Messages for - Mail WebArchive

Office of Community Relations

UF Government and Community Relations

Monday, March 3, 2025

Across the University of Florida, our 16 colleges, numerous institutes, and health care facilities embrace our shared mission of outreach and service to improve and enrich our community, nation, and the world. UF in the Community spotlights the impact of UF in our region.

Although UF has students and employees throughout the state, North Central Florida is home to much of our faculty and staff and to our 50,000+ students. Like all area residents, we want a vibrant, safe, healthy, and equitable place in which to live and thrive. Here are some of the ways in which we are enhancing our shared community.?

Mark Kaplan is stepping back from University of Florida - via Florida Politics

On a stressful day in the office, Mark Kaplan went outside to get some fresh air in Gainesville.

He walked around the University of Florida campus on a quick break when he stopped and took in the scene — a student ukulele club playing. Kaplan couldn’t help but smile.

Kaplan has long felt the magic of working for UF as Vice President for Government and Community Relations. This has been a dream job for Kaplan, a lifelong Gator fan.

But at 57, Kaplan said he is stepping back from his role after dealing with health issues and going on medical leave this year. Kaplan said he is optimistic about his continued recovery but decided it is the right time to move on.

“I’ve only got one of me to take care of. This has been a good reminder of putting my attention on what’s most important,” Kaplan said.

The University of Florida’s ‘AI Queen’ is using AI technology to help prevent dementia

To help the 50 million people globally who live with dementia, the National Institute on Aging is finding researchers to develop tech-based breakthroughs that target the disease — researchers like the University of Florida’s “AI Queen.”

It’s a fitting nickname for Aprinda Indahlastari Queen, Ph.D., who is applying artificial intelligence technology to study transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS — a technique that involves placing electrodes on the scalp to deliver a weak electrical current to the brain — as a possible way to prevent dementia.

The assistant professor in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Department of Clinical and Health Psychology is using UF’s supercomputer, HiPerGator, to perform neuroimaging and machine learning analyses to study how anatomical differences may affect tDCS outcomes.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio has agreed to deposit political papers to UF Libraries

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has agreed to deposit his senatorial papers and other materials of historical value to the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries political papers collection.

A member of the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2025, Rubio served as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, as well as the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UF in 1993.

The papers are the latest high-profile asset of the Florida Political Papers collection, which consists of manuscript collections of Florida politicians who held state and national political office during the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries as well as Florida politicians who ran for state or national office during those decades. Papers housed there include those of Bob Graham, who served as governor of Florida from 1978 to 1987 and in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 2004, Bill Nelson, who served in the U.S. Senate from 2001 to 2019 and as the administrator of NASA from 2021 to 2025, and David Levy Yulee, who served in the U.S. Senate immediately before the American Civil War.

University of Florida ranks second for two consecutive years in Fulbright Top Producing Institutions

Today, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized the University of Florida for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of faculty and administrators selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Fulbright Top Producing Institutions such as the University of Florida value global connection and support members of their campus communities across the United States to pursue international opportunities.

With 12 scholars, UF ranks second on a list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the largest number of 2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholars.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges.

One AI-based advancement at a time, UF leaders are transforming the sports industry

As emerging technologies like AI reshape sport industries and professional demands evolve, it is essential for students to graduate with the expertise to thrive in their future careers. To ensure that these students are set up for success, the UF College of Health & Human Performance has launched a new sports analytics program.

Led by Scott Nestler, Ph.D., CAP, PStat, a professor of practice in the Department of Sport Management and a national analytics and data science expert, the program ties back to the UF & Sport Collaborative – a five-part project intended to elevate UF’s presence on the global stage in sports performance, healthcare and communication.

“Tools and insights that previously were only available to professional sports teams are now coming to the college level, and it makes sense for universities to begin using these data, technologies and new analytic methods,” Nestler said.

The sports analytics program fosters collaboration between academic units, such as the Warrington College of Business and the University Athletic Association, helping bridge the gap between sport research and innovation and empowering students to address real-world challenges through data and AI.

Scientists study breeding of pet fish to help protect reefs, fuel Florida’s economy

Florida’s pet fish industry is booming, but many saltwater species in home aquariums are still taken from the wild.

Researchers at UF/IFAS want to change that by helping fish farmers breed popular species like clownfish and blue tangs — reducing pressure on reefs while creating jobs in the state’s growing aquaculture industry.

“Aquaculture here decreases the need for wild-caught fish. It is sustainable, and it provides a healthy fish for the aquarium trade,” said Cortney Ohs, UF/IFAS associate professor of fisheries and aquatic sciences in the Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce.

As college athletes fight to profit from their own fame, a UF researcher is tracking the cause

The debate over college athletes’ right to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) continues to fuel a nationwide debate. Since 2020, the topic has been at the center of 12 congressional hearings spearheaded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and key figures in the sports industry.

However, despite the topic’s interest among college sports fanatics and its potential impact on amateur sports, little research has been done about the messaging from these hearings and how they may influence media reporting and public perception. So University of Florida researcher Molly Harry, Ph.D., is getting to the bottom of it.

Harry, an assistant professor in the UF College of Health & Human Performance’s Department of Sport Management, recently published a study in Communication & Sport on NIL and agenda-setting theory – the interplay between communication, power and decision-making.

Black History Month: A triple Gator’s journey from curiosity to cell science

Joe Larkin didn’t always dream of being a microbiologist, unlocking secrets in our smallest cells. His journey took him from being an inquisitive child to a pioneering researcher at the University of Florida – a testament to the transformative power of curiosity and the profound impact of early cheerleaders.

The associate professor in UF/IFAS microbiology and cell science grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where his father worked in an energy-generating plant and his mother was a stay-at-home mom, he said. One trait left a clear mark on his childhood: his insatiable curiosity.

"Growing up, I just read about anything and everything," he said.

One of his earliest and most powerful touchstones to biological sciences was carrying around a Wildlife Treasury animal encyclopedia full of flash cards in a green lunchbox-like case, the cards bursting with descriptions of rhinoceroses, Proboscis moneys and platypuses.

"That was the first time I really thought about biology and the vast diversity," he reminisced.

Around the age of 9 or 10, Joe's career plans came into focus when a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital telethon popped onto his television, interrupting his weekend morning of cereal and cartoons. He saw the faces of the little kids in need and realized that other children needed scientists and doctors to save their lives. This moment sparked a fire in him that with the right kind of work, he could make a difference in the world.

UF Health Cancer Center 2024 Annual Report: Year of Growth and Innovation

The UF Health Cancer Center continues to make strides as an NCI-designated cancer center, demonstrating its commitment to groundbreaking research, education, and community outreach. In 2024, nearly 350 members from 12 UF colleges worked collaboratively across four research programs to drive meaningful progress in cancer treatment and prevention. Their efforts resulted in 749 scientific publications, 58 issued patents, and a total of $55.1 million in cancer-related grants, including $33.7 million in NIH/NCI direct cost funding.

The center also advanced clinical research, with 288 active trials in 2024, including 143 interventional and 119 treatment-based studies. These efforts led to 600 interventional accruals, 392 treatment accruals, and 532 cancer screenings conducted through the Community Outreach and Engagement program. Looking ahead, the center is focused on harnessing innovative strategies—such as AI and cancer informatics—to enhance prevention, early detection, and treatment for lung, breast, colorectal, and brain cancers.

These achievements reflect the dedication and hard work of the center’s researchers, staff, and trainees. As the UF Health Cancer Center sets its sights on even greater milestones, it remains steadfast in its mission to prevent, detect, treat, and ultimately cure cancer.

Annual Report

UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine Hosts Ceremony to Honor Patient’s New Heart

Amid the steady beeping of the heart monitor, Tammy Bernard, UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine practitioner, and Jeanne Dickman, a heart transplant patient at the UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital, began dreaming up a unique celebration.

This wasn’t just any ceremony — it would honor a life-changing journey of resilience, hope and a new beginning.

For nearly a decade, Jeanne lived with heart failure, but she refused to let it define her. Despite the challenge, she filled those years with extraordinary adventures, even hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail.

“I earned a reputation for holding strong, even though my heart was failing,” Jeanne shared, her voice carrying a hint of humor.

But after trekking 35 miles along the trail in December 2023, Jeanne felt an undeniable shift — a sensation that her body was on the brink of giving up.

“My cardiologist later told me my heart stopped for 18 seconds,” Jeanne explained. That moment changed everything.

This City’s Sewer System Is Full of Alligators, but It’s Not New York - via New York Times

An enduring urban legend has it that blind, albino alligators patrol New York City’s sewers. These mythical crocodilians have become ingrained in the city’s lore, and some New Yorkers even celebrate Alligator in the Sewer Day each February.

But in Florida, alligators in the sewers are no myth. The reptiles routinely find their way into municipal drainpipes. In late January, a 10½-foot gator was rescued in Cape Coral after it got stuck in a storm drain.

And not all alligators end up in sewers by accident. Recently published research in the journal Urban Naturalist reveals that alligators and nearly three dozen other species use storm water sewer systems in one urban area of Florida to safely traverse urban environments.

March Eye Opener Breakfast

Join us for the March Eye Opener Discovery Breakfast as we hear from Dr. Betsy Shenkman from the UF College of Medicine, who will discuss how the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics (HOBI) is leveraging data-driven research to transform health care. HOBI’s diverse, multidisciplinary faculty—including health services researchers, epidemiologists, biomedical informaticians, economists, psychologists, and social scientists—provide expertise in prevention science, health promotion, policy evaluation, quality of care, health disparities, data analytics, and implementation science. Their work improves health care delivery and outcomes, advances health research, promotes population health, and addresses health disparities. HOBI is also home to the UF Institute for Child Health Policy, which conducts innovative studies and intervention trials to improve the health of children, adolescents, and young adults. With a strong commitment to patient-centered research, HOBI prioritizes patient perspectives, ensuring that research aligns with the health outcomes that matter most.

2025 Gainesville Gator Fly-In & Armed Services Appreciation Day

Our volunteers and their adopted dogs say paws up for this special event honoring service families. We have been invited back this year! This Fly-In event with Military and civilian aircraft, food trucks, music, rides, vendors and classic cars. Opening ceremony at 11am and this year the event celebrates Gators in Space, and have confirmed participation from NASA, UF’s Astraeus Space Institute, UF’s Department of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, with invitations out to many more..

AI + Informatics Mini-Symposia Series

The AI + Informatics Mini-Symposia Series is a premier initiative of the Artificial Intelligence and Informatics Research Institute designed to highlight emerging and highly impactful research areas in artificial intelligence and informatics. These half- to full-day symposia provide a focused platform for deep dives into specialized AI topics, highlighting UF’s leadership in innovation and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Held once per semester, each event is an opportunity to explore cutting-edge advancements and build meaningful connections.

This series complements existing campus-wide events like the AI Summit and AI Days by emphasizing UF’s research excellence in specific areas of AI, creating a space for faculty, researchers, and external partners to engage in visioning and team-building discussions. By offering focused programming, the symposia encourage participants to identify collaborative opportunities and highlight areas where UF demonstrates exceptional expertise.

The inaugural symposium on April 10th will spotlight the topic of AI in Biodiversity, a rapidly growing research area at UF. Featuring leading UF faculty along with key external partners, the event will explore how AI can address global ecological challenges. With engaging presentations and interactive discussions, this symposium sets the tone for future events highlighting AI’s role in digital twins, biomedical research, smart agriculture, energy innovation, and more.

2025 Spring Plant Sale Pre-Order Kickoff

Wilmot Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce the release of the 2025 Spring Plant Sale pre-order! We are offering a nice variety of azaleas, native rhododendrons, grasses, shrubs and trees for pre-order. We look forward to receiving your order soon! Camellias will ONLY be available/sold on the live sale days, April 4 & 5, 2025 and the quantity available will be very limited.

We will accept pre-orders NOW, February 20th, through March 27th, 2025. Pre-ordered plants can be picked up prior to the 2025 Spring Plant Sale on Wednesday, April 2nd and Thursday, April 3rd or during the live sale on April 4th and 5th. Pick up times on April 2nd and 3rd will be 8:30am-4pm at Wilmot Botanical Gardens! Proceeds from this fundraising event will be used to maintain the gardens and sustain the therapeutic horticulture program.

Email pre-order forms to crlindsey@ufl.edu

Explore summer camps and spring break programs

Looking for summer camps for your school-age children? UFHR Communications and Worklife is pleased to provide this quick-and-easy reference for parents. Know of a camp we’re missing? Complete this form to let us know. We will continue to seek out additional camps so we may grow this list into as complete a directory as possible. Have questions? Email us at worklife@hr.ufl.edu.