Will Gibson
Associate Director
- Where did you grow up?
- Evinston, FL – a small town outside of Gainesville
- What is your academic background?
- I have a BS in Materials Science and Engineering and an MS in Management
- What are the current duties and responsibilities of your role?
- In my role, I assist the department chair with managing the ISE’s finances. I also manage UF ISE’s fiscal and research administration operations and ensure administrative compliance within ISE
- What are your career aspirations?
- My main career goal is to serve in a role in which my personality, skills and experience allow me to exceptionally fulfill my job duties while contributing to the “greater good” and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I feel strongly that I am close to meeting those criteria within my current role, so I intend to serve the ISE department for the foreseeable future.
Ragen Tillery
Research Administrator II
- Where did you grow up?
- I spent most of my childhood in Indianola, MS, a very small town in the Mississippi delta, before moving to Niceville, FL during high school.
- What is your academic background?
- What are the current duties and responsibilities of your role?
- I’m the pre-award contact for ISE, EED, and the Engineering Innovation Institute (as needed). Some of my duties include developing budgets, completing non-technical proposal documents, compiling final proposal submissions that are compliant with sponsor guidelines, and functioning as the liaison between faculty members and the Division of Sponsored Programs to facilitate proposal submissions. Time permitting, I assist with post-award duties, such as serving as the custodian for human subject payments, processing award modifications, and project close-outs.
- What are your career aspirations?
- I enjoy serving as the ISE Research Administrator and plan to remain in that role for the foreseeable future. I’ll continue to take advantage of the training available in research administration and interpersonal skills in an effort to maintain the knowledge needed to be a trusted resource for my faculty and coworkers.
Catherine Pantorno
Graduate Advisor
- Where did you grow up?
- Port Saint Lucie, FL (about 4 hours south of Gainesville)
- What is your academic background?
- I have a BAS in Organizational Management
- What are the current duties and responsibilities of your role?
- In my current role, I advise all ISE graduate students on program operations throughout the selective admission process and program completion. I also manage ISE course schedule construction and graduate student registration each term. Additionally, I assist with HWCOE and ISE Department recruitment efforts for prospective graduate students.
- What are your career aspirations?
- Advising is exceptionally rewarding! I enjoy working with students on achieving their future goals through education and career placement. My career aspirations involve contributing to future graduate student success in ISE, and serving as a reliable leader within my respective field.
Shaniece benis
Administrative Assistant
- Where did you grow up?
- I grew up in Gainesville, FL
- What is your academic background?
- I have some education in Health Services Administration from Santa Fe College. While planning to continue my education this summer.
- What are the current duties and responsibilities of your role?
- My current main duties are to manage office administrative tasks, interact with persons across campus and represent the department within the University and beyond in a professional manner. I assist in the daily management and administrative functions of the Department Chair to ensure effective and efficient handling of day-to-day operations and communications with the college of engineering. Responsibilities include scheduling visits for candidates & seminar speakers, event planning and direction, faculty evaluations, tenure & promotion processes, and much more.
- What are your career aspirations?
- I enjoy working with the faculty and staff within the University of Florida and continue to do so. My role as a supportive mechanism to better the department encourages me to continue thriving within my position. I plan to continue to work with ISE and gain knowledgeable skills to better my duties while continuing to gain the trust of my colleagues in the process.
