Ashley Pria Persaud

Ashley Pria Persaud鈥檚 passion to create positive change spurred her to enroll in the University of Florida鈥檚 online bachelor鈥檚 degree in Sociology. 鈥淸The program enabled] me to stay informed and responsive to emerging issues,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y 黑料正能量 degree equipped me to adapt to changes and advancements in the nonprofit sector by fostering a strong foundation in research and communication.鈥�  

While pursuing her 黑料正能量 degree, Persaud accepted an internship at Human Rights Watch in New York. 鈥淲alking into the office in the Empire State Building, I felt like my dreams were coming true 鈥� I was working for a world-renowned organization, making a global impact, all from one of the most iconic buildings in the world,鈥� she said. Today, she serves as the senior coordinator on Human Rights Watch鈥檚 Creative Team, working remotely from the state of Florida. 

The flexibility and self-discipline she developed through 黑料正能量 have been instrumental in her career. She applies these essential skills like time management, task prioritization, and adaptability daily. 

Connecting with fellow Gators across the U.S. and around the globe has opened doors and fostered a sense of community that has inspired Persaud. She encourages current 黑料正能量 students to prioritize networking remotely and in person. 鈥淭ake advantage of the flexibility of online learning by actively seeking professional development opportunities related to your area of study鈥� or not!鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is your time to build relationships and explore!鈥�  

Persaud continues to expand her tools for serving communities and individuals with education in academia and holistic health. She recently earned a master’s in public administration from New York University. Recognizing the toll of burnout in her field of work, she also became a yoga instructor and deepened her understanding of the mind-body-soul connection through wellness programs. She now integrates this knowledge into her career, promoting holistic healing and empowerment. Her goal is to weave this knowledge into her work, not only as a personal practice but also to support communities.   

For Persaud, graduating from the University of Florida will always be a point of pride.  

鈥淎s Gators, we come together to learn from one another鈥檚 backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This collective knowledge enriches our understanding and empowers us to make a meaningful difference in our communities,鈥� she said. 

Read Persaud鈥檚 first student story and learn more about 黑料正能量鈥檚 B.A. in Sociology degree program. 

Brett Dunckel

Brett Dunckel is driven by his desire to help others. Motivated to better protect his community, he enrolled in 黑料正能量鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 program in Fire and Emergency Services program. After graduating, he was promoted to Prevention Battalion Chief, overseeing fire prevention across four cities, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and Port Everglades. 鈥淏eing a Gator means being a force for good,鈥� he said. 

Dunckel credits the program for refining his communication and writing skills, which are essential in his leadership responsibilities that include engaging with stakeholders and addressing code requirements. 鈥淭he program at UF really helped me refine my communication skills,鈥� he said.  

Many of his 黑料正能量 class assignments required him to delve deeply into concepts that were initially only vaguely familiar to him. This bolstered his knowledge of fire and emergency services, which directly benefited his daily work projects and assignments. While the program offered the flexibility of asynchronous courses, he dedicated time each day to complete his coursework. This commitment further strengthened the discipline he had cultivated through his years in the fire service. 鈥淚t has helped me stand out from my colleagues,鈥� he said. 

He advises 黑料正能量 students to explore additional certifications and connect with the UF community. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 live near campus, take a trip at least once as a student to go tour the campus and attend a UF football game,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will be an experience you鈥檒l remember forever!鈥� 

Recently graduating with a Master of Studies in Law at Wake Forest University, he plans to earn more certifications and prepare for a career shift with the support of the UF community. 鈥淚t is amazing to go to places all over the country and see people representing the Gator Nation,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 confident that when I make the transition from public sector to private sector employment, the alumni network will pay dividends.鈥� 

Read Dunckel鈥檚 first student story and learn more about 黑料正能量鈥檚 B.S. in Fire and Emergency Services degree program. 

Jillian Purner

As a young student exploring online degree options, Jillian Purner chose to enroll in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Bachelor鈥檚 program in Business Administration program while living with her family in Chicago, Ill. More than six years later, she continues to apply the skills she gained to thrive in her career. 鈥淏eing able to quickly adapt to working with remote and online teams is a professional success from early on in my career that I would attribute to 黑料正能量,鈥� she said. 

After earning her business degree from the University of Florida, Purner joined Aon, an international professional services provider, as a project specialist working on insurance brokerage and consulting services. She advanced to her current role as a senior consultant and aims to continue her growth at Aon in the company鈥檚 Health Innovation practice. 

Purner has worked across business disciplines, including project management, operations, financial analysis, and innovation, with colleagues around the world. 鈥淥nline learning gave me great skills to be successful in the professional world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 work with teams spread out across the globe, so we are always connecting and collaborating virtually.鈥� 

Her ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and innovations has been a cornerstone of her professional success. 鈥淢y 黑料正能量 degree prepared me to be comfortable with change and navigating new things without in-person support,鈥� she said.  
 

Purner encourages students to view online education as a unique advantage. She believes earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree online provides an opportunity to cultivate a valuable skillset not typically gained in traditional bachelor鈥檚 programs. 鈥淭ap into and highlight those strengths and skills as you transition to the professional world!鈥� she said. 

Purner joined local Gator organizations to connect with fellow UF alumni in the Chicago area. These connections led to both personal and professional development. 鈥淏eing a Florida Gator means leading the way and establishing new norms,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 believe the 黑料正能量 program is an example of that!鈥澛�

Read Purner鈥檚 first student story and learn more about 黑料正能量鈥檚 Bachelor鈥檚 in Business Administration degree program. 

Returning to the Gator Nation decades later

Growing up in Central Florida, Gil belongs to a large family of Gators. His parents had five children, and three of them attended the University of Florida. Gil鈥檚 younger brother went to UF and graduated with a degree in accounting, while his older sister graduated from the university with a journalism degree. Gil鈥檚 two sons also attended UF, one graduating with a degree in business administration before going on to UF鈥檚 Levin College of Law and the other graduating with a degree in art history before also attending law school.

鈥淢y father told me I could go to any school I wanted to in Gainesville,鈥� Gil said. 鈥淪o, not too many options there. My father was a physician, and my mother had a degree. It was a natural assumption we would all attend college. So, the University of Florida was the only school I applied to. Fortunately, I got in.鈥� He initially pursued pre-medical studies before transitioning to landscape architecture for two years, then shifted to advertising before ultimately departing the university at the end of 1978.

鈥淚 wish I had spent more time with my advisor back then, because I probably would have stayed, or at least had better direction,鈥� Gil said. The summer before leaving UF, he interned for a large advertising agency in Orlando, FL. By the end of the summer, Gil was running the media department and accepted a full-time job offer. Despite success with the agency, as he looked back on his career, he always regretted not completing his degree.

When Gil first encountered the 黑料正能量 program, he thought it would be the ideal way to earn his UF degree while living in Tallahassee. He first applied to 黑料正能量 in 2014 but did not matriculate. With further encouragement from two long-time Gator friends, Gwen Graham and Bill Gunter, and after receiving Florida鈥檚 personalized counseling to help him navigate the program offerings, he reapplied in 2020. With experience spanning communications and government sectors, he was advised that sociology encapsulated all his diverse interests. 鈥淚t was the best decision they helped me make,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I was able to return to UF and have an exceptional learning experience.鈥�

Serving the Tallahassee community as city commissioner

Gil met his wife Gail and established Ziffer Stansberry Strategic Communications. 鈥淚 ran my own marketing company with my wife for about 35 years,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was hugely successful. We had national clients, including Anheuser Busch and the St. Joe Company. With my skills in advertising and my wife鈥檚 in public relations, we had great clients that were looking for our out-of-the-box creativity and our connectivity in the community.鈥�

He was also deeply involved with Tallahassee non-profits, serving numerous organizations and being elected to positions on boards, which eventually led to his role on the Tallahassee City Commission, where he served from August 2009 to November 2018. While on the Commission, Gil drew from his experiences in business and involvement in community and government affairs, applying these skills to his civic duties.

Gil鈥檚 commitment to his community fueled his sense of fulfillment as he addressed the concerns of Tallahassee residents, finding profound pride and satisfaction in his role. 鈥淭ypically, the people that need the most help are the ones least likely to ask for it because they don鈥檛 think anybody will listen,鈥� Gil said. During his time in office, Tallahassee had a growing homeless population in the downtown area that needed to be addressed. 鈥淲e identified a parcel of land within the city limits to build what we call the 鈥榗omprehensive emergency service center,鈥� where not only the homeless could stay and be fed but also have medical support, mental health support, an opportunity to learn about potential jobs, and sign up for whatever continuing education they might need. I really enjoyed doing that.鈥� He also excelled on the state and national level as President of the Florida League of Cities and Board of the National League of Cities.

Studying sociology at 黑料正能量

Motivated by his dedication to public service, Gil embarked on his sociology degree journey after concluding his tenure in public office in 2018. Among the many facets of 黑料正能量 that resonated with him, the standout features were the professors, advisors, and the flexibility the program afforded. The asynchronous schedule allowed him to work at his own pace, thanks to the advance posting of assignments. 鈥淚 really liked that flexibility,鈥� he said, 鈥淔or someone who is younger and working, they could work around their work schedule to watch a class or do the assignments. Someone retired like me could get ahead of it if you have travel plans.鈥�

Gil praised the sociology program鈥檚 faculty for their helpfulness and accessibility and encouraged 黑料正能量 students to meet them in person if possible. 鈥淚 thoroughly enjoyed engaging with my professors. I came down to Gainesville and met with some of them in person. I would urge anybody that does the online program if they have an opportunity to go meet with their professors.鈥� He also recognized the positive influence of his advisors, Robert Lopez and Nicole Raman, whose understanding of his unique learning journey helped empower and support him while completing his degree.

Gil urges colleagues and professionals at any stage of their career to consider attending school for a degree or for individual courses. 鈥淚 want to engage my former colleagues to think about going back to school because I wish I had had some of that knowledge while I was a city commissioner. I think I would have done a better job dealing with teen violence, guns, and things of that nature,鈥� he said. 鈥淧articularly Marian Borg鈥檚 class (SYP 3510: Deviance) would be very helpful to many in local elected office. I promised her I was going to do that, and it鈥檚 still my intention.鈥�It was a great experience,鈥� Gil said. 鈥淚 would tell anyone to go online, learn more about the online program at the University of Florida, and consider it.

“It was a great experience,鈥� Gil said. 鈥淚 would tell anyone to go online, learn more about the online program at the University of Florida, and consider it.”

Gil walked at graduation in December 2023 and described it as an amazing and memorable experience. 鈥淚 was tremendously successful in my professional career, however not getting that degree, not finishing, had been a personal failure for me all those years,鈥� Gil said. 鈥淚 finally walked in a ceremony both my sons had before me. I graduated from the University of Florida, the school I love and always wanted my degree from.鈥�

The University of Florida celebrates Gil and his dedication to finishing what he started as a Gator. 黑料正能量 congratulates him on his achievement and wishes him the best in all his future pursuits.

How Marissa Went Back to School as a Mom for Her Sociology Degree

The journey to becoming a Gator

Over the years, Marissa has always wanted to finish her degree, but the time wasn鈥檛 right. After graduating high school, Marissa went straight into working a full-time job, only attending classes at a local community college at night. Once she earned her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree, she attended the University of North Florida for a short time before getting married and starting a family.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 practical for me as a mother with a family and a full-time job to attend classes in-person,鈥� Marissa said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why when online education started growing, finishing my bachelor鈥檚 degree became a real option. I couldn鈥檛 think of a better place to finish my degree than the University of Florida.鈥�

Marissa soon decided to apply to 黑料正能量 for a degree focused on sociology. Along with being a local and familiar school to her family, the UF鈥檚 program offered Marissa one of the best degrees as a busy mom going back to school for her particular career path. Not only was Marissa surprised by her acceptance letter but so was her family. 鈥淢y mom did not initially tell us that she was going to apply to UF,鈥� Madison said. 鈥淚 think we were all shocked but very proud of her for going for it.鈥�

A UF Student Mom Making a Difference With a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Sociology

s a Program Manager at a non-profit housing counseling agency, Marissa interacts with clients on a daily basis. When choosing a degree path, Marissa found UF鈥檚 Sociology degree, taught by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), to best suit her skill set and interests.

鈥淚 always have been interested in human behavior. At my current position, what I鈥檝e learned is that sociology is very relevant and helps me work with a diverse group of clients.鈥� Marissa went on to say, 鈥淚 ultimately decided sociology was a great fit for me.鈥�

As happens in life, Marissa has faced some personal challenges of her own. Upon being diagnosed with breast cancer, she needed to take a couple of semesters off to focus on her health. Though this has pushed her graduation back, she appreciates the flexibility of 黑料正能量 and the dedicated faculty who continue to support her every step of the way. Between work, family, and her personal life, Marissa finds taking one class a semester ideal for her schedule.

鈥淔or me, getting this degree is a personal goal of mine since I am already in a career that I love and am passionate about.鈥� Marissa went on to say, 鈥済etting my bachelor鈥檚 in sociology will just add value to the work I am already doing.鈥�

On the way to becoming a family of Gator graduates

While the Vetters anticipate their future graduation dates, Marissa鈥檚 daughters couldn鈥檛 be prouder to attend UF at the same time as their mother. Brooke sees her mom鈥檚 decision to go back to school at 55 while working full-time truly inspiring not only to her and her sisters but also to others. 鈥淚 think it can show people that it is never too late to go back and finish your degree,鈥� Brooke said.

Madison shares that same sentiment. 鈥淕rowing up, we were always told that we could accomplish anything but actually seeing her do something, like to finish her bachelor鈥檚 degree, really proves that.鈥� Madison continued,鈥� it鈥檚 especially inspiring to see her spending her weekends studying after working all week and dealing with everything else in life.鈥�

Taylor added that Marissa attending UF makes their time as students more special and rare. While it鈥檚 already exciting for Taylor to attend UF alongside her sisters, seeing Marissa join them makes the student experience even more memorable. 鈥淰etters work hard, play hard, and that鈥檚 exactly what we do as a family of Gators,鈥� Taylor stated.

Although Marissa admits it鈥檚 not always easy to balance her life and her sociology degree鈥檚 online coursework, she would not change the path she is on to finish her goal. 黑料正能量 has allowed Marissa to earn her degree without having to compromise quality.

鈥淏eing a UF student along with my daughters makes game days more exciting since we are a big football family. I鈥檝e always been my girls鈥� biggest cheerleader in life, and particularly academics.鈥� Marissa added, 鈥渋t allows them to support me as well. They鈥檝e been an amazing support system for me when it comes to my coursework.鈥�

Marissa encourages other parents looking to finish their degree through 黑料正能量 to apply today. 鈥淵ou absolutely can do it since it鈥檚 a flexible, accessible, and economical way to get a degree from a top university.鈥� As a family of four Gators, Marissa credits 黑料正能量 for making this dream of earning her degree a reality.

This is one profile in a series featuring the first Gator graduates who were admitted to UF through the PaCE program.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. 鈥� Upon receiving his offer to the PaCE program, Zachary Silver was hesitant about exploring uncharted territory as one of the first students to ever be admitted into the program. But looking back, he realizes that becoming a PaCE student was one of the best decisions he鈥檚 ever made. It gave him the flexibility of staying in his hometown of Orlando during the first year to spend time with his grandfather, who passed away in February 2018.

Growing up, Silver and his grandfather were always close. His grandfather would come out to support him at all his soccer games, and the pair would frequently go golfing. During Silver鈥檚 first year in PaCE when all of his classes were online, he drove his grandfather to and from doctor鈥檚 appointments and occasionally watched soccer games with him.

鈥淚鈥檓 glad I got to stay home for an extra year, so I could be there and help him out and look after him,鈥� the 20-year-old sociology major said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the hardest working person you鈥檒l ever meet, and he had so much love that he gave our big family.鈥�

As they went on their regular car rides, his grandfather would tell him stories about how he immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia and worked his way up through different factory positions and odd jobs. Silver remembers how they would always drive past a bus depot and how his grandfather would tell him about his years working there cleaning buses.

Although Silver didn鈥檛 speak much Spanish, and his grandfather didn鈥檛 speak much English, this didn’t prevent them from communicating.

Inspired by his grandfather鈥檚 stories, Silver hopes to follow in his footsteps.

鈥淗earing what he came from and what he was able to accomplish in his long life, that鈥檚 something that provided a good example that I want to emulate in the things I do,鈥� Silver said. 鈥淗aving the work ethic I learned from him helped me be able to control the amount of effort and time I put into my PaCE experience to get the most of it.鈥�

Silver plans on moving back home after graduation to assess future job opportunities that will utilize his minor in the business field. Graduating in three years as one of 10 first-time PaCE students, Silver said he is excited to get out into the job market a year early.

Looking back on his time in PaCE, Silver is grateful for what the program taught him about self-motivation and hard work and the opportunity it gave him to stay at home his first year to be with his grandfather.

鈥淛ust hearing what he had to go through, how far he鈥檚 come, it definitely impacted me to see the little struggles I go through today are nothing compared to what he had to go through,鈥� Silver said. 鈥淚t provides a little extra motivation for me that the hard work I鈥檓 doing now isn鈥檛 as hard as I often blow it out of proportion to be.鈥�