J. Scott Angle, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources
J. Scott Angle, Ph.D., leads UF/IFAS, including more than 2,000 employees who work in all 67 Florida counties, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. He arrived at UF/IFAS in 2020.
- jangle@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-1971
Robert Gilbert, Ph.D.
Dean for Research and Executive Director of Academic Affairs
Robert Gilbert, Ph.D., leads UF/IFAS, supporting faculty in Gainesville and at our research and education centers who address challenges facing agriculture, natural resources and human systems. He spent seven years on cropping systems research in Africa before joining UF as a sugarcane agronomist in 2000.
- ragilber@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-1784
Adegbola Adesogan, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President
Adegbola Adesogan, Ph.D., is the Director of the Global Food Systems Institute, which supports transdisciplinary faculty engagement in areas related to food systems and natural resource conservation. He is a professor in the Animal Sciences department and the E.T and V.C. York professor of international agriculture.
- adesogan@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-7527
Meena Thiyagarajah, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration
Meena Thiyagarajah, Ph.D., leads financial management, fiscal and sponsored program administration for IFAS. The units ensure robust financial oversight, management of sponsored programs and compliance with federal, state and university regulations and policies, thereby safeguarding the integrity and effectiveness of IFAS’ financial and research operations.
- tmeena@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-4878
Chris Vivian
Associate Vice President of Communications
Chris Vivian manages the UF/IFAS communications team to tell the UF/IFAS story to audiences all over Florida and beyond, highlighting the value and impact of science and research for all.
- cvivian@ufl.edu
- (727) 644-5791
Andra Johnson, Ph.D.
Dean of Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service
Andra Johnson, Ph.D., leads the UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Cooperative Extension. He is responsible for advancing extension and ensuring that research-based information is made accessible to all Floridians.
- andra.johnson@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-1761
Kati Migliaccio, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Kati Migliaccio, Ph.D., has responsibility and oversight for anything related to students and teaching, helping more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students earn their degrees. She is a tenured professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and has provided leadership for the university’s AI initiative.
- klwhite@ufl.edu
- (352) 273-3574
Dana Zimmel, DVM
Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine
Dana Zimmel, DVM, is the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a graduate of UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a specialist in Equine Internal Medicine.
- zimmeld@ufl.edu
- (352) 294-4201
Cody Helmer
Executive Director of Development
Cody Helmer leads the UF/IFAS Office of Advancement, focusing on major and principal gifts. He is a graduate of UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and has worked for UF in the field of advancement since receiving his degree in 2000.
- chelmer@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-5457
Melissa Long
Executive Director of Human Resources
Melissa Long has been employed with UF since 2003 and currently leads the UF/IFAS Human Resources team. She has served in similar roles beginning at UF HR, College of Dentistry and UF Advancement. Long is a Gator grad and avid sports fan, so you’ll find her at various Gator fields throughout the year.
- melong@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-4777
Benita Bannis
Director of Workforce Development
Benita Bannis creates and leads strategies to widen access, deepen experiences and welcome all students, staff and faculty to thrive within the UF/IFAS community. She is a triple gator devoted to developing people and the communities, competencies and connections that make them great.
- bbannis@ufl.edu
- (352) 273-3491
Andrew Carey
Director of Information Technology
Andrew Carey leads the IFAS Information Technology team, and focuses on ensuring that IFAS faculty, staff and students have access to the IT tools they need to fulfill the IFAS mission. Since starting at UF in 2004, Carey has held various IT roles in Business Affairs, UFIT and the IFAS Information Technology Server Administration and Helpdesk Teams. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and being outdoors with his family.
- agcarey@ufl.edu
- (352) 273-2541
Damian Adams, Ph.D.
Executive Director Strategic Partnerships & Innovation
Damian Adams, Ph.D., provides leadership on strategic partnerships, corporate engagement, and faculty entrepreneurship and innovation across UF/IFAS. As the organization’s innovation lead, he champions faculty innovation and entrepreneurship, fosters collaborations with industry and investors, and supports an innovation ecosystem that expands the impact of UF/IFAS research, teaching and Extension programs throughout Florida and beyond.
Chris Moran
Chief of Staff
Chris Moran is a communications strategist who helps the senior vice president find his voice as communicator-in-chief. He is a graduate of Georgetown University. He once spent a summer going to games in every Major League Baseball park.
- chrismoran@ufl.edu
- (352) 273-3457
Linda Smith
Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President
Linda Smith is the assistant to the Senior Vice President for UF/IFAS. She has been with UF for 30 years and 29 of those years have been with UF/IFAS. Smith is a native Washingtonian, an avid reader of historical novels and loves to travel internationally.
- lasm@ufl.edu
- (352) 392-1971
Marie Thomas
Administrative Specialist
Marie Thomas is the assistant to the Director of IFAS Workforce Development. She assists the Senior Vice President’s office and assists the Director of workforce. Thomas has been with UF/IFAS for 10 years. She enjoys her family and genealogy.
- mcthomas@ufl.edu
- (352) 273-3452