’93

“Love is the big thing for me. I care about a lot of people, and that’s just the way I am.”

thing left to strive for.

“There’s times that I just live life, you know,” Griffin said. “I complain about things, then I go and see these people and wonder, why am I complaining? I just want to be thankful for everything.”

Under Eveillard’s leadership, MotivateMe started a UWF chapter, registering as a student organization on campus.

The group, which currently has 10 members with a goal to add more, spearheads food drives in Pensacola.

In December 2017, MotivateMe members went on a mission trip to Haiti, where Eveillard has family connections. The group helped provide gifts and supplies to children in need throughout South and Central Haiti.

Griffin will take part in the annual Road2Relief trip next summer, with plans to start in California before visiting all 48 contiguous states. Previous trips have taken the group to Jacksonville, Atlanta and other cities to help at various events or provide small services to those in need.

“A lot of times we make lunches for homeless people,” Griffin said. “That’s a simple way we can serve if we can’t find an event in a specific city.”

The work makes an impact on those being served, but also leaves a mark on those doing the service.

Griffin recalls working with drug

GRIFFIN kneels to pray before each football game.

addicts at a recovery shelter in Jacksonville who are being helped through the various stages of reincorporating into society.

“We met a man who dreamed of becoming a chef,” Griffin said. “He made it to level three when he got to start working in the real world. Now he’s out of the program, and he’s a chef in New Orleans. You see people evolve. Just to be a part of their life and hear their story is beautiful at the end of the day.”

Griffin said MotivateMe has opened his eyes to the world around him, and he hopes to put his finance degree to good use, helping the organization grow. Football is still a passion and in his blood, but service and love are there, too.

“I’m excited for whatever free time I have outside of football to help the organization,” Griffin said. “I enjoy seeing a different side of the world, a different side of life.”

Photo Credit: Morgan Givens

rgonaut senior wide receiver Antoine Griffin and fellow UWF student Ja’maal Eveillard have known each other since their high school days in the Tampa area. The two formed a bond on the football field, then decided to use that shared brotherhood to serve others.

“Love is the big thing for me,” said Griffin, a senior finance major. “I care about a lot of people, and that’s just the way I am.”

In 2014, Eveillard started talking about taking a road trip to cities across the Southeast to help and minister to the homeless.

“He had an idea and I said, ‘Let’s go do this,’” Griffin said.“I thought—this could actually happen, and said ‘Brother, let’s go.

Let’s not talk about it, let’s do it.’”

When Griffin was ready to join the movement, Eveillard was ready to roll.

“He saw what the mission was,” said Eveillard, a senior communication and film major. “He always had a heart for it.”

That first trip led to the formation of MotivateMe The Movement, a non-profit organization focused on empowering youth, aiding the homeless and giving to the people of Haiti through unity and a passionate support system. The organization’s mission is to empower motivated individuals to help revive dreams and motivate others who feel they don’t have any-

ALUMNI

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Day of Giving 2018

1,263 Argos

43

States

6

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$177,729.79 Raised in 2018 UWF’s first-ever Day of Giving proved that when Argos near and far hear the call to give, they answer. The numbers are already impressive, and we’re only getting started. Mark your calendars now for the second Day of Giving on April 18, 2019, and let’s see how far we can go.

dayofgiving.uwf.edu

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1 3 1. Alumni board members engaging with UWF alumni and the Pensacola community at the UWF football game against Shorter University.

2. Alumnae pose for a photo at the UWF Football Tailgate.

3. Alumni enjoy reconnecting at the GOLD, Graduates of the Last Decade, event at Old Hickory Whiskey Bar.

There are several new faces and fresh ideas this year. I would like to introduce some new members to our board:

FELLOW ALUMNI, We have another exciting year ahead of us. Our Alumni Association and Alumni Board are already at work developing plans to spread Argo pride and connect Argos worldwide this year.

Eric Brammer ’99 Mikia Carter ’14 Roy Oberto ’10 Brandon McFarren ’09 Greg Threadgill ’92 Chad Bailey ’99 Jarrod Dawson ’16 Whitney Fike ’07

Stephen Hester ’91 Paul Pratofiorito ’81 Nicole Stacey ’09, ’10 Luke van Blaricom ’00, ’03 Harriett Wyer ’92 We encourage you to get connected with one of the UWF Alumni Networks located in metro areas around the country. For a list of networks and upcoming Alumni Association events, visit our website uwf.edu/alumni.

Returning with service and experience are: Joel Balisteri ’98 Jeff Bedendaugh ’92, ’02 Sonya Daniel ’14

Stay Connected with UWF Alumni | Connect.uwf.edu |

Brett A. Barrow ’87 President UWF National Alumni Association

/UWFAlumni Fall 2018

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A LUMNI PRO FIL E S

Ginny Cranor

City of Pensacola Fire Chief

When Ginny Cranor began volunteering as a firefighter in 1993, she knew she had found her calling. Fifteen years later, she’s making history as the City of Pensacola’s first female fire chief. Learn more about her journey to success below.

You were a registered nurse and had been working in fire services for 13 years when you began pursuing your Bachelor of Science in Nursing. What made you want to further your education and why did you choose UWF? My time working as a registered nurse in the NICU inspired me to further my nursing education. Focusing my work effort on my fire career allowed me the time to enroll in UWF’s RN to BSN program. I had several friends from the NICU and other nursing fields who attended UWF and they were 27

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very pleased with the education. Even though there are several online options for this program, attending Pensacola’s local University appealed to me. I am a proud Argo!

Earlier this year, you became Pensacola’s first female fire chief.

What do you hope to accomplish as a leader for the city’s fire department?

I feel truly honored to have been selected to serve as fire chief. Obviously, my primary focus is the safety of this community and our firefighters. We have the profound honor

and responsibility of taking care of our residents’ fire companies and firehouses—in return, we have the privilege of taking care of them, their families and our city’s visitors.

You went back to school while working as a fire lieutenant. How did you balance school and your professional career and how did UWF help ensure that you were successful?

Ah, balance. A difficult objective indeed. I was excited about what I was learning and that is when the stars line up—when you enjoy the work you’re doing. My favorite tool at UWF is the library. I was in there every day that I wasn’t at the firehouse. I even studied for my fire captain’s exam there. The staff is so helpful and it is really a great space to focus on getting the education you need to build a high-speed life.

Renée Richardson

Artist in Residence, Academy of Vocal Arts

After graduating from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Music in voice performance, Richardson went on to earn a professional studies degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

She is now a resident with the Academy of Vocal Arts.

What does it mean to you to be admitted to the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts as a resident artist for 2018-19?

’15

Being admitted to AVA means the world to me. I’ve always dreamt of going there to really polish and solidify my craft. Making it through the finals round was a dream and being admitted was a dream come true. I’m so excited to embark on this journey! The quality of training that I am about to receive is incomparable.

You graduated from UWF in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music in voice performance—what inspired you to pursue music professionally?

Initially I was a biology major. I had no intention of pursuing music and I wanted to be a veterinarian. I joined the choir and pursued a music minor, but after being encouraged by some amazing voice faculty; Dr. Sheila Dunn, Professor Blake Riley, Dr. Lynne Lauderdale, Dr. Joseph Spaniola, Professor Howard Reddy, Hanan Tarabay, Dr. Michael Coleman and Dr. Hedi Salanki, I could not resist switching my major and

pursuing music. They believed in my gift and I wanted to give it a shot and believe in myself!

What role has UWF played in getting you where you are today?

UWF was really the beginning point of my musical journey. Without it, I would not be at AVA. I was taught, nurtured, encouraged and pushed. It was exactly what I needed at the time. In addition, I received tremendous support from my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. My sisters always encouraged me and attended my shows at UWF. I am eternally grateful! Go Argos!

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SNAPS H OTS

Smile!

Whether we gather at commencement, a banquet, network event or tailgate, our events provide the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation of your continued support. They are also a wonderful chance for you to socialize with fellow alumni, current students, staff, faculty and friends of the University.

Don’t miss out! We continue to add new events to the mix. For a look at upcoming events, visit alumni.uwf.edu.

Argo fans take a photo with Argie during the annual Argo Rally at Pensacola’s Fish House.

Alumni enjoy a double-header at the annual UWF Night at the Blue Wahoos Game.

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President Martha D. Saunders presented Pensacola philanthropists and business leaders, Quint and Rishy Studer, with Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees at the Spring 2018 Commencement ceremony.

UWF staff pose for a photo during the inaugural Day of Giving on April 19, 2018.

Over 1,250 people donated $177,700!

Alumni tailgate event in Argo Village before the UWF football team took on Shorter University.

S N APSH OTS

Alumni attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony led by alumna Ms. Shigeko Honda at the UWF Japan House in April.

A Spring 2018 graduate celebrates with family after the Commencement ceremony on May 5, 2018.

Graduates of the Last Decade, known as GOLD, reminisce and reconnect during an exclusive happy hour at Old Hickory Whiskey Bar in downtown Pensacola.

Dr. Ken Ford ’84, Suzanne Lewis ’78, Mort O’Sullivan ’73 and Harrison Peters ’99 shared their stories during the inaugural Argo Alumni Stories event, hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Quint Studer.

Brenda Carey and Rhonda Robinson attend the Heritage Club and Loyalty Luncheon at the Museum of Commerce.

Graduating student-athletes gather at the 2018 Donor and Student-Athlete Banquet.

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C LASS NOTE S

Class Notes 1970s ’73 & ’93 George (Al) Gardener, B.A. Accounting & M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Gardener is retiring as principal of Destin Elementary School in Destin, Florida. His retirement follows a decades-long career as an educator and administrator in K-12 and vocational schools. Another UWF alumnus, Joseph Jannazo ’14, succeeds him as Destin Elementary School’s newest principal. ’74 Daniel D. Hill, B.A. Studio Art; Hill has published his eighth book, “Peacock Revolution: American Masculine Identity and Dress in the Sixties and Seventies” (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018). ’76 Jerry J. McFarland, B.A. History; McFarland has published a historical fiction book entitled, “His Name Is Jacob Harris,” which focuses on the Civil War. ’78 W. Paul Bowers, B.A. Political Science; Bowers was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Georgia Ports Authority and received the 2018 Four Pillar Award. The Four Pillar Award, awarded by the Council for Quality Growth, recognizes an outstanding individual in the region and state of Georgia who demonstrates the “Four Pillars” of leadership—Quality, Responsibility, Vision and Integrity—and exemplifies the Council’s mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth.

’84, ’86 & ’00 Toni Whitfield, B.A. Theatre, M.A. Communication Arts & Ed.D.; Dr. Whitfield gave the College of Arts and Letters Commencement address at James Madison University’s May 2018 commencement. ’84 &, ’87 Ms. Elizabeth W. Walters, B.A. Political Science & M.A. Political Science; Walters was named senior vice president and general counsel of The St. Joe Company, based in Northwest Florida. This achievement follows more than 20 years of experience in business and real estate law in Florida. ’86 Auriette Lindsey (Hahn), B.A. Theatre; Lindsey was recently elected board vice president for the Baldwin County Genealogical Society. ’86 Michael B. Poole, B.A. Accounting; Poole was named CFO of Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida after a nationwide search.

He is also chair of the Florida Ports Financing Commission. ’87 Sgt. Matthew L. Evans, B.A. History; Sgt. Evans wrote a nonfiction book entitled “Who Am I and Where Did I Come From,” which describes his search as an adoptee for his birth family and a look into the post-World War II South’s views on adoption and unwed mothers.

Also included in the book is how to conduct genealogical research using online documentation and direct to consumer DNA testing. ’87 Benita L. Nichols (Savage), M.A. Communication Arts; Nichols was appointed to the USHEALTH Advisors, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. ’89 Robert W. Caylor, B.S. Marketing; Caylor was named head of sales at Worldnet, a leading international provider for omnichannel payment solutions.

1980s

1990s

’81 Veronique A. Spruill (Niles), M.A. Communication Arts; Spruill was recently named president and CEO of the New England Aquarium located in Boston, Massachusetts.

She is taking the helm at a time when the aquarium is seeing record attendance and pursuing an increased profile in the city.

’90 James G. Minmier, MBA; Minmier was hired as CEO of Extreme Plastics Plus, a leading U.S. environmental containment services company. With locations in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Colorado, EPP services nearly every major domestic oil and natural gas basin in the U.S.

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’91 Kari A. McGann, B.A. Elementary Education - Early Childhood Education; McGann was named superintendent of schools for Flemington-Raritan School District in Flemington, New Jersey.

This appointment follows a career of more than 25 years in K-12 education.

McGann focuses her efforts on access to STEM learning opportunities and is a national speaker advocating for excellence in education. ’92 Michael Weber, MBA; Dr. Weber was named dean of the new Graduate School of Business at the University of Maine. The new business school’s MBA program is the only graduate business program in the state of Maine accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. In addition to being an alumnus, Dr. Weber was an assistant professor of marketing at UWF from ’05 to ’06. ’93 Erica L. Moulton, B.S. Biology; Moulton and UWF English faculty member, Dr. Kelly Bushnell, are on an international, all-female expedition to the Arctic with Team Sedna. The multi-year expedition will collaborate with the Inuit and Inuvialuit people to study the effects of climate change on their communities and share possible solutions. ’94 Susan S. Bloodworth, B.A. Political Science/Pre-Law; Bloodworth was added as shareholder of Rogers Towers in St. Augustine, Florida. ’94 Adrienne H. Sipe (Hutto), BSBA Business Administration - Finance; Sipe joined First Horizon National Corp as senior vice president, small business administration lending director for First Tennessee Bank and Capital Bank. Sipe will oversee strategies, approach and execution for SBA lending across all areas of the company. ’95 Jessica Miller Klodnicki, B.A. Communication Arts; Klodnicki joined the Skullcandy brand in Park City, Utah as the chief marketing officer.

2000s ’98 & ’04 Bruce Alan Hockema, MAT Mathematics & Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction; Dr. Hockema, principal at Athens Christian School in Athens, Georgia, won the 2018 Varsity Brand “Most Spirited Principal Award.” He was selected from a national pool of educators.

C L ASS N OT ES

’01 Herbert Jason Harris, BSBA Business Administration - Management; after serving in various roles in the archery and hunting industry for more than 20 years, Harris was named vice president of sales at Primos Hunting. ’02 James Joseph Kerrell, B.A. Interdisciplinary Social Science; Kerrell was named head volleyball coach at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. ’03 & ’04 Shawn G. Hartley, BSBA Business Administration - Accounting & MAcc; Hartley was named CFO of Nash UNC Health Care in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. ’06 Bethany Snowden, B.S. Marine Biology; studied Borneo’s primate denizens, including the orangutan, and developed new ways to engage communities worldwide in primate conservation in Borneo in Summer 2018. Snowden, an animal care officer at Animal Care Services, lives in San Antonio, Texas, and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program. ’06 Erin M. Del Castillo, MSA Educational Leadership; Del Castillo was named principal of Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida. ’07 Samuel Cooper Ishee, BSBA Marketing & Market Research; Ishee was named on the “Jacksonville Business Journal’s” 2018 “Top 40 Under 40” list.

2010s ’08 & ’10 Katie Elizabeth Garrett, B.A. History & M.A. History; Garrett is opening her second cocktail bar in Pensacola, Florida; The Kennedy will feature 1960s-inspired cocktails and appetizers.

medical/surgical nursing, progressive care and pediatrics. ’10 Joseph J. Kneeland, B.S. Hospitality and Recreation Resort Management; Kneeland manages the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Destin, Florida that was awarded the prestigious “Bruce Reed Rally to Serve” Award. This award is given to only one Fairfield Inn & Suites property each year in recognition of its community contributions. ’11 Brett Bartek, B.S. Interdisciplinary Science; studied coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars and other wildlife while learning the methods communities are using to sustain them in Belize in Summer 2018. Bartek, an animal technician at Oklahoma City Zoo, lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is a graduate student in Miami University’s Global Field Program. ’12 Joshua N. Kaye, B.A. Music Education; Kaye is a quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. This award, presented by The Recording Academy GRAMMY Museum, recognizes music educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field and a commitment to the cause of keeping music in schools. Kaye is currently a music teacher at Hellen Caro Elementary School, Autism Pensacola’s Kids Camp and Ron Kaye’s Music Instruction in Pensacola, Florida. ’12 & ’18 Yashica M. Washington, B.A. Elementary Education/ESOL/Reading & M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Washington was recognized as the 2018 Glenn Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year. Her students showed a 75 percent learning gain on the math Florida Standards Assessments last year.

’15 Michael D. Routhier, B.S. Information Technology; Routhier was awarded a sixth-degree black belt in karate after training in Okinawa, Japan. He also earned his certification as a karate instructor, earning him the sensei title of renshi. ’16 Dustin R. Nelson, B.A. Exceptional Student Education; Nelson received the Santa Rosa County Rookie of the Year Award for 2018. He is a fifthgrade science teacher at West Navarre Intermediate School in Navarre, Florida.

In Memoriam ’69 Richard Phillip Chatham, B.S. Management ’69 & ’85 Edna E. McWilliams (Plant), B.A. Elementary Education & M.Ed. Educational Leadership - Curriculum & Instruction ’71 Joseph B. Lefter, MBA ’72 Linda Rudolph Campbell (LaRosa), B.A. English Education ’72 Clarence Robert Carr, B.A. Interdisciplinary Humanities ’72 Robert L. Ferguson, B.S. Interdisciplinary Sciences ’72 Ronald C. Johnson, B.A. Communication Arts ’73 Ireland L. Brock, M.Ed. Educational Leadership ’74 Dr. Kenneth R. Benoit, B.A. Music Education ’75 Albert M. Bandman, MBA ’75 & ’77 Beverly A. Seiple (Hatton), B.S. Marketing & MBA ’76 Ellen L. Conlon, B.A. Accounting ’76 & ’79 Jeanie M. Wallace (Kesnowski), B.A. Accounting & MBA

’09 & ’12 Jessica Patrice Ivey, B.S. Health, Leisure, Exercise Science & MA Health, Leisure, Exercise Science; former UWF women’s basketball player and assistant coach, Ivey was named head women’s basketball coach at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.

’14 Joseph D. Jannazo, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Jannazo has been named principal of Destin Elementary School in Destin, Florida, taking over for another UWF alumnus, ’73 & ’93 Al Gardner. Jannazo has been an educator and administrator in the Northwest Florida region for the past nine years.

’10 Lena Maria Dunn (Turchiarelli), FNP, BSN; Dunn was invited to join the prestigious International Nurses Association with her upcoming publication in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare. She has more than seven years of experience and expertise in

’14 Edwin “Carlan” Martin, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Martin was named principal of Marianna High School in Marianna, Florida. He has taught and held various administrative roles in middle and high schools across Florida for more than 30 years.

’80 Cheyney S. Geren (Sanderson), B.S. Sports Science

’77 Fred A. Mullins, B.A. Accounting ’77 & ’78 Olin D. Tisdale, B.S. Management & MPA ’79 Robert W. Griswold, MBA ’80 Lucea G. Davis, M.A. Reading

’81 Don W. Clemo, B.A. Interdisciplinary Social Science ’81 Martha L. Dickson (Lee), B.A. Social Work Fall 2018

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’81 Charles E. Norwood, MPA ’83 & ’85 Paul D. West, B.A. Social Work & M.A. Clinical Teaching ’86 Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, B.A. Philosophy & B.A. Political Science ’87 Charles W. Faircloth, MBA ’87 Martha A Patterson, B.A. Elementary Education

’87 James E. Thornber, B.A. Communication Arts

’95 Mary J. Hester, B.A. Business Administration – Management

’87 & ’88 David H. Shivers, M.S. Health, Leisure, and Sports & M.S. Health Education

’96 Patricia M. Griswold (Biltucci), B.A. Special Education

’90 Belie B. Williams, MBA ’94 Richard J. Ursrey, B.S. Physics – Engineering ’94 Diane K. Yates (Folse), B.S. Microbiology

’99 & ’07 Lynda Lee Jewett, B.A. English – Liberal Arts & MEd Curriculum and Instruction ’09 Justin Acoba, BSBA Management G. R. Chancellor, UWF Music Faculty

Dr. James A. Robinson 1932-2018 Dr. James A. Robinson, second president of the University of West Florida, passed away on May 7, 2018.

Robinson served as UWF president from 19741988. His major accomplishments at UWF include restructuring the academic colleges to traditional arts and sciences, business and education in 1979, switching to the semester system in 1981, and admitting the first freshman class in 1983. He also led the establishment of the campus art gallery, Edward Ball Nature Trail, Small Business Development Center, aquatic center, WUWF-FM, Argonaut baseball and softball teams, 400-meter track and computer center.

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In addition to serving as UWF president, Robinson served as director of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, vice president for academic affairs at the Ohio State University and president of Macalester College.

The first child in his family to attend college, thanks to a scholarship from the American Legion, Robinson was passionate about equal access to quality higher education for all people.

C L ASS N OT ES

A HISTORICAL LOOK back to UWF students enjoying time with friends in the University Commons.

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Connection University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514 uwf.edu/alumni

Don’t just leave your mark.

LEAVE THEM IN THE DUST. Our will is unstoppable. Our vision, undeniable. Together, we’ll blaze past old ways of thinking. We aren’t just making our mark. We’re making it unmistakable.

We’re showing the world what it means to live life without fear, without limits.

uwf.edu/NoLimits