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Faculty & Staff

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Matt Jacobs is an associate professor of U.S. and international history as well as the director of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. He earned his Ph.D. in History at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2002, and he joined UF and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) in 2003. His research focuses on U.S.-Middle East relations, a field in which he has published one book (Imagining the Middle East:

Marianne Vernetson

Associate Director, Lecturer

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Marianne Vernetson is the associate director for the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. She helps oversee the day-to-day management of the Center, develops and manages the Center’s public programs, and organizes residency programs for visiting scholars. Additionally, she oversees the selection process for the Bob Graham Citizen of the Year Award and the Brian Dassler Young Floridian of the Year Award, and develops partnerships and shared programming among those interested in public leadership, public

Tim Karis, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer, Undergraduate Coordinator

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Timothy Karis (Ph.D. University of California, San Diego, 2013) is the undergraduate coordinator for the Bob Graham Center, and a lecturer in the International Studies Program at the University of Florida. As undergraduate coordinator, Karis will help integrate the Center's focus on civic engagement, public leadership, and public service with the International Studies program and curriculum. International Studies offers a vibrant, dynamic undergraduate program with approximately 275 students who pursue careers in government service, with

Teresa Cornacchione, Ph.D.

Lecturer, Civic Engagement Coordinator

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Teresa Cornacchione, PhD, possess nearly 20 years of teaching experience at both the secondary and the postsecondary levels. She is excited to serve as the Center's Civic Engagement Coordinator, overseeing student voting efforts. She earned her doctorate in political science from Florida State University in 2018. Her research focuses primarily on legislative behavior of women, and on radical and anti-establishment political parties. She has publications in The Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy and Political

Kevin Bird, Ph.D.

Lecturer, Experiential Learning Coordinator

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Kevin Bird, Ph.D., serves as the Center's Experiential Learning Coordinator and Lecturer. He works with students selected for the Gainesville City Government, Tallahassee Internship and Washington Internship programs. Dr. Bird has guided students’ experiential learning as a part of his advising and student support in UF's Department of Computer & Information Science & Engineering, and the Warrington Professional MBA programs. He has also taught for multiple departments at Santa Fe College and UF. Dr. Bird

Onursal Erol, Ph.D.

Lecturer, International Experiential Learning Coordinator

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Onursal Erol is the international experiential learning coordinator and a lecturer focused on the Middle East and North Africa. He graduated with a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Chicago in 2020. Prior to joining the Bob Graham Center, he taught for three years at the University of Southern California’s Department of Middle East Studies. His research and teaching interests include the Middle East and North Africa, social movements, urban and environmental

Dorothy Zimmerman

Communications Director

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Formerly the communications director of the Florida Sea Grant College Program, Dorothy Zimmerman has been a communications professional at the University of Florida since 1999. Her professional and personal accomplishments demonstrate an enduring interest in advancing citizens’ awareness of issues, increasing their ability to make knowledgeable decisions and engage with their community. She led one of the national Sea Grant network’s most impactful communications programs, consistently recognized for its innovation and cost-effectiveness. She has also

Bob Graham

Former Senator and Governor of Florida

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Senator Bob Graham is the former two-term governor of Florida and served for 18 years in the United States Senate. Graham also served for 12 years in the Florida legislature for a total of 38 years of public service. He is recognized for his leadership on issues ranging from healthcare and environmental preservation to his ten years of service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – including serving as chairman in 2001-2002. After retiring

Isabella Garcia

Events/Programming Assistant

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Isabella is a third-year political science major on the pre-law track with minors in business administration and public leadership. She initially involved herself with the Bob Graham Center in 2021 through the Freshman Leadership Council (FLC), a professional development organization housed by the Center dedicated to serving UF's freshmen. Now, she serves as FLC's Chairwoman. Isabella is committed to public service and community engagement and executes this passion through her role at the Center. As

Andrew Taramykin

Civic Engagement Assistant

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Andrew Taramykin is a senior political science and economics major at the University of Florida. A first-generation American raised in Seminole County, Andrew is deeply passionate about democracy, civic engagement and youth empowerment, which he promotes through his work as a civic engagement student assistant at the Graham Center. He has also worked through the Center as a Redistricting Fellow and Democracy Fellow at Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project. Additionally, Andrew researches local election

Leah Edwards

Civic Engagement Assistant

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Leah Edwards is a second-year student studying political science and African-American studies here at the University of Florida. As a first-generation American and college student from Broward County, she is interested in topics involving institutional power imbalances, race relations, and democratic rights. Within the Center, Leah works under Dr. Teresa Cornacchione to facilitate civic engagement on and off campus, prioritizing voter education and registration. Outside of the university, she interned for the Alachua League of

Elizabeth Whelehan

Civic Engagement Assistant

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Elizabeth Whelehan is a second-year Gator studying Journalism with minors in public relations and public service. At the Bob Graham Center, she works under Dr. Cornacchione helping with civic engagement, voter registration outreach, and the Gators Vote Cabinet. As an out-of-state student, she is specifically passionate about voter registration for UF's out-of-state students. Additionally, she is passionate about community service, civil discourse, democracy, and public policy.

Reed Jeffries

Research Assistant

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Reed Jeffries is a third-year political science major with minors in mass communications and religion, and a certificate in political campaigning. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, she is passionate about issues affecting the American Southeast. In her role as a research assistant, Reed offers administrative support for the Center's research programs and assists Dr. Jacobs in various CLAS initiatives. She researches grassroots movements in American politics as a Reubin Askew Scholar, advocates for civic engagement through

Radhika Subramanian

Research Assistant

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Radhika is a third-year economics and psychology double major and John V. Lombardi Scholar at UF. She initially became involved with the Bob Graham Center through the Future of Florida Summit, a student-run public policy conference held at UF each year. She now serves as the Director of Logistics for the summit, working with a team of 15 to coordinate venue, catering, and hosting operations. Radhika supports the Center in other ways as well. In

Andrew Kassnove

Research Assistant

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Andrew is a third year honors student majoring in international studies and minoring in leadership and entrepreneurship, with a certificate in global leadership and change. He is part of the UF Men's Club Lacrosse Team and is involved in Gator Diplomats and the Public Leadership Society. He is assisting Dr. Jacobs on research analyzing Florida’s influence on the broader world. He plans to attend law school after graduation.

Zoe Golomb

Experiential Learning Assistant

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Zoe Golomb is a fourth-year UF student double majoring in history and international studies with a minor in European Union studies. She initially became involved with the Bob Graham Center through the Tallahassee Internship Program where she worked with the UF Office of Government and Community Relations. During her time at UF, Zoe has been involved in numerous research programs, including the University Scholars program and CES Research Fellows. Within the Center, Zoe works with

Dylan Pace

Experiential Learning Assistant

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Dylan is a junior majoring in agricultural education and communications within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. In Spring 2023 he served as a Tallahassee intern in the Office of Chuck Clemons. He is also a CALS student ambassador, and the co-chair of the 2024 Future of Florida Summit. In his role as an experiential learning assistant, he assists Dr. Kevin Bird with the recruitment and coordination of UF interns serving in Tallahassee, Washington,

Amelia Packham

Graphics Assistant

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Amelia Packham is a junior pursuing a double major in political science and women's studies with a minor in public relations. Within the Graham Center, she is the Vice President of Communications for the Graham Center Student Fellows and a competitive member of the LitiGators Mock Trial Team. Within her time at UF, she has also participated in the Civic Scholars research program. At the Center she develops promotional campaign ideas and manages social media.

Francesca Tomasino

Communications Assistant

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Francesca Tomasino is a senior from Miami pursuing a dual degree in political science and economics. At the Center, she has worked alongside Dr. Teresa Cornacchione on civic engagement and nonpartisan voting efforts and is currently assisting communications efforts, including managing web and social media. Throughout her time at UF, she has been involved in numerous research programs, including Civic Scholars and Junior Research Fellows. She has completed research on German immigration politics with Dr.

Irene Jose-Sala

Photographer

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Irene Jose-Sala is a second-year philosophy major at the University of Florida. Originally from a small town on the coast of Catalonia, Spain, she moved to Miami at 8 years old and has lived in Florida ever since. Irene is currently a member of the Freshman Leadership Council and exploring her passions for photography and law. At the Bob Graham Center, Irene works as a student assistant by photographing events.

Alayna Dean

Assistant, Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy

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Alayna Dean is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida, majoring in microbiology and cell science with a minor in international studies. She serves as one of the student assistants for the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy through the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at UF. Throughout her tenure at UF, Alayna has been actively engaged in research such as student attitudes on COVID-19, local government tensions in Cedar Key, and currently

Josie Shelton

Assistant, Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy

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Josie Shelton graduated from UF in spring 2023 with a bachelor of health science and minor in business administration. She is now a first-year master's of health administration student at UF. At the center, she first got involved in the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy during her junior year as a student ambassador. She now serves as co-program coordinator for FHPLA and works to support the execution of the Academy. Through her passion for health

Andy Shodell

Special Projects Assistant

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Andy Shodell graduated from UF in Spring 2023 with a double major in English and political science. He is now a graduate student at Columbia. Growing up in Miami, he became passionate about environmental advocacy after witnessing the failures of local governments and institutions. At the Center, Andy works remotely on special communications initiatives.