UF Leadership
Growing our own
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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