Connection Spring 2023

CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Spring 2023

PRESIDENT Dr. Martha D. Saunders

VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Howard J. Reddy

ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS

Claire Stewart

Katie Schutts

Robin Zimmern

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brittany Sherwood ’14

MANAGING EDITOR

Colton Currier ’18

DESIGN DIRECTION

Jennifer Peck ’08

DESIGN

Hannah Bledsoe ’21

Carly Richards

PHOTO DIRECTION & PHOTOGRAPHY

Morgan Givens ’18

Conlan McKernan ’23

Joe Vinson

WRITERS & EDITORS

Allison Morgan

Stephanie Yancey ’96

CONTACT US

Web uwf.edu/alumni

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 HAVE

The University of West Florida prides itself on delivering a learnerfocused higher education. One of the ways UWF encourages innovative thinking and learning is by engaging undergraduate students in research. President Martha D. Saunders discusses how UWF has developed a culture that supports research and creativity.

How has UWF become a driving force in undergraduate research?

At UWF, we provide high-impact learning experiences as soon as students step foot on campus so that they can receive the greatest benefits from their academic journey. You’ll learn more about how students are finding innovative ways to make a difference in our community and beyond on page 15.

Q&A

What role does the Office of Undergraduate Research play in reimagining research?

The Office of Undergraduate Research ensures every student is able to participate in research and has a talented faculty member to guide them, with the training and funds to make the projects possible.

Explain the importance of discovery and exploration

Experiential learning inspires students to become enlightened and engaged worldly professionals. An educational environment that supports research sets students up for success when they graduate and enter the workforce or decide to pursue an advanced degree.

with President Saunders

Letter from the Vice President

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,

Since 1963, we have been a University committed to the enhancement and growth of our greater community. The stories in this issue of Connection Magazine highlight the dedication we share to that commitment.

In this issue you will read about faculty and students who are participating in groundbreaking research which impacts local and global communities. You will also read about the new Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership which seeks to be the premier leadership education resource in the Southeast.

On page 23, we spotlight the sites, surprises and upcoming exhibits at the UWF Historic Trust which has preserved, interpreted and shared the history of Pensacola and Northwest Florida for more than 50 years.

You will also read about the inaugural season of football on UWF’s campus, drawing thousands of alumni and fans to Pen Air Field and building a future of success and expansion on our beautiful campus.

We are here for good – for the good of our students, the community and for the good of society. Thank you for continuing to support our noble mission.

News & Notes

Recent news from the University of West Florida

Howard J. Reddy Vice President for University Advancement

Ranking among the best UWF was ranked in the top 10 public institutions in the region by U.S. News & World Report for 2023. UWF received badges for ranking among the top regional universities in the South in the following categories: Regional University South; Regional Public University South; Social Mobility; Best Colleges for Veterans; and Undergraduate Nursing.

The University was named a 2022 “Great College to Work For” for the tenth year, with special designation as an Honor Roll institution for the fourth straight year. UWF was also awarded the 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, Award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine for the fifth consecutive year and seventh time overall.

BRITTANY SHERWOOD ‘14

UWF launches new 2022-2027 Strategic Plan

The University launched its new five-year strategic plan. The plan maps out UWF’s institutional mission, president’s vision and strategic directions, goals and indicators of success through 2027. The final approval from the Florida Board of Governors is the culmination of an extensive process that included outreach to many stakeholder groups, including faculty, students, staff, alumni, business and community leaders throughout Northwest Florida and the state.

UWF professor and graduate student develop framework on rapid 3D modeling using swarm of drones

Dr. Hakki Erhan Sevil, assistant professor in intelligent systems and robotics, and Ph.D. student Shane Smith, were awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the U.S. Air Force for developing a framework for 3D modeling using a team of small drones. Their research aims to assist response teams in emergency situations, such as wildfires, disaster relief efforts, and search and rescue missions.

UWF study of suicide and opioid death rates in US pinpoints geographical areas of concern

Dr. Raid Amin, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dr. Rodney Guttmann, professor in the Department of Biology, and former UWF graduate students Misty Uher, Matthew Holley and Bradly Rivera-Muniz studied suicide deaths and associations with several factors, including opioids deaths. The observations have the opportunity to assist health agencies in these areas in identifying conditions that may be driving an unusually high rate of suicides and/or opioid deaths.

Honor Roll 2022

UWF nursing students participate in mass casualty drill

UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health nursing and health sciences students and faculty learned first-hand how to manage a disaster during a mass casualty drill in partnership with Santa Rosa Medical Center, Santa Rosa Emergency Management and LifeGuard.

UWF Haas Center earns University Center designation by US Economic Development Administration

The UWF Haas Center was awarded a five-year, $548,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to promote business development and employment among Florida veterans and minority business owners. The center aims to bolster Florida veteran and minority entrepreneurs by building wealth in sustainable businesses in the financial, professional, scientific services, manufacturing and transportation sectors. The project is one of only two such EDA University Centers in the state.

Eleventh National Merit Finalist and other top scholarship recipients welcomed to campus

The University of West Florida welcomed its 11th National Merit Finalist in six years this fall.

Amanda Serger was among approximately 15,000 students across the country who met the requirements for Finalist standing, out of an estimated 1.5 million high school juniors who participated in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship competition.

Six students were awarded the institution’s most prestigious scholarship, the Pace Presidential Scholarship, which is awarded to top Florida-resident incoming freshmen who show potential to serve as future leaders.

AMANDA SERGER

Mechanical Engineering major 11th National Merit Finalist

Bringing entrepreneurial ideas to life with SEA Makerspace at Museum of Commerce

UWF has opened the SEA Makerspace at the Museum of Commerce, a 1,000 square foot space dedicated to creative, entrepreneurial and artistic activities. The SEA Makerspace offers tools which compliment the capabilities of the University’s Sea3D Lab and the mechanical engineering lab such as laser cutters, woodworking tools, a vinyl printer, industrial sewing machine and embroidery machine, among other equipment. The space will be available to the UWF community first, with plans to make it available to the Pensacola community in the future.

New partnerships to enhance PSC2UWF

UWF and Pensacola State College announced a new agreement that provides access to UWF’s John C. Pace Library resources for students enrolled in PSC’s newly created business climate analysis course. This is an enhancement of the existing BAS to MBA agreement which established a special admissions process to expedite admission of students graduating from PSC with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Business Management into the Master of Business Administration program at UWF.

A legacy of giving

Drs. Muhammad and Fatema Rashid continue a legacy of giving to UWF through a $1 million gift to name the Dr. Muhammad Harunur Rashid Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. The Rashids have six endowments established in the college — the most established endowments to UWF by a donor.

A LEGACY OF Leadership

Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz gift is changing the landscape of leadership

BY STEPHANIE YANCEY ‘96

When retired U.S. Navy CAPT Tim Kinsella accepted the challenge to create and direct UWF’s newly formed Center for Leadership in Spring 2022, he had a dream of what the center could be.

Kinsella already knew a thing or two about leadership. His last assignment on active duty was as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola, where he led the installation through a devastating terrorist attack, a catastrophic hurricane and a global pandemic. As a result of those

efforts, Kinsella was awarded the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award last fall.

When it was time to seek a corporate partner for the center, Kinsella and UWF College of Business Dean Richard Fountain met with Justin Witkin, founding partner of Pensacola-based Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz law firm, and laid out the vision for the center.

“Justin immediately got it. Our vision aligned with his own firm’s vision of leadership,” Kinsella said. “I knew I wanted

to partner with these folks because they will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us along the journey. They didn’t just want to write a check. They really believe in what we’re doing and want to help us grow.”

Last fall, the firm made a $2.5 million gift to name the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership and enhance its initiatives.

“The importance of strong leadership in the civic setting — in schools, local government and other institutions — as well as in private sector businesses, has never been

greater,” Witkin said. “We could not be more excited about what the Center for Leadership will do to develop leaders in these challenging times and what those leaders, in turn, will do for Pensacola and all of Northwest Florida.”

The AWKO gift is helping to establish the center’s infrastructure and enhance its programs. Projected to launch in Fall 2023, the Executive MBA with a focus in leadership is an 18-month, online program designed for professionals with significant work experience. Executives will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of leadership in business and how they can be agents of positive change in their organizations and beyond.

The center’s executive leadership development seminars are week-long, high-impact experiences that provide executives the chance to step away from their everyday challenges and push the boundaries of their current understanding of themselves and the effect they can have on their organizations.

Kinsella said the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership is the first of its kind in the Southeast and will be an engine for forward progress in the community. “The AWKO gift has allowed us to be very entrepreneurial in how we create the center,” Kinsella said. “Our programs

are thoughtfully and strategically designed to unlock the leadership potential within these executives, challenge their paradigms of the type of leader they think they are and teach them how to strategically think about the type of leader they want to be.”

Kinsella said the best organizations have leadership coming from every level and every person, where people feel supported to present their ideas. “UWF is a great example of this,” Kinsella said. “President

Saunders and Dean Fountain have lifted me up throughout the entire process of making the AWKO Center for Leadership a special and extraordinary place. It’s so important to lift others up, to encourage others to do something that is beyond their own expectations.”

Kinsella believes leadership is very much a journey. “You’ve got to dream it. You’ve got to believe in it,” Kinsella said. “I believe in this project with all my heart.”

CAPT TIM KINSELLA JR., USN RETIRED, Howard J. Reddy and Dr. Martha D. Saunders unveil the new Center for Leadership name at a gift announcement on Sept. 20, 2022 with Justin Witkin, Bryan Aylstock and College of Business Dean Rick Fountain.

“It’s so important to lift others up, to encourage others to do something that is beyond their own expectations.”

— CAPT Tim Kinsella Jr., USN (Ret)

Education HAS NO LIMITS

UWF’s oldest students inspire others and prove education has no age limits

BY ALLISON MORGAN

Charley and Sheila Pritchett, married for 58 years, have built a love story that began and continues in a classroom

Alove of learning has always been a thread that has intertwined the lives of Charley and Sheila Pritchett. 96-year-old Charley and 87-year-old Sheila met in 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio, while they were both working toward earning their degrees. Charley earned his bachelor’s in business administration and Sheila received a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in European history. Decades later, the lifelong learners are inspiring all who know them on UWF’s Pensacola campus, and proving you are never too old to learn something new. In the fall, the

Pritchetts completed their 48th class in 22 years at UWF, using the Senior Citizen Tuition Fee Waiver, which allows them to attend classes for free, on a space-available basis.

“We’ve been in college for a long time,” said Charley. “I have gone to school at the University of Iowa, Northwestern, University of California - Berkeley, Xavier University and Cincinnati University. In addition, I taught speech, advertising and mass communications at Xavier and business writing at UC. We never tire of learning.”

Charley, a U.S. Navy veteran, held several different roles with magazine publications throughout his career and was also a sports

announcer. Sheila taught middle and high school. She also worked in the advertising and travel industries. When they retired in 1990, they did some research on where they would move. Despite having never been to Pensacola, it checked all the boxes and they settled at Azalea Trace, a retirement community next to the UWF Pensacola campus. Shortly after their move, they made a friend in their retirement community who told them about UWF’s senior audit courses and encouraged them to sign up for one. The couple has now completed dozens of courses, from Women in the Muslim World, their favorite course, to Political Economics, their most recently

“UWF has kept us active. We center our life around the school. During the summer time, when it is much quieter, we feel almost lost because of it.”

—Charley Pritchett, UWF student

CHARLEY SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY, worked at magazine publications and was also a sports announcer. Sheila taught middle and high school as well as worked in the advertising and travel industries.

CHARLEY AND SHEILA PRITCHETT inspire young UWF students in their class as they take courses through UWF’s Senior Citizen Tuition Fee Waiver program.

ever since.

completed course. Each semester, they look forward to what they will learn and the new faces they will see.

“A few years ago, I introduced myself on the first day. I said in seven years, I’ll be 100,” chuckled Charley. “The looks on students’ faces were so funny. Their mouths practically dropped and then they laughed. But the students treat us just like they would anyone else; they are always polite. I think they respect us a lot.”

Charley and Sheila try to blend into the crowd; they almost never speak up in class unless a professor specifically calls on them. However, with the life and learning experiences the couple has gained over the years, many professors want them in the spotlight, to share their knowledge with others.

“Normally they do not ask questions or make comments except after class,” said

Dr. Alfred Cuzán, distinguished professor in the Department of Government. “But now and then when I make reference to some personality, work of art, film or event of which only people of my generation or theirs know about from having heard or read about it, viewed it on television, or been there (as Mr. Pritchett did at Okinawa), I call on them.”

Charley has spoken to young students about his time fighting in World War II in the Battle of Okinawa. He also shared with

his sports and sociology class his experience as a sports announcer.

“They provide a living connection to the past,” said Cuzán, who has been their professor for a handful of courses.

The Pritchetts take full advantage of their student status, cheering on Argos at nearly every volleyball and basketball game. They can even see parts of the baseball field from their third floor home in Azalea Trace.

“We’re great sports fans. We always sit in the same seats so even the officials know us,”

ABOVE: The Pritchetts met in 1963 and have been inseparable

RIGHT: Charley and Sheila stand with their classmates in Dr. Alfred Cuzán’s political economics course.

Charley said. “UWF has kept us active. We center our life around the school. During the summer time, when it is much quieter, we feel almost lost because of it.”

The Pritchetts said they are continually in awe of UWF faculty members’ dedication to students and how intelligent their classmates are.

“It’s these younger people who are leaders of tomorrow,” said Charley. “We’re listening to the teacher, but we’re also listening to what students have to say.”

Charley and Sheila said they would encourage anyone who has access to a college to take a course and never stop learning.

“I think a lot of people don’t take advan-

tage of the program for senior citizens because they’re afraid they’ll be embarrassed,” Charley said. “There has not been one time that has happened. I think the students are kind of in awe of us a little bit because they don’t see people like us often. Education is so important. It’s number one for us, and it should be for anybody.”

CHARLEY’S SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY and Sheila’s service to her community are commendable.

“It’s these younger people who are leaders of tomorrow. We’re listening to the teacher, but we’re also listening to what students have to say.”

—Charley Pritchett, UWF student

Dr. James Arruda

Dr. James Arruda, professor in the University of West Florida Department of Psychology, is on the cusp of a patent for an early Alzheimer’s detection device.

BY ALLISON MORGAN

UWF and in collaboration with BIOPAC in Rhode Island.”

After dedicating nearly two decades to the study of Alzheimer’s Disease, Dr. James Arruda’s research has recently culminated in the development of an early detection device for the disease. Arruda and Californiabased company, BIOPAC Systems Inc., collaborated and reached a milestone in the development of the device last year (2022). The device is now in patent pending status, which means the patent application is being reviewed and one step closer to improving the lives of Alzheimer’s patients.

“The patent pending status provides us with protection while we continue to develop the device,” Arruda said. “We’re in the process of collecting clinical data to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease. My students have really risen to the occasion by assisting in the research both here at

Arruda, who was born and raised in Warren, Rhode Island, is conducting the research with Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School. They are studying people with mild cognitive impairment, which he said most scientists and clinicians believe is a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s dementia. Arruda says early detection may allow for the development of new treatments, including changes in behaviors that might mitigate the cognitive decline associated with the disease over the long-term. The electroencephalographic, or EEG device, that Arruda is developing would offer a diagnostic solution that is less invasive, more readily available and less expensive than other commonly used methods.

Arruda’s research began in 2003 when he first became a faculty member at Mercer University in Georgia and worked closely with another faculty member who studied the disease at that time.

“I always had an interest in measurement issues associated with the brain and its function so it was a natural move to take that interest in measurement and biology and apply it to the study of Alzheimer’s dementia,” Arruda said.

After eight years at Mercer University, Arruda took a faculty position at the University of West Florida. The marine environment of the region, combined with the natural beauty of the campus and the tightknit learning community, lured him to UWF and to the Department of Psychology.

“I enjoy both teaching and research, and by combining the two while working with students, I find it very gratifying,” Arruda said. “There are very few barriers between students and faculty and that’s what makes UWF special.”

Alumna Jessica Steele was a student of Arruda’s for several courses while earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UWF. Following graduation, she went on to work at the University of Florida as a research assistant for the Adolescent Brain and Child Development study which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. After that, she worked at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a program manager for the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center.

“It was really inspiring to have Dr. A. as a professor,” Steele said. “He does an incredible job of explaining really tough concepts and he does it with such a fun passion that it makes it enjoyable to listen to. He integrated humor into each course which made the information seem much less daunting. Students were always really scared of his courses because they were thought to be the most difficult, but they were my favorite. He also genuinely wants every student to succeed — I always felt that from him.”

When not inspiring students and conducting research, Arruda enjoys spending time with his family and fishing.

BRAIN FUNCTION fascinates Dr. Arruda who takes his interest in it to inspire students and advance research on Alzheimer’s Disease.

“There are very few barriers between students and faculty and that’s what makes UWF special.”

RESEARCH REIMAGINING

Office of Undergraduate Research casts convention aside

BY STEPHANIE YANCEY ’96

mention of the word “research” usually harkens thoughts of a scientist in a lab, wearing a white coat and peering into a microscope to study a specimen on a slide. While some University of West Florida students are conducting important research of that nature, UWF’s Office of Undergraduate Research is helping students reimagine the role research can play in a highimpact educational experience.

Undergraduate research at UWF can mean building robots or designing theater sets. It can mean researching the best use of social media or developing market research. From rockets to rituals, you can find research projects about them in OUR.

Dr. Allison Schwartz, director of OUR, said undergraduate research can look vastly different between disciplines, but the underlying principle is the same: exploration and discovery.

“Undergraduate research prepares our students for graduate school or the job market by developing communication skills, cultivating critical thinking techniques and gaining knowledge of time and project management,” Schwartz said. “It is taking what is known in students’ disciplines and applying it in real-world situations.”

Senior psychology student Olivia Cutshaw said the experiences she gained from participating in undergraduate research at UWF was instrumental in securing

a coveted summer research spot in 2022 at Northwestern University. Cutshaw worked with a team of early childhood researchers at Northwestern University to implement trauma-informed care programs in Head Start preschools.

“As a first-generation college student, the opportunity to live and work in a major city was so new and exhilarating, and it expanded my world view,” Cutshaw said. “Being in a cohort of undergraduate researchers from similar backgrounds helped me form friendships with individuals from across the country. They inspire me to be resilient and remind me that I have a place in academia.”

Senior environmental management student Monica Woodruff has been involved in undergraduate research since she was a freshman. Recently, she researched and produced an environmental justice video for the Environmental Protection Agency’s video challenge, which garnered her an honorable mention award.

Psychology major Olivia Cutshaw joins early education researchers at Northwestern University. Environmental management student Monica Woodruff develops a passion for advocacy through her research experiences.

“Undergraduate research prepares our students for graduate school or the job market by developing communication skills, cultivating critical thinking techniques and gaining knowledge of time and project management.”

Dr. Allison Schwartz, director of OUR

Woodruff also participated in collecting oral history audio interviews of Port St. Joe residents who lived in the environmental disaster zone created by pollution from the St. Joe Company paper mill. “Many who I interviewed had grown up in that community. They expressed that decades of water and soil contamination had made them feel tired and anxious. They didn’t feel safe drinking the water or allowing their kids to play on the ground. That experience gave me a passion for advocating for people impacted by environmental disasters.”

Junior legal studies and history major Laylah Curran’s research was a study on legislation, or lack thereof, designed to protect and decriminalize the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Northwest Florida. “It seems counterintuitive that you would have to tell people that children who are being sexually exploited should not be arrested for the crimes of a sex worker. But gaps in the law often make that scenario a reality,” Curran said.

Curran points out that child sex trafficking is a huge problem globally and locally. “Talking about the issue and knowing the signs of victimization is important, but identifying the flaws in the legislature is essential to abolishing these crimes,” Curran said. “My research helped to identify those flaws so advocates can inform legislators and develop support programs for victims.”

Domani Turner-Ward, a dual fine arts and biology major, has undertaken a variety of undergraduate research projects that combine scientific research methodology and artistic techniques.

A trip to Washington, D.C. with fellow UWF Kugelman Honors students and encouragement from mentor and professor Thomas Asmuth sparked an idea to use a 3D printer to create commemorative mini models of Horatio Greenough’s “George Washington” statue.

For another project, Turner-Ward created a 3-D printed model that displayed data from an environmental study using acrylic slides illuminated by an LED strip and governed by a microcontroller. “This is, at its core, an effort to make data accessible to a wider audience so that non-specialists can engage with the information meaningfully and provide new perspectives,” TurnerWard said.

Brooke Wagner, a senior psychology major, served on a research team that

developed a survey for UWF faculty designed to explore their perspectives about students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and a survey for students with ASD about their classroom experiences. The team used the data results to suggest strategies for teaching those students and identify techniques that will help them have a successful college experience. “I think all research is cool and discovering something new is awesome. But when you’re addressing an issue that affects a lot of people, it is so rewarding,” Wagner said. OUR has a variety of resources to help first-time researchers, and students often make their first jump into research by joining other students already experienced in undergraduate research. The Solar Car team is one such project.

This is, at its core, an effort to make data accessible to a wider audience so that non-specialists can engage with the information meaningfully and provide new perspectives.

Domani Turner-Ward, fine arts and biology major

Dual art and biology major Domani TurnerWard uses 3-D printing technology to create a model demonstrating data from an environmental study and to produce mini replicas of Horatio Greenough’s “George Washington” statue.

Students Lillie Herbert, Kira Benton, Joshua Wells, Noah Haller, Brenden Perez, Jeff Jean Philippe and team lead Amir Rabbani are working under the mentorship of professor John Stutz to design and build this year’s solar car. Each student is responsible for a different component of the car and they bring together those components to produce a single, innovatively designed car powered by renewable solar energy. The team’s ultimate goal is to out-perform other entries at the Formula Sun Grand Prix contest which will take place in Topeka, Kansas this summer.

Jean Philippe, a junior mechanical engineering student, said he has learned skills not typically associated with that profession, like seeking corporate sponsors. “We had to develop materials and give presentations to potential business partners,” said Jean Philippe. “I was nervous giving presentations at first. But it has been a really cool experience and now I really like it.”

Jean Philippe said sometimes it is hard for college students to pinpoint what career fields they are interested in. “Research projects like the solar car expose you to other fields and new possibilities.”

The Solar Car team brings together their individual talents in the pursuit of winning the Formula Sun Grand Prix.

For first-time researcher Rafael de Souza Filho, his study on consumer behaviors and negotiations would not be possible without the guidance of his faculty mentor, Dr. James Mead. “Dr. Mead has helped me every step of the way. He has helped me think through the scope of my study and guided me in the development of how it will be implemented.”

Schwartz said the OUR program could not exist without the selfless dedication and generosity of UWF’s talented faculty mentors. “The access students have to our professors’ time, talent and wealth of knowledge is unsurpassed,” Schwartz said. “Larger universities often have too many students to make undergraduate research widely accessible. One of the things that sets us apart and is unique to UWF, is our commitment to student engagement. It has become our niche. I want every student at UWF to know there is a place for them in undergraduate research.”

Woodruff said undergraduate research provides students with real-world experiences that just aren’t possible in a classroom; and it’s something every student should consider. “At UWF, every undergraduate has the opportunity to participate in research, no matter their background, where they went to high school, or whether or not they are in the honors program,” Woodruff said. “It’s one of the things that makes UWF extraordinary.”

“At UWF, every undergraduate has the opportunity to participate in research.”

Monica Woodruff, environmental management major

Students Jeff Jean Philippe and Brooke Wagner’s participation in undergraduate research creates high-impact learning experiences and prepares them for life’s next steps.

UWF FOOTBALL

BEGINS A NEW ERA ON UWF PENSACOLA CAMPUS

BY ALLISON MORGAN

There is a palpable energy at the start of the fall semester each year on UWF’s Pensacola campus. The buzz of students meeting and greeting and the sounds of the band and football team practicing on Pen Air Field fill the air. The audible excitement spilled into many Saturdays this past fall as the UWF football team played its entire home schedule at Pen Air Field for the first time in program history. For five regular season home games and two postseason games, Argo fans came out and enjoyed a college game day atmosphere among the pines on UWF’s beautiful, 1,600-acre campus.

“When the University announced the creation of a football program, the goal was to enhance student life and provide a traditional collegiate experience for students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, fans

and the community, and to play games on campus,” said Dave Scott, athletic director. “We had a great experience at Blue Wahoos stadium, and we appreciate the support from the City of Pensacola, and the Blue Wahoos organization for creating a unique environment for football. However, it was time to move football to campus.”

UWF’s football team had played at Blue Wahoos Stadium in downtown Pensacola since the program began in 2016. Complications surrounding the newly installed artificial turf and the ability to schedule games at the stadium arose, prompting the program to move home games to the UWF Pensacola campus. The change also saved the program money. The first home-game test run in 2021 had already proven the move successful. The game resulted in record on-campus event

attendance, attracting 5,463 fans. That Pen Air Field record was broken last season when 5,503 fans showed up at the homecoming game versus Mississippi College.

“Game day Saturdays have become a part of the campus culture with organizations and events centered around football games,” Scott said. “Homecoming and Family Weekend have become significant campus events for alumni and students during the fall.”

The permanent move of all home games accomplished a goal of positively impacting the student experience and increasing student participation, but required much planning and action in a short amount of time. The Argos athletic administration had only months to secure chairback seating on the home sideline and bleacher seating on the visitors’ sideline.

Food trucks were arranged, a large video board set up, banners, VIP areas, tailgating, and Argonaut Athletic Band and Women’s Cheer team performances before the game.

“It took a campus team effort for the change to take place in a six-month timeline,” Scott said. “We had some employees that put in a lot of extra work to make it happen. Tony Nguyen, Garron Lucius, Ray Brooks and many other staff

put in countless hours to get the job done. There was a tremendous effort to secure the bleachers and auxiliary equipment to make a welcome and comfortable environment for the Argo Nation and the Northwest Florida community. We could not have done this without the help from numerous departments on campus that played a role in bringing football to campus.”

The long-term goal is to build a stadium on campus. The University has secured Goodwyn Mills Cawood Architect

firm to develop concept designs of a 10,000 seat stadium. Athletics staff are working with the University administration and Facilities Services to look at phasing options for the stadium and potential revenue sources.

It’s safe to say the UWF football team is thriving on campus. The team won all but one game at home and made it to the NCAA D2 Semifinals.

Now the team looks forward to its new head coach, Kaleb Nobles, continuing the legacy of building champions for life.

“GAME DAY SATURDAYS HAVE BECOME A PART OF THE CAMPUS CULTURE WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTS CENTERED AROUND FOOTBALL GAMES.”

— Dave Scott, UWF director of athletics

HIDDEN TREASURES IN

BY STEPHANIE YANCEY ’96

There’s a place downtown where history, art, architecture and culture collide in the very best way. It’s a place you probably already know, but this destination holds so much more than the precious artifacts it is known for. Historic Pensacola encompasses nine acres and 30 properties, 12 of which are open to the public.

The Pensacola Museum of History is where you will find a permanent exhibit on the history, archaeology and preservation of the City of Five Flags, in addition to changing exhibits. Voices of Pensacola tells the stories of the cultural groups that have shared Pensacola’s history.

The Museum of Industry and Museum of Commerce are hosts to permanent exhibits depicting Pensacola’s downtown and industries circa 1890s.

The Children’s Museum offers fun, hands-on exploration of Pensacola’s history for ages two to 12.

Just want to see what’s inside of those amazing old houses in Historic Pensacola Village? Between guided and self-guided tours, you can visit seven historic properties in one day. One of them has a hidden speakeasy — see if you can discover which one!

The Historic Village tour will lead you through these four gems:

Lavalle House

1805 French Creole colonial architecture depicting frontier life

Lear/Rocheblave House

Circa 1890 Folk Victorian architecture boarding house

Dorr House Greek Revival, Post Civil War-era Victorian family home built in 1871

Old Christ Church

Among the oldest surviving church buildings in Florida, completed in 1832

Tack on these stunners with a self-guided tour:

Julee Cottage New Orleans French Quarter Creole cottage representing a working-class, African American family during the era of Reconstruction circa 1805

Appleyard Storytelling Cottage Post Civil War-era Gulf Coast cottage built in 1880

Manuel Barrios Cottage

Circa 1888 Gulf Coast cottage with a 1940s USO flair

Along the way, you’ll enjoy the Pensacola Outdoor Project (POP) Murals Trail, a series of large, mounted photographs or graphic versions of historic scenes on buildings throughout downtown Pensacola. Visit all seven murals to explore Pensacola’s history while enjoying the vibrant downtown culture.

Stay tuned for a new and improved train, adjacent to the Museum of Industry. Through the generous gifts of the late Barbara Goggins, the train will receive further improvements including a covering, lighting and interactive elements for children.

WHAT ELSE COULD POSSIBLY BE IN THE WORKS IN HISTORIC PENSACOLA?

Upcoming exhibits at the Pensacola Museum of Art:

69th Annual PMA Members

Show featuring work by 2022 Best in Show Winner Nonney Oddlokken

Through May 28, 2023

SynThesis: BFA Exit Exhibition

April 21 - May 14, 2023

House Pencil Green: PlasticZoom-O-Rama

June 9 - September 17, 2023

Message from Our Planet: Digital and Media Art

September 29, 2023January 7, 2024

For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Pensacola Museum of History will present exhibits featuring: The World’s Fair

May 2023

Pensacola Port TownQuarantine Station

June 2023

Northwest Florida team sports July 2023

The West Indies Squadron Traveling Exhibit in 2023

An interactive hospital/medical exhibit for children at the Pensacola Children’s Museum

October 2023

RIDE WITH ARGO PRIDE

Get $20 when you switch to a UWF plate.

Let everyone know you support the Argos by sporting the UWF license plate tag in the state of Florida. For a limited time, UWF will provide a $20 rebate when you make the switch.

If you already have your plate — thank you! If not, don’t miss this chance to get yours for less by applying for your tag before June 30, 2023.

Learn how to make the switch by visiting

uwf.edu/licenseplate

LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

HELLO ARGOS!

I am a staunch advocate for the UWF community and believe we have so much

untapped potential here locally, and throughout the Argo alumni network. Make sure to check out alumni.uwf.edu to learn about all of the benefits, programs and discounts you have at your fingertips as a UWF graduate. Connect with us on social media with @UWFalumni or #UWFAlumni.

GO ARGOS!

Stay Connected with UWF Alumni | Connect.uwf.edu | /UWFAlumni /UWFAlumni ALUMNI

Spring 2023 26

SAVE

I am so grateful for all of your work and participation in the past year. You showed up in record numbers to alumni happy hours, watch parties, virtual get-togethers and throughout our social media channels. As the UWF Alumni Association president, I know our board has worked tirelessly with UWF Alumni Relations staff to create resources, opportunities and events where every Argo alumni can connect, network and take pride in their alma mater.

Katie Harms

From the nature trails of UWF’s Pensacola campus to the ones of Juneau, Alaska, Katie Harms has always found happiness in the outdoors. When she graduated from UWF in 2012, her sister, who is in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Juneau at the time, inspired her to move to the opposite corner of the country.

Alumni Profile:

“It’s wonderful — I’ve always loved the outdoors and wild spaces,” Harms said. “There are more miles of trails than roads here. I feel like I’m living everyone’s bucket list everyday.”

Since 2014, Harms has worked her way up to executive director at Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc., a private, nonprofit salmon hatchery that raises

salmon to release into the wild to enhance commercial, sport and personal use fisheries. She manages the corporation’s two hatcheries, including its finances and public relations. She is responsible for providing updates to a 25-member board of directors. Prior to becoming executive director, she was the tourism and education manager where she hosted tourists and school groups at the hatchery’s visitor center. Harms said her marine biology degree gave her a solid education to jump start her career and her experience as a resident assistant gave her the experience needed to manage and work with a variety of people.

“I learned a lot in class,

but I believe my current successes came from being a resident assistant,” Harms said. “I learned a lot about working with different personalities and being able to work with people who are different ages.”

Executive Director, Douglas Island Pink and Chum, Inc.

KATIE HARMS, takes her love for the outdoors to new heights in her leadership role at a private, nonprofit salmon hatchery.

Sean Mullins

Owner, Pensacola Vibes

Sean Mullins’ education in advertising and art, coupled with his passion for Pensacola, led him to launch the lifestyle brand, Pensacola Vibes. Pensacola Vibes shares a love of Pensacola through merchandise, including clothing, stickers and photography prints. Mullins, who majored in advertising and minored in art, very simply came to the idea to start his own business in 2015.

“I started by sharing my photography of the city and nature trails on a Google drive and it just kind of took off,” Mullins said.

Pensacola Vibes has a website where visitors can purchase a variety of items. Mullins also has a large following on social media. The Facebook page “Pensacola Vibes” has more than 119,000

likes and more than 180,000 followers. Mullins was able to experience the surprise and excitement of “going viral” in 2015.

“I put a GoPro camera underwater and brought it out when the Blue Angels were flying overhead during sunset,” Mullins said. “I posted it, not even thinking it was that great of a video, and the next morning when I woke up, it had been shared thousands of times and by the official U.S. Navy Blue Angels Facebook account.”

He said his experience as a graphic designer and website developer as well as his UWF education helped him launch his own business and understand the basics of advertising and his target audience.

“People are very proud of the City of Pensacola, as am I, so I have tried to showcase it in a way that it deserves, and upkeep the reputation of it,” Mullins said.

Photo courtesy of Steven Gray.

SEAN MULLINS’ company “Pensacola Vibes” has merchandise for sale online such as prints of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

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.

Donor Dinner

UWF held its annual Donor Recognition Dinner on June 9, 2022, at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center in downtown Pensacola to honor and recognize donors in lifetime giving societies. These alumni and friends have helped to open doors of opportunity for UWF students.

UWF students competed in a Ping Pong Tournament and had the opportunity to challenge Dean of Students, Dr. Mary Anderson, in the University Commons.

Heart Walk Challenge

On Sept. 8, 2022, UWF staff, faculty, students and fans met on the Cannon Green to host the first Heart Walk on the UWF campus in support of the American Heart Association.

Downtown Lecture Series: Clyde Butcher at PMA

On Sept. 8, 2022, UWF staff, faculty, UWF Downtown Lecture Series and the Pensacola Museum of Art hosted an Evening with Clyde Butcher, artist of “America’s Everglades: Through the Lens of Clyde Butcher.” Attendees enjoyed a reception and exhibit viewing, an artist talk and a book signing.

Homecoming Tailgate

Students, alumni and fans enjoyed the first Homecoming tailgate experience on the UWF campus as the Argos faced off against Mississippi College on Oct. 22, 2022.

Dean’s Challenge Ping Pong Tournament

State of the University

President Martha D. Saunders highlighted the staff and faculty for their resilience and achievements coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-rising ceiling of growth for UWF during the annual State of the University address on Oct. 12, 2022, in the UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre.

Rashid Naming

Drs. Muhammad and Fatema Rashid committed over $1 million to support the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of West Florida. Dr. Muhammad Rashid was a former professor in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering and was instrumental in developing the electrical and computer engineering program at UWF.

COB Hall of Fame

The College of Business inducted its 2022 Hall of Fame class on Oct. 28, 2022, at the UWF Commons Conference Center. The Hall of Fame was established in 2021 and inductees are College of Business alumni or supporters who have excelled in their careers and positively impacted society.

Alumni Breakfast

The UWF Alumni Association hosted alumni for a breakfast and social gathering on the Museum Plaza in downtown Pensacola on Oct. 21, 2022.

Celebrating the Military Family Event

The University of West Florida and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation presented “The Resilient Military Family” featuring Karen Kelly, wife of retired U.S. Marine Corps General John Kelly, on Nov. 4, 2022, at the UWF Commons Auditorium.

Maker Faire

The Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering hosts the inaugural Pensacola Maker Faire in downtown Pensacola on Nov. 12, 2022. The Faire featured more than 75 creative makers alongside their work, including performances, crafts, exhibits and hands-on workshops.

Class Notes

1970s

’71 Gerald Cox, B.A. Mathematics; After a 50-year career teaching mathematics, Cox retired in July 2021.

’73 & ’78 Dr. William Rone, B.A. Accounting & MBA; Rone was inducted into the Defense Credit Union Council’s Hall of Honor at their annual conference in San Antonio, TX in July 2002. Rone has served on Eglin Federal Credit Union’s board of directors for over 38 years.

’74 & ’75 Richard Leslie Appleyard, B.S. Marketing & MBA; Appleyard was inducted into the UWF College of Business Hall of Fame 2022 class.

’74 & ’75 Jerry Louis Maygarden, B.A. & M.A. Communication Arts; Maygarden was inducted into the UWF College of Business Hall of Fame 2022 class.

1980s

’84 ’86 & ’00 Dr. Toni S. Whitfield, B.A. Theatre, M.A. Communication Arts & Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction; Whitfield celebrated her 22nd year at James Madison University and completed a study abroad program she created called Organizational Culture in the U.K.

’85 Marian O’Shea Wernicke, M.A. English; Wernicke announced that her new novel, “Out of Ireland,” will be published in April 2023. Her first novel, “Toward That Which Is Beautiful” (2020) was a finalist in literary fiction in the 2021 Independent Book Awards.

’86 Shelley D. Reynolds (Guy), B.A. Political Science; Reynolds was appointed to the First Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

’87 & ’92 Kim MacQueen, B.A. & M.A. Psychology; MacQueen and her husband Julian were inducted into the UWF College of Business Hall of Fame 2022 class.

’89 Pamela A. Bilbrey (Anderson), MBA; Bilbrey was inducted into the UWF College of Business Hall of Fame 2022 class.

1990s

’90 Lori K. Kelley, B.A. Accounting; Kelley was reappointed to the Northwest Florida State College District Board of Trustees by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

’90 & ’94 Julie Helen Porterfield (Sacco), B.A. Legal Administration & MPA; Porterfield was inducted into the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame.

’91 Stacey A. Darhower (Fowler), B.A. Legal Administration; Darhower was inducted into the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame.

’92 Dr. Lucian Boldea, B.S. Chemistry; Boldea was named president and CEO of performance materials and technologies at Honeywell in October 2022.

’92 & ’94 Allison Hill (Spencer), B.A. Accounting & MAcc; Hill was inducted into the UWF College of Business Hall of Fame 2022 class.

’92 & ’97 Dr. Tony Pittarese, MBA & M.S. Computer Science; Pittarese was appointed as the dean of the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University in June 2022.

’94 Shannon P. McDaniel, B.A. Interdisciplinary Humanities; McDaniel was promoted to executive vice president at BRG Communications in Alexandria, VA.

’96 & ’19 Angela Jean Mott (Shepherd), B.A. Pre-Kindergarten & M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Mott was named assistant principal of Beulah Elementary School in Pensacola.

’96 Matthew E. Novak, B.A. Communication Arts, Novak was named president of Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida, by BayCare Health System. Novak’s 20-year career at BayCare includes serving as the previous president of St. Joseph’s Hospital-South and Mease Hospitals.

’98 & ’15 Tammy Lynn Douglas, B.A. Special Education & M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Douglas was named principal of Sherwood Elementary School in Pensacola.

’99 The Honorable Randall Todd Harris, B.A. English; Harris was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve as judge on the First Judicial Circuit Court.

’99 Mary Jacqueline ThurlowLippisch, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Thurlow-Lippisch was reappointed to the South Florida Water Management District by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

’99 Jennifer H. Watson, B.A. Elementary Education; Watson was named assistant principal of Navarre High School in Navarre, Florida.

2000s

’00 Laurie Elaine Bedford, B.A. Elementary Education; Bedford was named assistant principal of Navarre High School in Navarre, Florida.

’00 & ’02 Thomas DuVall, B.A. & M.A. Psychology; DuVall was promoted to regional psychology services administrator for the MidAtlantic region for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

’00 Dr. Karyn Tapley, B.S. Marine Biology; Dr. Tapley earned an MBA from Boise State University in Summer 2022 and is now serving as the medical director at Wave Men’s Clinic in Pensacola.

’01 Lynette Yvonne Bledsoe, B.A. Social Work; Bledsoe graduated with a Doctorate of Social Work from Tulane University in 2022.

’02 Rev. Geoffrey Douglas Lentz, B.A. Psychology; After spending the last 10 years at First United Methodist Church in Port St. Joe, Lentz has been named pastor of First United Methodist Church of Pensacola.

’03 Patricia Gibson, M.A. IndustrialOrganizational Psychology; Gibson is a GS-14 division head and is celebrating 21 years of service in the U.S. Navy.

’03 Alicia Marie Ruttinger (File), BSBA Accounting; Ruttinger joined the board of the Arizona chapter of the Gift of Adoption Fund, a nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to help families complete domestic and international adoptions.

’04 Sheldon Forest Bernau, MAcc; Bernau was appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

’04 The Honorable Michael Shawn Kohler, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Kohler was elected County Commissioner for District 2 of Escambia County, Florida and assumed office in November 2022.

’05 & ’16 Dawn Noel Fulton (Hester), B.A. Communication Arts & M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Fulton was named assistant principal of Bellview Middle School in Pensacola.

’06 The Honorable Thomas Williams, B.A. Political Science; Williams was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve as judge on the First Judicial Circuit Court in November 2021.

’07 & ’16 Klinton Lay, BSBA Management & M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Lay was named interim principal of Central School in Milton, Florida.

’07 Hong Dang Potomski (Tran), M.A. Health Communication & Leadership, MBA; Potomski was named senior director, regional business development at Florida Blue. She is a current member of the UWF Foundation board of directors and a past member of the Alumni Association board of directors.

’07, ’11 & ’17 Catherine Anne Rudd, B.A. Elementary Education, M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Rudd was named principal of Escambia Westgate School in Pensacola.

’09 Ashli Nicole Johnson, B.S. Hospitality, Recreation & Resort Management; Johnson was named the inaugural executive director of the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at the Howard University School of Business.

2010s

’10 & ’17 Samantha Kristen Davis, B.A. Elementary Education, B.A. Exceptional Student Education, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Davis was named assistant principal of Central School in Milton, Florida.

’10 Brandi Gentry, MSA Educational Leadership; Gentry was named assistant principal of Bellview Middle School in Pensacola.

’12 Sarah Savannah Stanford (Best), B.A. Art & Graphic Design; Stanford was named the new multimedia communications specialist for library services in Escambia County, Florida.

’12 Tara Rochelle Palasciano (Noble), Ed.S.; Palasciano was named principal of Bailey Middle School in Pensacola.

’12 Nancy Robin Prout, Ed.S.; Prout was named assistant principal of Montclair Elementary School in Pensacola.

’13 Billieanne Gay, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Gay joined AnheuserBusch as its new director of state government affairs for the Southeast.

’15 Amy Fenicle, BFA Musical Theatre; Fenicle performed as Flounder in “The Little Mermaid” at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, PA.

’15 Brian Knowles, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Knowles presented “Affirming the History and Culture of Black Children: The Five Pillars of Institutional Change in Education” at the annual African American and Caribbean Studies Summer Institute in June 2022.

’16 Cameron Erb Parker, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Parker was named acting principal at Booker Elementary School in Sarasota County, Florida.

THE FINAL BATTLE

Join us on April 20, 2023, for the final Battle of the Decades competition for UWF Day of Giving. The Battle of the Decades competition challenges UWF alumni decades to see who can bring in the most dollars and the most single gifts for their alma mater on Day of Giving.

In our first competition in 2021, the 90s decade won out for the most dollars raised. In 2022, the graduates of the 60s & 70s became the reigning champions. Who will take home the final Battle of the Decades title in 2023? Join us on April 20 to find out!

’19 Maxwell Wolfgang Gray, BSBA Supply Chain Logistics Management; Gray was awarded his Wings of Gold at NAS Whiting Field in August 2022 and has been assigned to fly MH-60S Seahawk helicopters. His father and grandfather were also aviators.

’19 Allyson Morgan Lavictoire, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Lavictoire was named principal of Riverside Elementary in Crestview, Florida.

’19 Quentin X. Randolph, B.S. Exercise Science; Randolph was named to the Indoor Football League’s 2022 All-Rookie Team. He is a member of the Western Conference champion Northern Arizona Wranglers.

2020s

’21 D’Anthony Jerome Bell, B.A. Communication; Bell made the 53man roster for the 2022 Cleveland Browns, officially becoming the first UWF football player to make a regular season NFL roster.

’21 Lori Ann Cabrera, M.Ed. Educational Leadership; Cabrera received a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Award. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.

’22 Richard J. Sexton, BFA; Sexton was one of three students from the nine major Florida state universities invited to participate in the Atlantic Center for the Art’s annual University Student Exhibition, a highly competitive art exhibition that honors the outstanding work produced by Florida’s state university art students.

In Memoriam Alumni

’69 Angie L. Raydo (Thompson), B.A. Elementary Education

’71 Rodney L. Herring, B.A. History

’71 Don E. Williams, B.A. Finance

’73 Carlyle F. Hadden, MBA

’73 & ’74 George Hadzewycz, MBA & B.A. Accounting

’73 Theresa A. Norris, B.A. Elementary Education

’73 Celia A. Ward (French), B.A. Accounting

’74 Jerry L. Dunn, B.S. Health, Leisure and Exercise ScienceTeacher Education

’75 David M. Merritt, B.A. Accounting

’75 & ’86 Caroline V. Penfield, B.A. Special Education & M.A. Elementary Education

’76 Joseph M. Le-Brou, B.A. Political Science

’77 Eric G. Huckabee, MBA

’77 & ’83 Nick L. Kopacz, B.S. Industrial Technology & MBA

’77 Roma N. O’Neal (Orr), B.A. Accounting

’77 Rodwell H. Salter, B.A. Accounting

’78 Brenda M. Brown (Morris), B.A. Accounting

’78 Joseph M. Crews, B.A. Theatre

’78 & ’79 Richard A. Peden, B.A. Accounting & MBA

’79 Col. Donald W. Anderson, B.S. Vocational Studies

’79 Terry R. Little, MBA

’79 & ’95 Audrey K. Morrison (Saylor), B.A. Accounting & MAcc

’80 & ’81 Monte Edwin Blews, B.S. Marketing & M.A. Communication Arts

’80 Linda J. White-Spunner (Lytle), B.S. Systems Science

’81 Paige Lee (Brown), B.S. Systems Science

’81 Robert R. Cliburn, B.S. Management

’81 Donna L. Easterling (Delaney), Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

’81 Mary E. Smith (Covington), B.A. Interdisciplinary Humanities

’82 Brenda M. O’Bannon (Wright), M.A. Elementary Education

’84 Rev. Augustine J. Moore, M.A. Interdisciplinary Humanities

’85 & ’13 Dr. Patricia Ann Posey-

’91 Evelyn C. Pacheco (Parungao), B.A. Accounting

’92 Carole B. Mott (Brewer), B.A. Psychology

’98 Sheridan Loudon, B.A. Psychology

’02 & ’10 Emily Elizabeth Oestreich, B.A. Communication Arts & B.A. Criminal Justice

Individuals

Mrs. Mary Battista Wilton Barrow

Mr. Richard C. BergFormer athletic director

Mrs. Nancy Biasco

Dr. Gordon E. EadeFormer faculty member

Mrs. Suzanne Lewis Eckert Jr.

Mr. Robert Lewis Jones

Dr. James S. MarshFormer faculty member

Mrs. Lynn B. Momberger

Dr. Ramon Almich OldenburgFormer faculty member

Dr. Donald F. Wallace

Alumni Rising Stars

The following alumni were recognized as 2023 Rising Stars by InWeekly Magazine:

’06 Carrie Thornton

’08 Emily Echevarria

’09 Kesha Tran

’09 & ’11 James Poindexter

’11 Lakesha Davis

’12 Kia Goldsmith

’13 Ashliegh McLean

’14 Ruthie Noel

’14 Dustin Perry

’17 Devin Cole

’18 Dylan Nadsady

’18 Rachel Witbracht

’20 & ’22 Josh Camacho

’22 Walter Arrington

Find a full list of UWF alumni news, accomplishments and obituaries by visiting uwf.edu/classnotes.

Susan Morris (1971 - 1993)

Alpha Gamma Delta

SUSAN LEIGH MORRIS MEMORIAL

Connection

University of West Florida

11000 University Parkway

Pensacola, FL 32514

uwf.edu/alumni

“UWF's history of support for military affiliated students influenced my decision to become an Argonaut. The Military Veteran Resource Center being a one-stop shop created a smooth transition from an active duty service member to student.”

Nick Hoyt General Biology Major

Find

At the University of West Florida, our spirited learners are exploring limitless possibilities and finding real value in everything we have to offer. Find a campus community, new friends, and an unparalleled education — all at UWF.

uwf.edu/MVRC