Rite of Passage

The Rite of Passage lecture series event celebrates UWF faculty recently promoted to full professor or librarian.

This series commemorates the work of top academics in achieving the highest level in higher education teaching and scholarship -- the coveted full professorship. The lecture series gives the professor the opportunity to share with colleagues, students, friends and community members life lessons outside the classroom.

2026-2027 Rite of Passage Schedule

8 faculty were recently promoted to full professor and 2 faculty were promoted to full librarian.

Promoted to Professor

Dr. Haris Alibašić, Business Administration
Ms. Carrie Fonder, Art and Design
Dr. Kathy Johnson, Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies
Dr. James Mead, Commerce
Dr. Jacob Schively, Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government
Dr. Jennifer Stark, Teaching, Leadership, and Research
Dr. Peter Steenblik, The Dr. Grier Williams School of Music
Dr. Cheng Zhang, Mechanical Engineering

Promoted to Librarian

Dr. Michelle Finley, Library Circulation
Ms. Kellie Sparks, Library Reference

Rite of Passage Date, Time, and Speakers.
First column contains event date, time, and location. Second column contains speaker information.
Event Date & Time	Rite of Passage Speakers
September 18, 2026 2:00 p.m. Argonaut Athletic Club	Ms. Carrie Fonder Art and Design College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Dr. Peter Steenblik The Dr. Grier Williams School of Music College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
October 23, 2026 2:00 p.m. Argonaut Athletic Club	Dr. Kathy Johnson Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Dr. Cheng Zhang Mechanical Engineering Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
January 22, 2027 2:00 p.m. Argonaut Athletic Club	Dr. Jacob Shively Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Dr. Jennifer Stark Teaching, Leadership, and Research School of Education
February 19, 2027 2:00 p.m. Argonaut Athletic Club	Dr. Haris Alibašić Business Administration Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business Dr. James Mead Commerce Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business
March 12, 2027 2:00 p.m. Argonaut Athletic Club	Dr. Michelle Finley Circulation John C. Pace Library Ms. Kellie Sparks Reference John C. Pace Library

2025

Aneurin Grant, Mechanical Engineering
Melinda Lewis, Social Work
Barbara White, Accounting and Finance

2024

Thomas Asmuth, Art and Design
Natalie Goulette, Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies
Julie Gray, Teaching, Leadership, and Research
Ying Huang, Communication
Susan James, Teaching, Leadership, and Research
Alexis Janosik, Biology
John Jensen, History and Philosophy
Tanay Kesharwani, Chemistry
Youngil Lee, Movement Sciences and Health
Justice Mbizo, Public Health
Charlie Penrod, Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies
David Ramsey, Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government
Erin Stone, History and Philosophy
Brandy Strahan, School of Nursing

2023

Lisa Blalock, Psychology
Nicholas Hasan Buker, Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies
Brian Elzweig, Accounting and Finance
Ali Green, Commerce
Joseph Herring, Art and Design
Lane Lambert, Accounting and Finance
Felicia Morgan, Commerce
Valerie Morganson, Psychology
Giang-Nguyen Nguyen, Teaching, Leadership, and Research
Bhuvaneswari Ramachandran, Dr. Muhammad Harunur Rashid Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dallas Snider, Information Technology
Debra Vinci, Movement Sciences and Health

2022

Yazan Alaqudah, Dr. Muhammad Harunur Rashid Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
John Batchelor, Business Administration
Stephen LeMay, Commerce
Bassam Shaer, Dr. Muhammad Harunur Rashid Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering