Warm Welcome

*POSTPONED* 2024 Fall Warm Welcome

Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts have arisen and the Fall Warm Welcome is being postponed until the spring. Please check back for information on the Spring Warm Welcome in 2025.


Warm Welcome Goals

  • To officially welcome newer staff to the UF community
  • To foster a sense of belonging and community among all staff
  • To offer inspiration from UF leaders
  • To spark new connections across the institution
Staff with panel members at the 2019 warm welcome

Featured in Higher Ed Magazine

UF’s Warm Welcome was featured in Higher Ed Magazine in their Winter 2021-2022 edition. APA officers; Honey Langford, Krista Vaught and Monica Vosilla; wrote about the need for new hires to feel a sense of belonging, how the event was designed, and gave tips for other organizations wanting to create a similar experience.

An Award-Winning Event

The University of Florida’s Academic and Professional Assembly (APA) received the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) 2022 HR Innovation Award for its “Warm Welcome” project.

The HR Innovation Award recognizes innovative thinking in higher education HR, especially models that can be adapted for use on other campuses.

Last Event

ICYMI: Spring Warm Welcome

Spring 2-0-2-3 warm welcome panel

The theme for this Spring’s event is “UF’s impact across Florida.”

Leadership panel:

  • Dr. Andra Johnson, Dean – UF IFAS Extension
  • Dr. Linda Edwards, Dean – College of Medicine, Jacksonville
  • James Lapple, Chief Financial Officer, Wertheim UF Scripps
  • Melissa Curry, Interim Vice President for UF Human Resources

Watch a recording of this Warm Welcome


Past Warm Welcomes

Watch the Fall 2022 Warm Welcome

Watch the 2022 Spring Warm Welcome

Watch the 2021 Fall Warm Welcome

Watch the 2021 Spring Warm Welcome

Watch the 2020 Warm Welcome

Watch the 2019 Inaugural Warm Welcome