UF Women Reports

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UF Women Reports

UF WOMEN
STEERING COUNCIL

Englewood, FL

Vanda O'Neill

Fernandina Beach, FL

Chris Bryan

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Debbee Barker

Gainesville, FL

Chris Machen
Julie Berthy
Co-Chair, Linda McGurn

Jacksonville, FL

Julianne Davis
Co-Chair, Beth McCague

Naples, FL

Adria Starkey

Palm Beach, FL

Katie Pressly

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Toni Crawford

Tallahassee, FL

Linda Wells

Washington, D.C.

Linda Hudson

Winter Park, FL

Alexis Pugh

Winston Salem, NC

Susan Ivey

Message from the UF Women Co-Chairs

Linda McGurn
co-chair

Beth McCague
co-chair

Friends, we are initiating an e-mail newsletter to our growing group of UF Women, our program to increase leadership and philanthropy by women at UF. We hope via this method of communication to keep you informed about what is happening at UF, where leadership may be needed, how you can participate, etc. We will include articles about UF alumnae, donors, prospects, faculty and staff. We will also include informational briefings from various deans and directors on campus. Additionally, we will seek your input from time to time.

If you do not want to receive this monthly communication, please let us know and you may unsubscribe from the list serve.

Sincerely,

Linda McGurn (BSBA '73, JD '78) and Beth McCague (BSBA '74)

Message from Dr. Machen

President Machen On behalf of the University of Florida, I sincerely thank you for all you do for The Gator Nation. I am especially delighted by the efforts of the UF Women Initiative. My wife Chris serves on the steering council and keeps me informed. Enhancing women's leadership and philanthropy at UF is crucial if the university is to reach its potential as one of the nation's truly great institutions of higher education.

Here at UF, more than 50 percent of our undergraduates are women. These women need role models — including volunteers and mentors — in all areas of academia. I am proud of my administration's promotion of women into leadership roles. Six of our deans are women: Kathy Long (Nursing), Lucinda Lavelli (Fine Arts), Terri Dolan (Dentistry), Catherine Emihovich (Education), Judith Russell (Libraries) and Cammy Abernathy (Engineering). Kathy Long also serves as associate provost and four other women — Jane Adams (vice president for University Relations), Jamie Keith (general counsel), Patricia Telles-Irvin (vice president for Student Affairs) and Paula Varnes (vice president for Human Resources) — are senior administrators. Many other women serve as associate and assistant vice presidents and associate and assistant deans.

However, there is much room for improvement, most notably concerning the relatively small number of women serving on UF boards and advisory councils. We look to you for suggestions and leadership in this important arena. We need to improve UF's message and communication to be inclusive for women.

I look forward to the growth and maturation of the UF Women Initiative and commit to be of assistance however possible.

Sincerely,
Bernie

UF Announces Cammy Abernathy as New Gator Engineering Dean

[Dr. Cammy Abernathy] Cammy Abernathy is UF's ninth dean of engineering. "Cammy brings vast experience and knowledge to the table," Provost Joe Glover said. "The fact that she will make history by becoming UF's first woman engineering dean makes her selection all the more exciting."

"It's not really about me. It's a sign of where engineering has to go in the future," Abernathy said. "We have to change the way engineering is perceived and we have to change the way it is introduced to potential students. This is especially important because engineering — and educating the next generation of engineers — is so critical to our country today." Read More...

Christina Bryan Great Gator Article from summer 2009 Issue of UF Today Magazine

Photograph by
Lans Stout

Bryan, a member of the UF Women steering council and donor to UF, has gone from educator to corporation owner, from avid and patient, Gator fan to president of Gator Boosters, Inc. The Fernandina Beach native, who collaborated with her siblings in 1984 to build what is now Florida Petroleum, says her support isn't just about athletics, it's about how athletics shapes people.

How has running an oil company changed you?
It has given me an opportunity to grow as a person. I work with presidents of large corporations and also with my truck drivers, secretaries and all of my employees. This has given me a chance to help our company grow, but at the same time I hope I have been able to help my employees grow and meet their goals. The people are our strength.

Why are you an active member of Gator Boosters Inc.?
I was fortunate to have been selected to the board about six years ago. I have stayed active because of my love for the University of Florida and Gator athletics. During these years I have enjoyed working with boosters to strengthen the athletic programs through private giving and volunteer leadership from The Gator Nation.

What is one of your favorite UF memories?
I loved all the many times I would go to Florida football games with my father. We enjoyed the lean years -- I would ask my father, "Are we ever going to win?" and "Are we ever going to beat Georgia?" He told me our day would come. I believe he was right, and we have now arrived as the top program in college football. I am sorry he is not here to enjoy this special time, but I am able to enjoy it with my family.

Fortune Magazine Declares Two UF Women as part of The 50 Most Powerful Women

#26. Susan Ivey
Susan Ivey (BSBA '80) is CEO of Reynolds American, Inc. The company has consistently beat analysts' expectations. Susan Ivey serves on the UF Foundation board of directors and is a donor to UF.

#43. Linda Hudson
Linda Hudson (BSSE '72) is President, Land and Armaments BAE Systems (the premier global defense, security and aerospace company). Hudson has more than doubled her division's size. As the world's largest military vehicle business, her unit generated about a third of the company's $34.4 billion in revenue. Linda Hudson serves on the UF Washington DC regional council, the College of Engineering Dean's Advisory Board where she has established an endowed fund to support undergraduate and graduate students, and is a Bull Gator.