The list selects programs based on the following criteria: diversity, focus and Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation. Other universities listed in the Top 10 include the University of Iowa, Boston University and Emory University. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University was the only other Florida university included, and was ranked at No. 27.

Masters Degree Online was created to promote discussion about higher education as a whole, as well as to provide information to those looking for a way to begin their graduate program. For additional information about the “Best Public Health Masters Degree Programs” list, visit mastersdegreeonline.org.

To learn more about the UWF Masters in Public Health Program, visit uwf.edu/sahls.

Confucius Institutes are committed to providing Chinese language and cultural teaching resources, and to contributing to the development of multiculturalism among students in other countries.

UWF President Judy Bense signed the official partnership agreement between UWF, the Office of Chinese Language Council International/Confucius Institute Headquarters and SISU in Chongqing on May 20, 2013.

There are 470 Confucius classrooms in 104 countries and regions in the world. The University of South Florida Confucius Institute, the first to open in Florida, was created in 2008 in collaboration with Nankai University in Tianjin, China. The Miami Dade College Confucius Institute followed two years later in collaboration with Xuzhou Normal University in Xuzhou Jiangsu Province, China.

On her visit, Bense had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Ping Hao, Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Education, the highest ranked official in charge of Chinese international education and cooperation. At SISU, Bense met with President Keyong Li and Vice President Jianping Li.

Bense also sat with Vice Governor Jichao Xu, who oversees Education, Sciences, Technology and International Education for the Henan Province, which has a population more than 100 million. At Zhengzhou University, she met with experts in her field and signed an agreement with Henan’s Zhongyuan University of Technology, allowing UWF students to excavate with Chinese students on historical sites.

At Shanghai Normal University, Dr. Bense met with President Zhang, who directed Dr. Bai, Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Division, to award UWF students scholarships to study at the university.

Green, a long time supporter of the UWF Building Construction Program, is founder and CEO of The Green-Simmons Company, Inc., a local general contracting firm that focuses primarily on commercial construction projects for local, state and federal governmental agencies. Over the past several years, Green has supported the UWF Building Construction Program in a variety of ways including establishing a scholarship endowment for students, providing employment opportunities, hiring interns, serving on various committees and chairing the advisory council.  The funds raised during Green’s challenge will go toward the advancement of the proposed renovation of Building 80, the home of the C.O.R.E Initiative.

Once completed, the C.O.R.E. initiative will promote energy efficient construction through the innovative display of cutting-edge technology, as well as through community outreach and participation. Features of the multi-faceted building will include a soils laboratory, an energy efficiency demonstration and exhibition area, a construction yard and an outdoor amphitheater. Each of these building elements will enhance the UWF Building Construction Program’s curriculum and assist the program with its goal of being accredited with the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). More than 35 organizations have donated to the initiative thus far, with Gulf Power and Webb Electric of Florida, Inc. being two of the largest contributors.

“The C.O.R.E. Initiative is good for the local community, the construction industry and the Building Construction Program,” said Green. “To me, the project defines what it means to have a true public-private partnership. The University has generously provided the building and the research and educational component but state funds just aren’t there to pay for the renovations. While many partners have come forward, we are still short of the funds required for completion. Hopefully our challenge will entice other partners to take note and step forward. It’s not often that supporters can double the impact of their financial support and I wanted to provide that opportunity.”

For additional information regarding the fundraising challenge and the C.O.R.E. initiative, visit uwf.edu/core.

During their visit, they heard from UWF faculty and staff regarding specific initiatives related to degrees and professional jobs. Several of these initiatives include the Complete Florida Degree Program, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program, as well as IT Performance Funding and the College of Business Executive Mentor Program.

UWF is serving as the lead institution for the online Complete Florida Degree Program, which aims to recruit, recover and retain the state’s adult learners and assist them in completing an associate or baccalaureate degree that is aligned to high-wage, high-skill workforce needs.

UWF is meeting the state-identified need for more physical therapists in the Panhandle by implementing a pilot program offering a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in Pensacola, in collaboration with the University of South Florida (USF). The partnership will allow the USF Health School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences to expand enrollment in its nationally ranked, three-year DPT program. Students enrolled in the program will spend the final two years in classrooms at the UWF Pensacola campus and clinical internships at hospitals and outpatient sites across the Panhandle.

The UWF/University of Florida (UF) collaborative Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program will admit up to 12 qualified UWF graduates per year in an effort to better meet a regional and statewide need for qualified nurse practitioners. Students enrolled in the program at UWF will learn through web-based and on-campus instruction to complete 48 hours of credit before spending the final two years of the three-year program completing clinical internships at any of the 47 current clinical affiliates in the Panhandle region, including the nationally recognized Andrews Institute.

Additional funding provided by the Legislature includes a second year of an IT Performance Grant, of which UWF will receive $3.75 million. The university will utilize the funds to support its retention efforts and increase technology-degree-based graduates, in addition to helping expand Florida’s national position in the technology employment and business climate.

The UWF College of Business Education Center was one of the recent investments highlighted during the visit. The state-of-the-art facility was designed to enhance student learning and facilitate interactions among students, faculty and the business community. In alignment with the Education Center’s grand opening in Fall 2012, the UWF College of Business also launched the Executive Mentor Program. The program recently completed its first successful year, matching 30 College of Business students with local business leaders who served as mentors to initiate networking and career opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

Jarrett Moore

The Student ADDY® award was presented to Moore for his work on his portfolio piece, Vintage Batman Characters, which was developed in 2012 for a senior graphic design project while he was attending UWF as a Communication Arts student. Jarrett is the only student/professional recognized by AAF National from the Pensacola market for the 2013 ADDY® Awards.

Moore graduated in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in advertising and a minor in art. He currently serves as the Marketing & Technology Coordinator for University Commons & Student Activities at UWF where he is responsible for creating advertising for on-campus student events.

The ADDY® Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world.

Last year, Ferry Pass officials enlisted the help of the UWF School of Education to research ways to improve reading fluency and integrate special needs students into regular classroom environments. Whinnery suggested the Classwide Peer Tutoring System, an evidence-based practice that provides a high level of student motivation and engagement to increase achievement and positive social interactions, while reducing behavioral problems.

The technique, most commonly used for reading, centers around the idea of students working together to practice reading while identifying and correcting errors.  Studies show that a typical 45-minute reading class provides a student with 1.5 minutes of guided reading practice, while the Classwide Peer Tutoring system provides 22.5 minutes during that same time period.

Ebert, a first year teacher, volunteered to be the first classroom in Escambia County to use the system.

“It was helpful to be able to use all the resources UWF has to offer and stay in contact with my professors,” Ebert said. “These kids are going to be better readers because of what Dr. Whinnery taught me.”

Twice a week for 30-45 minutes, Ebert engages the students in a “Repeated Readings” exercise. He separates students into two teams, and then divides the teams into pairs, one “coach” and one “player.” The students take turns reading a passage three times, and then provide feedback after each reading. The students are given a point system, with the most points earned for reading the passage correctly the first time, and fewer points earned by reading the passage a second or third time and correcting mistakes.

Ebert said turning a reading exercise into a game keeps students engaged throughout the school year. He also motivates them by totaling the points on Fridays and recognizing the winning team with a small reward, such as being first in line.

For Whinnery, the utilization of the Classwide Peer Tutoring system emphasizes the importance of partnering with area schools to share research-based techniques. He also cited the key role UWF School of Education plays in providing qualified teachers who go on to work in Escambia County.

“When we go out to our partnership schools and see the interns and UWF graduates as new teachers, it’s very exciting to see them making such an impact on their students,” he said. “In that way we, as faculty, feel like we have an impact on the students too. It’s very powerful for us.”

Additionally, the legislature appropriated new programmatic funding to UWF, which includes $4 million for the statewide online Complete Florida Degree program in conjunction with state colleges and universities; $1 million for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program coordinated with the University of South Florida; $1 million for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice coordinated with the University of Florida; and $4 million for the Florida Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC).

Additional funding provided includes a second year of an IT Performance Grant, of which UWF will receive $3.75 million; the $10 million Office of Economic Development and Engagement (OEDE) oil spill economic recovery grant, which was initiated in 2011; and $8.4 million toward the UWF College of Business renovation phase III.

In addition, if qualified, UWF and other state universities may receive a portion of $20 million in performance funding and $44 million in facility maintenance and repair.

At a recent budget town hall meeting, UWF President Bense credited State Legislators, including Senate President Don Gaetz, Speaker Will Weatherford, Chair Joe Negron, Chair Seth McKeel, Chair Marleen O’Toole, Chair Jeanette Nunez, Chair Eric Fresen, Chair John Legg and Chair Bill Galvano for their support of higher education and the future of Florida. She also recognized the dedication and support of local legislators, Chair Clay Ingram, Senator Greg Evers and Representative Doug Broxson. President Bense thanked Board of Trustees Chair Lewis Bear for his time and dedication throughout the legislative session.

“During my tenure as President at UWF, we have been in a constant state budget reduction mode. This year’s budget is a welcome change and we are truly pleased with the hard work and investment of the Legislature and Governor in higher education,” said Bense.

“Particularly, UWF has had one of the best budget years on record and we look forward to putting these dollars to work for our region and the state. I am pleased that the Governor agreed with nearly all of the investments made by the Legislature as we move forward. These investments will make our university and our community stronger, specifically in the area of job creation and retention.”

UWF employees will receive enhancements included in this year’s budget. On Oct. 1, 2013, employees earning $40,000 or less will receive an increase of $1,400; those with a salary of more than $40,000 will receive an increase of $1,000; there is a bonus pool of $600 for certain qualified employees; and health insurance premiums will be provided for qualified part-time employees to implement the federal health care requirements in January 2014.

The Governor did veto a 3 percent tuition increase for the State University System; the $1 million Economic Security Report to be conducted by the Haas Center; and a competitive $15 million Cloud Virtualization grant, in which UWF had planned to compete to fund a Master of Science Administration with a specialization in Large Data Management and Cyber Security.

“This is the 11^th year that the UWF College of Business has partnered with the Combined Rotary Clubs of Northwest Florida to recognize Northwest Florida leaders whose conduct exemplify the highest standards of ethical behavior in business,” College of Business Dean Ed Ranelli said.

Gillette, a graduate of the UWF College of Business, is the owner of Gillette Wheelchair Engineers, a family owned and operated business based in Pensacola that is dedicated to helping those with limited mobility and other specialized medical needs in the Northwest Florida area. Gillette was also nominated for his dedication to helping those in need, shown by his wheelchair missions to Jamaica, Peru, and Costa Rica.

Eddy was recognized for his exceptional ethical treatment of his customers, constituents, stakeholder, employees, contractors and neighbors in his high profile position as City Manager of the City of Gulf Breeze. He is a member of the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club and was nominated for his track record of abiding by the best practices in business and his leadership role in Rotary food drives for many years.

The award is given to recognize those who exemplify the concept of “service above self” and work to build a positive sense of self-worth within both the business community and the broader community as a whole. Criteria for the award is based on adherence to the high ethical standards of honesty, integrity and consistency in dealing with employees, contractors and customers, while positively enhancing the economic well-being of the firm’s stakeholders and providing jobs, opportunities and profits.

For additional information, visit uwf.edu/cob/ethics.cfm.

President Judy Bense addressed the graduates, recognizing them for being an essential part of the university’s current and future success.

“The contributions you make in your work and life as servant leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, public officials and community members will shape your story and the history of UWF,” she said. “You are the future of our institutional history.”

Among the graduates was Terry Sutherland, an 82-year-old Azalea Trace resident who received a bachelor’s in studio art. To stress the importance of continuing education at any age and provide an example for his grandchildren, Sutherland has earned five degrees: a bachelor’s in engineering and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy; a master’s in manpower management from George Washington University; and an associate’s in real estate from Gulf Coast Community College.

Craig Lockhart, Honors Council President, received his bachelor’s degree in international studies, with a specialization in security and diplomacy. During his time at UWF, Lockhart served as an Argo Scholar Mentor and Honors Mentor and participated in a number of student organizations, including the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Collegiate 100 Black Men of Pensacola. He was awarded the Irvis Fellowship to attend the University of Pittsburgh in August, where he will pursue a master’s in public and international affairs. Lockhart, who was born in Dominica, West Indies and moved to Hollywood, Fla. when he was 10, said his long-term goal is to become a diplomat for the U.S. Department of State.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Summers, was named an Honorary Doctor of Science during the ceremony. Summers, a 1984 graduate of UWF, currently serves as a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. Summers’ scientific research focuses on understanding how retroviruses, specifically HIV, assemble, in hopes of finding a cure.

Summers is also a tireless advocate for the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at his institution. The program increases diversity among future leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related fields. He stays connected to UWF by identifying quality students to continue their studies and research alongside him at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is currently working with Joshua Brown, a UWF alumni who is pursuing his doctorate of medicine and Ph.D.

Bense also presented Bruce Cheves, Weighmaster of the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo, with the UWF Presidential Medal of Honor. The award, established by Bense in 2012, is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves by their actions and have contributed in some manner to the wellbeing of the university and the geographical region, primarily through public service and philanthropy.

Among the UWF Emerald Coast graduates was Tom Schwingle, a 66-year-old Mary Esther resident who received a bachelor’s in criminal justice. Schwingle originally started his college education in 1966 and served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. He is a UWF Emerald Coast employee, and serves as a mentor to fellow colleagues as well as his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Another graduate, John Filleau III, received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. During his time at UWF, Filleau was president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student chapter and involved with Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. Filleau was recognized as the UWF Electrical Engineering Outstanding Student and attributes the majority of his success to serving six years in the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded a Fellowship to attend Carnegie Mellon University in August, where he will pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, specializing in control systems.

During the ceremony, President Judy Bense presented Destin native Bruce Cheves with the UWF Presidential Medal of Honor. Cheves has served as the Weighmaster of the Destin Fishing Rodeo for the past 25 years.

The award, established by Bense in 2012, is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves by their actions and have contributed in some manner to the wellbeing of the university and the geographical region, primarily through public service and philanthropy.

Cheves was recognized for his long-standing service within UWF’s service region as he promotes Destin’s heritage and educates thousands of locals and visitors about fishing, maritime history and local legends. He has initiated programs that introduce and promote fishing among kids, particularly those from disadvantaged situations. In 2010, the city of Destin honored Cheves by naming Oct. 16 “Bruce Cheves Day.”

As Bense presented the award, Bense recognized Cheves for his dedication to serving Destin and the Northwest Florida region.

“Cheves’ knowledge of the Gulf, marine life habits and habitats, various world records and his recollections of local history, legends and dockside personalities are deep and impressive,” Bense said. “His service to the Destin community is unsurpassed and worthy of recognition.”

“Gulf Power’s vision of an active center celebrating the multicultural history of our region, is now going to be realized in the renovation of the Beacon Building.  ‘The Voices of Pensacola’ will be a place where people of all ages will gather, learn, and tell their stories,” said Bentina Terry, Vice President for External Affairs and Corporate Services at Gulf Power.

The new center will feature displays representing the varied cultural groups who have shaped Pensacola’s history. Potential exhibits will showcase the Native American, Asian, Hispanic, African-American, Greek, Jewish and European cultures.

It will also include: two stages for oral history, storytelling, and musical performances; two acoustically controlled Aural Exhibit spaces where oral histories can be heard and recorded; a research room; computer research stations and more.

“I’m truly excited about the numerous benefits this multicultural resource center will bring to our community,” said Kyle Marrero, Vice President for University Advancement at UWF.

“This project will contribute to the revitalization of downtown Pensacola, further enhance UWF’s academic resources, and boost the university’s growing national reputation in the field of public history,” Marrero said. “It will also strengthen the community by providing a way for the diverse cultures of Pensacola to come together and celebrate their triumphs, learn from their failures, save their histories and connect. The university is grateful to Gulf Power and Southern Company for its generous donation that has made the project possible.”

The Beacon Building, formally known as the Norman Simons Building, is located at 110 Church St. in downtown Pensacola. It was built in 1912 by S. F. Fulgham & Co. for D. Kugelman & Co., a wholesale grocer. Since then, it has housed several other wholesale grocers, wholesale liquor companies and the Pensacola Cigar and Tobacco Co.

The Pensacola Historical Society purchased the building in 1990, renaming it in honor of G. Norman Simons, the society’s deceased curator and well-respected local historian.

For additional information about the Beacon Building renovation, contact WFHPI at 850.595.5985 or visit the website, www.historicpensacola.org.

“I am delighted to welcome Joffery Gaymon to the Academic Affairs division,” said Provost Martha Saunders. “She comes to us with good experience and high praise for her work ethic and team-oriented approach to problem solving.  I am very much looking forward to working closely with her as we develop and implement our plans for sustainable enrollment growth.”

Currently, Gaymon serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management & Director of Admissions at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, providing comprehensive enrollment strategies and university-wide enrollment management efforts.

“I am thrilled to join a campus community that is embarking on a pivotal phase,” said Gaymon. “I have spent much of my career helping institutions shape their enrollment strategy and I look forward to continuing that tradition by aiding in positioning UWF as a premier, first choice institution.”

Prior to her tenure at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Gaymon held numerous roles at Georgia College & State University including Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Associate Director of Admissions, Assistant Director of Admissions and Acting Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. She has also served as a university professor, teaching undergraduate level courses at Georgia College & State University. Dr. Gaymon has chaired and served on numerous committees at both of her previous institutions.

As an avid member of her professional community, Gaymon has been involved in selected memberships in both professional and community organizations, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Zeta Phi Beta, Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Carolina Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Georgia College & State University Black Alumni Club and Georgia College & State University Board of Directors.

Gaymon is a graduate of Georgia College & State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a master’s degree in Public Administration. She will receive her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University later this year.

 Ashley will be working at the Institute for Applied Computational Science (IACS) as part of a pilot program developing opportunities for students to apply mathematics and computation to solve real-world problems proposed by industry sponsors. She will work on a project proposed by a company interested in novel, data driven approaches to petroleum reservoir modeling, which leverage technologies such as signal processing, data mining, and artificial intelligence to ensure fast and robust integration of field data into their models.

Ashley, a John C. Pace Jr. Scholar and honors student, currently serves as the Honors Council Co-Social Chair. She said she heard about the Harvard internship when UWF alumni John Welch, a Ph.D candidate at Harvard, spoke to Mathematics & Statistics students about the opportunities available through the program.

“My experience at UWF has prepared me well for this internship,” Ashley said. “Being involved in the Honors Program has given me leadership skills. We also have strong faculty in the Mathematics Department that have provided me with a solid education.”

Working in the IACS, Ashley will be on a team with two other students. The company will provide her team with data collected from real petroleum reservoirs and ask her to propose new ways to extract patterns, trends and correlations from the data.

“I am beyond excited about this amazing opportunity and the doors it can open for me,” Ashley said.

More than 700 students from 100 schools attended the conference. The rankings for UWF students who competed are as follows: Madison Fortenberry and Duncan Calvert, 1^st place in Java Programming, Honorable Mention in Mobile Application Design; Derek Merchant and Everett Lucas, Honorable Mention in Microsoft Office Solutions and Database Design; Chris Terry, 1^st Place in IBM Enterprise Systems Challenge, 2^nd place in Security Scenarios.

The student chapter of AITP at UWF is the professional organization for the Computer Science Department. It has been active and funded by SGA for 20 consecutive years under the direction of Dr. John W. Coffey, the chapter advisor. In addition to winning numerous regional and national competitions, the UWF AITP chapter has won the Student Chapter Outstanding Performance Award (SCOPA) five times, and the Region Seven (Southeastern U.S.) Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year Award three times.

For additional information, visit uwf.edu/computerscience.

The nine-person team was able to compete in the state competition as a result of funding from the UWF Alumni Association Grant Committee and the Student Government Association. The students competed in 10 categories that included knowledge and skills tests. Those who ranked in the Top 3 include:

• Camille Wood, 1^st Place in Biotechnology
• Keanna Nimpchaimanatham, 1^st place in Human Growth and Development
• Buu-Tran Duong, 1^st place in Extemporaneous Speaking, recipient of the Barbara James Service Award
• Dhivyaa Manickam, 3^rd place in Medical Reading
• Matthew Parker, 3^rd place in Physical Therapy

HOSA is a national organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education Division of ACTE. The organization’s mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA provides leadership training, community service opportunities and academic competitions.

For additional information about HOSA, visit hosa.org.

• American Campus Communities (Austin, Texas): In partnership with Bullock-Tice Associates (Pensacola, Fla.) and Greenhut Construction Company (Pensacola, Fla.) as well as Niles Bolton (Atlanta, Ga.).
• Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions (Newtown Square, Pa.): In partnership with Caldwell & Associates (Pensacola, Fla.) and Provident (Baton Rouge, La.).
• KUD International (New York City, Ny.): In partnership with Jehle-Halstead (Pensacola, Fla.), as well as EMO (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Haskell (Jacksonville, Fla.), among others.

Developers and development teams previously submitted their level of experience and qualifications to UWF BEI in February 2013, as part of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) phase. Of the submitting firms, three development teams have been chosen to submit RFPs by May 31, 2013. The RFP will be used to select the team that will work with UWF BEI to develop the current Campus Master Plan and provide financial support along with the viability of the various components of this Master Development project. This competitive solicitation process is routine in selecting a master developer or development team for public-private partnerships.

University Park is the central area of campus, which will potentially include facilities such as a new student union, additional housing facilities, a football stadium, a parking garage and more. Also included in University Park are current facilities, such as the UWF Field House, Health & Leisure Building and the Wellness Center. The development of University Park will enhance the campus experience for current and future UWF students, and provide new opportunities to engage UWF alumni and the local community.

Northwest Retirement Village is a proposed 55+ active adult community, to be developed on west campus. Active adult communities are typically age-based and offer facilities, events and activities for residents. These communities can be an attractive alternative for lifelong learners, those actively interested in community involvement, as well as those with university affiliations. Residents enjoy the intellectual and social stimuli of a college campus, and the university has the potential to profit both financially and culturally.

The viability of potential facilities within University Park and Northwest Retirement Village will be determined based on financial and business models proposed by the development partner and negotiated with UWF BEI.

For additional details on the University Park & Northwest Village Development Project as well as other UWF BEI projects, please visit uwf.edu/bei/projects.html.

Alumni Service Award

Scott Ramsey, ’87, B.S. Marketing, served on the Alumni Board of Directors for two years in the position of Director at Large within Northwest Florida. During his time on the Alumni Board, Ramsey volunteered at several events such as Career Countdown, Meet the Pros, and Gallery of History. He continues to serve the university as a mentor in the UWF College of Business Executive Mentor Program. He also served on the College of Business Steering Committee for the grand opening of the new, state-of-the-art Education Center in 2012.

Friend of the University

HomeRun Holdings has made significant contributions to the School of Science and Engineering and to UWF students by offering internships, co-ops and entry-level career positions.  Their reputation as a wonderful place to work continues to grow among the UWF student and alumni network.

Publix has supported the university as a Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Corporate Partner for three years.  They donate monetarily to support UWF student-athletes and donate in-kind to support various promotions held at UWF.  Publix created the Publix Spirit Challenge to encourage students to attend home basketball games and earn prizes based on group size and spirit. In the Publix store, UWF merchandise and apparel are sold and UWF athletics schedule cards are available at the registers.

Honorary Alumnus

Dr. Kyle Marrero joined the University of West Florida in Fall 2005 as the Director of the School of Fine and Performing Arts and Chair of the Department of Music. In August 2009, Marrero became the Vice President for University Advancement, where he currently leads a staff of 60 full-time employees overseeing the university’s integrated marketing communications efforts; the development and alumni relations’ activities; the West Florida Historic Preservation Inc. (WFHPI); and WUWF. In addition, Marrero oversees the UWF Foundation, whose current endowment investment pool exceeds $60 million. As the institution’s chief philanthropic officer, he successfully led the final stages of the $39,275,411 Creating Great Futures capital campaign, which surpassed its goal of $35 million.

With a clear focus on the importance of student life at UWF, Marrero has been supportive of various student life initiatives, including chairing the Football Feasibility Committee and serving on the Student Life Implementation Team, which formed both the Sword and Shield Council and Football Founders groups. Recently, Marrero was appointed President of the University of West Georgia and will leave the university this summer.

Outstanding Young Alumnus

John Adams, ’99 B.S.B.A. Management & ’02 B.S.B.A. Accounting. Adams continued to pursue his dream of becoming an attorney and attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law, graduating magna cum laude in 2005. He is a Shareholder/Director with Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon.  He practices in all areas of commercial litigation and has successfully tried cases in Florida State Courts, Bankruptcy Court, Federal Court, and Alabama State Court.  Adams has made a commitment to serving the Pensacola community by serving as a board member for Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida and providing pro bono legal counsel.

Jason Lasure, ‘01 B.S.B.A. Management. Lasure is the founder of The Analyst Group, LLC, a local company that provides numerous workplace management services, including the analysis, forecasting and management of an overall workforce strategy, to more than 90 companies in the U.S. and Canada. He created the company with a desire to provide a place of employment for UWF graduates. Today, approximately 70 percent of the staff at The Analyst Group are UWF alumni or students.

Lasure has also made a tremendous dedication to his community.  He is currently serving on the Downtown Redevelopment Board in Milton.  Jason is in charge of a USDA-certified food pantry that provides emergency food to about 500 families per quarter in the Milton area.  Supervising this pantry is one the duties he fulfills as a deacon in charge of the Benevolence Program at the Margaret Street Church of Christ in Milton.

Distinguished Alumnus

Molly Murphy, ’91 B.A. Accounting Information Systems. Murphy’s primary focus is providing audit, accounting and consulting services throughout the Southeast. She was named one of three female shareholders in the CPA firm of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund.  Murphy has many professional affiliations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public accountants, and North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Molly has also made significant contributions to the Pensacola community. She serves on the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida Board and is a member of the Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100.

Molly served as the 2012 Leadership Pensacola class project chair and facilitator.  The class project “Operation Hope” raised more than $200,000 to completely renovate both the USO at Pensacola International Airport on NAS Pensacola.

Dr. P.S. Ruckman Jr., ’86 B.A. Philosophy & Political Science. Ruckman is a nationally recognized scholar in the area of executive clemency. He is a professor of political science at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill.

Ruckman has completed an extensive body of work on clemency and is the “go-to” political scientist for federal, state and international clemency controversies.  He is frequently consulted as an expert of pardon policy by the media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and numerous other top newspapers.

Ruckman is a member of the American Political Science Association, as well as the Midwest and Southern Political Science Associations.  He was most recently named Faculty Member of the Year for 2011-2012. This honor follows a long history of personal accomplishments.

Chambered Nautilus Award of Merit

John Switzer, ’89 B.S. Management and Charlie Switzer, ’81 B.A. Economics. For more than 15 years, J. Switzer and C. Switzer have been loyal supporters of UWF.  They have committed their resources, their time and their vision to the university. In 2001, they established individual scholarship endowments in Business Ethics. They also created the UWF College of Business Switzer Brothers Professorship to provide assistance to visiting professors, guest lecturers and/or faculty.

The brothers supported the new College of Business Education Center by making an unrestricted gift to the name Switz Café.  They expressed their vision that the café would become a meeting place for future College of Business students.

Both C. Switzer and J. Switzer have served as volunteer members of the College of Business Advisory Council. Their support, whether financial or advisory, continues to have a positive effect on the university, its students, faculty and staff.

For additional information on the 2013 Alumni Award winners or to learn more about upcoming alumni events, please visit alumni.uwf.edu.

In this role, Kelly will serve as the university’s chief philanthropic officer and provide leadership to a team of more than 60 professionals in the Division of Advancement, overseeing the university’s integrated marketing and communication, development and alumni relations efforts. In addition, Kelly will lead the UWF Foundation, West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc. and WUWF Public Media.

Kelly currently serves as the director of School of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and chair of the Department of Communication Arts at UWF.

“I am delighted to welcome Brendan into this interim post,” said Bense. “I know his natural and trained abilities as a communicator will serve UWF well in our fundraising efforts. It is gratifying that UWF has such strong leadership among our faculty ranks.”

A faculty member in the Department of Communication Arts since 2004, Kelly served as the director of the nationally recognized UWF Speech and Debate program, and specializes in speech communication training. He has taught courses in political communication, speech communication, communication ethics and various areas related to strategic communication.

Since arriving at UWF, Kelly has been recognized through multiple honors, including the UWF Distinguished Teaching Award; induction into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame, Eastern Michigan University Outstanding Young Alumnus Award; induction into the Eastern Michigan University Forensics Hall of Fame; and UWF Faculty Excellence award in Student Affairs; and was recognized by the US Department of Defense as a Patriotic Employer.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the university in this capacity,” said Kelly. “UWF is rich with energy and momentum, and I look forward to supporting President Bense in her efforts to strengthen the upward trajectory of the institution through my new role, leading the Division of University Advancement.”

Kelly earned his bachelor’s in Public Relations and master’s in Communication from Eastern Michigan University, and doctorate in Rhetoric and Political Communication from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Kelly will replace Dr. Kyle Marrero, who was recently named President of the University of West Georgia.

Entity, a psycho thriller that is set to debut in local theaters later this year, is the brainchild of Will Phillips, a May 2012 graduate of UWF, and the result of countless volunteer hours from a 53-person cast and crew, made up primarily of students from UWF and Pensacola State College.  

“The idea for the script originally stemmed from actual experiences I had at a friend’s allegedly haunted residence,” Phillips said. “I later started penning a short story called ‘Lights Out,’ and it ultimately evolved into Entity.”

At the beginning of 2012, Phillips began reaching out to local college students he knew to see if they would be interested in turning his dream into a movie. He recruited Mervyn Ortiz, a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer and UWF senior art major, as the film’s executive producer. Ortiz also provided the majority of the funding for the film’s production, which cost approximately $30,000.

“Will approached me with the script, and I was on board from that point on,” Ortiz said. “I didn’t have much experience in film, but I knew I wanted to do what I could to help.”

Next, Phillips recruited Chris Jadallah, a senior film/telecommunications major, to be the film’s director.

 “I was always filming something,” Jadallah said. “But I didn’t see myself as a director of a feature length-film at age 21.”

Jerod Perez, a junior political science major and theater minor, was cast as the lead male character, Casey Hughes.

“I always thought I would love to be an actor,” Perez said. “I’ve acted pretty much all my life in Pensacola Little Theatre productions and church plays.”

Once the rest of the cast and crew were recruited, filming started in May 2012. Despite busy schedules filled with jobs, summer classes and other responsibilities, the volunteers dedicated up to 18 hours a day several days a week to be on set at various locations throughout Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.

By the end of 2012, the film was in the final stages of production and garnering attention from distributors and well-known entertainment production companies with ties to the independent film festival market.

A teaser trailer, launched on Youtube and Facebook in December, currently has more than 160,000 views and a fan base scattered across the U.S. and worldwide as far as England, Australia and Brazil. Once it is released later this year, the film will be available for digital download and has been approved to show at the Ridge Theater in Pace. It was also invited to be featured at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival in October 2013.

“I didn’t see it going this far,” Ortiz said. “I thought it would be a small project to get my feet wet – something that would be fun and give me a taste of what filmmaking is like. Once I saw the reaction to the teaser trailer, I thought, ‘We may have something here.’ ”

The production of Entity also led Ortiz, Phillips and Jadallah to achieve a bigger dream: founding their own local entertainment production company, East Bay Entertainment. Ortiz said he hopes the company will enable local talent to achieve their dreams.

“Early on, I realized there is so much talent at UWF and in this area. We used local talent to make this film, and it got worldwide attention,” he said. “I may not be a filmmaker myself, but I know there are other talented people here who may not have the means to accomplish their dreams. I want to support local aspiring filmmakers and save them a trip to Hollywood.”

Ortiz said that the film’s success would not have been possible without the education many of the cast and crew members received at UWF.

“Because of my choice to attend UWF, I was allowed the opportunity to meet talented students, such as Will [Phillips], who were a major part of making this film,” he said. “My background in art helped me think creatively as a producer. Being an art major allowed me to immerse myself in a creative environment, which established the solid foundation I needed to succeed in this project.”

The two-day training focused on “The Professional’s Challenge in Addressing Domestic Violence.” It featured two guest speakers from the National Institute of Crime Prevention who spoke on responding to domestic violence crime. The free training was open to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, probation officers, victim advocates, social workers, students and interested members of the public. Attendees were issued Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) certificates.

For additional information about the UWF Department of Justice Studies, visit uwf.edu/justice.