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Inside UNF — August 15, 2025

Feathering the Nest Ignites Osprey Spirit
Summer Commencement sees 1000+ students cross the stage
Ospreys take over the Town Center
UNF hosts fourth annual employer summit
UNF and KLS Martin create MedTech career paths for students
UNF students impact social change with FL-DSSG internships
Faculty Feature: Dr. Terrie Galanti
UNF Athletics celebrates record-setting year
Osprey Profile: Mariel German
Inside News Roundup
Faculty and Staff News
Free Things to Do
Swoop Summary

Feathering the Nest Ignites Osprey Spirit

By Joy Batteh-Freiha

The University of North Florida came alive this week during the first-ever Feathering the Nest, a spirited, weeklong celebration designed to honor faculty and staff ahead of the new academic year. Faculty and staff from every corner of the University came together for celebration and connection, thanks to a lot of creative coordination and Osprey spirit.

The festivities kicked off with colleges and departments submitting their most “swoop-spirited” short videos, vying for a year of bragging rights, a shiny trophy, and, of course, sweet victory treats.

Tuesday featured a massive group shot of faculty and staff — about 1,000 in all — wearing True North t-shirts and forming the letters U-N-F while a drone captured the moment. The image quickly spread far and wide on social media.

Wednesday was all about wagging tails and furry friends at the Osprey Paws and Play day, while Thursday brought the energy with a pep rally with President Moez Limayem, karaoke and snow cones.

Limayem thanked faculty and staff for what they do for students, UNF and the community.

“Because of you, UNF is on the rise,” he said. “Because of you, UNF is shattering records.”

He encouraged them to continue showing their Osprey Pride next week and every week.

There was also the big reveal of the Swoop Spirit video winners: First Place: Marketing and Communications — won a pizza party; Second Place went to the Office of the President, who won coffee and donuts; the Department of Art, Art History and Design won third Place: UNF’s RecWell Department won Fourth Place with the School of Communication rounding off an Honorable Mention. (You can view all the video entries here.)

The week wrapped up on Friday in true Osprey style, with everyone decked out in UNF gear, riding high on school spirit and reflecting on a week that truly brought the campus to life!

Alison Cruess, executive director of operations in the President’s Office, was one of the logistical masterminds behind the weeklong celebration, making it an unforgettable week for faculty and staff.

“It was a true campus-wide collaboration,” said Cruess. “In my 26 years of planning and executing events at UNF, this Feathering the Nest has been one of the most rewarding projects I have undertaken.”

A look behind the scenes

Before the videos were played and teams sang, the drone photo was the talk of the University.

Justin Begle, director of academic research technology, made sure everything was in place on the lawn at the J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater to get the photo, from camera setup to directing volunteers.

He said he began preparing for the day a month ago by working with other departments, including UNF Health and Safety, University Police Department and UNF Maintenance.

“One challenge was ensuring safe access to the Student Union roof for camera setup, which required fall protection coordination with facilities staff,” explained Begle. “We had to do some adjustments to drone spacing calculations based on turnout estimates, which required quick recalibration of the layout plan. We opted to include a PA system at the last minute to give us the ability to play some music while folks were lining up and to have the capability to talk to the crowd with a microphone.”

Robert Richardson, assistant director of research technology services, piloted the drone after mapping out the location of the U-N-F letters using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies.

“The biggest technical challenge was figuring out the perfect size and location of the letters on the lawn — they needed to be appropriately sized to be visually impactful,” Richardson said.

Impact achieved. The photo was a huge hit on campus and in the community.

Continuing to show Osprey pride

During the Thursday pep rally, UNF Faculty Association President James Beasley rallied faculty and staff to “Swoop the floor,” a spirited call to actively support campus events and uplift colleagues throughout the year.

Lorraine Beach, senior advisor to the President, was thrilled with how the week’s activities turned out. She served as the lead champion of Feathering the Nest and said the week exceeded expectations, which was important since it was created to celebrate UNF’s incredible faculty and staff.

“The event promoted a sense of unity among faculty and staff and helped to boost morale,” Beach said. “Colleagues shared how much they valued the chance to connect with those they don’t usually see — feeling part of something larger than themselves.”

UNF employees gathered with their arms raised

UNF employees gathered in formation spelling U-N-F

UNF employees sitting and cheering at an event

Summer Commencement sees 1000+ students cross the stage

The University of North Florida celebrated 1,016 students earning their degrees during the Summer 2025 commencement ceremonies at the UNF Arena earlier this month.

Graduates ranged in age from 20 to 62, came from 14 countries, with 34% being the first generation in their families to attend college, many earned a 4.0 GPA and 80 are connected to the military. Degrees were awarded from 109 different combinations of majors in total.

The UNF Class of Summer 2025 joins the Osprey alumni nation’s current 115,814-member total. As of Spring 2025, UNF has issued 126,682 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees since first opening in 1972.

Learn more about UNF's summer 2025 graduates.

Info provided by UNF Media Relations

UNF graduate walking during commencement

Three graduates posing together in their commencement gowns

UNF graduate students walking into commencement

Graduates at commencement posing with their diploma booklets

Graduates at commencement hugging faculty members

Ospreys take over the Town Center

On Saturday, Aug. 9, the University of North Florida unveiled new advertisements at the St. Johns Town Center in front of Maggiano's. Thanks to the efforts of Osprey Nation members — including the Marketing and Communications Office, Alumni Engagement, student athletes, cheer squad and the swoop squad — hundreds of shoppers learned what UNF is all about while enjoying swag giveaways.

UNF cheerleaders at the St. Johns Town Center

UNF hosts fourth annual employer summit

Two employer representatives looking at a UNF folder

Almost 220 representatives from 90 leading Northeast Florida companies, nonprofits and agencies visited the University of North Florida campus today for the fourth annual UNF Employer Summit. Organized by UNF Career Services, the summit serves as the University's signature event to kick off the recruiting season and strengthen industry partnerships across Northeast Florida.

The half-day summit brought together top employer partners from throughout the Jacksonville area, which is home to four Fortune 500 companies and a globally competitive business ecosystem. Jacksonville is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and has been named one of the hottest job markets in the country.

“This year’s record-breaking registration reflects the strong demand for UNF talent and underscores the trust our employer partners place in the University as a key source for workforce development and future leadership,” said Scott Curry, senior director of Career Services.

Learn more about this year's Employer Summit.

Info provided by UNF Media Relations

UNF and KLS Martin create MedTech career paths for students

KLS has attended UNF Career Fairs every year since 2018, making 2025 the eighth straight year of uninterrupted hiring partnerships.

The KLS Martin-UNF partnership is opening doors for students to explore and enter the rapidly growing field of medical 3D printing and surgical planning that is revolutionizing patient outcomes.

Since 2017, KLS Martin has hired 86 UNF alumni in roles including management, designers, engineering, accounting, finance, events planning, operations and product management.

Scott Curry, UNF Career Services senior director of industry engagement, has been instrumental in growing the relationship with KLS Martin over the years.

“This partnership is a perfect example of how UNF connects students with career opportunities,” said Curry. “We’re proud to work with companies like KLS Martin that are deeply invested in mentoring and hiring our students.”

Learn more about how this partnership is launching students into high demand medical technology careers.

Information provided by UNF Media Relations

UNF students impact social change with FL-DSSG internships

By Byron E. Jones

Student researchers from the University of North Florida and across the state used their data science skills recently to tackle issues related to generational wealth transfer issues, arts education programming in K-12 schools and the impact of nonprofits on communities.

Group of students on stage presenting their research project

In late July, UNF’s Florida Data Science for Social Good (FL-DSSG) program held its annual event, “The Big Reveal,” featuring presentations by student research teams discussing their findings and recommendations for solving wicked problems affecting Northeast Florida residents. Wicked problems are complex social issues with no clear, definitive solutions.

Led by Dr. Dan Richard, professor of psychology, College of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Karthikeyan Umapathy, professor of information systems in the School of Computing, the FL-DSSG is in its eighth year and serves as the third longest running DSSG program in the world – according to Richard.

Umapathy says participating in FL-DSSG internships provides students with a wealth of knowledge relevant to effecting social change that cannot be acquired in a classroom.

“By participating in FL-DSSG projects, students learn the intricacies of handling sensitive data, the value of community partnerships and how to find actionable insights that lead to meaningful community impacts,” he said.

UNF students posing on stage at FL-DSSG event

Held at WJCT Studios in Downtown Jacksonville, this year’s “Big Reveal” event featured presentations by three teams comprised of a total of eight graduate students from Florida universities, including five UNF students. The respective student teams participated in an intense, 11-week summer internship conducting data-based research projects for three local nonprofit organizations including:

LISC Jacksonville: Interns conducted research to address generational wealth transfer issues relevant to women homeowners.
The Cathedral Arts Project: Interns gauged the impact of arts education programs in K-12 schools.
Nonprofit Center for Northeast Florida: Interns identified indicators of thriving and at-risk nonprofit organizations, and their impacts on the community.

UNF graduate student Asrafi Yesmin, a mathematical sciences major who served as team lead for the LISC Jacksonville project team, said her internship experience opened her eyes to gender disparities and equity issues concerning homeownership.

“In my role, I worked with census data to identify the demographic data of properties and property owners,” she said. “The data shows many women inherit homes, and their names are not on the property deed, so they are unable to legally transfer ownership to the next generation. Our research assists LISC Jacksonville in their efforts to help families protect generational wealth and secure homeownership.”

Yesmin said her internship experience helped develop the idea for her thesis dealing with Jacksonville’s temperature and home construction projects. She plans to use her mathematical expertise to identify what is going to be the temperature impact of reducing the use of building materials such as bricks and increasing grass landscapes.

For graduate student Bryce Bentley, a psychological and brain sciences major who interned with The Cathedral Arts Project, said his time as a FL-DSSG intern helped with practical skills development.

“I learned a lot of great skills and one of them was collaboration,” he said. “Coming into the internship, I had a lot of assumptions and I was wrong many times. Becoming okay with being wrong and going back to the drawing board was something I found beneficial.”

Bentley further said contributing to research that shows art education programs can positively impact school success was a great feeling.

Among the attendees and speakers at this year’s research event were UNF President Dr. Moez Limayem, who gave closing remarks, and Dr. Parvez Ahmed, chief of analytics in the Office of Mayor Donna Deegan.

In addition to “The Big Reveal,” FL-DSSG also hosts the annual AI for Good Hackathon, a purpose-driven weekend event held in the fall that brings together students who are passionate about working on data, Cloud, and AI technologies to create meaningful societal impacts.

Learn more about FL-DSSG by visiting the program’s website.

Faculty Feature: Dr. Terrie Galanti

By Alyssa Elaskari and Sophie Raleigh

From graduating at the top of her class at the U.S. Air Force Academy to becoming a faculty leader at the University of North Florida, Dr. Terrie Galanti brings a rare blend of discipline, vision and service to the field of mathematics education. Her story is one of bold pivots, purposeful pauses and an unwavering commitment to expanding access and opportunity in STEM for future generations.

"My high school counselor told me I could be 'so much more' than a math teacher," Dr. Galanti recalls. "But I've always believed that there's no higher calling than shaping the minds of students and expanding who sees themselves as capable in STEM."

After graduating first in her class, the first woman in history to do so, from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986, Dr. Galanti pursued a master's in computer engineering at Stanford University as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. She later served as a project officer on satellite and intelligence systems before stepping away from the workforce in 1992 to focus on parenting. She says that time only deepened her understanding of how children learn and grow.

Her return to education came through the K-12 classroom: first as a substitute, then as a certified high school mathematics teacher. With nearly two decades of experience, she transitioned to higher education after earning her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education Leadership from George Mason University. She joined the UNF faculty in 2020.

Recently, Dr. Galanti's research has explored how to better prepare teachers to lead rigorous, integrated STEM instruction. Her work focuses on:

Project InTERSECT, a U.S. Department of Education-funded initiative with Duval County Public Schools, where she previously led research on how elementary teachers develop STEM identities and instructional confidence.
Algebra acceleration and persistence in STEM, building on her dissertation to explore how cultural ideas about who is "good at math" influence student trajectories.
Physics teacher development through NEFSTEM and the PhysTEC coalition, with a focus on digital badging and computational thinking.
AI in K-12 math classrooms, where she is currently piloting ways to use artificial intelligence as a collaborative tool that fosters productive struggle and deeper conceptual understanding.

At the heart of all her work is a simple but powerful goal: to ensure that more students, across all backgrounds, have the opportunity and encouragement to pursue STEM education with confidence.

"I look forward to a future when more students see themselves in STEM," Dr. Galanti says. "Until then, I'll keep working to increase opportunities for students to thrive in these fields."

UNF Athletics celebrates record-setting year

fy25 revenue numbers $8071921 raised 2893 donors 83 percent increase from fy22

University of North Florida Athletics announced it eclipsed another record-setting year in fundraising and revenue generation behind the effort and support of its Osprey Club, Development staff, programs and more.

The record-setting year for North Florida Athletics was highlighted by unprecedented donor support, academic achievements, strategic facility enhancements and athletic success across many sports.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and corporate sponsors, UNF Athletics was able to make multiple facility enhancements during the 2024-25 year.

Learn more about the UNF Athletics record-setting year.

Info provided by UNF Athletics

Osprey Profile: Mariel German

By Byron E. Jones

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, University of North Florida Summer 2025 graduate Mariel German always knew that she wanted to help people. While enrolled in UNF’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program, German conducted extensive cancer and COVID-19 research related to underserved communities, both domestically and internationally.

Now that she has earned a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology, German plans to continue to focus her professional endeavors around health education and disease prevention initiatives in Northeast Florida and beyond.

"There are many things we can do to help prevent chronic and untreatable diseases,” said German. “Making lifestyle changes can minimize risks.”

To strengthen her field experience, German completed a summer internship with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) as an epidemiology intern. She says this experience allowed her to convert her course knowledge into real-world applications. Recently, German visited a local shelter helping to administer testing and vaccines to individuals living with hepatitis.

"I have spent the last two years studying to be able to work in the public health field,” said German. “This internship allowed me to put faces to all the data we see on a daily basis.”

Early Years, Medical Career and Shifting Her Interests

According to German, caring for others always came naturally. She says having a mother who is a medical doctor influenced her to pursue a health-related career. In her youth, she would volunteer as her mother provided medical aid to underserved communities. Following in her mother’s footsteps, German attended medical school, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2022 from the Santo Domingo Institute of Technology in the Dominican Republic.

While studying to become a pediatrician, she interned and volunteered with various organizations such as the Dominican Red Cross and Lutheran Services Florida (LSF), a statewide nonprofit organization offering a wide range of social services. Her internship with LSF prompted her initial move to Jacksonville in late 2021. She says her experience working with LSF, which included conducting health evaluations on children and scheduling medical appointments, opened her eyes to how public health administration works in the U.S.

Following her three-month internship with LSF, she completed her doctorate studies in the Dominican Republic before participating in a pediatrics program in Austria. Although she deeply values her clinical training, she discovered that her true passion lies in preventative care and education to help improve health outcomes at the population level.

“Public health offers the tools and resources to impact whole communities,” German said.

Becoming an Osprey

German learned about UNF’s MPH program and began taking classes in fall 2023. She worked as a graduate assistant, providing administrative and research assistance to faculty in the Department of Public Health. She has also supported the department by working as a peer mentor and distance learning coach.

Initially, German was nervous about fitting in at UNF as an international student — acknowledging that she felt self-conscious about her Spanish accent. She quickly realized she had nothing to worry about.

“I came to UNF knowing nothing about it except for what’s on the website,” said German. “At UNF, you are surrounded by a community of people that want to support you.”

She developed friendships with fellow public health students, and joined Eta Sigma Gamma, a public health honor society providing scholars opportunities for practical application of health education and health promotion skills. Feeling more confident in her new surroundings, she also began to take advantage of campus amenities such as exercising at the Student Wellness Complex and learning how to kayak at Lake Oneida.

Public Health Research Activities

Under the mentorship of Dr. Sericea Stallings-Smith, associate professor of public health, German has conducted research on numerous health-related topics. Together, they served as two of four co-authors on a research study entitled “Cancer Information Seekers’ Comprehension Level and the Association with Preventable Cancer Risk Factors: A Cross-sectional Analysis from a Nationally Representative U.S. Adult Survey.” This study examined how well individuals understood cancer-related information and highlighted the importance of clear, accessible health communication.

They also teamed up for a research project titled, “Viral Motivation: Analyzing Engagement Drivers in Tweets about Exercise in the COVID-19 Era,” where they analyzed tweets from the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the spread of false information and the lack of authoritative messaging. This research emphasized the role of digital platforms in shaping public health perceptions and the urgent need for accurate and timely communication.

Throughout 2024, German presented the findings of these research studies at multiple annual conferences, including UNF’s Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS) Symposium and the American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Scientific Meeting. These experiences not only boosted her confidence but also deepened her passion for public health advocacy.

German says Stallings-Smith's mentorship during her time at UNF has been profound.

“Almost everything I know about research came from her,” said German.

Stallings-Smith says German’s insatiable thirst for knowledge and desire to contribute to public health initiatives will prove beneficial in her professional career.

“Mariel is endlessly positive and curious. She is a kind, empathetic person, which makes her an ideal public health researcher and practitioner,” Stallings-Smith said.

Graduation and Future Plans

Reflecting upon her experiences at UNF, German says joining Osprey Nation was the perfect choice. Although living far away from family has been challenging, German says their love and support motivated her to complete her studies.

“I wouldn’t be here without my family. They are my rock,” she said.

In the near future, German plans to apply for a fellowship with DOH-Duval to support initiatives involving maternal and child health, food insecurity, employee wellness and more. She would also like to return to UNF one day and teach in the Department of Public Health.

Inside News Roundup

Welcome back, faculty!

The Thomas G. Carpenter Library welcomes the UNF faculty back to the campus library with a tabling event on Aug. 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 1st floor of the library near the Information Desk. Stop by to play PLINKO, win an exclusive piece of Tommy G’s swag, grab a snack, and learn about what’s new at the library! For more information, contact Deborah M. Williams, deborah.williams@UNF.edu.

Update your Personal and Emergency Contact Info

Check your Workday Inbox for a task to update your personal and emergency contact information. Keeping your address up to date is essential for receiving important printed materials from UNF, FRS and other State of Florida entities. Please refer to the knowledge base article for updating instructions.

The Lock Shop

The Lock Shop, located at the UNF Annex (Building 6, Room 1206), will be open for extended hours 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, through Friday, Aug. 22, to accommodate additional key requests at the start of the fall term. Normal operating hours 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. will resume Monday, Aug. 25. Contact Bill Bigham at b.bigham@unf.edu.

Eduroam

UNF is transitioning to Eduroam as our primary wireless network for faculty, staff and students, and the option to select UNF-wireless as a network will not be available after this Friday, Aug. 15. Eduroam is a secure global access service for the research and education community. Here’s what you need to do:

Open your Wi-Fi settings and select Eduroam as your network
Connect to Eduroam using your UNF credentials: n1234567@unf.edu, then enter your UNF password

Faculty-led Study Abroad

Join the Office of Faculty Excellence and the International Center for a session on leading faculty-led study abroad programs for 2027. Proposals are due in April (Spring Break) and May (Spring/Summer) 2026. Review and sign up for one or all five session dates via the OFE calendar.

Authentication

SMS/Text authentication will no longer be supported effective of Tuesday, Sep. 30. All UNF students, faculty and staff are encouraged to switch to Microsoft Authenticator now to avoid interrupted access to services. View instructions on how to set up authenticator.

Increased Phishing Awareness

Be alert, UNF has seen a recent rise in phishing attempts targeting campus accounts. There have been several real examples of this activity on campus in the past few weeks that the Student-Led Security Operations Center (SOC) has worked to mitigate. These emails may appear legitimate, but they are designed to deceive you and steal sensitive personal and university information.

Watch for signs like:

Any requests for login credentials, authentication or financial info.
Unfamiliar senders or suspicious links.
Spelling errors and urgent language.

Stay safe:

Pause before clicking, trust your instincts that something feels off.
Verify senders through known channels (Ex, Received a strange email? Message the sender in Teams to confirm).
Report suspicious emails using the “Phish Alert” button in Outlook.

Fingerprint Kiosk for Background Checks Now in HR

As a convenience to the UNF community, Human Resources has arranged for the installation of a fingerprinting kiosk in the HR Lobby. This kiosk is designated for Level II fingerprinting required for employment-related background checks. HR coordinates background checks with First Advantage (formerly Sterling). To use the kiosk, employees must present a valid government-issued ID at the HR Front Desk to verify their identity and have the QR code emailed to them by First Advantage. Human Resources is currently located in Building 1, J.J. Daniel Hall, Office 1101, and is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, Human Resources will relocate to Hicks Hall, 4892 First Coast Tech Parkway. For questions, please submit via Get HR Help in Service Now.

Roar & Soar Tailgate

The 16th Annual UNF Alumni Roar & Soar Jaguars Game Day Experience tailgate is Sunday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Flex Field Lawn, 1 EverBank Stadium Drive. Represent Du-u-u-val with fellow Ospreys as the Jaguars take on the Carolina Panthers. There will be tailgate games, music and delicious food. Deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday, Aug. 31.

Healthy Campus Week

UNF is participating in the nationwide Healthier Campus Initiative again this year by celebrating Healthy Campus Week, Monday, Sep. 15, through Friday, Sep. 19. This year’s theme is “Thrive Together,” focusing on community well-being, social connection and shared growth. For more information, contact a.muench.epstein@unf.edu.

Faculty and Staff News

Brooks College of Health

Dr. Andrea Arikawa, professor, along with co-authors Dr. Corrie Labyak, associate professor and Anna Waterman, graduate student, and researchers from multiple Florida institutions, published a new study in the Journal of Nutrition, “Cognitive impairment is associated with alterations in diet quality and inflammatory biomarkers in older adults: A cross-sectional analysis of data collected from the Microbiome in Aging Gut and Brain (MiaGB) Consortium Cohort.” July 2025

Dr. Casey Colin, associate professor, was recently appointed to serve a four-year term as a member of the International Commission of Dietitians Education and Accreditation (I-CDEA) Steering Council.

Katryne Lukens Bull, associate instructor, with co-authors Mark Fafard (UF) and Meridith Pinard, former MPH student, published "My Needs Network: How a Community-Based Participatory Research Process Morphed Into a Sustainable Community-Driven Networking Platform" in the Journal of Participatory Research Methods, in June 2025.

Katryne Lukens Bull, associate instructor, presented "Publishing Your Thesis" at UIN Sunan Kalijaga's Graduate Program, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in June 2025.

College of Arts and Sciences

Art, Art History and Design

Jenny K. Hager, professor, was awarded an Invitational Public Art Commission, Havic Studios, Designs by Jenny K. Hager. CPAC Commission, Sculptural Wall Hanging on the Exterior of the Kennedy Center Atrium, Jacksonville, as well as an Invitational Public Art Commission, Sculptural Benches at Deerwood Children’s Rotary Park, Jacksonville.

Jason C. John, associate professor, was published in 3x3 magazine, Brooklyn. NY and “Faces and Figures,” Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA.

Biology

Dr. Greg Ciesielski, assistant professor, along with others, had his paper “Auto-regulation of the real-time kinetics of the human mitochondrial replicative helicase” accepted for publication in the Nature Communications journal in May.

Communications

Dr. Rachel Riggs-Achorn, assistant professor, as well as others, published “Exploring Predicctors of Parents’ Negative Emotional Response to Adolescents’ Mental Illness Disclosures” in the Journal of Child Health Care, June 2025. Also, she presented “Just listen…Really listen”: Expectations of Youth When Disclosing Mental Health Concerns With Parents.” at the International Communication Association Convention, June 2025, Denver, Colorado.

Mathematics & Statistics

Dr. Michelle DeDeo, professor and Elinor Velasquez, published "Extending the Toda lattice: spectral function expansions and symplectic maps in higher-dimensional integrable systems" Physica Scripta, May 2025.

Music

Dr. Erin Bodnar, associate professor, Dr. Andrea Venet, associate professor and Dr. Randy Tinnin, professor, co-led a study abroad trip to Argentina with 11 UNF music students.

Deana Barone, part-time voice faculty, served as an adjudicator for the national final round for the National Association of Teachers of Singing in Philadelphia in June.

Dr. David Salkowski, assistant professor, will complete his book, “Music for an Imagined Liturgy: Atmospheres and Institutions of Russian Orthodoxy, 1878-1918.” through support by a Summer Stipend granted by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Dr. Erin Bodnar, associate professor, was a national finalist for both The American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance and The American Prize in Conducting— College/University division, 2025

Danny Gottlieb, professor, along with this wife, Beth, have been preforming in actor Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band for 20 years. The band will perform their 600th concert soon in support of Military charities through the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Kristen Zelenak, visiting instructor, presented at a national athletic band directors conference in May.

Dr. Julie Myung Ok Song, visiting instructor, published “Music Teachers’ Philosophical Beliefs and the use of those Beliefs in Teaching and Advocacy in the USA” in the International Journal of Music Education; “No Matter Where They Come From:” Immigrant Students’ Experiences Pursuing Music Teacher Education" in the Journal of Music Teacher Education; presented “Exploring social media as an informal learning space for music education,” Asia-Pacific Symposium for Music Education Research, Perth, Australia as well as "Successful Music Teachers: Important Traits, Behaviors, and Skills". Asia-Pacific Symposium for Music Education Research, and “Response to Ikuko Shitamichi, 'Western Music, Colonial Rule, and Social Praxis: The Case of Shoka education in Japan and Taiwan’” in the International Society for the Philosophy of Music Education XIV Symposium, Bloomington, IN; was a session chair at the International Society for the Philosophy of Music Education XIV Symposium, Bloomington, and was appointed as a Journal Reviewer (2024-2028) to review for the Music Educators Journal.

Dr. Andrea Venet, associate professor, performed Viet Cuong's re(new)al concerto for four percussionists with the University of Nebraska, Omaha Wind Ensemble alongside Dr. Annie Stevens (Virginia Tech), Dr. Megan Arns (University of Missouri) and Dr. Hannah Weaver (University of Nebraska Omaha) in May. In addition, to presenting and performing at the Universidad Provincial de Cordoba with her percussion students, she was on percussion faculty at the Arts Empowering Life Chamber Music Residency in Cape Cod in June.

Physics

Dr. Marina Kounkel, associate professor, Dr. Joseph Mullen, postdoc/adjunct and Amanda Mast, undergraduate student, had their paper, “A Galactic Interloper: A Study of the Cam OB1 Association’s Clusters and its Visitor from the Perseus Arm,” accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.

Political Science and Public Administration

Dr. Joshua C. Gellers, professor, delivered a virtual talk on “Robot Ethics to Robot Regulation by Design” at the Roboethics conference held at the University of Milano-Bicocca School of Law in May.

Psychology

Dr. Angie LeRoy, assistant professor, coauthored the peer-reviewed article “Development & Initial Testing of an Online Security Prime Writing Intervention During COVID-19,” accepted for publication in the journal Anxiety, Stress, & Coping in June 2025.

Dr. Elizabeth R. Brown, associate professor, co-authored the peer-reviewed article “Feeling a sense of belonging is associated with more motivation within organizations that value diversity and equity,” and accepted for publication in Scientific Reports in June 2025. In addition, coauthored the peer-reviewed article “Multi-region investigation of ‘man’ as default in attitudes,” and was accepted for publication in PLOS One in June 2025.

Dr. Paul Argott, associate instructor, presented at the Saint John’s County Ignite and Inspire new teacher training in June 2025.

Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

Dr. Jessica Chandras, assistant professor, along with Dr. Devayani Tirthali and Dr. Sameer Honwad, published “Mother Tongue Aspirations: Negotiating Banjara Language, Identity, and Education in Rural India” in American Anthropologist. In addition, Dr. Chandras and Dr. Joshua Babcock published “Introduction: Mother Tongue as Global Politics” to Mother Tongues as Global Politics [Special Section] in American Anthropologist, and presented “Unequal Mother Tongues in Multilingual Classrooms: Reimagining Banjara Student and Teacher Identities in Rural Western India” at the Society for Linguistic Anthropology biennial conference in Chicago in May as well as presented “Translanguaging Survival Skills: Language Negotiations and Banjara Student Identities" at the Institute on Translinguistic Research and Publishing at Pennsylvania State University in May.

Dr. Ronald Lukens-Bull, professor and Katryne Lukens Bull, associate instructor, presented “Akselerasi Tesis”. UIN Sunan Kalijaga Graduate Program, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in June. In addition, Dr. Lukens-Bull, presented “Reposisi Perguran Tinggi Swasta Menguhkan Identitias Keilmuan di Era Digital (Repositioning Private Higher Education to Create a Scientifc Identity in the Digital Era)” Selamat Sri Univeristy, Kendal, Indonesia and "Building a Writing Career” Faculty Senate Selamat Sri Univeristy, Kendal. He aslo presented 'Strategi Komunikasi Lintas Budaya” (Cross Cultural Communication Strategies) Visiting Lecture Program. Studi Komunikasi Penyiraran Islam Bersama. Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, Padang, Sumatra in May; presented “Anthropological Appoaches to the Study of Islam”. Interdisciplinary Lecture Series. Faculty’s Ushuluddin and Studi Agama, Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol Padang, Padang.

Dr. Anne E. Pfister, associate professor, presented "Papernest: Insects through the Lens of Multimedias" with students Susie Mabry and alumna Alexandria Kledzik at the Interactive Film & Media Virtual Conference.

College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Dr. Christopher Oshman, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and the UNF Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) Team won the “Best Siting Challenge” award and earned 3rd Place Overall in the 2024–2025 national Department of Energy-sponsored Hydropower Collegiate Competition. Team members: Casilda Allendesalazar (Team Leader), William Seymore, Luc Deffense, Connor Usina, Ernesto Sanchez, Annabelle Lovell and Jackson Rich.

Digital Learning

Dr. Deb Miller, assistant vice president of digital learning, published an invited expert perspective, “Building Connectivity Through Crisis,” in The Chief Online Learning Officer’s Guidebook.

Silverfield College of Education and Human Services

Dr. Wanyong Choi, associate professor, was invited as a co-researcher for the project on “Performance and Improvement Measures of Public Golf Course System” led by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Dr. Rachelle Curcio, assistant professor, Wendy Baker, director, clinical practice and Raven Robinson-Wilson, assistant professor, published book chapters in “The Complex Work of Teacher Educators: Cases that Illustrate Teacher Educator Standards in Action.”

Dr. Liz Gregg, professor, was named the 2025 Lough Award Winner by the Sport Marketing Association.

Dr. Caroline Guardino, professor, presented the findings of an international research project, “Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies from the Voices of Teachers of Deaf Multilingual Immigrant Students in Germany and North America,” at the European Second Language Association (EuroSLA) conference at the Artic University of Norway – the northern most university in the world.

Dr. Nile Stanley, associate professor, published an article, "Poetry Therapy (PT): A Promising Frontier for Addiction Treatment and Building Resilience in the Healthcare Business Outlook Magazine, Insights, Summer 2025.

Dr. Christine L. Weber, professor, delivered two presentations, “Bridging Content and Pedagogy: Elevating Gifted Education with PCK” and “Integrating Case Studies and Research-Based Strategies for Gifted Education: Enhancing Student Outcomes through Differentiation and Engagement.” at the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children International Conference held in Braga, Portugal.

Dr. Kim Cheek, associate professor, co-authored a paper titled "The geoscience education research (GER) community of practice: A brief history and implications from a needs assessment survey," in the Journal of Geosciences Education (2025) that won the Journal of Geoscience Education's Outstanding Paper Award.

Free Things to Do

Idiopathic: Selections from the Mary Ann and Shepard Bryan Jr. Collection

Exhibition on view now through Aug. 20, UNF Gallery of Art
This exhibition features art objects that expressively represent the human subject as frail and muted, asking the viewer what could be wrong and what we can do to change.

All Hands on Deck: 15 Years of Collection at Small Craft Advisory Press

Exhibition on view now through Aug. 29, MOCA Jacksonville
Experience an exhibition of artist books created in the past fifteen years by Small Craft Advisory Press (SCAP) at Florida State University. Founded by Professor of Art Denise Bookwalter, SCAP brings together artists, writers, designers and scholars to work collaboratively on projects that challenge the conventions of what books are and do. Each book has an entirely unique form reflecting methods ranging from historical hand-sewn bindings to laser-cut wood blocks and 3D printing. Learn more about this exhibition curated by UNF's Sheila Goloborotko, professor of printmaking.

Project Atrium: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Exhibit on view now through Sept. 14, MOCA Jacksonville
Spectral Subjects is an interactive, thermal observatory showing a constantly updating map of the room's temperature on three colossal wall-projections. Learn more about this interactive exhibition. Image: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Spectral Subjects (rendering for MOCA Jacksonville), 2024.

Print: Selections from the Teaching collection at UNF

Exhibition on view now through Sept. 30, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, Cynthia and Walter R. Graham, Jr. M.D. Student Art Gallery, Second Floor East
Curated by Kristy Parris, this summer's curatorial intern, the exhibition "Print" focuses on the seductive nature of the printmaking process and it's ability to portray vibrant colors and form in both abstraction and figurative themes.

Library Welcome Table

Monday, Aug. 18 - Wednesday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. each day, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, First Floor Lobby

Students, faculty and staff are invited to visit the Library Welcome Table on the first-floor lobby for directions, assistance and treats during Week of Welcome. Learn more about this free Week of Welcome event.

Community Engagement and Partnerships Mentoring Information Session

Tuesday, August 19, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Founders Hall, Room 2100

All Ospreys are welcome to learn more about the UNF Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships' Mentoring Initiatives. These initiatives helps students learn how to foster relationships, build their network and soar to greatness. Learn more about this upcoming mentoring information session.

Ideas of Our Time: Bob Rauschenberg in Florida & The Moon Museum

Saturday, August 23, 1 p.m., MOCA Jacksonville

In conjunction with the "Honoring Robert Rauschenberg" exhibition (June 21 - October 19, 2025) and in celebration of his birth centenary, join Jade Dellinger, Director of the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida Southwestern State College, for this illustrated and insightful lecture on "Bob Rauschenberg in Florida & The Moon Museum: Apollo XII's Secret Art Mission." Learn more and register to attend this free lecture.

Lawson Ensemble featuring violinist Scott Yoo, flautist Alice Dade, cellist Brannon Cho, and violist Caitlin Lynch

Sunday, August 24, 3 p.m., UNF Fine Arts Center Recital Hall, Room 1200

Enjoy an exciting performance featuring special guests, Scott Yoo, the host of the PBS show "Now Hear This," alongside fellow world-renowned musicians: flautist Alice Dade, cellist Brannon Cho and violist Caitlin Lynch. Learn more and plan to attend this free musical performance.

Red Zone Exhibit Launch Party

Thursday, Aug. 28, 3 - 5 p.m., Founders Hall, Room 1400
The Dean of Students Office will kick off its fall 2025 Red Zone programming. Visit an interactive exhibit to learn more about the Red Zone and see art created by members of the UNF community. Learn more about the launch party.

Swoop Summary

Women's Soccer Announces All-Decade Teams

The upcoming 2025 season marks the 30th season of North Florida women's soccer. In honor of 30 seasons of Osprey women's soccer, a committee was created to select past letter winners that truly helped take the program to new heights. To celebrate each decade of Osprey women's soccer, three all-decade teams were chosen spanning the 1996 through 2024 seasons, as well as the 30th Anniversary Team being selected. The all-decade teams are set to be honored during halftime of North Florida's home match against Queens on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. Learn more about the three all-decade teams.

North Florida Athletics Celebrates 25 Summer Graduates

North Florida Athletics recognized its 25 summer graduates across 12 different programs on earlier this month. A total of 20 student-athletes were awarded bachelor's degrees, while the other five graduates earned their master's degrees — collectively achieving an impressive 3.73 GPA during the summer semester. View the list of student-athletes who graduated this summer.

Here are a few upcoming events:

Volleyball: Navy vs. Gray (Post-match autographs and photos)

Friday, Aug. 15, 5 p.m. | UNF Arena | Free Admission

Women's Soccer vs. FIU

Thursday, Aug. 21, 7 p.m. | Hodges Stadium | Purchase Tickets

Visit unfospreys.com for more events