A Word To Parents

Safety

We are concerned about the health and safety of the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Change Summer Program participants. We make a strong effort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students both while they are on campus and while they are in the community, including:

-Selecting excellent, skilled staff members. The Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Change Summer Program staff includes high achieving, well-trained, motivated leaders who who have experience and interest in entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and community service. We have hired the most qualified instructors, program coordinators, and resident assistants (RAs) to staff the program. We are also fortunate to have a team of outstanding volunteers including distinguished faculty and staff of UF's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, special guest speakers, and talented UF alumni mentors.

-Partnering with respected local community agencies and organizations for the community service placements. Each community partner has been approved by UF's Center for Leadership & Service and has a strong reputation. Students will be given an orientation educating them about potential risks that may exist while volunteering and precautions they can take to minimize this risk to the greatest extent possible.

-Providing appropriate supervision. While students are ultimately responsible for their own conduct, our administrative, instructional, and residential staff all work together to provide clear guidelines and reasonable supervision. The student to RA ratio is 7:1. Students are not permitted to leave campus unsupervised.

Medical Care

Accepted students are required to submit a set of medical forms, including verification of medical insurance coverage and immunization records. Students who become ill or injured are referred to the Student Health Care Center or a local emergency room for treatment.

Students with Disabilities

If your student needs accommodations for a learning, physical, medical, dietary, or mental health issue, you must contact notify us as soon as possible so that we can arrange for appropriate accommodations to be provided. Documentation must include the diagnosis of the disability, specific functional limitations for both academic and residential settings, and recommended accommodations.

Instructors

GEB4930 - Exploring Entrepreneurship - Professor Bill Rossi

SYG2010 - Social Problems - Dr. Kristin Joos

Director

Dr. Kristin Joos is the Director for the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Change: High School Summer Program at UF. In 2005 she brought Social Entrepreneurship to UF and created the Innovative Social Impact Initiative in the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Kristin is a UF graduate, earning her bachelors degree in Psychology with minors in Sociology, Religion, and Women's & Gender Studies. In 2003 she graduated with a Ph.D. in Sociology & a graduate certificate from the Center for Women's Studies and Gender Research. Her research interests center around youth, social entrepreneurship, civic engagement, community service and creating positive social change. Kristin is passionate about teaching students to use the skills & strategies of business to create sustainable solutions to social problems locally and around the world. From 2003-2006 she served as the Coordinator of Admissions & Student Activities for the Honors Program at UF; she is now a Lecturer, teaching courses in Sociology and Social Entrepreneurship.

Program Assistant:

Vanessa Douyon is a third year Sociology student with a minor in Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits and a graduate of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory. She is involved in various leadership organizations on campus. Her primary commitments are as president of the Florida Cicerones/SAA and as Membership Chair of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She has performed research with the Ronald E. McNair program and has been honored as a J. Wayne Reitz Scholar and a member of Florida Blue Key. She has also served as an orientation leader for the 2007 Preview Staff, helping to welcome hundreds of new students and families to the University of Florida. In addition to her commitment to student organizations, Vanessa is involved in various service initiatives including Florida Alternative Breaks (New Orleans), Camp HOPE, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Showers of Blessings Tutoring Center, and the Recurso Service Trip (Nicaragua). Upon graduation, Vanessa aspires to attend graduate school to obtain her PhD in Higher Education. She hopes to continue working with students to enable them to become better world citizens. Vanessa is passionate about multiculturalism and empowering youth and is incredibly excited to work with YELC this summer.

RAs for Girls:

Samantha Baer is a fourth year Honors student, double majoring in French and Interdisciplinary Neurobiological Sciences. She is involved in various leadership and service organizations on campus, including Change the World UF: Student Social Entrepreneurs, Ideal, the Florida Cicerones, Florida Alternative Breaks, and the Center for Leadership and Service. She is also a group fitness instructor for RecSports. Last summer she served worked as an RA with our 1st Annual YELC Summer Program and also as a member of the 2007 Preview Staff, helping to welcome each new student and their families to the University. Sam has studied abroad in Paris, France, at the University of Florida's Paris Research Center, as well as with the University of Florida's Rome, Italy program. Upon graduation, Sam aspires to attend graduate school in the field of public health or epidemiology and then pursue a degree in medicine. She hopes to work internationally with a program like Doctors without Borders to help ensure medical care and humanitarian assistance for those in need. Sam is passionate about empowerment of young people, especially in the areas of leadership and social change, and she is very excited to be a part of this summer's experience. Sam is a graduate of West Shore High School in Melbourne, FL.

Maria Bingemann is a third-year Honors student, double-majoring in Interdisciplinary Foreign Studies and Spanish while also pursuing a minor in European Union Studies. She has been involved in various service, leadership, and international programs on campus, including UF Navigators, Children Beyond our Borders, Student Government and is a co-founder of the European Union Club and Model EU. Maria is also very active with on-campus sports, particularly in tennis and golf. She studied abroad in Madrid, Spain during the Spring 2007 semester and continues her abroad experiences this year. During Summer A, Maria will go to Nicaragua through the UF Honors Program, evaluating and assessing various NGO’s and grassroots development. Following, she will continue her research while volunteering in Medellín, Colombia. After graduation, Maria hopes to attend law school with a focus in international human rights. Maria is very glad to be working with YELC high-school students and is eager to help them understand the values and benefits of social entrepreneurship. Maria is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Recipient and graduate of Allen D. Nease High School, located in St. Augustine, Florida.

RAs for Guys:

Jared Hoffmann is a third year student, double majoring in Psychology and Political Science, pursing minors in Classics and Philosophy. He is involved in numerous leadership and service organizations in the University of Florida community, including: Campus Diplomats: The Official Dean of Students Ambassadors, Florida Cicerones, National Residence Hall Honorary, and the Student Honor Court. He is also a First Year Florida co-instructor teaching an introduction to the University of Florida class with a faculty mentor. Jared has also worked as a Preview staffer with over 6,500 University of Florida incoming freshman, helping them to plan and adjust for life as students at UF. This summer while working with YELC students, he will also serve as an out of class teaching assistant to Thomas Pye Esq. for the fourth time in the course Psychology of Law. Jared graduated from Estero High School as a three year varsity athlete and continues his passion for sports through intramurals and attending as many UF sporting events as possible.

Ricardo Marenco is a Second Year student, double majoring in Business and Political Science, from West Palm Beach, Fl. He is involved in various leadership and cultural organizations around campus including the Florida Cicerones, Ideal, the Hispanic Student Association, and the Central American Latin Organization. Upon graduation Ricardo plans to attend graduate school to study International Business. After graduate school, he hopes to take part in an international program such as the Peace Corps. Ricardo wishes to help establish or work for a business which utilizes the principles of social entrepreneurship and leadership for the benefit of society. He is looking forward to participating in this summer program in order to help other young individuals strengthen such principles. Ricardo graduated from Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, FL.

Please direct all questions and inquires to:
Dr. Kristin Joos
kristin.joos@cba.ufl.edu
352.273.0355

Applications will be available online in early 2008. If you would like to receive notification when the Summer 2008 Program materials are available, please fill out the form linked here.