For UF Food & Resource Economics undergraduate coordinator and associate instructional professor Dr. Misti Sharp, student mentorship is all about the stories.
“I love getting to know the “story” behind each person I meet knowing that they are who they are because of the experiences they have had and the ambitions they possess,” Sharp said. “Undergraduate students, in particular, are thrilling to meet because they need to tell their stories to discover who they truly are and who they want to be. This is why the first step in any advising or mentoring relationship must begin with stories.”
It is for this deep commitment to holistic, individualized mentorship of students backed by experiential learning opportunities and high impact practices that she was recently recognized as the CALS 2025-2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Advisor/Mentor of the Year.
Sharp, who joined the University of Florida in Fall 2016, has served as the undergraduate coordinator for the department since 2021
Many current and former students in the FRE program, such as 2023 undergraduate alumna Eleni Stilian, praise Sharp for her approachability and genuine care shown towards students which helped them to fully integrate into the Food and Resource Economics Department upon joining the undergraduate program.
“My freshman year at UF was cut short by the pandemic, and for the next few semesters, building relationships with faculty was challenging due to classes being primarily remote,” Stilian said. “However, Dr. Sharp stood out as someone who was approachable and genuinely interested in her students’ success. She always emphasized her availability to discuss anything, from course material to career goals.”
Sharp forms these strong connections with students in several ways, shepherding them into experiential‑learning opportunities that let them make the most of their time at the University of Florida. She encourages them to join the FRE Academic Quiz Bowl Team, advises many undergraduate honors research thesis projects, and directs the CALS summer study‑abroad program in Ireland. She places an emphasis on understanding each student’s own interests and unique goals.
In addition to serving as the undergraduate coordinator and Study Abroad Director for the CALS UF in Ireland summer program, she also teaches a variety of classes including Agritourism and Data Analytics.
At the end of the day, perhaps one of the best examples of Sharp’s profound impact has been not only the advisor relationship formed with many students during their time in the program, but that which continues on for many years after they graduate from our program.
“My current endeavor is to refocus my career in economics and get my master’s degree in Europe,” said Juan Pachon, 2022 Food and Resource Economics undergraduate alumnus. “Guess who I’ve reached out to for mentorship and guidance on the matter?”
According to Sharp, it is the relationships forged that make her profession so meaningful.
“I can genuinely say that this is why I do what I do,” Sharp said. I love being a part of student’s lives not just as students but as they progress and become who they are meant to be!”
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