Osprey alum helps students navigate the world of financial aid

Chase Whiteman (‘21), an advisor in the University of North Florida’s One-Stop Student Services, loves interacting with students and helping to put their minds at ease. In his role, he primarily assists students with inquiries revolving around financial aid, records and registration, but strives to provide holistic service and find answers even if a topic is outside of his purview. 

As an alum, Whiteman is grateful for the opportunity to help the next generation of Ospreys navigate their college experience. 

“One of the things here at One-Stop that I really enjoy is the problem-solving aspect of what we do,” said Whiteman. “There are many variables in financial aid, and each student has unique circumstances, so being able to find creative solutions to help our students is exciting for me.” 

In addition to his interactions with students, Whiteman credits his colleagues in One-Stop for helping to make working at UNF a great experience. 

“My favorite part of working here is the people. Everyone is so supportive, and I look forward to coming to work every day,” he said. 

An Osprey from the Very Start 

A native of Jacksonville, Whiteman says attending UNF was always in his plans. Having grown up a huge sports fan, particularly football, he envisioned a career in sports involving coaching or other management roles. After graduating from Fletcher High School, he began his college journey at UNF in fall 2017 as a sport management major. He also double minored in marketing and community sport and tourism — exploring a newfound interest in sports marketing and his love of travel. 

During his senior year, he participated in an internship with UNF Athletics to gain real-world experience in the inner workings of a collegiate sports department. Shortly after graduating in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management, he found employment as a remote operations coordinator with a healthcare tech company that connects physicians, travel nurses and other industry professionals with healthcare jobs. His duties involved streamlining various workflows such as assisting nurses with applications. Although he enjoyed the work, Whiteman realized that he is better suited for a career that provides the opportunity for face-to-face interactions. 

A Familiar Place 

While job searching and considering various options, including furthering his education, he discovered an open advisor role in One-Stop that seemed a perfect fit, so he applied. He officially joined the team in fall 2023. 

“I wanted to come back to a familiar place — familiarity was a big factor,” said Whiteman. “I also wanted to pursue a master’s degree and returning to UNF presented a great opportunity to do that.” 

In his pursuit of further education, Whiteman recently completed his second semester in the Master of Science in Management program within the Coggin College of Business and looks forward to his upcoming summer courses. 

When he’s not helping students or navigating his graduate school journey, Whiteman enjoys playing sports, exercising and traveling, both domestically and internationally. 

Throughout his time at UNF, he says he’s always enjoyed the campus’s welcoming atmosphere and the endless opportunities for social and professional growth. 

“UNF is a super welcoming community, and the networking opportunities are fantastic,” Whiteman said.