Dear Friends of the Silverfield College,

As we close out the fall semester and prepare for the upcoming holiday break, I am pleased to share several accomplishments that reflect the remarkable momentum of our college and the meaningful impact we continue to have across campus and throughout the region.

We are proud to share that our FTIC retention from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026 has reached 96%, the highest among all academic colleges at UNF. This achievement not only represents critical funding metrics but, more importantly, underscores the engaging pedagogy in our classrooms and the personalized advising, mentoring and support our faculty and staff provide each day. 

We are also thrilled to celebrate more than 100 new Silverfield College graduates during this afternoon's Fall Commencement. Congratulations to all of our newest alumni on this milestone! This special achievement is a fitting capstone to a semester filled with meaningful engagement and community impact.

This past month, we were honored to co-host more than 130 community members, alumni and students for the Sports as an Economic Engine in Jacksonville panel discussion during Homecoming week. The event highlighted the university's vital role in preparing professionals for the region's rapidly expanding sports and entertainment industry, an area where our programs continue to make meaningful workforce contributions.

We also recently hosted a vibrant and successful Future Educators of America (FEA) Northeast Regional Conference, welcoming 150 students and teachers from nine high schools across four counties. The conference was further enriched by the Andrew A. Robinson Education Symposium, featuring district leaders from Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties in a thoughtful and forward-thinking conversation about the future of education in our region.

I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to every member of our Silverfield community. Thank you for your dedication, creativity and your unwavering commitment to our students and mission.

I wish you all a joyful holiday season and look forward to welcoming you back in the new year as we continue to serve our students and strengthen the communities we call home.

Sincerely,

Stephen W. Dittmore, Ph.D.

Dean, Silverfield College of Education and Human Services

The Silverfield College was honored to sponsor the Florida Forum Speaker Series, benefiting Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Professional basketball player Caitlin Clark kicked off the event as a featured speaker. The evening was made even more special by the attendance of Dr. Betty Flinchum, an emertia faculty member and founding leader of our college — and one of Clark’s biggest fans. It was an unforgettable night!

More than 150 future educators and education leaders gathered at UNF for the second FEA Northeast Regional Conference and the inaugural Andrew A. Robinson Education Symposium, a day of inspiration, collaboration and growth. Read more at the Silverfield Newsroom.

UNF hosted “Sports as an Economic Engine in Jacksonville,” a UNF Homecoming Week panel featuring regional business and sports leaders, co-hosted by Silverfield College and Coggin College of Business.

Read more at the UNF Newsroom.

Silverfield College faculty and staff visited Zwolle, Netherlands, joining local district partners for a professional exchange at VIAA University as part of the Cross-Atlantic Collaboration on Teacher Education.

Read more at the Silverfield Newsroom.

The Gladys Roddenberry Graduate Fellowships for Teaching Excellence, made possible through the generosity of philanthropist Gilchrist Berg, honor the legacy of his sixth-grade teacher, Gladys Roddenberry. Each year, five UNF graduate scholarships are awarded in her name to support outstanding educators in our community.

2025 Recipients: 

Silverfield College Of Education and Human Services

University of North Florida

1 UNF Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32224

(904) 620-2520