History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 73
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to develop a strong, focused mission, and powerful goals and objectives. In
2013, Dr. Julia Rae Varnes was hired to fill the need for alcohol, other drugs,
and violence programming, the role served by Maureen Miller prior to being
promoted to department director. Varnes also served as the temporary STRIVE
coordinator until funding was secured for a new health promotion specialist
solely dedicated to interpersonal violence prevention efforts. Rita Lawrence
was hired February 2014 as the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Coordinator,
which includes the oversight of STRIVE. Varnes left her position in August 2014,
and in November 2014 Alicia Baker was hired as a health promotion specialist to
focus on alcohol and other drug prevention programming.
To d ay
GatorWell is comprised of a director, seven full-time health promotion specialists,
a full-time graphic artist, a program assistant, a senior clerk, and approximately
20 part-time student staff both undergraduate and graduate. In 2015, the
Director of GatorWell began reporting to the Executive Director of Recreation
and Health Promotion Services, and GatorWell offices moved to the Reitz Union
after the completion of the renovation and expansion of the building.
Leadership
H e a lt h E d u c at o r
Maggie Tucker 1972 - early 1980s
Coo r d i n at o r , H e a lt h E d u c at i o n
Sharon Knight early 1980s - 1987
D i r e c t o r o f N u r s i n g a n d H e a lt h E d u c at i o n
Rae Maren
1987 - mid 1990s
Jane Cullen
mid 1990s - 2003
D i r e c t o r o f G at o r W e l l
Jane Emmerée
2003 - 2006
Vladimir Oge
2006
Interim
Depa rtment histor ies : Gatorwell H ealth promotion services