2008 Officer Candidates

Elections will be held at the A&P Association Spring Meeting on Tuesday, May 13 from 8:30-8:40 a.m. in the 1600 rooms of the Robinson Life Center.

President

Alison Cruess – Alison joined the UNF family in 1999. She is responsible for customer communication and project management standardization for Information Technology Services. Her current involvement with the UNF community includes serving as the President of the A&P Association, chairing the Recognition and Rewards Committee which oversees the Excellence Awards Program and actively participating on the Parking Advisory Council and the Campus Technology Committee. She previously held the office of Vice President of the A&P Association and with her fellow classmates of the LeadershipUNF class of ’06, started two new programs at UNF: LearnUNF and MentorUNF. Additionally, she founded and chaired for three years “Hands on the Helm for Hubbard House”, which is a two-day community sailing event, auction, and raffle to raise money and awareness for domestic violence. Alison received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a master’s degree from Jacksonville University.

Vice President

Bob Boyle - Bob started at UNF in 2005.  Having previously held the Associate Director of Housing Operations position, he currently serves as Associate Director within the Department of Residence Life.  Both departments serve over 2200 students residing in 5 on-campus communities composed of 17 buildings.  Bob earned his Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science in Counseling degrees from Jacksonville State University (Alabama).  He is an active member of his alumni association, involved in state, regional and international housing officer associations and holds membership within the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.  Bob has been involved with the UNF A&P Association through general meetings and social events, and looks forward to any opportunity to be of greater service.

Jim Owen – As the director of the One Stop Student Services Center, Jim works in a highly visible and fast-paced environment – the One Stop averages over 13,000 student contacts a month (via walk-in traffic and incoming phone calls).   Prior to his current position, Jim served as the assistant director of the Office of Graduate Studies (now The Graduate School) where he had an opportunity to work closely with staff and faculty members at all levels, experiences that prepared him well for his current responsibilities.  Jim’s relationship with UNF started in 1989 when he was admitted as a freshman.  Since then, he graduated with a  BA in literature (1993) and an MA in English (1997).  He joined the staff in October 1997, and has served the university in several capacities, including committee work with student conduct panels, the Integrated Marketing Committee, the President’s International Task Force, and he played an important role with the UNF Wings Banner Student implementation team.  He continues to serve the University through active membership on several committees, including the Web Advisory Committee and related Design and Research subcommittee, the Student Records Committee, UNFBUG (Banner User Group), and the Academic Advising Council.  In 2003 he was the A&P Gabor Award Winner, an honor he respects greatly and remembers fondly.

Oupa Seane –Director of the Intercultural Center for PEACE in the Division of Student Affairs and is the Executive Director of the Florida West Africa Linkage Institute (FLAWI) at the University of North Florida. He is a professor in the Honors Program, and teaches Political Science and Public Administration courses. Oupa Seane has served the University of North Florida in nine different capacities since joining UNF in 1992, including Interim Managing Director & Study Abroad Advisor for the Office of International Programs, in Minority and International Student Affairs and in the Coggin College of Business.

Seane’s accomplishments at UNF include helping to secure UNF as a voting site for South African elections in 1994. UNF was the only institution in America to take part in this historic event. Through his personal diplomacy/generosity he has arranged visits to UNF by, among others, actor and activist Danny Glover, actor, poet, and writer Maya Angelou, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Sam Nujoma of Namibia, and actor Blair Underwood. He successfully negotiated with Archbishop Desmond Tutu to serve as a visiting scholar, teaching both UNF students and area residents filling the classes to capacity. Seane served as the Director of Archbishop Tutu’s office, traveling locally and internationally with Archbishop Tutu, spreading the message of peace.

Secretary

Annabel Brooks - Currently the Student Affairs Public Relations Manager at the University of North Florida, Dr. Brooks brings more than twenty years of teaching experience, media and public relations experience to Student Affairs.  Recently the recipient of the Susan B. Anthony Award at UNF, areas of social justice topics relating to feminism, gender equity and human evolution are research specialties. Dr. Brooks earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with doctoral research on Constructing a Community College Presidency: A Retrospective Study (2002).  She is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America and holds the coveted Public Relations Accreditation from PRSA, is a member of UNF's Institutional Effectiveness Team, Chief Report Writer for UNF's NCAA Division 1 reclassification process, a member of the UNF Quality Enhancement Plan faculty focus group, and a member of the Web Advisory Committee.

Rachel Bukanc – has been the secretary of the A&P Association for the past year, taking over the office when the previous secretary left the University. During the past year, she has coordinated and planned many of the A&P socials and events. She has provided consistent and timely recordings of A&P executive, steering, and membership meetings. She is actively involved with the A&P Association and has served on the A&P Gabor Award committee and the A&P Book Scholarship committee. Rachel is the Assistant Director of Student Conduct and has worked at UNF since 2004. She has presented and facilitated workshops on issues involving diversity, ethics, communication development, and Judicial Affairs topics. Her education includes a Bachelor’s from Bradford College and a Master’s from Brandeis University.

Yara Cull - is the Assistant Director in the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs. She has been at UNF for 2 ½ years. In that time she has been very involved in a variety of campus wide activities and committees including Chairing the Ethnic Festival Committee, Judging the Greek Awards, being a member of the 2007 Leadership UNF Mentor class  to name a few.  Ms. Cull earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas and a Master of Business Administration from Kansas Wesleyan University.  She holds a National Certification of Senior Professional in Human Resources. Ms. Cull has a strong background in the administration and compliance of EEO and affirmative action programs with both state and federal agencies. Ms. Cull is involved in various outside community activities such as holding a seat on the 2008 Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Society of Human Resource Management.

Treasurer

Lola Argalas – Lola has been with UNF for over 10 years and is currently the Assistant Director for Housing Operations.  She is responsible for the day-to-day management of all financial aspects including the management of the almost $10M dollar annual operational budget.  Prior to UNF Lola worked for both local and Fortune 500 companies in various accounting related positions.  She also owned her own accounting firm for five years.  Lola received her bachelor degree from Southern Illinois University and is currently working on her College Business Management Institute (CBMI) certification.

Ron Davis – Ron has been a part of UNF since 1999. He is currently the Director of Budgets and Finance for the Coggin College of Business. He has been with the Coggin College for three years and previously worked in the University’s Budget Office. Ron is responsible for managing over 11 million dollars in resources for the Coggin College. Ron received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and his MBA degree from UNF. He is a member of the Coggin College Executive Committee and also a member of the Associate Deans’ Council.

Nancy Locke – Currently Nancy is the Divisional Budget Officer for Student Affairs, a position she has held since May 2004. At this time, she represents the Division of Student Affairs on several subcommittees of the Financial Records Committee.  Nancy has served UNF in several capacities: as a computer tech while attending UNF and adjunct instructor of corporate / partnership tax in the Coggin College of Business.  Before returning to UNF in her current position, Nancy was a staff accountant for Price, Waterhouse, Coopers; Winn-Dixie Corporate and Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital.  Nancy received both her undergraduate and masters degrees in accounting from UNF. She holds an active CPA license.

Mike Neglia – is the UNF Treasurer and the current A&P Association Treasurer. He has more than 25 years of experience in Corporate Cash Management and Treasury. He is a Certified Treasury Professional and has an M.B.A. His undergraduate degree is from UNF.