Posted: April 18, 2024
The University of Florida Division of Student Life chose Dr. Nicole L.P. Stedman, Associate Provost and Dean of the UF Graduate School (pictured above), as recipient of this year’s Mort Wolfson Faculty Service Award.
Named for retired UF professor Mort Wolfson, this yearly honor established in 2003 goes to one UF faculty member who exemplifies the values he modeled — conspicuous commitment to and outstanding service on behalf of UF and its students.
In conferring this momentous award on Dr. Stedman, the Division of Student Life noted that she “has shown continued interest in seeking opportunities to collaborate and partner with Student Life on initiatives that serve our graduate students.”
It went on to say that she “was a key champion in creating a new role within the CARE Team that focused on graduate student support,” and that she “went a step further by providing funding support for this role.”
Under Dean Stedman’s leadership, the UF Graduate School’s GradCare initiative became a reality, providing numerous UF graduate students with a one-stop point of contact in Grinter Hall for finding solutions to their problems. GradCare helps identify existing resources that best fit their immediate needs and practices follow-up with a compassionate touch to determine if they have been met.
In spite of her time-consuming duties as Graduate School Dean, Dr. Stedman still continues to play an active and attentive role in teaching and mentoring graduate students.
She is a three-time UF alumna: Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences (1998), Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication (2001), and Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Education and Communication with an emphasis in leadership education (2004). She has served UF for nearly two decades as a professor, student mentor, published researcher, grants partner, associate department chair, Faculty Senate chair, and Board of Trustees member.
UF Graduate School Dean since 2021, she has energetically advanced sustained efforts to enhance and expand the graduate student experience at UF. Her leadership has prioritized student well-being, heightened faculty mentorship, and versatile professional development aimed at broader career options for graduates.
The UF Division of Student life “champions meaningful experiences that foster community connection, career design, and lifelong wellbeing,” as stated as its mission on its website.
For more information, click here: UF Division of Student Life.
Graduate School