Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute

📣📣Big news!📣📣

Our very own Jessica Ferris (NRLI Class 23) has been selected to lead FDACS' Office of Agricultural Water Policy!

📰Read all about it here:
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/809776-personnel-note-wilton-simpson-announces-new-leadership-for-office-of-agricultural-water-policy/

Join us in congratulating Jessica on this well-deserved recognition!

Personnel note: Wilton Simpson announces new leadership for Office of Agricultural Water Policy 'Jessica Ferris and Megan Seward are proven public servants with extensive experience ...'

This month's episode of the Florida Uncut podcast features NRLI alum Tessa Skiles (Class 24) and her life "grounded in water".

And in a fun NRLI twist, one of the interviewrs in Zach Franco - a soon-to-be NRLI Fellow in Class 26!

Be sure to give a listen!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/23KSBXh5GlNm3S5cRZvaWM?si=FEAyJV6qRvGu_lGkAvFC3w

Tessa Skiles: Grounded in Water Florida Uncut · Episode

🦉🐦🦆 NRLI alum Holly Short (Class 24) was recently honored as one of Erie, PA's "best and brightest movers and shakers" as part of Erie's 40-under-40 Class of 2026! 🦉🐦🦆 Because NRLI alumni are rockstars 🤩

Congratulations, Holly!

Read more about Holly and her amazing work here:
https://www.eriereader.com/article/eries-40-under-40-class-of-2026/holley-short

Erie's 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 🌟
Honoring Erie's best and brightest movers and shakers!

Holley Short, 37
Executive Director, Erie Bird Observatory

Follow the link below ⬇️

📸: Jessica Hunter Photography

📣A little birdie told us that our very own NRLI alum Dawn Ritter (Class 20) has been named as a 2026 40 Gators Under 40 honoree by the UF Alumni Association for her work as Natural Resource Manager in Highlands County.📣

Congratulations, Dawn!! An honor well-deserved 🤩

https://connect.ufalumni.ufl.edu/events/40gatorsunder40/2026honorees?shem=isphe,

NRLI sessions don't magically plan themselves, so luckily we have 🤩amazing alumni 🤩 who play key roles in suggesting, planning, and executing session content and logistics.

So far this summer, we've been keeping our alumni busy! And we love "seeing" everyone and getting session plans for the next class to come together.

If you have an idea for a NRLI session brewing, jot down some notes - we'll be asking for Class 27 (!) suggestions in the fall.

In the meantime, here's a glimpse of some of our zoom summer planning sessions.

Let us know what YOU'VE been up to so far this summer 😁☀️

Just a friendly reminder that we are looking for a new member of the NRLI project team! Please share widely with your networks!

Direct link to job announcement:
https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/539587/extension-assistant-professor-natural-resources-leadership-institute-nrli

It's hard to believe it's been three weeks since we officially welcomed Class 25 to the NRLI alumni network!

We celebrated their graduation on April 18th at the Cade Museum in Gainesville and we couldn't be prouder. ❤️ They are definitely one of the top 25 best NRLI classes ever 😜

We can't wait to collaborate with you as alumni!

📣📣📣 We are thrilled to announce that the Extension Assistant Professor position for the NRLI Project Team is officially posted!! 📣📣📣

We can't wait to find the right person to join our team 😁

Please share widely with anyone and everyone you think might be interested.

Direct link to position announcement:
https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/539587/extension-assistant-professor-natural-resources-leadership-institute-nrli

Tomorrow's the day!!

No, not tax day (although that's also tomorrow) -

📅 it's the deadline to apply for NRLI Class 26 📅

Make sure your people have submitted their applications! ✅

Details and application instructions can be found at https://nrli.ifas.ufl.edu/training.../8-month-program/

📣⭐️ We are so excited to share the news that Joy Hazell has officially been named permanent Director of NRLI!!! 📣⭐️

Congratulations Joy! 🥳

Official press release:

UF/IFAS Extension Natural Resources Leadership Institute Names Permanent Director - News Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Just as this year’s Class 25 Fellows graduate, the UF/IFAS Extension Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NRLI) has more to celebrate as Joy Hazell, is named permanent director after spending more than a year as interim. “I’m ...