Alumni Success Stories
Jacquelyn Colbert '17
"The University of West Florida's Global Hospitality and Tourism program provided me with a solid foundation in customer service, operations, and business management, which are crucial for a successful career in hotel sales. The coursework and practical experiences honed my skills in client relations and strategic planning, directly contributing to my ability to secure and excel in the role of a hotel sales manager."
Galyna Dyakiv '24
"UWF provided the individual approach I was seeking, and I began my studies while balancing a full-time job and being a mother of two young boys. With the support of UWF professors and administrative staff, I managed to obtain my CPA license and graduate with a master's degree in accounting, specializing in taxation."
Mackenzie Hellsten '23
"My time in the UWF Sport Management program provided me with numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth. During the spring of 2023, I had the chance to intern for the Pensacola Ice Flyers, which allowed me to learn valuable hands-on skills that I still use in my career today. This internship experience opened the door for me to work for the Nashville Predators as a guest services team member, as well as for 365 Sports Travel as a Marketing and Assistant Tournament Director. I will be forever grateful to UWF and Professor Fried for providing these opportunities for me."
Haley Hutto, '22
“The University of West Florida's Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business transformed the trajectory of my life. Like many students, I arrived knowing my major but with little vision beyond that. That changed because of the professors at UWF—mentors (now friends) who invested their time and resources into my professional growth. They helped me see possibilities for my future that I had never imagined.
"Because of their guidance—and because of the University of West Florida—I decided to continue my education at Indiana University, where I am pursuing a Doctorate in Entrepreneurship. If I can guide students the way my undergraduate and graduate professors at UWF guided me, that, to me, is success.”
Mariana Mariano '22
"The University of West Florida economics program provided me with a strong foundation in economic theory and practical analytical skills, which really helped shape my academic and career path. Working on various research projects, I got hands-on experience with data analysis and policy evaluation, which prepared me to handle real-world economic issues. This experience paved the way for my current pursuit of a master's degree in Economics of Public Policy at the Barcelona School of Economics."
