Bernard Wilchusky

Ruben Gardner is the president of the University of West Florida Student Government Association. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ruben served as the voice of the student population, championing mental health resources and outreach messaging during the transition from remote-to-mixed-mode teaching

Dr. Peter Steenblik is Director of Choral Activities at the University of West Florida and Artistic Director for the Choral Society of Pensacola. During the pandemic, Dr. Steenblik had to redesign centuries-old teaching practices to ensure the safety and continued progress of choral singers during rehearsal.  

"This situation has demanded creativity, flexibility, and reinvention.  Adjustments we've made represent a compilation of ideas from choral conductors across the nation.  I am grateful for supportive students and colleagues; I have felt encouragement from all corners of our discipline as we have worked together to keep music alive."

Dr. Michele Manassah serves as the Executive Director for Counseling and Health Services at the University of West Florida. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she expanded access to virtual counseling services for students and was integral to the university’s messaging efforts on subjects of mental health, pandemic precautions and vaccine availability.

“Student health and safety have always been priorities at UWF, and the pandemic served to highlight the importance of caring for ourselves and each other.  The resilience, flexibility and commitment to student wellbeing shines in the staff of Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, and Recreation and Wellness, all of whom have continued to serve students in new and different ways throughout the pandemic, providing safe spaces and opportunities to boost their physical and emotional wellbeing.”

When the COVID-19 outbreak caused local businesses to pivot and find new ways to stay afloat during the economic downturn, Dr. Alison “Ali” Green, UWF Department of Global Hospitality & Tourism Management chair and associate professor, wanted to do her part. Through her podcast, “Navigating Hospitality,” she hosts weekly virtual hospitality roundtables that bring prominent leaders in the community together for sharing information about the current state of the local industry.

“When this all came down, my heart was breaking,” Green said. “I was in the industry for over 20 years and when everything came to a halt, I stood by watching as hotel occupancy dropped, and restaurants closed. Since I am no longer in the industry, I knew I couldn’t directly affect change, but what I could do is bring these people in the industry together and figure out what’s going on.”

Dr. Wesley Farr is a public health lecturer at the University of West Florida. His experience with infectious diseases was vital to establishing safety protocols and interpreting CDC guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.

“It has been very gratifying during the worst pandemic in over 100 years to watch the country respond with wide-spread acceptance of social distancing and masks and the unprecedented rapid development and approval of at least three safe and effective vaccines.”

Murilo Basso is an additive manufacturing mechanical engineer at the University of West Florida Sea3D Lab. When the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in shortages of personal protective equipment throughout the region, Murilo and his colleagues used their lab's 3-D printing capabilities to provide area hospitals with more than 7,000 face shields.