UF FYCS Department

Dr. Muthusami Kumaran, Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management & Community Organization, FYCS has just received an Honorary Doctorate for his lifetime service to build the capacity of global NGO sector and for the work on his book “Managing A Million Missions: Strategic Capacity Building for NGOs.” It was awarded by the World Academy of Arts and Culture (based in California and approved by UNESCO) during one of its annual events the World Congress of Poets held November 20 - 25 in the city Madurai, India. In addition to his two earned Ph.D.s, this becomes Dr. Kumaran’s third doctorate. Dr. K says “this year’s 43rd World Congress of Poets and the award ceremony were originally planned to be held in Taiwan, but moved to the historical South Indian cultural hub of Madurai due to a few unavoidable reasons. Receiving the Honorary Doctorate from the World Academy of Arts and Culture in Madurai was an incredibly humbling experience…especially because, Madurai happens to be the city of my birth! I was honored with this Doctorate at a venue which is actually just two kilometers from Madurai General Hospital where I was born some six decades ago…so, it was full circle in so many ways!” Dr. Kumaran is currently in India for a research project.

We've been archiving our many photos through the years and thought we'd start posting some of them here on Facebook and Instagram. Feel free to comment and post a memory of FYCS. :)

Dr. Muthusami Kumaran is on Jeju Island, South Korea, where he delivered his keynote speech “Carbon-neutral strategies, roles & responsibilities of NGOs to promote sustainable development,” at an international conference on climate change. Jeju was the home of his 2018-19 Fulbright Scholarship and this is his 12th visit there.

Nicci Grajo is a proud FYCS alum! She graduated with her Master of Science in FYCS in Spring 2021 and completed a thesis titled "An Examination of Time Use, Stress, and Life Satisfaction in Graduate Student-Mothers: The Importance of Support". After graduation, she continued to work for the department in various roles, most recently as a teaching and research assistant to Dr. Larry Forthun. Having always had a passion for higher education and student support, she is so excited to take on a new role as a member of the FYCS Distance Education team. In her spare time, Nicci enjoys working on research projects and publications, cooking, travelling, and making memories with her husband, Joe, and daughters, Brooklyn (4) and Sofia (2). She is also the mama of one adorable fur baby- Hailey, a very goofy golden retriever. (3 photos attached because we couldn't choose just one - and who doesn't like cute dog photos on social media on a Wednesday afternoon?)

Welcome, Nicci!!

Our amazing doctoral candidate, Francesca Michelini lives in Tampa and comes to Gainesville during the week for school. She and her son were recently featured on Good Morning America after helping evacuate many people and animals affected by Hurricane Helene. Francesca not only is a PhD student - she also has a non profit in Tampa called Nameless Ministries. You can find the ministry two blocks east of North Florida Avenue underneath I-275 every Saturday from 8-10 a.m. distributing food and clothes.

It's always so great seeing our students in action. We love you Francesca!

The clip starts at :55 at the link below:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/video/community-helps-students-return-school-after-hurricanes-114885388

Another great networking fair is happening right now outside the UF J. Wayne Reitz Union! This is an excellent opportunity for our students to find a practicum site or job! We are so lucky to have so many FYCS alumni working at local nonprofit organizations who now come back to recruit potential students to learn from them! The FYCS Networking fair will be set up until 1 pm today!

University of Florida offices will remain closed, and classes will be canceled through Friday, 9/27, in addition to today’s closure.

All academic and student-related activities, including University of Florida Online classes and exams, will also be canceled during that time.

The university expects to reopen and resume normal operations at 12:01 a.m on Saturday, 9/28.

Congratulations to Dr. Cantrell who was honored with an Amazing Teacher award by Florida Credit Union.

https://cdn.gatehousemedia.com/gh-sites/global/ads/contests/AmazingTeacherHealthcareHero/AmazingTeacher_Gainesville_Sun_Randall%20Cantrell.pdf

Check out our fall newsletter!

Spring 2024 A story told with Adobe Express

FYCS will be hosting a FALL Networking Fair on Tuesday, October 1st from 10:00-1:00 outside the Reitz Union. We are excited to host more than 40 organizations this year. We hope to see you there!

Dr. Muthusami Kumaran, FYCS Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management & Community Organizations, has just received a grant from the U.S. Embassy - Bishkek to train 100 nonprofit/NGO leaders across three cities in the Kyrgyz Republic. More info about his grant project here: https://tinyurl.com/DrKGrant

Kyrgyzstan is the 9th country where Dr. K is establishing our FYCS footprint. Awesome work, Dr. K!