Happy summer to all! It’s been a fantastic year so far, and I am excited to share with you some of the highlights from our recent Gator Nurse Gatherings in Gainesville and Ft. Lauderdale. In April, we hosted our Gainesville Nurse Gathering at the Hilton UF Conference Center and a Ft. Lauderdale Gator Nurse Gathering with Professors Emeriti Jodi Irving and Jo Snider. The events were tremendous successes, with alumni, faculty and staff coming together to network and catch up on the latest news from the college. We look forward to seeing all of you at upcoming alumni events and encourage you to bring along a fellow Gator Nurse.

We’re also excited to announce the 2023 College of Nursing Reunion Weekend, scheduled for Sept. 15-16. This year’s event promises to be exciting as always, with an indoor barbecue tailgate party at the Harrell Medical Education Building before the Florida Gators take on the Tennessee Volunteers in The Swamp! There will be plenty of food, music, face painting, games and activities for all to enjoy, and as always, our silent auction will feature a fantastic selection of Gator memorabilia, jewelry and unique gifts. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Alumni Council Book Awards Program, which provides scholarships to students in need.

We also invite all Gator Nurse alumni to participate in our Mentor Meet-and-Greet, a fantastic opportunity for students to connect with experienced nurses. This event is like speed dating, where students can speak with alumni about their nursing careers and experiences. Participating in this event is a way to give back to the next generation of Gator Nurses by sharing your personal nursing story, and we encourage all interested alumni to contact Rachel Rivera at rrivera8@ufl.edu to learn more.

Finally, we’re excited to recognize this year’s Alumni Council Book Award scholarship recipients at the Reunion Tailgate. These scholarships go directly to assist students in purchasing the required books for their nursing program, and we are appreciative of your support in making this possible. This is also a great opportunity to meet and connect with these outstanding students who are grateful for your help.

As many of you know, in June, Dean Anna McDaniel stepped down as dean of the UF College of Nursing. We want to take this opportunity to thank her for her exceptional leadership and all that she has done for our community. Dean McDaniel, you will be missed, and we wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement with the UF College of Nursing community. We can’t wait to see you at our upcoming events and look forward to another fantastic year ahead.

Ashley-Marie Mendez
(BSN 2014)