Engage UNF IMPACT Maker Recognition

Each month, we celebrate an outstanding group administrator who brings Engage UNF to life. This leader uses the platform to strengthen involvement, streamline organization management, and create meaningful experiences for students across the University of North Florida. Get to know the person behind the work through our monthly recognition series: Engage UNF IMPACT Maker!

To highlight the impact they make, we ask each featured administrator to share their story, as these interviews shine a light on the dedication, creativity, and leadership of those who make Engage UNF a powerful hub for connection and involvement at UNF.

Past IMPACT Makers

Emily McNeil is a volunteer coordinator for the Meals on Wings program and has been using the Engage UNF platform since 2024 when she created her first Meals on Wings volunteer shift schedule for the summer session, and she’s been using it ever since.

“Engage UNF allows me to see who is coming each day and manage the recovery and delivery teams. [The platform] allows students to consult their individual schedules and sign up for shifts that work with their unique availability.”

Emily uses Engage UNF to create shift schedules for each of the 6 recovery locations as well as shift schedules for their 3-day volunteer teams (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday prep and delivery) to ensure there is adequate coverage for all tasks. Through the platform, Emily can set her entire shift schedules at the beginning of the semester, allowing students to sign up for opportunities as they are able.

“By managing the number of participants per shift I am able to ensure we are not over staffed which allows each participant the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the specific duties during the shift they have selected.”

To Emily, Engage UNF is more than just a platform to track volunteer opportunities.

“Engage UNF is an essential tool for Meals on Wings and the Center for Nutrition and Food Security because it does far more than track volunteer hours. It showcases our presence and engagement across campus, which is critical for building awareness and recruiting new volunteers. By highlighting our activities, we attract students who want to get involved and make an impact.

Additionally, Engage UNF streamlines pre-shift training and ensures all required paperwork is completed before participation, creating a safe and organized experience for everyone. Accurate tracking of volunteer hours remains vital for grant applications and fundraising, but the platform’s ability to connect us with the campus community and prepare volunteers effectively is what truly makes it indispensable.”

If you are new to the platform or just starting out with Engage UNF, Emily wants to encourage new group administrators to make sure they are using both the online system as well as the mobile app in order to see their day at a glance.

“Honestly, I use the [Engage UNF] mobile app … every day our group meets … to prepare for the day and ensure that the team is on track. For our leadership roles we have assigned recovery shifts but periodically a lead will not be able to complete their scheduled route and Engage UNF allows me to see that opening and get the shift covered before we start the day.”