Category: UF/IFAS Teaching

Nicole Geller smiles with two Zoo Tampa Fun Run crew members.

Always on the Go: Nicole Geller’s Journey to a Ph.D.

by Jessica Alday
September 30, 2026

Nicole Geller has two speeds: stop and go. This mentality has brought her through life, from playing sports to teaching, parenting, playing more sports, and now getting her Ph.D. in Youth Development and Family Sciences. As a child, Nicole ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: CALS, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Student Profiles, Youth Development And Family Sciences
Photo collage of Summer 2026 cohorts from UF in Galway & Gweedore, UF in Belize, and UF in Spain.

UF Study Abroad Programs Bridge Culture, Service, and Community Education

by Jessica Alday
September 3, 2026

While Florida’s hot summer settled in, the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences headed elsewhere for the season. Across three study abroad programs, faculty in the department brought students to Belize, Ireland, and Spain, ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: CALS, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Nonprofit Management, Study Abroad, UF In Belize, UF In Ireland, UF In Spain
Graphic cutout of Dr. Katherine Sims on a blue gradient background.

Dr. Katherine Sims is a Rising Star at the University of Florida

by Jessica Alday
April 27, 2026

Dr. Katherine Sims, Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, received the Rising Star award from the University of Florida Center for Teaching Excellence. The Rising Star Award honors ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Archive, CALS, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Featured Faculty, UF/IFAS Teaching, University Of Florida
A bridge at sunset.

Building Bridges: An Ounce of Prevention

by Jessica Alday
April 22, 2026

FYC2331: An Ounce of Prevention is a UF Quest 2 course that introduces students to the field of prevention science. As social issues begin to arise, we often try to address them on the back end. Prevention science encourages a proactive approach. ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: CALS, Classroom Snapshots, Community Development, Community Resilience, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Prevention Science
A group of on-campus graduate students smile, standing side-by-side.

FYCS Graduate Student Yearbook 2026

by Jessica Alday
April 15, 2026

In honor of Graduate Student Appreciation week, we're featuring the hard work each of our graduate students devotes their time to every day as they work to expand their knowledge of youth and community development. FYCS graduate students dedicate ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: CALS, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Graduate Student Appreciation, Graduate Students, Youth Development And Family Sciences
Dr. Kate Fletcher calls on a student in her Foundations of Youth Development class.

Living Stories: Foundations of Youth Development

by Jessica Alday
April 8, 2026

It's the Monday after Spring Break, and while many students may choose to extend their vacation, the students in Dr. Kate Fletcher's Foundations of Youth Development course (FYC3201) are ready for their morning class. Students greet each ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: CALS, Classroom Snapshots, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Service Learning, Youth Development
Graphic of Valla Boffey on a blue gradient background.

What Can I Do With an FYCS Degree? Valla Boffey Shares Her Story

by Jessica Alday
March 30, 2026

Have you ever wondered what you can do with your Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS) degree? We sat down with Valla Boffey, FYCS Class of 2024, to reflect on her journey from FYCS student to summer camp program director. Valla Boffey ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Alumni, Archive, CALS, Family Youth And Community Sciences, What Can I Do With An FYCS Degree?

This prevention science researcher studies youth right alongside them

by Jessica Alday
February 12, 2026

Erin Vines is a doctoral candidate in the Youth Development and Family Science (YDFS) program at the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS). She conducts research on youth and families experiencing adversity. She focuses ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Archive, CALS, Family Youth And Community Sciences, Mental Health, Prevention Science, Youth Development, Youth Development And Family Sciences

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