Advisor of the Year 2003-2004
Name: Janna L. Underhill
Department: Food Science and Human Nutrition
College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
Rank: Coordinator of Academic Support Services
Years at UF: 9
Highest Degree: Masters in Forest Resources and Conservation
Me.D. in Student Personnel in Higher Education
Janna Underhill is the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department Coordinator of Academic Support Services and has been advising in CALS for nine years. Janna has a Master's degree in Forest Resources and Conservation as well as an ME.d. in Student Personnel in Higher Education.
She is a member of the American College Personnel Association, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the Southern Association for College Student Affairs and the National Academic Advising Association. Janna is also an advisor for the Food Science and Human Nutrition Club.
As the Coordinator of Academic Support Services, Janna provides academic advising to over 700 undergraduate students. Janna works with students in Dietetics, Food Science and Nutritional Sciences to plan out their schedules, assign them a faculty advisor and to talk about their future plans.
Dr. Charles Sims, Janna's immediate supervisor, says, "I have a tremendous amount of respect for the job Janna does and she is undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets in our department."
Janna takes a proactive approach to advising, from monitoring student's schedules to providing student's information to stay on track. Janna often communicates with students through email and even answers email seven days a week. During the drop/add period, Janna stays on email to assist students with registration up until 10:00 p.m. on the last day.
Janna has developed a listserv for the Nutritional Sciences and Food Science specializations to keep students up to date with information on registration, job and internship opportunities and scholarships. She also develops and writes a semesterly undergraduate newsletter to keep students informed about upcoming events.
Janna has authored an Undergraduate Handbook for student use that explains basic FSHN, CALS and UF policies, explains each curriculum and provides information on general resources available to students.
Indigo Liggins, a FSHN student, says when she first met Janna, "I felt at home and the amazing thing is that, to this day, I have that exact same feeling every time I enter Janna's office."
