Amy Abernethy
Academic Coordinator, Graduate Programs
Amy is the academic support person for graduate programs and is the primary contact for all graduate students. She has been working in the UF Graduate School (student records) and has former experience directly advising UF students. She is an alumnus of the UF College of Law as well as the Graduate School. She has been living in Gainesville since 1988.
aabner*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0853
Mendy Allen
Administrative Specialist III, NMFS-RTR Program
Mendy assists with the Fisheries and Aquatic Science grant-funded NOAA-NMFS program Recruiting, Training, and Research in quantitative fisheries awarded to UF in 2011. She is extremely helpful to our students and faculty and manages the McCarty B rooms for our graduate program, as well as assisting Dr. Berkson and Dr. Allen with general requests. She bakes amazing desserts!
mendywillis*ufl.edu
(352) 294.0886
Angela Gifford
Administrative Services Coordinator, Fiscal & Accounting
Angela is responsible for overseeing the SFRC’s fiscal, grants, administrative and HR teams. This includes oversight of the School’s 600+ accounts, maintaining the accounting shadow and paperless systems, working with the SFRC Director with fiscal/federal year budget preparation and closeout, coordinates staff meetings and events, ensures audit compliance, responsible for promoting favorable morale among staff members, and ensuring the School runs smoothly and efficiently. Angela holds a Master of Science degree in Food and Resource Economics (Agribusiness) that she obtained here at the University of Florida. She also holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Financial Services and one in Finance, from the University of North Florida. She is happily married to Ben Gifford (SFRC alumni-Masters of Forest Resources and Conservation) and together they have three children: Benjamin, Nathaniel, and Tabitha. Angela enjoys camping with her family, riding bikes, hiking trails, reading, and shopping.
angelag4d*ufl.edu
(352) 846.1510
Susana Gobitas
Academic Assistant
Susana joined SFRC in July 2014. She is in charge of course/room scheduling, sets up course teacher evaluations, completes the Academic Activites Reporting, assigns/monitors input of Grades, and assists SFRC Undergraduate and Graduate coordinators with other duties. She is also a student at UF pursuing a degree in Linguistics. She lived in Peru for over 15 years and speaks Spanish fluently. She enjoys traveling, outdoor activities and eating good food with family and friends.
sgobitas*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0845
Kristina Haselier
Academic Coordinator, Undergraduate Programs
Kristina joined SFRC in 2011 as the primary support person for Undergraduate Programs. She also supervises course/room scheduling and is our social media manager. Kristina is the advisor for SFRC’s 4 undergraduate majors – Forest Resources & Conservation, Geomatics, Marine Sciences, and Natural Resource Conservation. She also recruits students for all SFRC programs on and off campus, so she travels often to represent SFRC throughout the Southeastern US. Kristina coordinates with our Statewide programs at 4 Research & Education Centers and publishes the SFRC Newsletter. She loves kayaking, cooking, painting, and designing for The Spice of Light. Kristina earned her MS in 2015, focusing on community planning to promote nature-based recreation.
khaselier*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0847
Sandra Houder
Academic Coordinator, Online & Certificate Programs
Sandra Houder (aka Sandie) was thrilled to join the SFRC in 2014 as Program Assistant for distance education programs. Sandie helps design and update our online courses, as well as serving as the primary contact for distance students and Certificate programs. She enjoys reading, good movies, bad TV, and outdoor activities with her family.
shouder*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0146
Ellison Langford
Communications Specialist
Ellison manages all of the news releases, social media, and website content for the SFRC. She has worked at UF in communications since 2015. She studied Journalism and Spanish at Auburn University. She enjoys reading, roller derby, and relaxing with her cats.
elangford*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0100
Winnie Lante
IT Professional II
Winnie first joined SFRC in 1978 as a student and completed a BS in forestry in 1980 and worked in the Forest Pathology lab for over 10 years. Today she is responsible for all IT support in the SFRC, and manages computers, phones, printers, mobile devices, polycom, email, network access, and more for all the employees of our department. She is efficient and capable and can help you when technology has you stuck.
wdl*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0865
Dawnette Lauramore
Accountant III
Dawnette joined the SFRC in 1997 as a Senior Secretary. Her primary function was to assist faculty, staff, and students with their travel requests. She also provided clerical help to the SFRC faculty assigned to her. Dawnette has been promoted twice and is presently responsible for approving all p-card purchases made by faculty, staff, and students. Over 8,000 transactions cross her desk every year! Dawnette also processes encumbered and unencumbered vouchers, myUF Market requests, and supervises other employees. Dawnette has been voted Staff Member of the Year within SFRC, and has received an IFAS-wide Superior Accomplishment Award. Dawnette is known as someone who goes out of her way to help those who stop by, even if it is not in her area of expertise, and believes that laughter should be a part of each day. Dawnette enjoys the beach, mountains, and spending time with family and friends.
dawnette*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0864
Sam Lawson
Research Administrator II
Sam started working at FAS as a student assistant in August 2011, and as of now is a full-time TEAMS employee working chiefly at SFRC. He first gained experience through working in PCards, purchasing, and managing the vehicle and vessel service centers. Since then, he has recently transitioned into research administration, including contract and grant proposals, effort reporting, and post-award management. Having created the SFRC policy & procedural manual in 2013, he is steadfast and dedicated to ensuring that the work of the SFRC accounting department is fully documented and audit compliant. Sam’s hobbies are varied, ranging from creative writing and music composition to watching anime and attending gaming conventions. And drinking coffee (preferably black).
samuel18*ufl.edu
MTRF mornings (8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.) (352) 846–0885
MTRF afternoons (2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.) (352) 274–3775
Wednesday (all day) (352) 273–3642
Cindy Love
Fiscal Assistant II, Travel
Cindy’s role is to assist with faculty and staff travel requests and reimbursement, both before and after traveling. She also coordinates FedEx shipping as needed. Cindy always has a smile and will do her best to assist you.
cilove*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0849
Matthew Pollard
Operations Manager
Matt joined the SFRC in 2012 as Operations Manager, with many years’ experience in carpentry/woodworking, welding, and general mechanics, including with the University Physical Plant Division. He graduated from UF and has state certifications in both Law Enforcement and Corrections, as well as being an accomplished artist in drawing and metal sculpture. Matt is responsible for managing the department vehicles, facilities including the Learning Center at the Austin Cary Forest Campus, and operations and coordinating the logistics of laboratory compliance and field safety, among other things.
mpollard*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0857
Rhiannon Pollard
Manager, Academic Programs
Rhiannon provides administrative oversight to the academic staff team managing graduate, online, and certificate programs in the SFRC. She provides teaching consultation to faculty and instructors and assists with instructional design as needed. She is also responsible for marketing and outreach for the Learning Center at the Austin Cary Forest Campus, as well as the design and development of several departmental websites. A UF alumnus, she joined the SFRC in 2011 as Academic Coordinator for Graduate Programs and has been employed with the University since 2005.
rhiannon-pollard*ufl.edu
(352) 273.0184
Karen Porter
End User Computing Specialist III
Karen joined SFRC in August of 2013. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a degree in History. She is Comptia A+, Network+ and Apple certified. She assists Winnie with IT support for all of SFRC. She splits her time between Reed Lab and Newins-Ziegler Hall, with an added day at Millhopper to support the FAS faculty and staff. She enjoys hiking with schnauzers, kayaking, traveling, and playing guitar and piano.
karen.porter*ufl.edu
(352) 392.9492; Monday (352) 846.0854; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Nate Rushing
Grants Assistant
Nate is your primary contact for departmental pre-award items such as grant proposals, extensions, modifications, supplemental requests, incoming awards, etc. He joined SFRC in 2016
sfrc-grants@ifas.ufl.edu
(352) 273.3645
Scott Sager
Education/Training Coordinator & Forester
Scott is responsible for managing the School’s student services office, as well as the School’s teaching/research forest (the Austin Cary). He also teaches FNR4624C Field Operations for Management of Ecosystems. He earned his bachelor’s from the School in 1997 (majoring in Forest Resources and Conservation) and his master’s from the School in 2000 (focusing on forest economics/management). He returned to the School in 2011, having previously worked in environmental/forestry consulting across the southeastern United States.
sasager*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0846
Victoria Scaff
HR/Personnel Generalist
Victoria joined the SFRC in June of 2016. She is a Notary Public, and is responsible for processing all HR and Personnel duties for the School (including, but not limited to: time and labor processes; hiring and additional pay for all non-faculty appointments; processing job edits; posting all non-faculty positions to Careers at UF; and processing all non-grant payroll distribution changes).
Victoria obtained her Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Organizational Management with a concentration in Human Resources from Santa Fe College. She enjoys spending time with her husband, doing Pilates, shopping, and crafting.
sfrc-hr*ifas.ufl.edu
(352) 846.0863
Kim Scotto
Administrative Support Assistant II
Kim joined SFRC in May of 2016. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Natural Resource Management. She schedules meetings and travel for the director, handles the tenure and promotion process, approves travel for faculty and staff, and acts as the point of contact for the SFRC Advisory Board and Program Advisory Committee.
kscotto*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0850
Alison Short
Accountant II
Alison joined SFRC in June of 2015. She is responsible for reconciling all of SFRC’s accounts, managing all SFRC’s Foundation accounts, performing downloads weekly and monthly into our shadow system, and managing subaward payment certifications. She also serves as the purchase order approver and backup PCard approver. Alison has received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida. She enjoys trail riding, working out, helping out on the family farm, baking, and spending time with her husband.
alishort*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0114
Jennifer Vogel
Instructional Designer, SFRC Extension Online
Jennifer joined SFRC in 2016 as an Instructional Designer assisting Distance Education with an emphasis on online extension programming. She is finishing her Masters in Educational Technology from Texas A&M and lived in Gainesville from 1995-2009, which makes her an “AggieGator.”
alpha32605*ufl.edu
(352) 294.7979