SYNERGY 2020- A Collaborative Guide to Economic Discovery

Page 33

UF Leadership

Growing our own

corn A

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services, what inspires him, he replied “I keep in search of and doing in the service of others, so what continues to inspire me is the need to help others, particularly in Gainesville, and of course including students.” In response to my question about what the good people of Gainesville should know about UF, he noted, “There is a wealth of talent and resources at UF including deeply caring people who want to share and Story by: Antonio Farias

s the inaugural chief diversity

and one of Curtis’; most treasured

officer at the University

achievements, is the Career

of Florida, I came here for

Progression Program, which sends UF

help. … Any problem you can think of, there is someone here to help find a joint solution in a spirit of respect and collaboration.”

We have to continue to invest in our Gainesville citizens

the people, and for the richness of

service employees to school while on

this community. I recently sat down

payroll so they can level up on trade

with four senior African-American

skills that will increase their earnings

I recently asked Dean of the College

administrators at UF in order to get

and employability for life. As he put it,

of the Arts Onye Ozuzu what advice

their perspective on the community

“We have to continue to invest in our

she would give to someone thinking of

centered values that drew me to

Gainesville citizens, and grow our own

becoming an educator. “Education’s

Gainesville.

corn.”

promise of change is

Curtis Reynolds, vice president

When I asked Eddie Daniels,

one of orienting our awareness of how

for business affairs, oversees the

assistant vice president for business

we perceive existence (our own and

strategic direction of a broad portfolio of business services. I recently asked Curtis what continues to surprise him about UF and its relationship to Gainesville. His response embodies the generous spirit he brings to his work. “What surprises me is just how nice of a community Gainesville is – and that after all these years, there are still undiscovered surprises. Equally surprising is how much we want to be connected to Gainesville, be it through job creation or research that betters the lives of our citizens.” One means to accomplish this,

gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com


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