Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost

Published: April 22nd, 2021

Category: Memos

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Nicole Stedman, a professor and associate chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, has been selected as the University of Florida’s next dean of The Graduate School.

Dr. Stedman will assume her new role effective June 1.

The dean provides leadership in operating The Graduate School and all centrally administered aspects of graduate education; defining and implementing university-wide policies in graduate education; recruiting and retaining a diverse graduate student body; and advocating for graduate education. The dean reports directly to the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

Dr. Stedman has been at UF since 2007 when she joined the faculty as an assistant professor. Prior to that, she was an assistant professor in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University from 2004 to 2007.

A native of New Smyrna Beach and a three-time UF alumna, she holds a bachelor of science degree in family, youth and community sciences; a master of science degree in agricultural education and communication; and a doctorate also in agricultural education and communication with an emphasis in leadership education. Before completing her Ph.D., she worked with the Eighth Judicial Circuit Office of the State Attorney Project Payback as a program specialist, developing a leadership curriculum for youth at risk.

Currently, Dr. Stedman focuses her research on the development of pedagogical strategies which enhance the development of critical thinking in learners. Her primary focus is on leadership development at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Her awards and honors include holding the Barnes Professorship, presented by UF’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communication from 2016 to 2019; the USDA Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences – Regional, presented by the USDA and the APLU in 2016; and the Anderson Scholar Faculty Honoree, presented by UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2016.

She succeeds Dr. Henry “Hank” Frierson, who is stepping down effective May 28. Dr. Stedman brings to the position solid institutional knowledge and fresh ideas that I know will propel The Graduate School to new levels of excellence. Please join me in congratulating her on her new role.

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