Dr. James Scott came to UF in 1981 as Dean of Students and after a brief tenure at Georgia State University, became Vice-President of Student Affairs in 1999. He passed away in 2003 after a bout with lung cancer. In honor and in memory of his legacy, the James E. Scott Professional Development Fellowship at the University of Florida has been established to provide funding for two professional staff members to receive advanced training and take advantage of enhanced professional development opportunities.

Recipients will receive grants to be used for advanced training and enhanced professional development opportunities. Recipients will have up to one fiscal year to use the grants for professional development through involvement in institutes, international travel, or professional development experiences within or affiliated with the field of higher education. The amount of the grants will be up to $2000 per recipient to cover expenses such as travel, lodging, registration and appropriate training materials related to the experience.

Recipients of the James E. Scott Professional Development Fellowship will be expected to use information and skills gathered through their professional development experience to provide workshops, colloquia, or presentations to staff and students of the University of Florida in the year following their experience. This could also include informal presentations to selected staff identified through the Office of the Vice President in addition to formal presentations. It is anticipated that over time, a cohort of recipients will provide an opportunity for collaboration and sharing among and between the Scott Fellows and serve as an example for others to continue the legacy of James Scott and his commitment to staff and professional development.

Examples of Advanced Training/Enhanced Professional Development Opportunities

• NASPA Assessment Workshops
• National Housing Training Institute (NHTI)
• ACUHO-I International Study Tours
• Harvard Higher Education Institutes
• Study Tour of Women’s Institutions
• Study Tour of Historically Black Institutions
• Week-long training offered by the National
• Organization of Victim Advocates
• Week-long training on topics like
• “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction”
• Attendance/Presentations at annual meetings of international professional organizations to support professional development and increase exposure to global perspective.