With the wide variety of career paths available to our students after graduation, the Food and Resource Economics undergraduate advisor fulfills a crucial role in ensuring student success and personalizing the academic journey. That’s why we are thrilled to announce Michelle Baldwin as the newest member of our FRE staff!
Though new to our department, Baldwin has been working for UF for many years, starting off in admissions administration at the College of Medicine.
“I began my journey in higher education working as a receptionist in an admissions office,” Baldwin said. Through this, I gained a substantial amount of experience in helping advise prospective applicants, building out resources, and so much more.”
She likes to say that it was through this role that she fell into her true passion – the world of advising for higher education.
“I quickly found that my favorite part of my job was getting to work with prospective applicants and interacting with students,” Baldwin said. “From there it felt like a natural progression, I began finding more and more opportunities to further lean into advising.”
It was this discovery that led her to pursue her Master’s Degree in Education.
“Sometimes you just have to take a chance on an opportunity, no matter how small, to put yourself on track to discovering your passion,” Baldwin said.
After working at the College of Medicine in an administrative role, and then joining UF Vet Med to focus on recruitment and admissions advising for Pre-Vet professionals, she says she is excited to tackle this new role as the Food and Resource Economics undergraduate advisor where she will have the opportunity to consistently fully support the individual student’s journey from the time they enter the program until graduate, and beyond.
“Seeing the students I worked with and advised finally get into our program and seeing them around each day was one of the most rewarding parts of my job because I got to see them succeed and grow throughout their time there,” Baldwin said of her time at UF Med & Vet Med. “So, I am excited to have even more opportunity to regularly interact with students and see them succeed!”
If you are a current FRE student and haven’t met with Michelle yet or are interested in changing your major or adding a minor, stop by McCarty Hall A, room 1170, to say hello! Undergraduate advising appointments are available by email at FRE-Advising@ifas.ufl.edu and are just one of the many resources available to students here at UF.
“My biggest piece of advice would be to take advantage of all the opportunities, connections, and resources available to students here at UF and within FRE,” Baldwin said. “From individual advising, small class sizes, engaging faculty, and so much more, students in FRE will have a unique major that can serve them in any number of ways.”
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