Meet Dr. Teresa Balser, CALS Dean

The CALS Ambassadors want to help you get to know the leaders of our college a little better. We developed questions to ask each of our three deans. Following are Dean Teri Balser's questions and answers. To learn more about Dr. Balser's professional duties in CALS, visit www.cals.ufl.edu/faculty_staff/balser.shtml.

Where is your favorite spot on campus?
That's a tough one. I seem to spend so much time in my office. I guess if I had to pick a non-work spot I'd say the Baughman Center. I love the lake and the center. So peaceful. And sometimes even a gator!

Do you have any pets?
I have a cat, Simon (aka the Bug), that I adopted from Gainesville Pet Rescue this past summer. He's almost 10 months old now and is a very sweet boy. He makes me laugh. I also seem to have adopted two silky terriers. They belong to my friend Veronica, but I watch them most of the time. They are smaller than I would normally choose for a dog, but they try hard to be big dogs!

Do you have a hidden skill/talent/hobby that students might not know about?
I have played and performed music since I was 10 years old. I started college as a music major, but switched to science (ecology and geology). Until I came here, I played and performed for weddings and with jazz and swing bands in the Madison area. I play saxophone, flute and clarinet as well as early music (renaissance and baroque) on recorder.

What Olympic sport would you like to try?
I love horses and have ridden since I was small. I would love to ride dressage or hunter jumper/cross country in the Olympics.

What is your favorite smell?
Jasmine or orange blossoms. I also love cinnamon or vanilla candles.

What is your favorite movie?
Princess Bride

What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
Raw sea snail, in Japan. I lived in Japan for a little bit and ate all kinds of weird food. But the raw chicken and the raw sea snail I was served in northern Japan was probably the strangest.

What is your one guilty pleasure?
Probably reading science fiction/fantasy -- or role playing video games. But honestly, I don't know that I feel all that guilty. Games and sci fi are the stuff of creativity, and that's what keeps us ALIVE. If I only ever worked and never used my imagination I'd be a pretty boring person ...

Do you know any other languages?
I speak a smattering of several. I know French best, but haven't really ever had a chance to use it. I learned a bit of German when I worked and lived in Switzerland and I learned some Japanese when I lived in Japan. I am trying to learn Spanish now -- it seems like the most useful, overall.

What do you see as the most significant or useful quality in a leader?
Self reflection. A leader must always know them self best of all. That is hard. But so critical. They must know what pushes their buttons, what are their best strengths, and where they need others to help out.

Dean Balser and Flat Albert in Haiti

What is the strangest thing a student has ever asked you?
I always ask students to ask questions ... and one of the oddest ones was when a student in honors biology asked me if I thought zombies could be real. I actually had an answer. I think that you could hypothesize that zombies are made from cell-cell communication by bacteria that have taken over the former bodies' cells. Bacteria and single celled organisms are capable of coordinated action, so why not create a zombie?

What is your favorite app?
Besides Mail? Well, I seem to use Google a lot, and Solitaire City. Sorry. I am boring that way. But when I can I play different tower or role playing games. I just downloaded Wraitheborne. Seems pretty good so far. I like hack and slash dungeon crawlers!

Dean Balser and a new friend in Haiti

Dean Balser at TailGATOR 2011

Meet Dr. R. Elaine Turner, CALS Sr. Associate Dean

The CALS Ambassadors want to help you get to know the leaders of our college a little better. We developed questions to ask each of our three deans. Following are Sr. Associate Dean Elaine Turner's questions and answers. To learn more about Dr. Turner's professional duties in CALS, visit www.cals.ufl.edu/faculty_staff/turner.shtml. 

Where did you grow up?
Wooster, Ohio, which is the location of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station) affiliated with The Ohio State University.

What is your favorite hobby?
Handbell ringing

If you could have any super power, which one would you choose?
The ability to stop time for everyone but me, so I could get caught up on work before anyone could give me more to do.

What is your favorite place to eat in Gainesville?
Mildred's Big City Cafe

If you could live in any home on a television series, which one would it be?
"Robin's Nest," which was Robin Masters' beachfront mansion in Hawaii on Magnum P.I.

If you could have dinner with any famous person, who would it be and why?
I've had a hard time with this question -- my favorite diner companion is my husband, Allen. As far as contemporary public figures, I think I would enjoy dining with Michelle Obama -- a well-educated professional woman who seems to have effectively balanced career, family and the pressures of public life.

Turner Family: Mitchell, Elaine, Allen & Ted

What is at the top of your bucket list?
Retire from UF and successfully audition to be a member of the Raleigh Ringers.

What one piece of advice would you give to a new student?
"Keep your options open" -- it was the advice I have always gotten from my father; and what it means to me is to be open to new ideas and experiences whether those are a unique class, a different major or minor, a student organization, study abroad, etc.

If you had to pick an area to study other than what your degrees are in, what would it be?
If I were starting over, I might choose Food Science instead of Dietetics/Nutrition -- the chemistry and flavor of food is endlessly fascinating to me. Also, I always thought it would be interesting to attend law school and medical school -- just to learn, with no pressure of exams or grades or expectation of practice in the field.

What was the most memorable thing you did in college?
Spending 10 months as an exchange student at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.

What activities/sports did you participate in during high school?
My primary activities were in music: marching band, symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band.

What is your pet peeve?
I can only have one? Then I'll go with when people, especially those who should know better, don't get the name of the college right. Although we were the College of Agriculture in 1906, we have been the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences since 1999 -- I was at the faculty meeting when we voted to change the name. And, it has been an uphill battle ever since for folks to get it right -- Agricultural and Life Sciences. And yes, I'm ok with using "Ag" instead of "Agricultural" so long as you say "Ag and Life Sciences."

Meet Dr. Al Wysocki, CALS Associate Dean

The CALS Ambassadors want to help you get to know the leaders of our college a little better. We developed questions to ask each of our three deans. Following are Associate Dean Al Wysocki's questions and answers. To learn more about Dr. Wysocki's professional duties in CALS, visit www.cals.ufl.edu/faculty_staff/wysocki.shtml. 

What was your favorite childhood toy?
A football. Any football.

If you could be a large animal, which species would you be and why?
Mountain Lion. I think they are cool and they usually occupy higher elevations. They are the predator. Good to be closer to the top of the food chain.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Easy question. Spend time with my wife and cycle.

What is your favorite movie?
I have lots of favorites. The movie I have seen the most in theaters in Inception. Very cool movie ...

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Spudhaven -- The name of the house my parents own on a lake in Northern Wisconsin

What do you know now that you wish you knew in college?
I have been very happy with my choices as a student. Given the speed of change today, having even better skills relating to website design and social media would be helpful.

Who do you admire as a leader?
Joe Di Pietro, President of the University of Tennessee system

If you could have a different career, other than what you're doing now, what would it be?
Back home in the family potato business -- no question about that.

Do you cook? If so, what is your best dish?
When I cook, I like to grill. I smoke a mean turkey.

What one piece of advice would you give a student considering graduate school? 
Make sure you know why you want to do this. A current slow economy is not a good reason to just get a graduate degree.

Who is the best teacher you have ever had? What qualities made him/her great?
My friend and mentor, Dr. H. Christopher Peterson from Michigan State University. He always looked for "teachable moments" in the classroom. We have spent many hours talking about teaching.

Dr. Al Wysocki with his wife Joan

Dec. 9-15, 2012

Hi everyone! My name is Libby Weber, and I am a senior at the University of Florida majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a specialization in Nutritional Sciences. Today I just took my last two final exams, which means I am officially done with my last fall semester of college! I cannot believe I only have one semester left. However, the upcoming end to my college experience is very bittersweet. Throughout my (almost) four years at UF, I have changed and evolved so much as a person. School, extracurricular activities, work, friends, relationships – they all made me who I am today. As a freshman, I was certain I was going to medical school to become a doctor. I would not have guessed that getting a job at the vet school would convince me to make the switch and pursue veterinary medicine. At the beginning of this semester, I officially considered myself a pre-vet student. I am so happy to be past the stress of final exams for this semester, but because I changed career tracks later in my college career, my winter break will be a very busy one!

I have worked at UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine for the last year and a half. I am part of a gene therapy research project for Glycogen Storage Disease Type1a in dogs. This inherited disease results from a mutation in the enzyme needed to break down glycogen into glucose… without getting too much into the scientific background, my job is to give seven dogs with GSD strict timed feedings, as well as, oral dextrose. These dogs have to be given feedings and monitored around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I picked up a lot of hours over the break. So, I will be spending lots of quality time with my favorite pups!

I also will be volunteering at a local veterinary clinic, as well as, a local horse farm. I will have quite a full schedule over the break. However, it is more than okay with me because I will be doing things I really love! Speaking of love…

I will be getting married to my fiancé, Jason, on March 1^st, 2013. I can’t even begin to tell you how EXCITED I am for this day!! We got engaged over the summer and have been wedding planning ever since between exams, work, classes, etc. Everything is finally starting to fall into place… I have my wedding dress, as well as the venue, caterer, and photographer booked. Over the break we have a tasting scheduled with the caterer to make sure our food will be delicious! We also will be taking our engagement photos (kind of late in the game… but better late than never!) in my hometown of Satellite Beach, Florida.

Jason and I will be spending Christmas in North Carolina with my parents, as well as my sister and her husband. My parents will be bringing their three little Chihuahuas and my sister will bring her two Chihuahuas. Jason and I will be adding in some variety with our Miniature Dachshund, Wallace, and a Maltese/Beagle mix named Frost (who we adopted from my job at the vet school!). Needless to say, my Christmas will be brimming with puppies. Who can ask for anything more? J

I am excited to see what my last semester in CALS has in store for me, as well as, my remaining time serving as an ambassador. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to share my experiences with prospective and current students and help them along the way. The most important thing that I’ve learned from my experiences is that it is never to late to follow your passion because once you find what truly drives you, you will be happier than you ever thought possible.

I wish you all a very Happy Holidays, as well as a Happy New Year! And as always…

GO GATORS!

Libby Weber

Libby Weber
Class: Senior
Hometown: Satellite Beach, FL
Major: Food Science and Human Nutrition
Specialization: Nutritional Sciences
Involvement: Performs undergraduate research in the Ophthalmology lab, member of the Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity, and staff for the Glycogen Storage Disease Puppy Project
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, cooking, and traveling
After College: Plans to attend veterinary school

Dec. 2-8, 2012

A brief glimpse into the mind of Bernie Green…during final’s week….

The optimal output for a perfectly competitive firm is where marginal revenue meets short-run marginal cost. There are two types of coffee bean produced in Uganda, Arabica and Robusta. Nonprofit organizations need at least three board members to be recognized by the IRS. Triohalomethanes are a byproduct of disinfecting water with chlorine; this started in the early 1900’s to reduce the level of typhoid. But triohalomethanes are bad for you! If I get an active carbon filter, I can filter them out. I need to invest in one of those. I think I can order one online, or maybe I can get one at Publix? I need to go to Publix. Wait, Trader Joe’s opens up in a week. It’s Kayla’s birthday next week, too. Will she want to go to Trader Joe’s with me? I doubt it. She’ll want to go to midtown – everybody goes to midtown for their birthday. Wait, I have a final in 12 hours. Where was I? Perfectly competitive firms? Or was it Uganda? AHHH!!!!! THAT’S IT!! I’M CALLING IT:

SKATE BREAK!!!!

That’s right ladies and gentlemen. Your eyes do not deceive you. I said skate break!

Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed with four final exams, my part-time job at the Olive Garden, my friends’ birthdays, planning weekly club meetings so we can start off next semester strong, and writing blogs for my other clubs (haha), I need to step away from reality and have a good old fashion skate break. I put on my headphones and go for a late night, 1-2 hour cruise around Gainesville. It is one of my favorite ways to destress. It gives me time to think about all the stuff that has nothing to do with my exams and get it out of my system.

I like to say I’m taking the scenic route during my extended 6-year run in college. I’ve learned how to not only balance my time accordingly, but also how to leave time available during my busy weeks to destress. I have found this to be an extremely important life lesson. In my early years of college, I was the type of student who would stay up all through the night before an exam with redbulls and 5-hour energys, because I wanted to make sure I knew every last detail about my economics or accounting exam. Since then, I have learned that is one of least effective ways for someone to study. It’s better for one to start studying two weeks before an exam. It doesn’t have to be an in depth analysis of what is going to be on the exam; just read over your notes after class every day. When I started doing this my grades improved, I felt better about myself and I didn’t look like a zombie during finals week.

Now I’m able to have a 2-hour skate break the night before an exam, just to relax. Or, I can work my normal amount of hours at work so I don’t have to deal with the rent headache that comes the week after finals week. The moral of my rant is that it’s important to leave time for oneself during the hectic weeks. In life, the hectic weeks will never stop coming, so you have to learn to work with them to make life easier. Sometimes this means you won’t be able to go out for your friends’ birthday party, but they will still be your friend the next day. And I’m sure they’ll be happy to tell you every detail after you Ace that final you had the following morning.

I hope my two cents is insightful to those whom fear the idea of finals week. It can undoubtedly be an overwhelming time, but with proper planning and preparation, it can be as smooth as skating down a hill.

Bernie Green
Class: Senior
Hometown: Naples, Fl
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Specialization: International Food and Resource Economics
Minor: International Development and Humanitarian Assistance
Involvement: Ag. Econ Club Vice President of Member Relations
Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Multi-instrumentalist; Member of "Project Chili" a Red Hot Chili Pepper tribute band
Post-Graduation: I hope to enter graduate school, obtaining a Master's Degree in International Development Economics, and then I hope to see the world!