Dear Friends of Silverfield College,

We are excited to be one month into the new academic year and see the great things happening in Silverfield College. Enrollment in Silverfield exceeds 1,500 for the first time since fall 2021 and up more than 10% in two years! Many of those students stopped by our Silverfield Fall Fair to score a t-shirt, connect with advisors and student success representatives and participate in games including Dunk the Dean!

The upcoming academic year will be filled with milestones and anniversaries, as we celebrate 20 years of The Arc Jacksonville’s On-Campus Transition program, 30 years of the Gladys Prior Awards for Career Excellence in Teaching and 50 years of the UNF Preschool.

We continue to innovate our academic offerings by debuting a master’s degree in sport analytics this fall. Students in this program can work directly with UNF sport teams through the Sport Data Analytics Lab.

Thank you to everyone who supports the work we do to create an education and human services workforce for Northeast Florida. We are proud to have the highest one-year retention rate and highest four-year graduation rate among academic colleges at UNF.

Please connect with me to learn more about our programs and opportunities. Swoop!

Sincerely,

The University of North Florida's Silverfield College of Education and Human Services launches a new Master of Science in Sport Analytics program this fall, preparing the next generation of data-driven professionals to meet rapidly growing demand across professional sports, collegiate athletics and sport technology industries.

The global sport analytics market — valued at approximately $5.8 billion in 2025 — is projected to surpass $24 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate of more than 22 percent, according to Fortune Business Insights. Employers across the sport industry are seeking skilled professionals with expertise in data analysis, predictive modeling, machine learning and performance technology.

Donate to the Sport Data Analytics Lab and other Silverfield programs.

After 10 months overseas serving in the U.S. Navy, Paul Castrenze returned home to Jacksonville recently and reunited with his four-year-old daughter, Clare, at the UNF Preschool.

Watch surprise video on Instagram.

Jacksonville native Cierra Guerra is an alumna of the UNF sport management program. She was a member of the Sport Management Club and interned with the UNF Men's Soccer team before earning a new role this season as their director of operations.

Learn more about Cierra Guerra.

A recent graduate of UNF’s Special Education - Disability Services program, Thomas Rice was honored with the Cody Carmicle Spirit of the Game Award at the 2026 U.S. Association of Blind Athletes - USABA Goalball National Championships!

Learn more about Thomas Rice.

Dr. Allison Hitchens earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in teacher education from the University of South Florida in 2025, following an M.S.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of Maine at Farmington and a B.S. in elementary education from the University of New England.

Before joining UNF, Dr. Hitchens taught fourth grade in Maine and later worked in teacher education at USF, where she taught undergraduate courses and supervised teacher candidates in their clinical experiences. Her research interests include early-career teachers, teacher well-being and retention, and systems of support for educators.

Outside of work, Dr. Hitchens enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new coffee shops, doing jigsaw puzzles and cheering on her favorite hockey team, the Boston Bruins.

Dr. Beverly Buchanan joins Silverfield as an instructor in the ASL/English Interpreting program. She brings extensive experience in sign language education, interpreter education, curriculum development and program leadership in both Canada and the United States. Her areas of expertise include American Sign Language, Maritime Sign Language, sign language assessment and Deaf-centered pedagogy.

Dr. Buchanan earned her Ed.D. in deaf studies and deaf education from Lamar University, an M.A. in sign language education from Gallaudet University, an M.S. in deaf education from McDaniel College and a B.A. in biology from Gallaudet University. Her doctoral research focused on the preservation of Maritime Sign Language, an endangered sign language of Canada.

Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cycling, spending time with her husband, Paul, and their two cats, Yoda and Rey.

Peter Goplerud named Executive in Residence with UNF Sport Management

Peter Goplerud, of counsel at National Litigation Law Group, has been named the Executive in Residence (EIR) for UNF’s Sport Management program heading into the fall 2026 semester.

Read more in the Silverfield Newsroom.

Virtual Teaching Academy continues to build pipeline for education and human services careers

The Virtual Teaching Academy (VTA), a free dual enrollment opportunity within the Silverfield College, has experienced significant growth in student participation while helping more high school students explore pathways into education and human services.

Read more in the Silverfield Newsroom.

Inside Swoop: What’s new for 2026-27 academic year

The University of North Florida welcomed its largest enrollment to date for fall 2026. From campus upgrades to new programs, UNF has something to offer for everyone.

Read more in the UNF Newsroom.

September 22, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | UNF Talon Room

Meet builders, innovators and curious minds from across Jacksonville for a practical conversation about AI, startups and the future of tech in our community.

Learn more about Raia Live.

Application Deadline: October 2, 2026

Silverfield actively promotes international and intercultural understanding through its various study abroad and Transformational Learning Opportunity (TLO) programs!

Learn more about Silverfield Study Abroad programs.

Silverfield College Of Education and Human Services

University of North Florida

1 UNF Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32224

(904) 620-2520