A Word To Parents

Safety

We are concerned about the health and safety of the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Change Summer Program participants. We make a strong effort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students both while they are on campus and while they are in the community, including:

-Selecting excellent, skilled staff members. The Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Change Summer Program staff includes high achieving, well-trained, motivated leaders who who have experience and interest in entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and community service. We have hired the most qualified instructors, program coordinators, and resident assistants (RAs) to staff the program. We are also fortunate to have a team of outstanding volunteers including distinguished faculty and staff of UF's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, special guest speakers, and talented UF alumni mentors.

-Partnering with respected local community agencies and organizations for the community service placements. Each community partner has been approved by UF's Center for Leadership & Service and has a strong reputation. Students will be given an orientation educating them about potential risks that may exist while volunteering and precautions they can take to minimize this risk to the greatest extent possible.

-Providing appropriate supervision. While students are ultimately responsible for their own conduct, our administrative, instructional, and residential staff all work together to provide clear guidelines and reasonable supervision. The student to RA ratio is 7:1. Students are not permitted to leave campus unsupervised.

Medical Care

Accepted students are required to submit a set of medical forms, including verification of medical insurance coverage and immunization records. Students who become ill or injured are referred to the Student Health Care Center or a local emergency room for treatment.

Students with Disabilities

If your student needs accommodations for a learning, physical, medical, dietary, or mental health issue, you must contact notify us as soon as possible so that we can arrange for appropriate accommodations to be provided. Documentation must include the diagnosis of the disability, specific functional limitations for both academic and residential settings, and recommended accommodations.

Instructors

GEB4930 - Exploring Entrepreneurship - Professor Bill Rossi

SYG2010 - Social Problems - Dr. Kristin Joos

Director

Dr. Kristin Joos is the Director for the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Change: High School Summer Program at UF. In 2005 she brought Social Entrepreneurship to UF and created the Innovative Social Impact Initiative in the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Kristin is a UF graduate, earning her bachelors degree in Psychology with minors in Sociology, Religion, and Women's & Gender Studies. In 2003 she graduated with a Ph.D. in Sociology & a graduate certificate from the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research. Her research interests center around youth, social entrepreneurship, civic engagement, community service and creating positive social change. Kristin is passionate about teaching students to use the skills & strategies of business to create sustainable solutions to social problems locally and around the world. From 2003-2006 she served as the Coordinator of Admissions & Student Activities for the Honors Program at UF; she is now a Lecturer, teaching courses in Sociology and Social Entrepreneurship.

Program Assistant

Melissa Miller is a fourth year Honors student majoring in Sociology and double minoring in Sustainability Studies and Business Administration. Melissa has been involved in many activities during her time at UF. She studied abroad in Paris during the Spring 2008 semester on Honors in Paris: Engagements with Modern France: Arts, Poetics, and the Social. She is involved in multiple service leadership organizations on campus. She is a Study Abroad Peer Advisor through the UF International Center and is on the board for Gator Non-Profit Professionals. Melissa also participated in two alternative break service trips through the Center for Leadership and Service to Costa Rica and Wake Forest, NC. She has been an active member at the Catholic Student Center and attended the UF Women’s Leadership Conference. She actively plays intramurals, her favorite being Ultimate Frisbee. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue work in environmental sustainability and non-profits. Melissa is a graduate of Brandon High School near Tampa, Florida.

Program Assistant for Special Projects

Samantha Baer graduated from UF in December 2008 as an Honors student, double majoring in French and Interdisciplinary Neurobiological Sciences. She was involved in various leadership and service organizations on campus, including Change the World UF: Student Social Entrepreneurs, Ideal, the Florida Cicerones, Florida Alternative Breaks, and the Center for Leadership and Service. Upon graduation she was awarded UF's 2008 Outstanding Student Leader Award for her leadership endeavors. She was also a group fitness instructor for RecSports. In both 2007 & 2008 she worked as an RA with our 1st & 2nd Annual YELC Summer Programs and she also served as a member of the 2007 Preview Staff, helping to welcome each new student and their families to the University. Sam has studied abroad in Paris, France, at the University of Florida's Paris Research Center, as well as with the University of Florida's Rome, Italy program. Currently she is doing medical research on Malaria in Ghana (and will return to the U.S. In June). Sam was just accepted to John's Hopkins to study Molecular Microbiology and Immunology before she pursues her M.D. She hopes to work internationally with a program like Doctors without Borders to help ensure medical care and humanitarian assistance for those in need. Sam is passionate about empowerment of young people, especially in the areas of leadership and social change, and she is very excited to be a part of this summer's experience. Sam is a graduate of West Shore High School in Melbourne, FL.

RA for Girls

Katie Heroux is a third year Honors student, majoring in Finance and pursuing minors in French and Sustainability. She has been involved with various leadership and service organizations on campus, including Gators for Sustainable campus, Navigators, The Student Honors Organization, and Friends for Life. Most recently she has been a site-leader for Florida Alternative Breaks, the Donor Relations Chair for The Campus Kitchens Project, and an intern in the Finance Department at the Harn Museum. She has also studied abroad at the Paris Research center in France with the University of Florida’s Honors in Paris program. Katie graduated a varsity athlete from Oviedo High School, and has used these skills to empower young students for the past two summers through sports camps. She is passionate about encouraging students to become active citizens in their community.

RA for Guys

Anthony Fowler is a 4th year student majoring in Telecommunication on the news track, pursuing a minor in Organizational Leadership. He is involved in numerous leadership and service organizations in the University of Florida community, including: The Florida Cicerones/SAA: the official student ambassadors to the University of Florida and RECURSO, an international service organization that provides direct aid to developing nations in Latin America. Anthony serves as a Resident Assistant at the Hume Honors Residential College for first year students in the Honors Program. He also worked as a Preview Staffer with over 6,500 University of Florida incoming freshman, helping them to plan and adjust for life as a student at UF. This summer while working with YELC students, he will also prepare for the upcoming school year, as President of the Florida Cicerones/SAA. Anthony graduated from Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, FL as a leader for the school and his passion continues through leadership opportunities he’s taken part in as a student here at UF.

Activities Assistant & TA for Exploring Entrepreneurship with Professor Rossi

Kelley Godfrey is going into her second year at UF as an Honors student majoring in Finance with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of Chi Omega Sorority and is involved in Florida Leadership Academy. The Warrington College of Business Administration recently presented her with the Freshman of the Year award. Kelley participated in the YELC Program during its first year, in 2007, before graduating from the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High and has previously served as an Alumni Ambassador for YELC in 2008 .

TA for Social Problems & Solutions

Camila Pazos is a fourth year student, double majoring in Sociology and Psychology concentrating in studies related to Social Psychology. She has been involved in various leadership, service, and multicultural organizations on campus including Alpha Kappa Delta: Sociology Honor Society, The Gator Homeless Coalition, COLSA: Colombian Student Association, and S.O.N.G. Camila has also worked for the last two years as a student assistant at the Architecture and Fine Arts Library and worked for the past year as the undergraduate T.I. for Social Theory: SYA4110. Camila studied abroad in Rome, Italy at the John Cabot University during the Fall of 2007. Upon completing her degrees in December of 2009, Camila aspires to attend graduate school in the field of international affairs and public policy. She hopes to eventually obtain a position that is focused on both the individual and societal analysis of human behavior, which will then allow for the creation of programs that benefit society. Camila is passionate about social change and human rights, and is very excited to be part of YELC program. Camila graduated from Cypress Bay High School in Weston, FL, but was born and raised in Colombia, South America.