Director of Communications

Amy Armstrong

Amy Armstrong will begin her new role as the Director of Communications for Business Affairs on Feb. 13, 2023. 



"I am very excited to join the UF and the Business Affairs team. I look forward to partnering with leadership and colleagues within the division and across the university to implement strategic communications to bolster the success of our division and its many vital departments," said Amy. 

It was a celebration of lifelong connections and an accomplished year for the 2022 UF Mentor Protégé Teams, as they joined for a graduation ceremony on a beautiful December evening.

UF has a strong commitment to providing long-lasting significant opportunities for small businesses. For the past twenty-eight years, the UF Mentor Protégé program facilitated by the division of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) has fostered the foundation of effective relationships between mature established companies and emerging small businesses, including women and minority owned companies.

“This program has had a significant impact on small businesses working with UF. As these firms cultivate relationships with their mentors and engage our UF departments, they learn how to best navigate the institution and be successful,” says Dwan Courtney, the Director of SBSD. 

This past December, members of Planning Design & Construction (PD&C), P.K. Yonge students, and staff met to celebrate the accomplishment of UF’s 92nd green building certification. The impressive 3-story P.K. Yonge Middle and High school building received LEED Gold certification, reflecting the project's highly sustainable efforts.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building rating system and symbol of sustainability achievement. LEED provides a framework for efficient, cost-saving green buildings that also positively impact the health and well-being of the building’s occupants. LEED establishes four levels of certification (certified, silver, gold, and platinum) and at UF, the policy is to achieve LEED Gold.

For the PK Yonge project, the PD&C team prioritized various green building principles early during the building design process and throughout the construction. To meet LEED Gold certification, the team incorporated elements such as native landscape design, energy efficient lighting and building controls, water efficient fixtures, beautiful/restorative views of the outdoors, air filtration and treatment systems selection of sustainable materials all while successfully diverting over 5,000 tons of construction and demolition waste.  

Annual UF Health Pediatric Outpatient Center Toy Drive

This past holiday season members of the Patrol Division coordinated the collection of toys for children at the UF Health Pediatric Outpatient Center. The annual event serves as an opportunity for agency members to bring holiday cheer to the UF community. 

Holiday Traffic Safety Education Detail 

UFPD conducted traffic stops for minor traffic violations with an education component in the month of December. At the conclusion of the traffic stop, the drivers were issued a surprise gift card in lieu of a citation. The initiative was an opportunity to remind everyone that traffic safety is a shared responsibility.

Annual Shop with a Cop Event

PK Yonge School Resource Officer Henri Belleville partnered with the Gainesville Police Department for their annual Shop with a Cop event. 

The UF Office of Sustainability and the Healthy Gators Coalition are excited to announce that the nomination period for the 2023 Champions for Change Awards is now open! This partnership program recognizes individuals and groups in the UF community who have made significant contributions in the areas of sustainability or health & wellness during their time at UF. Please help us in identifying some of the amazing individuals and initiatives at UF by nominating them for an award! Nominations will close February 28, 2023. 

To submit a nomination and learn more about the awards visit the Champions for Change site.

WORK/STUDY ALONE: NEW FEATURE ON GATORSAFE APP

A new feature in the GatorSafe app will increase the security of those whose studies or duties are often performed in isolation.

The University of Florida recently added the “Work/Study Alone” feature to the GatorSafe app. The feature generates a call to an emergency contact of choice if the user fails to check in within the allotted time. This addition to the GatorSafe app is part of the university’s commitment to addressing the the campus community’s safety.

CELEBRATING THE BLACK EXPERIENCE: UF’S NEWEST INSTALLATION

The University of Florida unveiled a new African American storytelling wall on the second floor of the Reitz Union Auditorium, paying tribute to the contributions and experiences of the university’s Black community.

The Black Experience Installation, a display of photographs and text that tells the stories of Black students, faculty, staff and alumni at UF over the decades, highlights the challenges, triumphs and contributions of UF’s black community and showcases the importance of continuing the enduring legacy set by its leaders.

The wall is divided into four attributes that relate to the Black experience at UF: determination, pride, strength and community.

Vehicle-Restricted Zone

The University of Florida is reinstating a vehicle-restricted zone designed to improve pedestrian safety on campus.

The vehicle-restricted zone will be marked with signs and flashing red lights that will activate from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on weekdays when pedestrian traffic is heaviest. 

Roadway improvements address pedestrian safety near campus

These safety improvements — from raised crosswalks along University Avenue to new, one-way traffic patterns — are aimed at mitigating serious injuries and fatalities along one of the campus’ main traffic arteries and make the streets and roadways surrounding campus safer and more accessible for everyone. 

REDESIGNED GATOR ONE CARDS AVAILABLE SOON

For the first time in 20 years, a new, redesigned identification card will be available for the University of Florida community beginning Feb. 6. A single, universal card design will be issued for students, faculty and staff.

Along with a modern design, the new card will have both a magnetic stripe and contactless chip technology to enable faster, more secure transactions.

Unless contacted by GATORONE staff, upgrading to these cards is not an immediate requirement for students, faculty and staff, as existing cards will continue to work. But those who wish to enjoy the new card’s expanded functions will have the opportunity to upgrade at no cost.

Students and employees wishing to request an upgrade to the new GATORONE card may do so through the Business Services portal beginning Feb. 6. For all existing cardholders, the first card request in the portal is free.

For FAQs related to the card changes, visit the visit the GATORONE website. If you have any questions, please contact info@bsd.ufl.edu.

PEPSI STRONGER TOGETHER AND

WINN-DIXIE DONATE $25K TO FIELD AND FORK FOOD PANTRY 

Pepsi Stronger Together, PepsiCo’s series of grassroots initiatives tailored to support local communities, and Winn-Dixie are supporting University of Florida’s campus food bank, Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry, with a $25,000 donation through the grocer’s parent company’s charitable foundation, Southeastern Grocers Gives Foundation, during the Chop & Chomp Beat FSU Food Drive.

REGULATION & POLICY REMINDER: ANIMALS PROHIBITED IN UF BUILDINGS

There’s no denying that some of us feel like our pets are family, but please remember that animals are prohibited in any and all buildings on campus with the following exceptions.

Christine Geoffrion

Alton McDilda

Jon Merchant

Dale Morris

Veleta Roberts

Robert Reynolds

Edna Taplis

David Watson

Clifton Williams