Greetings from the Advancement Office!
Can you believe it’s been 43 years since the college graduated its first class of DVMs? Since then, and with the UF CVM Alumni Association’s expanded definition of alumni, we now have nearly 5,000 active alumni around the world.
Over the past two years, we all felt the world shift. The pandemic reminded us that, in an instant, things can change. We embraced, what seemed to be a long pause in time, and seized the opportunity to reflect, refresh, grow, and of course, change.
In 2021, the university officially named Dana Zimmel, D.V.M. (’95), as the first female dean of our college. In addition to being a Class of ’95 alumni, Dr. Zimmel is a respected leader in the veterinary medical profession. With her guidance and support from its members, the Alumni Council was dissolved to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Our goal was to increase engagement opportunities for all alumni, not just those with D.V.M. degrees.
One such opportunity is our newly created Alumni Ambassador Program, which centers around four key ideas — mentorship, recruitment, social functions and fundraising. We invite you to serve at your level of comfort. Another area of growth is in our alumni engagement activities. In addition to our gatherings at national conferences, we have added bi-annual alumni weekends to our engagement calendar. These weekends give you increased opportunities to visit campus, both during and outside of football season — to see what’s new and exciting, host alumni reunions, and engage with students, faculty, and fellow alumni. Finally, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can ever be of assistance. We hope you and yours are doing well and can’t wait to see you soon!
Who are you, and what is the purpose of the Advancement Office?
We’re passionate professionals dedicated to the college’s mission for alumni engagement and fundraising. We connect vision, passion, and resources to impact students, animals, the college and the world. Contrary to popular belief, our office does more than raise money. If we reach out, it is to engage. We love to share stories, updates, and goodies, and we offer resources for you and your clients.
Who qualifies as an alumnus of the college?
Our alumni consist of anyone who completed their training, including clinical and research at the college. Inclusive of D.V.M.s, former offshore students, interns, residents and fellows, and recipients of M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
I don’t have a lot of money; can I still make an impact?
A financial gift of any size is appreciated and all such gifts add up to make a big difference. We have a plethora of giving options, such as deferred gifts, i.e. life insurance and estate gifts; gifts of products and equipment; real estate; stocks; IRAs and of course, cash. Donations can be made personally or through your business.
Did you know? We can help you qualify for tax exemptions when selling your practice/business.
Not able to donate money?
Consider donating your time instead. Serve as an Alumni Ambassador at whatever time commitment is comfortable for you. Engagement opportunities include sharing a post on Facebook or serving on a committee.
Can I donate through my clinic?
Of course! Our Pet Memorial and Honor Card Programs are a favorite of many clinics, hospitals, alumni and friends of the college. A gift in memory or honor of a person or pet relays the message that you care about them and in a manner that benefits animals. We’ll even let you try the Pet Memorial Program for free.
Email petmemorial@vetmed.ufl.edu to sign up, or visit www.givingandalumni.vetmed.ufl.edu/pet-memorial to find out more.
Can you help me with admissions or tell me why (insert name here) didn’t get accepted?
Unfortunately, no. The college’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs oversees admissions. We are not involved, nor do we have access to applications. Making a gift to the college does not impact an applicant’s chances of acceptance.
Why don’t I hear about events and news from college?
To keep down costs, as well as our carbon footprint, we mainly communicate via email. Some common reasons you may not receive our emails are because you’ve unsubscribed from our email list, forgotten to let us know of a new email address, or our emails are going to your spam folder. Reach out so we can troubleshoot and get you on our list.
Does your office plan alumni reunions?
We do not plan class-specific reunions, as we focus on larger alumni engagement celebrations. However, we are beginning to hold biannual alumni weekends that offer you the opportunity to host a class-specific alumni reunion on our campus. We do not pay for or organize these individual reunions, but are happy to provide suggestions and help you spread the word.
Please Stay Engaged!
CVMAlumniAffairs@vetmed.ufl.edu | (352) 294-4256 | www.vetmed.ufl.edu/alumni
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Additional information:
Honor the memory of a pet while impacting the future of veterinary medicine.
https://givingandalumni.vetmed.ufl.edu/pet-memorial/
352-294-4256
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Selling a property or a veterinary practice? Reduce taxes and give smarter to any charity.
Learn more by calling 352-294-4256.
advancement@vetmed.ufl.edu
