Winter 2025 | Alumni Council President Message
A message from the Alumni Council president.
Dear Gator Nurses,

It is an honor to serve as your Alumni Council president. Let me tell you a little about myself. I have been a Gator Nurse for many years, having received my BSN in 1976. Yes, you read that correctly. With any luck, I will join the Grand Guard a couple of years from now. I’ve enjoyed a long career as a registered nurse, followed by many more years as a nurse practitioner. I also served as a member of the UF faculty for several years. This is my second time as council president, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead again. We bid a fond farewell to Ashley- Marie Mendez, who did a stellar job leading the council for the past two years, and I’m happy she’ll continue as an active member.
Having served on our council for many years, I can speak to the great work our group does to support the college and its students. We have many great members who participate in Gator Nurse Gatherings for alumni within and outside of Florida, mentor students, attend pinning ceremonies, and engage in many activities throughout the year. Our recent Gator Nursing Reunion Tailgate brought together faculty, staff, students, administrators, and alumni for a barbecue and some football. But the highlight was the presentation of our annual Book Awards to several students, which will help offset the cost of textbooks. These awards are made possible with funds raised by our council. That’s just one example of the support we provide, and it is a group effort. Many thanks to the team who coordinated our Book Awards process this year. Our council will continue to fulfill its goal of providing guidance, input, and enthusiasm for the college and its mission.
I encourage all alumni to stay involved with the UF College of Nursing Alumni Council. For alumni who have not yet gotten back in touch with the College of Nursing, our group is a great opportunity to connect, remember, find old friends, and discover new ones. Whether you graduated recently or many years ago, it is never too early or too late to reconnect. Many of us have found the most rewarding aspect of our role to be the opportunity to speak and engage with current students. However, there are also a number of members living far away who participate in other ways. Meetings are held twice a year and can be attended in person or by videoconference. If you’d like to join us, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact a member of our Alumni Affairs staff and reconnect now.
I look forward to working with all of you. Thank you, and go Gator Nurses!