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Strategic Talent Group

Identify, Attract, and Engage Preeminent Talent

Our Services Our Team Active Searches

Preeminence Through People

This is our vision. We are creating a competitive advantage for the university through people—strong individual contributors, high-functioning collaborators and teams, and excellent leaders—where their best work is encouraged, enabled, expected, and recognized.

The Strategic Talent Group is University of Florida’s internal search team. By identifying, attracting, and engaging the strongest talent, we contribute to the Gator Good. As an internal consulting group, our passion for UF and our understanding of the culture and values of the UF community enable us to find the very best to meet the particular needs of each recruitment engagement.

STG Executive Search Services Request Form

Strategic Hires

Dr. Matthew Gentry

Chair, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

“Life science research is invaluable to our society,” he said. “It’s important to engage with the policymakers and advocate for biomedical science funding — to make sure researchers’ voices are heard by those who make federal funding decisions.”

Dr. Matthew S. Gentry Named Chair of Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Strategic Hire

Dr. Marsha McGriff

Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor

“Building, supporting and cultivating inclusive campus environments takes the collective work of everyone,” McGriff said. “It takes strong relationships, collaborations and trust. That is the work that I find most exciting and look most forward to implementing at the University of Florida."

UF names Marsha McGriff chief diversity officer and senior adviser to the president Strategic Hire

Romi Gutierrez

Director, University Press of Florida

Gutierrez has served UPF in various roles since 2004, most recently as associate director and director of sales and marketing. In this position she managed all aspects of sales and marketing for a frontlist of 80 new titles per year and a backlist of nearly 2,000 books in print. As a member of the management team, she has played an important part in UPF’s leadership and strategic planning.

Strategic Hire

Dr. Matthew Gentry

Chair, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

“Life science research is invaluable to our society,” he said. “It’s important to engage with the policymakers and advocate for biomedical science funding — to make sure researchers’ voices are heard by those who make federal funding decisions.”

Dr. Matthew S. Gentry Named Chair of Department of Biochemistry & Molecular BiologyStrategic Hire

Our Services

The Strategic Talent Group partners with UF departments and units to identify, attract, and engage the best talent. We are committed to providing exceptional service by blending our institutional knowledge and insights into UF’s culture with premier recruitment practices. We understand your business needs and will work closely with you to develop a strategic talent search plan. And we strive to advance UF’s employer brand by facilitating positive and productive relationships with all applicants.

Consult & Develop a Strategy

We begin by talking with key individuals—unit leadership, search participants, and
other stakeholders—to understand the vision for the position, the unique culture of the department
or unit, and the characteristics and qualifications of an ideal candidate.

Research & Recruit Prospects

We build relationships by reaching out to potential sources and candidates in order
to find exceptional talent. We explore a variety of outlets and utilize different methods to search
peer institutions as well as private industry fields that align with the unit’s needs.

Review & Evaluate

The Strategic Talent Group initiates conversations with potential candidates to
gather essential information and lay the foundation for positive relationships. We share our
insights and advise the hiring department regarding interview selections.

Interview

We collaborate in the interview process by developing strategic methodologies to
facilitate the exchange of meaningful information between participants. Our team assists with campus
and community tours that speak to each candidate’s special interests.

Close the Deal

At the end of the search, our team provides data-driven recommendations for
compensation packages, and we assist with the administrative responsibilities needed to finalize the
recruitment process.

STG Executive Search Services Request Form

Other Strategic Hires

Carol Matthews MD

Carol Matthews, MD

Donald R. Dizney Chair in Psychiatry
College of Medicine
Effective 2022

Dr. Scott Angle

Dr. Scott Angle

Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources
UF/IFAS
Effective 2021

Current Role:
Interim Provost Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost 
Effective 2023

Dr. David Bloom

Dr. David Bloom

Hazel Kitzman Professor Of Genetics And Chair, Department Of Molecular Genetics And Microbiology 
College Of Medicine
Effective 2022

Professor Hub Brown

Professor Hub Brown

Dean, College of Journalism & Communications

 

Nancy Chrystal-Green

Nancy Chrystal-Green

Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement

 

Osubi Craig

Osubi Craig

Center Director, College of the Arts

Colleen Flage

Colleen Flage

Director of Executive Events, President’s Office

Bill Hughes

Bill Hughes

Executive Director for Applied Research (in Real Estate)

Andra Johnson

Andra Johnson

Dean of UF/IFAS Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative
Extension Service

Mark Kaplan

Mark Kaplan

UF Vice President for Government and Community Relations

Marsha McGriff

Marsha McGriff

Chief Diversity Officer

Steve Orlando

Steve Orlando

Assistant Vice President, Communications

Dhanesh Raniga

Dhanesh Raniga

Chief Audit Executive

Brandi Renton

Brandi Renton

Associate Vice President for Business Affairs

Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith

Assistant Dean for Inclusion

Executive Searches

Director

Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience (Assistant, Associate, Professor)

Learn More

Director of International Programs 

Heavener School of Business
Warrington College of Business

Learn More

Director and Associate/Full Professor

School of Theatre & Dance
College of the Arts

Learn More

Our Team

Melissa Curry

Melissa Curry

Vice President, Human Resources
melissa-curry@ufl.edu
(352) 273-1735

Audrey Gainey

Audrey Gainey

Director, Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
gaineya1@ufl.edu (352) 273-1706

John Sun

John Sun

Associate Director, Talent Acquisition & Onboarding
jsun@ufl.edu
(352) 273-1734

Mackenzie Burkett

Mackenzie Burkett

Strategic Talent Group Manager
m.burkett@ufl.edu
(352) 273-1751

Devan Brown

Devan Brown

Talent and Engagement Consultant
devan.m.b@ufl.edu
(352) 273-1722

Media Inquiries

Please Contact University Relations

news@ufl.edu
University Relations – For Media