UNF staffer guides students to The Nest
Igor Tavuzhnyanskiy, assistant director of enrollment services communications, enjoys sharing UNF's distinct attributes with prospective students and assisting them through the enrollment process. Since joining UNF last year, the Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn, New York native, says he's proud of the work Enrollment Services has acommplished during the past year. Outside of work, Tavuzhnyanskiy says he enjoys nice days at the beach and traveling.Describe your role as assistant director of enrollment services communications?
I assist with managing enrollment-related communications for prospective and new incoming students with emails, text messages, webpages, social media, etc. The communications include sharing information about UNF with potential students and helping students move through the application process and enroll. The day-to-day focus varies depending on where we are in the recruitment and enrollment cycle in Enrollment Services, but it’s certainly not dull!
What led you to this opportunity at UNF?
I was working at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and completed my UNF Communication Management graduate degree. As I was exploring new opportunities, I was excited to find out about this role and decided to pursue it.
What do you like most about your job?
Playing a role in sharing the great aspects of UNF with prospective students, and providing new incoming students with essential information to help them transition from applicant to an enrolled Osprey.
What do you like most about working at UNF?
The Enrollment Services Communications team and the work we’re able to get done together. I am also enthusiastic about the direction President Limayem and Dr. Glen Besterfield, dean of enrollment management, are taking in terms of both growth and the student profile.
Explain how you handle a challenge?
I try to view a challenge as a learning opportunity and think it through before deciding the best way forward.
What’s a work-related accomplishment you’re proud of?
I’ve learned a good amount about using the Slate CRM. Slate was new to me when I started at UNF and it is a critical program for Enrollment Services.
What are your top 3 work goals?
- Help support and develop my team.
- Continuously enhance our outgoing communications.
- Contribute to meeting UNF’s admission and enrollment objectives.
Your spouse is employed by UNF as well. Do your schedules and work culture fit into your family dynamics?
My wife, Katherine, is the associate director of CARE Services in the Dean of Students Office. We can collaborate if beneficial for our roles, but otherwise we limit personal interactions during the work day to try to maintain a separation between work and personal life. A pro of both of us working at UNF, is we have a good understanding of each other’s roles and support each other. A con is that we probably talk about work more often than we should at home.
If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?
A third computer monitor… just kidding!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to travel, whether it’s a weekend road trip or an international adventure.
What was your first job?
I was in the U.S. Air Force.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Be willing to get out of your comfort zone to try new things. Keeping this in mind has pushed me to do things that caused some initial hesitation, but were worthwhile.
Who inspires you and why?
Melissa Blankenship, director of enrollment services communications. Her dedication to UNF and willingness to help the team and others, inspires and motivates me in my daily work.
What’s your favorite thing to do on weekends?
I enjoy running and going to the beach.
What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?
It is difficult to narrow down, but Japan is on the list.
What is one thing about you that others may not know?
I was born in Ukraine and moved to the U.S. when I was four.