Dear Friends of the Silverfield College,

Our college has continued to experience a vibrant and eventful spring semester. I hope this has been a rewarding season for each of you, filled with meaningful work and opportunities to connect with our community.

This month, we are especially proud to recognize and celebrate the dedication of our faculty who have reached important service milestones. At the University of North Florida, faculty and staff are honored for their years of service at 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-year milestones. These achievements reflect a deep and ongoing commitment to our students, our institution and the broader community we serve.

We are grateful for the passion, expertise and lasting impact of these individuals:

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees and thank you for your continued dedication and excellence.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported Silverfield during this year’s Giving Day, held on April 8, 2026. Thanks to your generosity, we surpassed our donor goals and saw a 7% increase in dollars raised to support our programs and initiatives. Your contributions directly impact our students and the important work happening across our college.

We are proud to share that the University of North Florida set a record this year, as more than 5,884 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends came together to raise over $1,736,825 in support of our University. Thank you for investing in the causes that mean the most to you and for helping us continue to grow and expand our impact.

As we move forward through the remainder of the semester, we remain inspired by the dedication of our faculty, the generosity of our community and the success of our students. Thank you for all you do to advance the mission of the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services.

If you would like to learn ways to support the Silverfield College, please reach out to Dr. Shadia Blair, Director of Development, or give now to Silverfield.

Sincerely,

Stephen W. Dittmore, Ph.D.

Dean, Silverfield College of Education and Human Services

Sporting JAX hosted the Women in Jax Night panel, “Building the Foundation: Women, Leadership and the Future of Sport at UNF," on Saturday, March 28, at UNF's Hodges Stadium.

Featured panelists Laine Silverfield, Dottie Dorian and Dr. Jennifer Kane shared their insights and experiences, creating an opportunity to highlight leadership and innovation in sports.

This event honored women who have made a lasting impact on University of North Florida women’s athletics and sport management education.

UNF sport management student Bailey Chambers was also awarded a $1,000 scholarship through the Sporting Jax Innovation and Performance Partnership.

Kaitlyn Minnicks is a proud double Osprey, earning her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and criminal justice from UNF in 2021 and her M.S. in higher education administration from Silverfield in 2025.

In 2017, she began her career at UNF in the Office of Undergraduate Research, where she supported student success, experiential learning and academic initiatives across campus.

Outside of work, she enjoys trying new local restaurants, traveling, catching up on TV shows and spending time with her dog, Teddy.

Dr. David Hoppey, professor and director of the Ed.D. program in educational leadership, joined Anne Schindler on WJCT Public Media’s "First Coast Connect" to discuss Project IDEAS, a partnership between Silverfield College and Duval County Public Schools that supports inclusive classrooms.

Funded through a federal Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant, Project IDEAS aims to strengthen K–5 teacher capacity and improve outcomes for students with and without disabilities in general education settings. The initiative provides hands-on strategies, coaching and sustained professional learning to help teachers meet the needs of diverse learners.

Hoppey, principal investigator, was joined by Schantel Minton-Jones, DCPS project director, and LaTasha Frison, a DCPS teacher, who shared how the program is making a difference in classrooms. Early results show reduced challenging behaviors, increased teacher motivation and improved classroom climate. Watch the interview.

April 20, 2026 | 5 - 6 p.m. | Virtual Via Zoom

Take the next step in your academic journey! Join our next virtual, walk-in information session with Dr. Kim Cheek and Dr. David Hoppey to learn more about UNF’s innovative doctoral programs in educational leadership and curriculum and instruction.

Register today.

Join us at MOCA Jacksonville for the 2026 UNF Preschool Art Exhibition from Wednesday, April 15, to Sunday, April 26, open each day from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The "Little Learners, Big Ideas!" exhibition is a celebration of children's deep thinking and competence. There will be both 2D and 3D works of art, as well as a featured documentation of a long-term project from each of the classrooms.

Exhibition is FREE and open to the public!

Silverfield College Of Education and Human Services

University of North Florida

1 UNF Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32224

(904) 620-2520