Alumni Spotlights

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 11/4/24)

LeBron James, Steph Curry, Jason Biles… just a few all stars on the USA Basketball National Team headed to the 2024 Olympics. While the first two get their coverage on ESPN, it’s time our Osprey among the mix gets his much-deserved recognition.

Jason Biles (’00, ’02) is an athletic trainer (ATC), strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), performance enhancement specialist (PES) and corrective exercise specialist (CES) certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and sports certified specialist (SCS) certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

Biles joins the Olympic squad from the Houston Rockets, where he’s served as the head athletic trainer and director of performance rehabilitation for 14 seasons. In 2013, he received the NBATA Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year Award voted on by his peers and had the opportunity to work the NBA All-Star Game. Before joining the Rockets, he worked with the Memphis Grizzlies as their assistant athletic trainer and head strength and conditioning coach. His journey with the national team started in 2019 as an athletic trainer during the national team tour and the FIBA World Cup in China.

A standout baseball player in high school, Biles suffered a leg injury that required rehabilitation, which is when he discovered the benefits of sports medicine. He attended the Brooks College of Health, earning his bachelor’s degree in health science, and stuck around to earn his Master of Physical Therapy from the Graduate School.

After graduation, he worked at Bollettieri Sports Medicine Center at the IMG Academies in Bradenton. He was the lead physical therapist and traveled with professional tennis players, as well as provided rehabilitation for athletes training for the NFL Combine and NBA offseason training programs. He then left Florida for Las Vegas where he worked as a physical therapy manager with Athletes’ Performance. He developed and implemented performance training and rehabilitation programs for a wide range of athletes, including professionals to the NFL, MLB, PGA and ATP.

Biles' interests include music, traveling and playing golf. He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Makenzie and Delaney.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 7/26/24)

Today’s #AlumniSpotlight is a seasoned veteran of the restaurant industry with special emphasis on the “seasoned.” After 13 years in the finance realm for Outback Steakhouse - National and Miller's Ale House, Michael Blair (’04) now serves as the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer for Checkers and Rally's Drive-In Restaurants.

Blair’s path was anything but conventional, but he is a quick learner that gets stuff done. He started out at Hillsborough Community College while working full time but intended to transfer to a four-year university. After earning his AA degree, he visited UNF and liked how despite the nearby metropolis, “it’s tucked away in its own little universe.” The smaller class sizes in the UNF School of Communication were a positive as he initially pursued a career in radio, unbeknownst to what the future had in store.

Once he graduated with a bachelor’s in political science and a communication minor, he returned home to Tampa where he ran into a friend’s sister who was working in human resources for the Home Shopping Network (HSN) on the hunt for new employees. Blair initially started as a backstage coordinator for live HSN shows, working overnight shifts for six months before joining the business side as a merchandise assistant of food. While playing in a company kickball league, his teammates encouraged him to apply for an associate planner role. In his role, he optimized the profitability of the show by “blending art and science.” Since viewership numbers varied throughout the day, he would optimize attention-grabbing items with a lower price point before building up to the high-ticket items.

Blair eventually got recruited by companies on the West Coast and took a position in San Francisco as a merchandise planner for Gap/Old Navy. The new location and responsibilities posed new adjustments for Blair, but he made friends and leveraged his relationships to quickly transition from Microsoft Excel novice to expert. However, when looking to put down his roots, he wanted to come back home to Florida. Chico's brought him to Fort Myers in a similar role with higher pay and allowed him to be close to Tampa to start dating Kalei, now his wife.

The mom of his wife’s best friend from childhood worked as an accountant at Bloomin’ Brands, a holding company that owns restaurant chains like Carrabba’s, Bonefish Grill and Outback Steakhouse. At a wedding, she and Blair talked about his experience, and she asked for his resume which made its way to the desk of John Massari, the CFO of Outback. While Blair had no direct experience in financial planning and analysis, Massari was impressed by his background and his work ethic. He hired him as a senior financial analyst and learned under the tutelage Shaun Lewis, who did everything from marketing and analysis to pricing and testing. Blair took to it immediately, volunteering for every opportunity to understand the consumer before understanding the numbers. He became skilled at budgeting and forecasting, which was rewarded by quick upward mobility in the organization.

Unlike many other CFOs that rose up solely in finance, Blair’s communication background allowed him to bring a new perspective to the company, transitioning from the myopic accounting viewpoint to a more operational and transformational role. After six years working at Outback domestic, his career growth led him to become the director of finance for the international markets before being promoted to international CFO. A few weeks each month, he traveled extensively across South America, Asia and Oceania. However, with two young children at home, he decided to prioritize family over work.

Miller’s Ale House had a CFO position open, and the commute to Orlando was much more reasonable than Australia. In 2019, he accepted the role where he helped grow LTM EBITDA by over 60% in 4 years while broadening his scope by leading departments outside the traditional finance functions, including HR. Then, the Tampa headquarters for Checkers and Rally’s gave him a chance to return home and oversee accounting, finance and payroll, with the addition of legal, real estate and IT at the start of this year. He is now well suited to mesh his communication skills and his financial acumen to lead his unit with the support of his family nearby and aspirations of CEO on the horizon.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 2/3/24)

To help jazz us up for the holidays, who better to chat with for our #AlumniSpotlight than Jazz Bond (’20, ’22), former women’s basketball student-athlete and first ever WNBA draft pick for the Ospreys!

Originally from Tennessee, Bond started her collegiate career at the University of South Florida before transferring to UNF. One of the coaches on staff had recruited her out of high school, and she knew he was a great person on and off the court, so it helped influence her decision to become an Osprey.

In her four seasons at UNF, Bond was a seven-time ASUN Player of the Week, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-Conference selection and a four-time Honor Roll member. Her favorite moment as an Osprey was being featured on the Sportscenter Top 10 Plays after hitting a buzzer-beater three-pointer to beat North Alabama, which was led by her younger sister, Jaida.

After her third season as an Osprey, Bond started getting a handful of calls from agents. They didn’t realize she was using her COVID redshirt to play one last season, but it made her start to realize she had a shot at joining the WNBA. She followed that up with a senior season where she tallied 438 points, 225 rebounds, 45 assists, 71 blocks and 29 steals, becoming the school’s all-time leader in blocks and the Division I era leader in points, rebounds and free throws made.

Off the court, Bond was also part of CAMP Osprey, where she mentored kids at Tiger Academy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in public health, but before she walked across the graduation stage, she heard words she’d been dreaming about since she was a child.

On April 11, 2022, the commissioner announced that “With the 31^st pick in the WNBA draft, the Dallas Wings select Jazz Bond from the University of North Florida.” She said it felt surreal and she got instant chills.

In the Summer of 2023, Bond hung up her jersey and started looking for work in the Jacksonville area. She was applying to public health jobs when she stumbled upon an opening at Fanatics. With her admiration of the sports team and her passion for social media, she interviewed and was hired as their Social Media Specialist. “I’m glad I applied because the culture at Fanatics is amazing!” she said, collaborating with several other former Osprey student-athletes.

It's also a busy time for her as she and her fiancée, alumnus Anthony Hardge (’23), have a wedding to plan! These two Ospreys #MetInTheNest during media day in 2021. Hardge was a videographer for the basketball programs, and despite not talking much, he agreed to help her shoot some NIL content. One of the projects took over eight hours to film, which gave them plenty of time to get to know more about each other. Shorly after they started dating, and she knew it was the real deal after he met everyone in her family. After two and a half years together, Hardge got down on one knee. They’re looking forward to celebrating the big day in April 2025!

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 12/4/24)

The University of North Florida proudly works with international students all across the globe to bring them to our beautiful campus, and for some you have to see it to “Belize” it.

The UNF Belizean Ospreys alumni group formed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic to connect other Belizeans together who have moved back after college. Alumni group members have hosted educational Zoom calls with Belizean community members teaching about diverse topics. The alumni group’s president, Melissa Bradley, said the group wants to use their UNF education to help others.

“Giving back doesn’t only mean financially; it means also giving back your time,” she said.

Bradley learned about UNF over 20 years ago after completing her bachelor’s degree in English education from the University of Belize. She wanted to pursue a master’s degree and found UNF’s Belizean cohort, which worked alongside the UNF College of Education and Human Services. She started taking courses in 2002 toward her master’s degree in educational leadership.

Midway through her program in summer 2003, UNF did not offer courses for the cohort that term. So, Bradley and other students took an opportunity from the school to come to Jacksonville to finish their degrees in fall 2004.

“It was the best decision I have ever made,” Bradley said with confidence. “I really appreciate when the professors come to Belize because they work on our time, but the experience I got in Jacksonville was priceless.”

Bradley embraced her study abroad opportunity in Jacksonville by meeting new diverse people and experiences. She said the Thomas G. Carpenter Library made research incredibly easier, as the internet wasn’t as developed back then.

Bradley graduated that December and returned home, always singing the praises of UNF’s life-changing education opportunities on campus. She grew up in southern Belize, having lost three brothers to violence and crime in the region, but she did not allow tragedy to stop her dreams.

“I know what it is to bounce back, and to not allow my circumstances to hold me back in life,” Bradley said. “It was not an easy road. I chose to stay positive. There’s so much going for it.”

Bradley is currently teaching at Edward P. Yorke High School in Belize and provides workshops for teachers, educating them on the school’s mission and professional development.

In her spare time, Bradley enjoys family time and volunteering at an art school. She also enjoys writing poetry and short stories and recently released her second book in May.

As time has passed, several Belizean alumni now have children currently in class at UNF, creating yet another generation of Ospreys!

(Written by Tyler White, Published 7/25/24)

Maybe your 2024 didn’t go as planned, but it’s time to start setting goals for 2025. For some people, this is the perfect time to start learning a new language. This month’s #AlumniSpotlight trades in one beloved bird mascot for another as Monica Earle (’11) serves as the Senior Public Relations Manager for Duolingo.

The Bird is the Word

For over 100 million active users, Duolingo is an educational app that provides language certification. They offer courses on commonly spoken languages like English, Spanish and Chinese to less common ones like Welsh and Navajo. They even incorporate fictional languages like Star Trek’s Klingon and Game of Thrones’ High Valyrian. Recently, they’ve branched out into universal languages, including Math and Music. This is where an expert like Earle comes in.

Earle is part of a two-person team for communications. She is responsible for consumer communications, product launches and storytelling, while her boss, the head of global communications, oversees the corporate side, such as CEO interviews and earnings reports. She also puts together brand safety guidelines for any employees in an external facing role, including the social media team.

Her day starts with reading all the news and meeting with internal department colleagues to discover stories she can tell that align with their long-term business goals. In this recent case, mathematics and music are both ways to offer another form of education that ranges from beginner to challenging. Her job requires equal parts creative thinking and execution to inform the public about these tools that continue Duolingo’s mission to develop the best education in the world made universally available. Another challenge is that as a publicly traded company, she must be cautious about what she shares as the business reports their metrics on a quarterly basis.

The PR Path

A bright futures scholarship recipient, Earle loved that UNF provided a smaller campus enclosed within a nature preserve. She lived at home during college but wanted to get a true “collegiate” experience, so she threw herself into on campus activities. She was a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta, a committee chair for Osprey Productions, and the president of PRSSA. As president, she and her VP received funding from student government to attend the PRSSA National Convention in D.C., making connections that remain to this day. Earle was also gaining plenty of experience in the communication program, learning AP style in Paula Horvath’s writing class, building real PR campaigns in her capstone course and taking on a couple of internships. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in communication specialized in public relations along with a psychology minor.

Even with all her knowledge and experience, it was tough for her to break into the industry. Her former internship supervisor told her to apply for a news producer role to get some post-graduate experience. She got a job as the morning show producer for Action News Jax, and after getting really good at broadcast writing, held onto that role for three years. She then found a digital marketing job that was more in line with her degree, but her goal was to return to the public relations realm and do work at a national level.

She used her connections to land a job with Archetype, a PR agency in New York focused on technology. She started at a lower level but quickly rose up the company. She led consumer tech teams, coordinating PR for Waze, Slack, GoDaddy, Coursera, Vodafone, DoorDash and Grubhub. She also led media training for executives before their live-broadcast interviews on CNBS, Fox Business and NPT. She spent six years at the agency, but she wouldn’t be truly satisfied until she got to work in-house for a company focused on mission-driven work. Then, the Duolingo position opened, and Earle’s spent the last three years focused on prioritizing education.

Dymanic Duo

She loves the organization and the talented, kind people she works with. She also loves the response she gets from Duolingo’s users. Since her e-mail, press@duolingo.com, is the only public facing contact on the website, she gets a handful of crazy responses, but the heartfelt ones stand out to her the most. She’s gotten messages from people using the app to speak to extended members of their families overseas, elderly folks reminiscing on past travels by relearning the foreign language, and even patients with muscular issues improving their brain health through repetitive language practice. “I love seeing people get positive effects,” said Earle.

As her career continues to progress, she’d love to grow her team and manage people as they expand their corporate storytelling. She’s currently completing her MBA online at UF as she utilizes her education and experience to teach the next generation of PR students, so don’t be surprised to see her pop up as a guest lecturer real soon. She admits she never would’ve predicted the path to where she is now, so she knows better than to attempt a prediction of her future, but she wants to stay working for mission driven organizations.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 1/2/25)

With THE PLAYERS Championship on the horizon, this month’s #AlumniSpotlight is a story you just can’t putt down! Nick Gabrelcik (’24) came to the University of North Florida as a member of the North Florida Ospreys men’s golf team and took the ASUN Conference – and the nation – by storm on his way to the Korn Ferry Tour.

A high school golfer from Trinity, Florida, Gabrelcik initially visited UNF due to its proximity to home, but the camaraderie between the golfers, coaches and athletic staff convinced him to commit as an Osprey. He enrolled in the UNF Silverfield College of Education and Human Services as a sports management major with a minor in business management.

During his first season on the team, he played in nine tournaments and claimed the individual medal crown in three. He earned the No. 1 Golfstat ranking during the season and was named ASUN Freshman of the Year, ASUN Golfer of the Year, PING All-American, Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman, a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist and a member of the GCAA All-Nicklaus Team. Since he started playing golf, he’d always dreamed of playing professionally, but he said, “it wasn’t until after my freshman year when I realized I had a real shot at the PGA TOUR U program.”

After the Ospreys finished sixth in their NCAA regional and fell just short of the NCAA Championship, Gabrelcik was more determined than ever. He said, “having that linger for a year made us hungrier, and we proved our hard work really paid off in the end.” By the end of his sophomore year, his trophy case got more crowded with the addition of two more individual medal crowns and complimentary ASUN Golfer of the Year and PING All-American awards. However, he was just getting started. He shot an insane 205 (-11) in the ASUN Championship to earn the individual medalist crown and return the ASUN team trophy to UNF. The Ospreys then headed to New Haven, Connecticut. for their NCAA regional. On the final day of play, Gabrelcik shot a round-leading 5-under-par as they finished tied for third, advancing to the NCAA Championship. His favorite memory at UNF was celebrating with his team after that final round.

At this point, any college across the nation would be lucky to land a guy like Gabrelcik, but he was committed to spend his four years as an Osprey. He said UNF was there for him at the beginning and became his home. He formed lifelong relationships with his teammates and friends and had no interest in turning his back on them now. At the end of his senior season, he’d set program records with 9 individual medalist crowns, 24 Top 5 finishes, a best 18 of 10-under-par (2023 Visit Knoxville Collegiate), a best 54 of 19-under-par (2024 Gator Invitational), 15 ASUN Golfer of the Week awards and 4 ASUN Golfer of the Year awards, making the NCAA regionals all four years. “What a great finish to an unbelievable career,” said head coach Scott Schroeder. Gabrelcik saved his best for last, leading the Ospreys to another NCAA Championship and finishing No. 5 in the PGA TOUR U rankings to earn his Korn Ferry Tour card.

The Korn Ferry Tour has gone by many names in the past, but it serves as the development tour for the PGA Tour. “My experience on Korn Ferry so far has been a big adjustment,” Gabrelcik said. “In college, you can shoot 5-under in most events and be Top 10, but professionally 5-under doesn’t make a lot of cuts.” Last season, he earned his first Top 10 finish after shooting a ridiculous 268 (-20) in the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Last month, he shot 7-under to finish second in The Panama Championship. The level of play is so different that each day is a grind, which makes it stressful but also fun at the same time.

Typically, our UNF alumni like to play golf to relax and take their mind off work, but unfortunately Gabrelcik doesn’t have that luxury. To unwind from the grind, he likes to come back to town and spend time with friends and family, doing whatever he needs to do to momentarily distract himself from the game.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 3/11/25)

Liz Grebe (’11) is the events director for the Jacksonville Business Journal, but she’s notably leading logistics for this year’s PorchFest music lineup on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Jacksonville PorchFest is a free, family friendly event held in Historic Springfield, a community just north of Downtown Jacksonville. Bands fill the neighborhood porches as crowds of people walk the streets, enjoying the festivities, food trucks, craft beer and wine available for purchase.

Grebe said PorchFest is her favorite event of the year, having lived in the Springfield area for about 10 years. Leveraging her knowledge of the local music scene, she’s connected talented artists with event organizers, creating a packed lineup for the festival’s 10th anniversary in one of Jacksonville’s oldest neighborhoods.

Ospreys Just Want To Have Fun

Grebe earned her associate degree from Daytona State Community College before transferring to UNF to live closer to the beach.

“Orlando wasn’t going to kick it for me,” she said. “I ended up touring UNF and falling in love with it.”

She knew she wanted to study hospitality management, so she pursued a degree through the Coggin College of Business. She built connections with fellow members of her co-ed fraternity and recalls many study nights at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. She ultimately left the business school to join the School of Communication for a public relations degree. Her path in communication led to an events and marketing internship with Downtown Vision Inc., which hosts events like Art Walk in Jacksonville. She managed Art Walk promotions and won a PRSA award for a project she created with another student where they encouraged campus participation by offering Downtown swag bags filled with a map of old bars, drink tickets and a scavenger hunt of cool spots in Jacksonville.

After graduation, Grebe moved up within Downtown Vision from marketing and events assistant to coordinator over three years. She then worked as an events and programming director for Friends of Hemming Park, where she organized events with cultural organizations and government stakeholders. Following that, she spent nearly three years managing the Riverside Arts Market for the Riverside Avondale Preservation, planning weekly arts and farmers markets while fostering community partnerships and social media.

As the Jacksonville Business Journal’s events director, Grebe handles major award ceremonies like Ultimate CEOs and Women of Influence, along with other community engagement events. 

The Joys of Springfield, PorchFest

Grebe has cherished the sense of community she’s found living in Springfield. “It’s one of those old-school neighborhoods where you can ask your neighbor for eggs or milk,” she said.

PorchFest amplifies that community spirit by inviting Jacksonville to celebrate entertainment and culture. Thousands now attend annually and its growth from a small neighborhood event to a major celebration is rewarding. Numerous volunteers work with Springfield Preservation and Restoration and major sponsors to ensure the day’s success.

Grebe started volunteering behind the scenes a few years ago, and PorchFest officials, knowing her love for live music, invited her to take a more active role this year. Her stipulation: “If I’m helping, I am not working that day,” as she wants to enjoy the festivities. She hopes you’ll join her and thousands of others in this celebration.

With over 20 live acts this year, Grebe said she’s thrilled to see Future Joy with Michael Wilbur of Moon Hooch, New Orleans headliner J & The Causeways, and Küf Knotz & Christine Elise. Grebe also recommends checking out local favorites like Glazed and Kairos Creature Club.

Klutho Park in Springfield will host food trucks, a beer garden and the main stage for evening performances, giving newcomers a starting point to explore live acts throughout the neighborhood. PorchFest will also feature a drag show, a staple of the event.

For recent graduates pursuing event planning, Grebe said it’s essential to volunteer and network with organizations you want to be involved in. “Everybody needs help,” she said. “Volunteering will get your foot in the door. But you really have to have a strategy and follow up.”

(Written by Tyler White, Published 10/30/24)

From the banks of the St. Johns River to the banks of corporate America, one CCEC student has journeyed to become one of the most powerful women in banking. Today’s Alumni Spotlight shines a light on Debbie Guild (’94), executive vice president of PNC.

Guild had a non-traditional education. As a student at St. Augustine High, she was already learning to code at 15. She didn’t feel much pressure to attend college, but after graduation she enrolled at St. Johns River State College. Her brother enrolled at UNF, so once she completed her AA, she joined him at the Nest. Between her day job at Barnett Bank and taking night classes at the UNF College of Computing, Engineering and Construction - CCEC, she was hanging on by a thread. She recalled nights where “dinner” plans consisted of her and her brother splitting a bag of chips from the vending machine. However, her hard work paid off and things quickly began to change.

In 1992, she got an offer to work with Intel as an engineer, contingent on her finishing her education. She moved out to California and took classes at San Jose State that she transferred toward her UNF degree to earn her bachelor’s in computer science with a mathematics minor. Initially, she wanted to use her education to work for NASA, but after landing her first job at a data center, she stumbled into the banking world. She liked how they “applied technology to business needs.”

After wrapping up at Intel, she returned to Florida and Barnett Bank, which was in the process of being acquired by Bank of America. She believes the consumers need good trust in their banking solutions. “It’s a huge part of the American dream,” she said, and she worked hard to safeguard it. For 21 years, she stayed with Bank of America, moving up the corporate ladder all the way up to Divisional chief technology officer (CTO) for Enterprise Functions and End User Computing.

In 2013, recruiters convinced her to join the PNC team. She never saw herself moving to Pittsburgh, but PNC’s mission resonated with her. She took over the role of CTO, and felt it was her responsibility to serve “meaningful, valuable products to the consumers.” Remembering her college days splitting snacks for a meal, she was part of the team to integrate Low Cash Mode, utilizing intelligent alerts, extra time and payment control to help consumers avoid surprise overdraft fees. She loved being part of a bank where you can see a direct path from the board to the customer.

As head of technology, she oversees everything from the data center and app development to the mainframes and midrange database systems. A huge portion of her duties consist of security – cybersecurity, physical security and fraud. Tasks like monitoring lower-level indicators to determine issues or adding physical location plus IP addresses to determine if wire transfers were initiated through the branch or remote access. She said, “We’re in one of the most regulated sectors in the U.S.” The more technology grows, the stronger and faster their ecosystem functions. But more challenges arise as a result. She ensures they have controls and their data presents no bias. They’re also embracing AI, but making sure it’s used responsibly with proper disclosure, so the consumer has confidence in the output.

One of her biggest tasks was leading the $11.6 billion acquisition of BBVA in 2021. Luckily, she had plenty of experience starting from earlier in her career with Barnett Bank’s acquisition by Nations Bank, and subsequent merger with BankAmerica. She said, “I got to see what other technologists have done, and learn what to do and what not to do.” Her department has good technologists to not only merge them but merge them well. They created a greenfield deployment of their website and incorporated a standardized stack when pulling over the BBVA data to be absolutely certain the website could manage the influx of new customers on the launch date.

PNC Bank is a huge proponent of an inclusive environment focused on outcomes. The key to Guild’s success elevating from CTO to Executive VP was never shying away from opportunities. “What can I learn from this?” she said as she took on roles no one else wanted, gaining vital experience in the process. After previously being named among American Banker’s “Most Powerful Women to Watch,” she’s been moving up the rankings for “Most Powerful Women in Banking” since 2022. Most of her current role involves developing the leaders of the future. Tech remains a male-dominated field, so she continues to do a lot of work to attract women. “We just need to invite them into banking,” she said. “Once they get in, they do phenomenally.”

Outside the work, she does a lot in the sector. She’s part of the G7 cyber experts’ group and will be headed to Japan later this month. She also enjoys exploring with her husband and spending time with her four kids, two of whom will be getting married in 2025. She also is an exercise enthusiast. After accidentally joining an Ironman triathlon to bond with her new team at PNC, she realized how much she enjoyed it and now has five races under her belt.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 2/4/25)

After living in Jacksonville all her life, one of our Osprey alums has finally left the Nest. But she keeps cruising – can't stop, won't stop grooving. It's like she’s got this music in her mind, saying it's gonna be alright.

A few months ago, April Hartwich (’11) accepted a job as the Director of Marketing at St. Johns County Cultural Events, Inc., which is the nonprofit that manages and operates the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, Sing Out Loud Festival and Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series. 

As a 5th grader, Hartwich visited the Newseum in Washington D.C. as part of their class trip, and she got the opportunity to experience life as a TV host and record an “on-air” broadcast where she had the time of her life. When looking at colleges, UNF was already on Hartwich’s radar as the hometown school, but after visiting the campus and meeting the people, she was ready to commit. Once she took her first course in the School of Communication, she confirmed she was on the right path.

One of her classes was Media Planning, where their group research project covered many of the marketing tactics she uses today. “We did our project on the iPhone 3G, so I cannot forget the advertisements we created or how far the phone has come since,” Hartwich said. While on campus, she got involved with the UNF Advertising Club, the American Advertising Federation of Jacksonville, and Grammy U.

During her final semester at UNF, she did her internship with Renda Broadcasting, a national radio broadcasting company. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in communication with an advertising concentration, she was offered a position to stay on where she spent the next four years learning the ins and outs of the business while working with some of the top names in music. From there, she embarked on an opportunity at a local advertising agency where she learned all forms of media planning and buying, and the creative process that brought campaigns alive.

Over the years, she’s gotten heavily involved in marketing for the city of Jacksonville. She ran communications and social media for Duval County Public Schools, served as the Marketing Manager for ASM Global in Jacksonville and spent the past four years as the Senior Marketing Manager for the City of Jacksonville, leading the efforts for all sports and entertainment events. Hartwich says, “It is truly a great feeling knowing that what you are doing is improving the lives of those in your community.”

When an opportunity arose to apply all her experience in music, entertainment and marketing toward a growing organization in St. Augustine, it was hard to pass up. This month, the Sing Out Loud Festival begins featuring over 100 national, regional and local artists, headlined by Noah Kahan and Eric Church.

While she can’t predict the future, she foresees herself staying in the marketing field continuing to better the lives of people or animals. Outside of work, she and her wife, Hanne, spend time raising their two cats, Luna and Willow, visiting Europe and playing pickleball.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 9/3/24)

Congratulations are in order for alumnus Alex Kellison ('09), president and a principal at Heritage Capital Group, who was named among the Jacksonville Business Journal's 40 Under 40 for the class of 2025!

“Being honored in the 2025 class of Jacksonville’s 40 under 40 is a tremendous honor and provides a great sense of validation for all the hard work and efforts to-date," Kellison said.

Kellison focuses on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) advisory and strategic consulting with an emphasis on valuation and value creation. He has worked on hundreds of M&A transactions with an aggregate enterprise value in excess of $1 billion. His primary area of expertise is sell-side M&A advisory for closely-held business, although he has worked in a variety of industries and business models including insurance, logistics & distribution, healthcare, construction and manufacturing.

"I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge UNF and Heritage Capital Group in their contribution to those efforts as both institutions have played an integral role in my personal and professional development over the years," Kellison said. "The people involved in those institutions, alongside my family and friends, provided me with the platform, support, and confidence to achieve everything I have thus far."

Kellison graduated from the UNF Coggin College of Business with his BBA in finance, having served as the treasurer for the Finance and Investment Society and a member of the Osprey Financial Group. Before joining Heritage, he spent time as an Auditor for Fidelity and a Portfolio Manager with Morgan Stanley.

Kellison is also participating in UNF Giving Day 2025 in a big way. For each dollar raised by their employees, Heritage Capital will be matching that amount to add to their total contributions to the University!

"UNF provided me with a transformational learning opportunity via the Osprey Financial Group, and I know that I’m not that only one that has benefited from such opportunities provided by the University of North Florida," he said. "It’s important to me to give back to the people and organizations that have given so much to me so that they can continue to develop and create opportunities for others."

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 3/24/25)

We hope you find puns a-peeling because this month’s alumni spotlight is full of monkey business.

As we approach the midseason for North Florida Ospreys Baseball, it’s the perfect time to share the latest ventures of former Osprey pitcher, Peter Holden ('23), who immediately following graduation was recruited to join The Savannah Bananas’ sister squad, the Party Animals.

Holden’s journey to this wild opportunity started when he chose to attend the University of North Florida. The proximity to home and the nature surrounding campus played a role, but the chance to pitch for the Ospreys is what solidified his decision. Holden reflects on his time at UNF as full of impact and excitement as he finished his collegiate career with 12 wins and 221 strikeouts in 34 appearances, earning Honor Roll and All-Conference accolades. He also took advantage of networking opportunities with the Taylor Leadership Institute and volunteered with the team at places like the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

 “It was always such an amazing experience getting to visit the RMH because we were able to have a positive impact on these children going through tough times, but they also impacted us by being so positive and strong even in their toughest times,” Holden said.

Holden remembers his Osprey team as a great group of guys who could just be themselves and have fun. This freedom on the field may have caught the attention of the Bananaland recruiters because it only took two weeks after graduation for Holden to get a call for a try-out. Sure enough, Holden landed a spot on the Party Animals just a couple days later.

“It was a very short notice and quick transition, but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up, so I was all in,” he said.

The Savannah Bananas and the Party Animals put a whole different spin on baseball. Their games are known to be much faster and packed full of spontaneous dancing, outrageous skits and epic celebrations when they score. Holden said one of the wackiest things he has done involved a “synchronized swimming” skit the team did between innings during a game. He had the honor of being tasked with dressing up as a fish and crashing the team’s routine!

Holden loves that the Savannah Banana organization prioritizes the fan experience in a way that is refreshing for both the players and the audience. The team’s connection with the fans creates an experience like no other. “I feel like our crowds are some of the best in all of sports,” he said. “They are so responsive and locked in on the game so a crowd of 10,000 in Bananaland sounds more like 30,000.” 

Holden has found a way to add even more excitement to his life with a recent engagement to his high school sweetheart, Kylie Matheny (’23), who is also a UNF alum after earning her bachelor’s in nursing from the UNF Brooks College of Health. They look forward to balancing life with baseball as they plan their wedding for February 2026.

(Written by Kara Hogue, Published 3/26/25)

You know what they say… When in Rome, do as the Ospreys do! As the senior adviser of public affairs for the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, Alma Laias (’97, ’99) has turned the Roman Holiday into a lifestyle.

When Laias initially visited some of her friends attending UNF, between the great reputation and the beautiful location, she was sold on becoming an Osprey. As an undergraduate student, she got degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences in communications and international relations, while also working at the UNF International Center. She stuck around to attend the UNF Graduate School and earn her master’s in public administration while serving as the international student advisor and eventually acting director of the office of International Affairs. In her role, she would work with students daily seeking advice and support on academic matters, housing assistance, international visas, health insurance and anything personal. “We were their family in their new country,” she said. 

Laias considers herself an Italian American with deep love for “Belpaese.” She said, “After every summer holidays in Italy, l would bring with me and share with my colleagues in Florida, the beauty of every monument, plaza, street, church, museum l visited, and the smell of every cappuccino and pizza l had.” In 2000, she got a new role as an international affairs adviser for the Camera dei Deputati (Chamber of Deputies in Italy) and made the move to Roma. After serving in that role for seven years, she got promoted to head of international relations. She also spent a few years as the director of institutional relations for the American University of Rome.

In 2014, she got an opportunity to join the American Chamber of Commerce as a business development adviser, and in 2020, she was promoted to senior adviser of public affairs. In her role, she optimizes the relationship between the Italian Parliament and the U.S. Congress, the Italian Embassy in Washington DC, the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the U.S. American Chamber of Commerce and other government agencies. She also works with Italian companies to create opportunities for them to invest abroad.

Among her many achievements, one that is very close to her heart is the relationship with American universities that each year send their students to Italy for a full immersion academic course. When Ospreys study abroad, she helps organize meetings with members of Italian Parliament during their trip to Rome. She credits her amazing professors from UNF who taught her how to work as a team and learn to respect different cultures and values, and who she still keeps in contact with 25 years later.

This Spring Break, we were visited by three Ospreys representing UNF past, UNF present and UNF yet to come…

The Pontieri trio are a perfect example of the various paths that a University of North Florida experience can take you. The eldest, Victoria Pontieri (’24), recently graduated with her bachelor’s in fine arts from the UNF College of Arts and Sciences. The middle child, Bella, is wrapping up her sophomore year as a double major in psychology and political science. The youngest, Sophia, is midway through her first semester as an Osprey as she pursues her passion in biology.

Originally from Fleming Island, the ”Ponthreeieri” all grew up playing soccer, Victoria in the net, Bella in the midfield and Sophia in striking position. When it was time to enter the collegiate realm, Victoria channeled all her energy into her art. She started her journey at St. Johns River State College before transferring to learn under Jason John and the slew of great art professors at UNF. She was a member of the printmaking club and got involved in numerous campus activities. She received a grant for her “Catfish Windmill” art piece created during Jenny Hager’s class to be constructed for display at the UNF Seaside Sculpture Park in Jacksonville Beach. She loved the community of Ospreys and the nature unique to campus, and after graduating, started working as an engagement ambassador for the University as she pursues a master’s in art therapy.

Bella was recruited out of high school to play soccer at Virginia Tech where she had an incredible opportunity to play soccer at a Power 5 level. However, after her first season she realized how much she missed the Floridian weather and being close to home, so she joined her sister at UNF. Bella QUICKLY made an impact for the Ospreys, as her first career goal came a mere seconds after kickoff against Alabama A&M, setting the record for the fastest goal in program history. This past season she appeared in every game for the Ospreys and scored six goals, four of which were game-winners. As she balances life as an athlete with her two majors, she has plenty of potential paths after graduation. Whether she pursues a pro career or a job in psychology or law, she credits her support system of family and teammates for helping her along. Despite losing a handful of seniors, she’s optimistic for the success of the Women’s soccer team as they find their footing during their Spring season along with the addition of a few new Ospreys, including Sophia.

Despite having just wrapped up her Fleming Island High School career mere months ago, Sophia is already suited up for the Ospreys and made her debut last month. She knows her sisters left big footsteps to follow, but she’s hopeful to continue the tradition. In addition to playing with her sister, the coaching staff, teammates and environment made her commitment to UNF an easy decision. She’s now finding that perfect balance between athletics and academics as she aims to be a veterinarian after graduation.

All three scholarship recipients, the Pontieri sisters know that without the help from donors, none of these paths would be possible. Whether it’s new printmaking materials or new strength and conditioning equipment, the Osprey community giving back has helped their journeys immensely. Upon graduating, Victoria was able to put her artwork up for auction at the annual North Florida Ospreys Blue and Gray bash, and the money raised went straight to supporting her sisters and the rest of the soccer team. So, when you’re looking for potential funds to support this Giving Day, whether it’s the arts or sports, just know that you’re making a world of difference for our Ospreys.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 3/20/24)

“OK Google, show me our next international alumni spotlight”

Sebastian Marentes (’11) graduated from the UNF Coggin College of Business with degrees in international business and economics. Initially from Colombia, he moved to Peru for high school before visiting his brother in Jacksonville. He toured campus and learned about the scholarships UNF Admissions offers. He liked that the University was “big enough to have accoutrements, but small enough to manage.” He ended his trip by going to the Boathouse, and after seeing all the international flags up, thought “this place gets it,” and filled out an application.

As a student, he got involved wherever he could, and loved that Ospreys were ready and willing to help him gain leadership positions. He served as captain of the Swoop Squad, a member of the International Business Association, and founding president of Alpha Tau Omega National Fraternity. He also studied abroad in France, which was his first time crossing the Atlantic. His class travelled to 49 cities, where he got exposed to a global audience and enjoyed representing the University of North Florida.

After graduation, he started an internship with the PGA TOUR. Seven years later, he worked his way up to market development head for Latin American programming. “I had a unique set of skills and was culturally adept,” Marentes said. From his time at UNF, he’d learned how to work with people to solve problems. When the Tour was looking to expand their market to Latin America, he helped run a feasibility study to examine the internal and external obstacles. He leveraged his large global network to make things happen and develop the Latin American tour. He also created two TV shows and sold broadcasting rights and sponsorship deals to every major network. “We took a zero-dollar market and turned it into something special,” he said.

While this accomplishment would be enough for many, for Marentes, this was just the beginning. In 2019, the “love of his life” moved to Chicago, and he wasn’t about to let her get away. He had been intrigued by the growing tech industries and followed her up north in the search for opportunities. “The tech field is hard to break into, so I needed to put myself in a strategic position,” he said. He started working as a marketing consultant for a digital sports agency while attending Northwestern to earn an MBA. He then joined ThePostGame as director of business development before getting promoted to vice president. In Fall 2021, he accepted a role with Google to be a partner lead serving customers in the educational space. His role is a mix of consulting and account managing as he works with universities and large organizations to leverage their google ad products to reach and retain prospective students. He still prides himself in problem solving through his network. He says, “It’s important to know what you know, know what you don’t know and know who knows what you don’t know.”

In 2020, he and his love, Shaina, returned to Jacksonville to get married before flying to Colombia for their celebration. In his free time, he likes to golf, run long distances or join his wife and dog on an urban hike in the Windy City.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 7/17/24)

If you’ve been to any sporting event in the last few years, there’s a good chance you’ve met Luis Rivera (’19), who now serves as the grassroots marketing coordinator for the Jaguars

Before moving to Jacksonville, Rivera grew up playing baseball in Puerto Rico, and knew that one day he wanted to be in the sports industry. Around his junior year, he realized that he had a passion for sport marketing and was determined to make his dream a reality. Originally enrolled at FSCJ, he earned a scholarship and transferred into COEHS where he majored in sport management with a marketing minor. As a student, he joined the North Florida Ospreys marketing team where he got a hands-on experience with all the behind-the-scenes aspects of running a sporting event. Once he got his foot in the door, he wasn’t about to let it close. He got internships with both the Jumbo Shrimp and the Icemen which got him experience marketing different sports for different crowds, before he ultimately decided to pursue life in the NFL.

Rivera started as a street team member before working his way up the Jaguars organization to his current role. His day to day consists of growing the Jaguars presence in the local community. Following the pandemic, he had to essentially restart the street marketing program, but as of this upcoming season, he’s developed 24 street marketers – most of whom are college students – to be the front line between the fans and the organization. “Our passion is to leave kids with a smile and make sure they come out to a game, whether it’s now or 5-10 years down the road.” Just some recent examples of events they’ve participated in are the Beaches 5K, Riverside Arts Market and Nocatee Farmers’ Market. The most rewarding part for him is seeing fans of all ages come up to their table and share stories of how meaningful the Jaguars are to them.

Rivera sees firsthand what this organization means to the community. “In 2021, when we got Trevor Lawrence. you could see a shift.” he said. There was a sense of revitalization among the fans where there’s optimism going into each season. He’s excited to see what transpires over the next few years as the organization determines their plans for “The Stadium of the Future” construction. Regardless, his team will play an important role in welcoming the fans back for all the festivities.

After 20 years in Duval, he would love to stay and grow within the organization. “You come into work every day and you’re passionate about it,” Rivera said. “The amount of detail that goes into everything, whether it’s an offseason event or the week of a game, just can’t be replicated.” He’s surrounded by friends and family in the area, so whenever he’s not working, he’ll spend some time with them gaming or relaxing at the beach.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 9/9/24)

In this month’s edition of #OzforACause, we are highlighting a triple alumna who’s not only dedicated her life’s work to helping others through counseling and art therapy but has also staunchly advocated for herself and others living with diabetes. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we recently sat down with Sarah Roberts, RMHCI (’21, ’21, ’24), to discuss her career and advocacy. She currently works as an associate therapist at Elite DNA Behavioral Health in Jacksonville.

A Third-Degree Swoop

As an Osprey, Roberts stayed active on campus and in the classroom, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and interdisciplinary studies, focusing on ceramic art therapy. This year, she completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and incorporates her UNF education into her work, primarily counseling children aged 9 and up.

Art therapy, in many ways, inspired Roberts to become a therapist. During undergrad, while taking 17 credit hours one semester, she struggled with stress as she pursued forensic psychology aspirations. Practicing ceramics during this time helped her manage the pressure and persevere through her studies.

“I thought, ‘How cool would it be for me to be able to use the tools that I’ve learned to put my stress into something and create something out of nothing and teach that to people.’”

During undergrad, Roberts also worked as an orientation leader, senior mentor, and development associate for UNF’s University Development and Alumni Engagement office after graduation.

She speaks highly of her master’s program, noting classes such as Expressive Arts Counseling, Equestrian Therapy, and Sexology as enjoyable and beneficial for helping clients. Currently, she holds a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) designation and will need to pass an exam after two years of client work and 1,500 direct-client hours to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

Diabetes at a Glance

Diabetes is a group of diseases affecting how the body uses glucose (blood sugar), according to Mayo Clinic. Glucose provides energy for muscles, tissues, and the brain, but diabetes can lead to excess blood sugar, causing severe health issues.

With Type 1 diabetes (T1D), the pancreas makes little or no insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter cells and produce energy. There is no cure for T1D, which is often caused by genetics or viral infections and typically appears in childhood or adolescence but can develop in adults.

In Type 2 diabetes (T2D), the pancreas produces insufficient insulin, often due to inactivity, obesity, or insulin resistance in fat, muscle, and liver cells. While T2D usually occurs in older adults, rising obesity rates have led to more cases among younger people, including children.

Roberts was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3 after a severe strep throat infection triggered an autoimmune response that temporarily shut down her pancreas. She uses two medical devices to manage her blood sugar: a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump. These devices create a closed-loop system, acting as an external pancreas, she explained.

“I like to call myself part robot,” she said.

Insurance coverage for these devices can be challenging, and rising insulin costs remain a major issue for the diabetic community. Roberts said she’s had to fight her insurance provider to access the care she needs, while legislators often fail to grasp the life-or-death nature of insulin access.

“I think a lot of the time it’s seen as a luxury,” she said. “If you don’t have insulin, you can’t eat, you can’t function. You need insulin to survive.”

She also noted research showing that COVID-19 has triggered autoimmune responses in some adults, leading to late-onset Type 1 diabetes diagnoses.

“I know a lot of people in the mid-to-late 20s who got COVID and now they have Type 1, so it’s definitely something to pay attention to.”

Advocacy and Diabetes Camp

Roberts uses her T1D diagnosis to educate others and encourage younger generations to persevere despite their condition. As a child, she wrote a letter to President George W. Bush advocating for stem cell research, a potential avenue for curing diabetes. She received a reply with a presidential stamp, which she still has to this day.

Since age 5, Roberts has been involved with the Florida Camp for Children and Youth with Diabetes (FCCYD), returning frequently as a counselor. The camps offer a safe space and community for children with T1D.

Recalling her childhood, she faced bullying from peers who joked about her condition or mocked her medical devices. She said she often hid in school bathrooms to check her blood sugar.

“To be able to go to a space at least once a year [where] I didn’t have to hide part of myself is the best part about it,” she said.

Diabetes Camp provides a refuge where kids can participate in activities without worry, supported by trained counselors and professionals. The camps also offer diabetes education and mental health counseling. Roberts’ favorite, Camp Winona in DeLeon Springs, features lakeside cabins and is run by the YMCA.

Roberts advocates for person-first language, encouraging people to say, “I have Type 1 diabetes” instead of “I’m diabetic.” She explains that this distinction emphasizes that individuals are more than their condition—a principle she also applies to mental health and autism.

Living with diabetes requires constant decision-making, from monitoring blood sugar and food intake to managing devices and insulin. Roberts acknowledges this can be exhausting, especially after difficult fluctuations in blood sugar.

When she is not working as a counselor or volunteering at Diabetes Camp, Roberts enjoys pottery, spending time with friends, searching for shark teeth, visiting local breweries, and growing her vinyl collection.

(Written by Tyler White, Published 11/19/24)

This week’s Alumni Spotlight is a race to the ballot box with Hank Rogers (’03), an alum who got his political feet wet during his undergraduate days at the University of North Florida. Rogers is running for a Duval County School Board seat in this year’s election and hopes to continue helping students and teachers harness success.

Originally from Miami, Rogers initially sought a career in secondary education after coming from a family of educators. During undergrad at UNF, he became heavily involved in campus organizations that led him to change his major to political science.

Rogers spent time in Student Government and ran for student body president in 2002 after serving as SG vice president. He said he knows firsthand that the saying “Every Vote Matters” is true, as he won the election for his position by a mere 42 votes. He proudly served in this role and represented the student body on the UNF Board of Trustees.

His time with Student Government and his degree program prepared him for a unique opportunity to intern under then Rep. Terry Fields in the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee and ultimately led to a job as a legislative assistant that he held for over five years. Rogers went on to earn his master’s degree in public administration from Troy University in 2009 and worked as a substitute teacher for over two years after being challenged by a local teacher’s union to experience the classroom setting to better understand the challenges that teachers face regarding pay, testing and more. He said this experience helped inform his advocacy for teachers, education and student welfare.

Rogers has served the Jacksonville community in many facets. For over five years, Rogers has served as a Guardian Ad Litem advocating for children in the foster care system and actively serves on boards for the Jacksonville Housing Authority, the NAACP’s Jacksonville branch, the Sales Surtax Oversight Committee and the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency.

In 2013, Betty Seabrook Burney, founder and executive director of I’m A Star Foundation, approached Rogers with an opportunity to join her nonprofit, which provides an outlet for students ages 12-18 to develop solutions that help their peers overcome negative statistics, according to the nonprofit’s website. He’s been with the organization since then and currently serves as the nonprofit’s chief operating officer.

Rogers is now running for a nonpartisan position within the Duval County School Board District 5, a position he ran eight years ago but lost to The Honorable Warren Jones, the outgoing incumbent who has reached his term limit. Rogers said Jones is now supporting him in his run for the School Board seat. He said he aims to continue advocating for increased pay for local teachers and ensuring all students’ mental health is a priority.

“We can’t teach if we don’t address what’s bothering them,” Rogers said. He hopes all students receive the high-quality education that they deserve.

As early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 21 for the General Election held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Rogers said it’s important to show up and do your civic duty to make sure your voice is heard, regardless of what side of the fence you’re on.

“We all just have that one vote, and that one vote matters and it counts,” Rogers said, stating it’s an important time to be voting as topics including school closures, books bans and African American history are on people’s minds.

“Our students need you,” he said. “They can’t vote, but you can. We want to make sure that your voice is heard at the ballot box.”

He recommends that all registered voters do their research on the candidates running for public office and to review and understand how the state amendments will affect you and the community.

When Rogers is not fighting for change in the education system, he is an avid reader and enjoys traveling.

(Written by Tyler White, Published 10/18/24)

DISCLAIMER: The UNF Alumni Association does not endorse any political candidate, nor do we speak on behalf of the University of North Florida or the State University System.

We’ve already got about 100 Ospreys joining us for our 15th annual #RoarAndSoar tailgate, but it’s not a true Jaguars party until Ari and Perri make an appearance!

You may have seen UNF Brooks College of Health alumnae Ariana Ross (’22, ’24) and Perri Truster (’23) out in the community or on the sidelines during the games as members of THE ROAR of The Jags. These kinesiology majors didn’t start out at the University of North Florida – Ross was at FSCJ and Truster was a Seminole – but the pandemic shifted their priorities. When they heard about the great reputation of the UNF exercise science program, Ross started taking classes virtually while Truster waited until classes returned in person, but they both crossed the graduation stage as Ospreys.

Ross had been dancing since she was 3 years old, training in tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet and more. She was part of a performing group that traveled across the state. As a high schooler, she was coached by a Buccaneers cheer alumna, and was invited to be a part of the halftime show during a pre-season Jaguars game, and she knew she wanted to return to the field as an NFL cheerleader. Truster had danced her whole life and was on the dance team at FSU, but never really thought about cheering professionally. When she learned NFL cheer is more dance-oriented, she decided to pursue it.

“It’s not just shaking your pompoms around,” Truster joked. THE ROAR practice twice a week for hours at a time learning new choreography. Plus, they represent the Jaguars at community events multiple times a week, both in and out of season. “We’re out in Jacksonville at food drives, hospitals, blood drives, etc. just giving back,” Ross said. “That’s arguably the biggest part of this and what makes being part of this team memorable.”

In addition, each member of THE ROAR holds their day jobs. Ross is in the medical technologies field as an educational consultant for cancer patients, helping them improve their quality of life. Truster works as a sales and marketing specialist for a spine and orthopedics office, working with primary care offices and pain management doctors for referrals on surgical cases. Coincidentally, their work is reflected in their roles with THE ROAR, as once they put the uniform on, they continue marketing the organization and improving people’s lives.

Outside of their jobs, they both love spending time at the beach and in the gym. Ross is certified as an exercise physiologist, and Truster earned her personal training certification and loves incorporating her fitness and fashion into her social media.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 8/6/24)

We’ve seen a lot of Floridians with their Stanley cups this summer, but Sean Thurman (’13) has the most coveted one of all as an NHL Champion!

Originally from Tampa, she spent her freshman year at Florida Gulf Coast before becoming an Osprey. Thurman said, “Over the summer I took a tour of UNF and fell in love.” Between the size of the school and the concentration in public relations, she found a perfect fit. Due to the smaller class sizes, she felt like her professors provided a hands-on experience, and all the projects she was working on right before graduation helped prepare her for the industry. She landed an internship with a media group during her senior year and was able to turn that into a full-time role after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in communication.

Shortly after, she spent a few months in a communications role for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority before landing a role closer to home as the director of marketing for MSL CPAs & Advisors based out of Orlando. After a few years with the accounting firm, she entered the nonprofit world with United Arts of Central Florida, working her way up to marketing and communications director. As the sole person in the external realm, she had to juggle everything such as media relations, ad buying, printed collateral, e-mail campaigns and social media/website management. While there was a lot on her plate, she loved being able to serve the community and had a lot more opportunity to be creative in her role.

In 2023, Thurman had a baby girl, then returned to her role in a part-time remote capacity after maternity leave. Her husband landed a job in South Florida, so she was looking for opportunities in the area when the Florida Panthers posted an opening. In March, she was officially hired as the marketing manager focusing on the Panthers IceDen and the Baptist Health IcePlex, the official practice facility for the Panthers. These rinks provide programming, including adult leagues, hockey clinics, youth camps, and public skating.

A month after starting this new role, the Panthers began their playoff push as the top seed in the Atlantic Division. After beating the Lightning, Bruins and Rangers, she watched as her squad faced off against the Edmonton Oilers for the championship. Her goal was always to work in the sports and entertainment industry, and here she was four games away from the highest achievement in hockey. “It’s a little surreal,” Thurman said. “Hard to wrap your head around the best possible outcome happening.” After taking a three-game lead, the Oilers stormed back to tie the series, but Florida was able to pull ahead in Game 7 to clinch the cup! For Thurman, it was incredible to experience the euphoria live at the Amerant Bank Arena. She said, “I still get chills watching replays of those last 10 seconds.”

It's hard to repeat the experience of her first few months with the team, but she’s excited for the future as she lives out her marketing dream. When she’s not at the rinks, she spends as much time as she can with her daughter and husband.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 7/5/24)

With Election Day right around the corner, we go live to Grady Trimble (’14), North Florida Ospreys soccer alumnus and FOX Business Network Washington correspondent, for today’s #AlumniSpotlight coverage!

Originally from Clearwater, Trimble started his collegiate career at Winthrop University. However, after his freshman season in Rock Hill, he sought a bigger college experience and wanted to get closer to home. He returned to Florida and played in a showcase with his club team where head coach Derek Marinatos noticed his talent and recruited him to be an Osprey.

Trimble served as a defender and a captain for the University of North Florida men’s soccer team, leading them to the ASUN Conference championship game in his final season. He never planned to play soccer professionally, but the prospect of working in the newsroom always allured him. So, he had to balance the rigors of Division I athletics as he pursued his communication degree. “I definitely don’t miss that crazy schedule,” he said. His UNF School of Communication professors encouraged getting real world experience, so he focused on his career progression by accepting four different internships with television studios and radio stations. Coach Marinatos connected him with a local sports anchor at First Coast News, and he was able to get on-air experience as an 18 year old. He used these internships as course credit and crossed the graduation stage a year early.

With a bachelor’s degree and a demo reel at his disposal, he started applying for full-time roles. His first postgrad position took him to Bangor, Maine, as a multimedia journalist for WLBZ-TV. After about six months, he moved a couple of hours south to the sister station in Portland. His time in Maine provided him with early election experience as he covered the 2016 primaries in New Hampshire. Later that year, he landed an opportunity back home. He served as a general assignment reporter for WTSP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Tampa. He said he was glad to spend a few years covering his hometown market where he was able to report on impactful news to Floridians, including Hurricane Irma and the Pulse nightclub massacre.

After three years, he landed a position with Fox Business Network, fulfilling his dream of working in network news. He started in the Chicago office, reporting on all the Midwest news from the auto industry to aviation to the MLB Field of Dreams games. He then moved to Washington D.C. for his current role where he focuses on the intersection of politics and business. His coverage of the 2023 United Auto Workers’ strike in Detroit was a culmination of his years of service for FBN, as he’d interviewed automaker CEOs and union representatives over the years, and on the picket lines, he spoke to politicians who'd come from D.C. to stand with the workers.

Grady was part of FBN’s 2022 Midterm Election coverage, so with the big day on the horizon, he knows better than to schedule any personal plans over the next few weeks. He looks forward to being able to cover this momentous occasion and wants to express his appreciation for his time at UNF, and the professors and coaches that helped guide him on his journey.

When he’s not swamped at the office, he enjoys reading, running and continuing to play soccer for a co-ed rec squad in D.C. Plus, with the upcoming World Cup being hosted on FOX Sports, who knows … maybe the network could utilize a business correspondent who knows a thing or two about the beautiful game?

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 10/3/24)

We’ve already got about 100 Ospreys joining us for our 15th annual #RoarAndSoar tailgate, but it’s not a true Jaguars party until Ari and Perri make an appearance!

You may have seen UNF Brooks College of Health alumnae Ariana Ross (’22, ’24) and Perri Truster (’23) out in the community or on the sidelines during the games as members of THE ROAR of The Jags. These kinesiology majors didn’t start out at the University of North Florida – Ross was at FSCJ and Truster was a Seminole – but the pandemic shifted their priorities. When they heard about the great reputation of the UNF exercise science program, Ross started taking classes virtually while Truster waited until classes returned in person, but they both crossed the graduation stage as Ospreys.

Ross had been dancing since she was 3 years old, training in tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet and more. She was part of a performing group that traveled across the state. As a high schooler, she was coached by a Buccaneers cheer alumna, and was invited to be a part of the halftime show during a pre-season Jaguars game, and she knew she wanted to return to the field as an NFL cheerleader. Truster had danced her whole life and was on the dance team at FSU, but never really thought about cheering professionally. When she learned NFL cheer is more dance-oriented, she decided to pursue it.

“It’s not just shaking your pompoms around,” Truster joked. THE ROAR practice twice a week for hours at a time learning new choreography. Plus, they represent the Jaguars at community events multiple times a week, both in and out of season. “We’re out in Jacksonville at food drives, hospitals, blood drives, etc. just giving back,” Ross said. “That’s arguably the biggest part of this and what makes being part of this team memorable.”

In addition, each member of THE ROAR holds their day jobs. Ross is in the medical technologies field as an educational consultant for cancer patients, helping them improve their quality of life. Truster works as a sales and marketing specialist for a spine and orthopedics office, working with primary care offices and pain management doctors for referrals on surgical cases. Coincidentally, their work is reflected in their roles with THE ROAR, as once they put the uniform on, they continue marketing the organization and improving people’s lives.

Outside of their jobs, they both love spending time at the beach and in the gym. Ross is certified as an exercise physiologist, and Truster earned her personal training certification and loves incorporating her fitness and fashion into her social media.

(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 8/6/24)

The University of North Florida Alumni Association recognizes a graduating senior each semester for outstanding service to the University and community through volunteerism. This year, the UNF Alumni Association has selected Ishmail Maliek Wise as the recipient of the Senior Service Award for the Summer 2024 graduating class.

Wise is graduating from UNF’s College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Communication-Public Relations and a minor in Film. Wise consistently embodied excellence and displayed UNF’s commitment to civic engagement and servant-leadership through his involvement in the Jacksonville community. Through volunteerism, Wise has used his experience and empathy to show he is a compassionate leader who supports worthy causes such as promoting youth literacy and combatting food insecurity across our region.

He first became an Osprey in 2012 but paused his education in 2015 to relocate for a job. When he put his degree plans to the side, he realized he had given up an incredible future of success. After the birth of his daughter, Layla, in 2017, Wise found the drive and motivation to make his education a priority once again and returned to Jacksonville. We applaud Wise in his decision to complete what he started, showing that time is not a barrier to a transformational future.

Wise has consistently worked with Kappa Alpha Psi’s Kappa League since he became a Kappa Leaguer during high school, displaying dedication and natural leadership to become the President of Kappa League. Upon his return from Georgia, Wise volunteered over 70 hours spanning six years to mentor youth, help with homework, teach dance steps, and provide transportation for children when their parents could not pick them up. He did so with commitment and generosity and made a significant impact on many children by serving as a role model, encouraging young men to strive for excellence in all areas of their lives.

During his undergraduate studies, Wise served as the Acting Vice President of the Xi Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., creating and participating in numerous service projects on and off campus. He assisted in Xi Lambda’s summer pool party to collect donated books for community youth and inspire reading at an early age. Under Wise’s leadership in Summer 2024, the chapter garnered the most donated books in the chapter’s history. The fraternity also contributed to the food pantry at River City Science Academy.

Aside from his outstanding work with his fraternity, Wise has coordinated a partnership between the UNF School of Communication and the Clara White Mission Food Pantry, working over 30 hours with its offshoot program, Eartha’s Farm and Market, to create a documentary about fresh food options in Northwest Jacksonville.

He also volunteered over 45 hours with the Florida House of Representatives office, working under State Rep. Angie Nixon and alongside Feeding Northeast Florida to deliver leftover food from Farm Shares to around 20 families facing food insecurity. Rep. Nixon herself described Wise’s contributions as “nothing short of remarkable.”

Wise is a dedicated father who volunteered at his daughter’s school dances and the PTA, while also assisting with the school’s food pantry to help families in need. He also provided volunteer work for Promise Land Academy, JAX Gents Inc. and more.

As Wise completes this major milestone in his life and academic journey, we are confident he will continue to soar higher on the winds of success as a UNF alumnus. He has a passion for preparing the next generations of young men and women for a bright future, leading by example through his service to others. Wise is a genuine, reliable and driven changemaker capable of transforming the lives of others through both big and small acts of kindness. We are proud to call him an Osprey alumnus.

(Written by Tyler White, Published 8/1/24)