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OneJax Announces 2018 Humanitarian Award Honorees

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OneJax, an institute of the University of North Florida, has announced the recipients of its 2018 Humanitarian Awards. The honorees will be recognized at the Humanitarian Awards Dinner 7 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, located at 1000 Water St., downtown Jacksonville. A 6 p.m. reception will take place prior to the event. 

The OneJax Humanitarian Awards honor those who have demonstrated the highest level of personal and professional integrity, have given generously and extensively to our community and have been dedicated to the improvement of human relations among diverse groups in our community. 

“This is a particularly strong group and among the most deserving in our community to be recognized for their contributions,” said Nancy Broner, OneJax executive director. “The honorees represent a cross-section of people doing meaningful work in our city, and they make an important difference in the lives of so many in Northeast Florida. Their impact is immeasurable.” 

The 2018 awards honorees are as follows:

·         2018 Gold Medallion for Lifetime Achievement: John A. Delaney, UNF president. This award recognizes those who have had an extraordinary impact on and have given back generously to their communities over their lifetime through exceptional commitment to the OneJax mission of promoting the dignity and respect of all people.

·         2018 Silver Medallions: Barbara Drake, retired business executive and community volunteer; Lawrence ‘Laurie’ DuBow, philanthropist; Sherry Magill, Jessie Ball DuPont Fund president; and Darnell Smith, Florida Blue market president, North Florida region. This award is given to individuals in recognition of their outstanding dedication and community service.

“OneJax has been doing important work for a long time in our community,” said Jan Lipsky, OneJax board chair. “This year’s honorees reflect our efforts to educate, advocate and build community to promote the respect and understanding that will overcome bias, bigotry and oppression. They embody the spirit of this commitment.”

The title sponsors for the event are Baptist Health and Florida Blue. Sponsorships for the Humanitarian Awards Dinner may be obtained by contacting OneJax at (904) 620-1529 or [email protected]. Tickets for the event are available online at http://tiny.cc/wzp8hy. 

Since 2012, OneJax has been an institute at UNF. Through education, community building and advocacy, OneJax works to make Northeast Florida a better place for everyone by celebrating differences and identifying all we have in common.

UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.

UNF Honoring Student’s Exceptional Service During Fall Commencement

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The University of North Florida will honor a student with an outstanding record of volunteerism, when it hands out over 1,000 degrees Friday, Dec. 8, during fall commencement at the UNF Arena, Building 34, on campus.
UNF senior Nikki Adams, who is graduating this week with a bachelor’s degree in biology, will be recognized as the recipient of the Senior Service Award, which is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding volunteer service to the University or community by the UNF Alumni Association. She will be honored during the 10 a.m. ceremony.
Adams, a Jacksonville native who grew up in Riverside, realized she could spark change and awareness through volunteerism and found she could accomplish this through the University’s Environmental Center, where she became deeply involved with the Center’s student-led organization, the Environmental Center Student Coalition. Adams served as club president last fall and facilitated open discussions with students about environmental problems and ways in which they could enact change.
Through the UNF Environmental Center, Adams began to participate in activities that also helped improve the Northeast Florida community by volunteering at clean-up events organized by the St. Johns Riverkeeper, North Florida Land Trust and Groundwork Jax. By “getting down in the dirt” with a team of impassioned individuals, she was able to work as part of a team committed to making a positive, visual change.
Additionally, Adams has interned with the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve as well as the National Park Service and volunteered with the North Florida Land Trust’s Team Terrapin, where she contributed to a database that served to quantify the amount of diamondback terrapins present in the marshes on Big Talbot Island. She’s also volunteered with The Girls Gone Green, the U.S. Green Building Council, Dreams Come True and Rising Tides Young Professionals group.
The ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction will take place at 10 a.m., while the ceremony for the Brooks College of Health, Coggin College of Business and the
College of Education and Human Services will start at 2 p.m.
The University expects to award a total of 1,022 bachelor’s degrees, 165 master’s degrees and 38 doctorates this term. Including the fall 2017 graduates, UNF has issued a total of 73,956 bachelor’s degrees, 18,591 master’s degrees and 531 doctorates since first opening its doors in 1972.

UNF Students Awarded International Computing Honor Society Scholarships

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Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the international honor society for the computing and information disciplines, awarded scholarships for academic excellence in the field of computing totaling $2,500 to two students in the School of Computing at the University of North Florida.
Graduate student Nancy Carrier, who is working on her master’s degree in computer science, was awarded the UPE Academic Achievement Award for $1,500. Undergraduate student Ian Manuel, a senior dual majoring in computer science and physics, was awarded the UPE Scholarship Award for $1,000.
“Receiving such international awards is indicative of the rigorous nature of the programs in the University of North Florida’s School of Computing and shows that we are preparing students for successful careers,” said Dr. Sanjay Ahuja, UNF computing professor and UPE advisor.
Carrier, an East Arlington resident, is a non-traditional student and has re-entered the graduate program at UNF with dedication to her master’s degree in Computer Science, holding a 3.91 GPA. As an undergrad, she was part of the Computer Programming Team and Association of Computing Machinery Club and currently serves as president of the UNF chapter of the UPE. Carrier is a senior data scientist at Bank of America and has worked in the technology industry for over 20 years. She also serves as an active volunteer in the community working with local schools as a tutor and role model as well as helping youth through Boy and Girl Scouts of America.
Manuel, a Southside resident, currently holds a 3.98 GPA within his dual majors. He was the Department of Physics Summer Research Grant recipient in 2016. With the grant, he researched the magnetic and optical properties of graphene. He previously assisted in developing software as a programmer for a UNF robotics group and took part in the 2013 and 2014 FIRST Robotics Competition.
UNF’s School of Computing is dedicated to the promotion of an academically exciting and progressive intellectual climate, characterized by a superior program of instruction, peer-recognized scholarship, effective support services and productive professional community involvement.

OneJax Presents ‘Incivility and Political Dysfunction’ Lecture at UNF

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The OneJax Institute at the University of North Florida presents the next program in the Civil Discourse Project, “Incivility and Political Dysfunction: How Did We Get Here and What Can We Do?” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the Adam W. Herbert University Center, Building 43, Grand Banquet Hall, Room 1044, on campus.
The featured speaker is Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, who is the executive director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD), an organization that works to reduce political dysfunction and incivility in our political system. As a leader in the field of deliberative democracy, she works to restore democracy to reflect the intended vision of our founding fathers.
She will discuss NICD’s initiative to revive civility as well as respect and will offer suggestions as to how individuals, the University and community can get involved.Following her remarks, there will be an interview/discussion session led by UNF President John Delaney.
Lukensmeyer previously served as founder and president of AmericaSpeaks, an award-winning nonprofit organization that promoted nonpartisan initiatives to engage citizens and leaders through the development of innovative public policy tools and strategies. During her tenure, AmericaSpeaks engaged more than 165,000 people and hosted events across all 50 states as well as throughout the world.
She formerly served as consultant to the White House chief of staff from 1993-94 and on the National Performance Review, where she steered internal management and oversaw government-wide reforms. Lukensmeyer was the chief of staff for five years to Ohio Gov. Richard F. Celeste, becoming the first woman to serve in this capacity.
This free event is open to the community; however, tickets are required for entry and may be obtained here. For more information about the event, contact the OneJax Institute at UNF at (904) 620-1529.
The National Institute for Civil Discourse was established in May 2011 after the tragic Tucson shooting that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. All were participating in a “Congress on Your Corner” event, a fundamental act of democracy.
OneJax, in partnership with The Florida Times-Union, WJCT, UNF and the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission host the Civil Discourse Project. These civic engagement events feature moderated panel discussions on issues that challenge deeply held beliefs about controversial topics. The purpose is to promote and model civility in interacting with one another in a calm and inclusive manner on current popular topics to increase understanding of opposing viewpoints.
Since 2012, OneJax has been an institute at UNF. Through education, community building and advocacy, OneJax works to make Northeast Florida a better place for everyone by celebrating differences and identifying all we have in common.

UNF Professor Emeritus Honored for Service by Belize Government

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Dr. Betty Flinchum, Professor Emerita of Curriculum and Instruction in the University of North Florida’s College of Education and Human Services (COEHS), was presented with the Order of Distinction, a high honor by the government of Belize. Flinchum is the first ever non-Belizean citizen to receive the honor.
“This tribute has given me the greatest joy imaginable,” said Flinchum. “I am sincerely grateful to all my former students, colleagues, Belizeans friends and families, to the Belize government and to all the Belizean people for this great honor and the privilege to work with this country for more than 30 years. I felt humbled to be among those honored and upon receiving my honor, I felt truly Belizean.”
Flinchum was recognized in a formal Tribute to Belizean Patriots ceremony September 14 for giving years of service to the country, in supporting educational programs and facilitating a process where more than 500 Belizean nationals have been able to earn degrees from the University. In attendance at the presentation was a large group of alumni, coworkers, junior college presidents, deans and friends.
“There are hundreds of Belizean professionals whose lives have been positively impacted and changed forever by Dr. Betty Flinchum. Her sterling contribution is through her personal commitment and dedication to Belize’s development,” according to the program from the Belizean Office of the Prime Minister.
Flinchum served for 32 years as a professor of education and director of International Programs at UNF, now called the International Center. As a founding faculty member, she initiated and developed the University’s international programs, which included the establishment of study-abroad programs, international student programs, faculty linkages and exchanges with numerous countries. During her tenure there, UNF’s international student body grew to include young scholars from over 100 foreign countries.
On her retirement, she was elected as Emeritus, an honor and high distinction for retired faculty at the University. She initiated a government-funded international program between the University and Belize in 1986, founding the Consortium on Belize Educational Cooperation, and she currently continues to consult with the University on this project and in other areas of international outreach.
In the early part of her career, she taught in university positions related to the areas of movement education, motor development of young children and teacher education. As her academic career progressed, she served in university administrative positions for the majority of her career and focused on international education and international development. Flinchum had a distinguished career in education as a teacher, professor, director and administrator at several universities.
In addition to her professional career, Flinchum has been involved in several philanthropic endeavors. During her tenure at UNF, she gave the initial monies to establish two scholarships, the Sir Colville Young Endowed Scholarship/Fellowship for Belizeans who wish to study education, and the Ellis F. White Founding Faculty Endowed Scholarship/Fellowship for need-based students in COEHS.
Flinchum volunteers as an international programing consultant for educational institutions in the United States and abroad and continues to provide custom-designed international tours for individual and group travel. Her most recent writing project “A Cultural Legacy: Sir Colville Norbert Young, GCMG, MBE, and D.Phil. Governor-General of Belize” was published in 2008 and is an authorized biography of a prominent Belizean colleague and friend.
A few of her notable awards are the Lifetime Achievement Award in International Development given by the City of Jacksonville for her significant work toward making Jacksonville an international city, the International Development Award for distinguished service to UNF, and the Honorary Alumna Award for her devotion to students and initiating/developing the University’s international program. Most recently, in October, 2013, she was honored as a Woman of Distinction by her alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Flinchum earned her bachelor’s degree at Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina in 1957, her Master’s in Education from University of North Carolina in 1962, and a philosophy doctorate from Louisiana State University in 1972.

UNF Coggin College of Business Stages First Annual Gala

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The University of North Florida Coggin College of Business presents its first annual gala, “Celebrating Milestones and Memories,” from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Student Union Ballroom, Building 58W, Room 3703, in the UNF campus.

Coggin College is celebrating the many milestones and memories that have made the College what it is today. Coggin is commemorating the 10th anniversary of its nationally recognized flagship programs—International Business as well as Transportation and Logistics. It’s also celebrating more than a decade of success by its Career Management Center. Coggin has also been recognized as a “Best Business School” in the country for 10 years by Princeton Review. 

The evening will kick off at 6 p.m. with cocktails, music and a silent auction, followed by dinner and an awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. Following the awards presentation, there will be dancing and dessert. Cost for the event is $150. Dress attire is cocktail, black tie optional.

Three awards—Community Advocate Award, Coggin Distinguished Alumni Award and the Coggin Young Alumni Service Award—will be presented to the Energy Authority, Anna Brosche and Benjamin Freedman.

The Energy Authority is the recipient of the Community Advocate Award, which recognizes an individual or company for his/her/their role as an advocate for Coggin in the community. The nominee makes a significant contribution to Coggin and/or the University through their time, resources, talents and dedication.  

UNF alumna Anna Brosche will be receiving the Coggin Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor that recognizes alumni from the College for superior professional achievement. To be nominated for this award, a Coggin graduate must have attained the highest level of professional accomplishment, making significant contributions to his or her profession, community and/or society; and has consistently maintained the pursuit of excellence as a representative and graduate of UNF.

Alumnus Benjamin Freedman will be given the Coggin Young Alumni Service Award, which is presented to Coggin alums for outstanding professional achievement in their chosen career field, service to and impact on the College, University and their community. To be nominated for this award, a nominee must be 35 or younger and someone who has attained the highest level of professional accomplishment; made significant contributions to his or her profession, community and/or society; and has consistently maintained the pursuit of excellence as a representative and graduate of UNF.

To register for the event, visit https://www.alumni.unf.edu/netcommunity/coggin-college-of-business-gala. For more information, contact Teresa Nichols, Coggin College director of development, at (904) 620-1833.

With more than 3,800 students, the Coggin College’s mission is to educate and develop business professionals through rigorous, relevant accredited degree programs offered by faculty devoted to student learning and engaged in scholarly activities.Since 1976, the Coggin College of Business has been accredited by AACSB—only one in five business schools are awarded the accreditation, which honors the best business schools in the world. The AACSB is the world leader in accreditation for business education.

UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.

Princeton Review Names UNF ‘Best in the Southeast’ College

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For the ninth consecutive year, the University of North Florida is one of the best colleges in the Southeast, according to The Princeton Review. The nationally-known education services company recommends UNF in its “Best in the Southeast” list for 2018.

Only 140 colleges and universities in 12 Southeastern states made the “Best in the Southeast” list for 2018. The list is part of the company’s website feature, “2018 Best Colleges: Region by Region.”

“We’re thrilled that UNF is being recognized as an all-around outstanding academic institution within the Southeast by The Princeton Review,” said UNF President John Delaney. “This prestigious recognition affirms the tremendous on-going effort UNF has put forth to build one of the finest universities in the state.”

The Princeton Review editors made their selections based on data the company collected from its survey of administrators at several hundred colleges in each region as well as its staff visits to schools over the year and the perspectives of college counselors and advisors whose opinions the company solicits.

“We chose UNF and the other institutions we name as ‘regional best’ colleges mainly for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s senior vice president and publisher.

The Princeton Review survey asks students attending the schools to rate their own schools on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to the quality of their science lab facilities—and answer questions about themselves, fellow students and campus life.

Students at the University say, “There is no typical student at UNF.” Filled with “friendly” people, UNF possesses “all the aspects of a huge state college with a much more laid back feel.” Professors were praised for their accessibility, with students reporting that they’ve “never had a situation where a professor was unavailable.” Students also say at UNF, “you’re not a number, you’re a person.”

The Princeton Review doesn’t rank the 658 colleges in its “2018 Best Colleges: Region by Region” list hierarchically or in various categories. The 140 colleges that The Princeton Review chose for its “Best in the Southeast” 2018 list are located in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. 

The Princeton Review also designated 229 colleges in the Northeast, 127 in the West, and 158 in the Midwest as best in their locales on the company’s “2018 Best Colleges: Region by Region” lists. Collectively, the 658 colleges on The Princeton Review’s “regional best” list constitute about 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.

The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its test-prep courses, tutoring, books and other student resources. For more information, visit www.princetonreview.com.

UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.

Gov. Scott Appoints Thomas Bryan to University of North Florida Board of Trustees

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Thomas Bryan to the University of North Florida Board of Trustees.

Bryan, 50, of Jacksonville, is a Partner at Terra Capital Holdings, Inc. He previously served as a trustee on the District Board of Trustees, Florida State College at Jacksonville. Bryan received his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University. He succeeds Joy Korman, and is appointed for a term beginning January 1, 2018, and ending January 1, 2023.  This early appointment will ensure Bryan is fully acclimated and able to assist in the University of North Florida’s Presidential search and selection process early next spring.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

College Factual Ranks UNF Among 2018 ‘Best Colleges’

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For the fourth consecutive year, the University of North Florida has been ranked among the best colleges across the country in a new ranking, published in USA Today, by College Factual, a trusted online resource that uses customizable tools and outcomes-based rankings systems to guide students through the college selection process.
UNF was ranked No. 21 nationwide as a “Top Ranked Veteran” university when it comes to a quality education to veterans in computer information systems. The University is also ranked as one of the best colleges in Florida for the money and among the best colleges in the state. UNF was ranked No. 14 statewide as one of the 2018 “Best Colleges for the Money” and No. 20 as one of the 2018 “Top Quality Overall Best Colleges” in the state.
“We take great pride in being nationally recognized as one of the best universities in Florida and for being recognized as delivering an exceptional education at an exceptional value,” said UNF President John Delaney.
This latest recognition comes on the heels of UNF receiving several other national designations, including 2018 “Best Regional” University by U.S. News & World Report, 2017 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine, 2017 “Best College Value” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and 2017 “Best in the Southeast” by Princeton Review, to name a few.
College Factual ranked more than 1,300 colleges and used a number of outcome-based factors to determine the ranking, which includes both research universities and liberal arts colleges. Some important data points are how well the institution retains and graduates students, the boost in expected earnings, the percentage of full-time teachers and the average student loan default rate. The rankings also looked at the quality and average cost of each college. For more information, visit www.collegefactual.com.
“We publish a variety of college rankings to get students and parents focused on key factors they need to consider when choosing a school,” said Bill Phelan, College Factual CEO.
College Factual is an online portal designed to assist prospective college students, parents, guidance counselors and others involved in the college selection process. By offering unique data-driven insights and tools that help dissect the enormous amounts of data available for institutions of higher education, College Factual simplifies the all-important act of choosing the best school for each individual student in terms of cost, value and personal fit.

U.S. News & World Report Names UNF ‘Best Regional’ University

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For the seventh consecutive year, the U.S. News & World Report has named the University of North Florida a “Best Regional” university in its 2018 edition of “Best Colleges,” which includes data from more than 1,800 colleges and universities nationwide and ranked 1,388 of them.
UNF ranked No. 18 as a “Top Public School” and No. 48, up four spots from last year, as a regional best in front of local private college, Jacksonville University, 52, and Florida Gulf Coast University, 73. Additionally, the University ranked No. 57 as a “Best Value School” and was ranked for students amassing the least amount of cumulative debt. All rankings are among regional universities in the South.
As a regional best, UNF ranked No. 48, up four spots from last year, in front of local private college, Jacksonville University, 52, and Florida Gulf Coast University, 73. Additionally, the University was ranked for students amassing the least amount of cumulative debt. Both rankings are among regional universities in the South.
“I take great pride in being able to lead a university that is of the caliber of the University of North Florida,” said UNF President John Delaney. “The University is showing up in nearly every national college ranking, putting UNF at the top of some very impressive lists.”
This latest recognition comes on the heels of UNF receiving several other national designations, including the national 2017 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine, “Best Online Bachelor’s Program” from U.S. News & World Report, “Best College for the Money” and “Top Quality Overall Best Colleges” in the state by College Factual and “Best in the Southeast” by Princeton Review, to name a few.
The institutions selected as a U.S. News & World Report “Best Regional” university provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs and offer various doctoral programs. The universities in this category aren’t ranked nationally but rather against their peer group in one of four geographic regions—North, South, Midwest and West.
The 2018 “Best Colleges” rankings feature the established rankings of the Best National Universities and Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, while also including the Best Regional Universities, Best Colleges for Veterans, Best Value Schools, among many others.
The rankings are based on key measures of quality such as academic reputation; graduation and retention rates; faculty resources (including class size, the percentage of faculty with the top academic degree, student-faculty ratio); student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni giving. For more information about the rankings, click here.
U.S. News & World Report is a multimedia publisher of news, consumer advice, rankings and analysis. Focusing on education, health, personal finance, travel, cars and news and opinion, www.usnews.com has earned a reputation as the leading provider of consumer advice and analysis that helps its readers make informed life decisions.