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
Rob Bailey
Multimedia Creation Specialist, Distance Education
Rob is a cinematographer and designer who joined the SFRC in July of 2015. He enjoys excursions into the field to shoot instructional video, spending time in the studio recording and editing lectures, and helping design and update our online courses. He is a passionate musician and loves recording in any production environment.
RobBailey*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0144
Grace Burmester
Undergraduate Academic Advisor & Recruiter
Grace joined SFRC in December 2017 as an Advisor for SFRC’s 4 Undergraduate Majors and a Recruiter focusing on early undergraduate students. She will focus on engaging with a diverse population of potential freshman as well as current UF students interested in pursuing SFRC’s majors. Grace will assist with retention communication and social media, student tracking and other support for undergraduate advising. Grace has been employed with the University since 2012 and previously worked with youth programs, outreach and dual enrollment. Her education background is a double major in Environmental Science and technical Theatre, and she is completing a SFRC Graduate Certificate in Natural Resources Policy & Administration in Spring 2018. She enjoys camping, kayaking, board games, theatre, and volunteering with Little Orange Creek Nature Park in Hawthorne.
Graceb*ufl.edu
(352) 273.3852
Hannah Dewitt
HR Assistant
Hannah joined SFRC in 2014. She is the school’s HR assistant and helps with time and labor processing, OPS hiring, job edits, and more. She enjoys reading, visiting Crescent Beach, and spending time with her pets.
sfrc-hr-asst@ifas.ufl.edu
(352) 846.0926
Sam Ellsworth
Fiscal Assistant
Samantha (or Sam, as she prefers to be called) joined SFRC part time in fall 2016 as an OPS Fiscal Assistant and became a full time Fiscal Assistant in August 2018. She primarily handles PCards, is back-up for travel and reimbursements, and assists the fiscal staff with other tasks as needed. A mother of three boys, she enjoys spending time with her family, walking to catch Pokemon, scrapbooking, and quality time with Netflix.
Michelline Fedele
End User Computing Specialist
Michelline provides IT Support for the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and Geomatics Programs within the School of Forest Resources and Conservation. She also assists the SFRC IT Supervisor with school-wide IT support including the hardware, software, website and network shares. Michelline has her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, an Associate of Science in Network Systems Technology, and she is CompTIA A+ certified. She enjoys spending time with her family and binge watching Netflix series.
mfedele*ufl.edu
(352) 294.3839
Angela Gifford
Assistant Director, Administrative Services
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. 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
Sarah Hernandez
Fiscal Assistant II
Sarah joined SFRC in January 2016 as an OPS assistant, becoming a full time TEAMS Fiscal Assistant II in March 2017. Sarah has over 20 years of customer service and is happy to help anyone, any time. Sarah is your primary point of contact for non-travel related PCard and reimbursement documentation. She also handles invoices, non-vehicle related Journal Entries and is back-up for travel and My UF Market orders. Sarah is a wiz at retrieving lost/duplicate receipts for PCards, getting tax refunds and resolving other PCard issues. Sarah is the proud host mother to two wonderful German girls who are now attending college in their home countries. Sarah likes logic puzzles, cross-stich and most things to do with nature and the outdoors.
sfrc-fiscal*ifas.ufl.edu
(352) 846.0852
Sandra Houder
Academic Coordinator, Online Courses & Certificate Programs
Sandra Houder (aka Sandie) was thrilled to join the SFRC in 2014. Sandie helps design and update our online courses, and serves as the primary contact for all academic certificate programs. She enjoys reading, good movies, bad TV, and outdoor activities with her family.
shouder*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0146
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
(352) 846.0885
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
Mariah McGovern
Academic Program Assistant
Mariah started working for SFRC in January of 2018. She is the program assistant to Geomatics. She is also the contact for EndNote publications for SFRC, as well as the joint contact for courtesy and affiliate faculty appointments. Mariah graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in History and English.
geomatics*ifas.ufl.edu
(352) 392.9492
Christie Plough
Post-Award Grants Advisor
Christie joined the SFRC team in December of 2017 as the Post-Award Advisor. She helps provide support and advisement on all post-award grant management functions including effort reporting, faculty assignment reporting, cost share reporting and grant accounting as well as ensure the unit is compliant with federal and state laws and University policy.
christiealee*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0100
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
IT Professional I
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 is responsible for all IT support in the SFRC, and manages computers, VoIP phones, printers, mobile devices, video conferencing, email, network access, and more for all the employees of our department. She enjoys hiking with schnauzers, kayaking, traveling, and playing guitar and piano.
karen.porter*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0854
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
Sarah Rushing
Administrative Support Assistant III
Sarah started working for SFRC in April of 2016. She schedules meetings and travel for the Director, is the contact for Tenure and Promotion, and approves travel for Faculty and Staff. Sarah enjoys taking her two dogs on long walks, trying new restaurants with her husband, watching TV shows from beginning to end, and shopping.
sarahrushing*ufl.edu
(352) 846.0850
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-Kelley
Communications Specalist
Kim joined the SFRC in May of 2017. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Natural Resource Management. Kim is responsible for designing communications materials, managing social media, and coordinating with UF/IFAS Communications, all to share the stories of SFRC.
kscotto*ufl.edu
(352) 294.7018
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