Allicia Bolen, the College's 2022-23 Adviser of the Year, was surprised to learn she had garnered such an honor, but innovative accomplishments clearly set her apart in the world of academic advising.

An adviser at UF for six years, Bolen said she thinks her work with special populations of students and her willingness to step in where needed may have led to the award. She’s proud of the work she’s done for the Innovation Academy, a spring/summer program developed to equip students with the 21^st-century skills needed to thrive.

“I volunteered to teach a special section of MMC 1009 (Introduction to Media & Communications) because I thought they would benefit from having a special section of the Innovation Academy for the college. They have to operate in a different fashion, but our college still treats them the same as any other student. Because I worked for the academy, I’m more familiar with their curriculum, with the student mindset. They are a very unique population.”

Bolen, who earned a B.A. in History from UF in 2012, also works with Promise Scholars, first-generation students and those from underrepresented populations.

“They need extra support in navigating and transitioning to college to make sure they are successful,” she said. “They may not have a parent or sibling who can tell them: Don’t take all these crazy classes at once, calm down. I make sure they understand that everyone at the university is an ally.”

She’s also made changes to the registration process for the Media Production, Management, and Technology Department’s  immersion experiences, which allow students to work hands-on in CJC’s media properties.

 “It’s allowing them to get that real-world experience. We are applied majors – you can’t just do your work, go home and be competitive in the job field. You have to put some type of work in while you are here.”

Bolen is proud of the reviews she gets from her students, which are consistently 97% to 98% in being helpful. “It’s a little bit of innovation, trying new things and pitching new ideas to really help student success at the end of the day.”

 In December 2023, she launched Allicia’s Appreciation Giveaway. After a student has an advising session with her, they can enter online to win a meal voucher, which she pays for. Winners are picked randomly each month.

“I really gain so much from my students, and I don’t think they know that. I thought: What can I reasonably do for students to let them know I appreciate them? I like to give something back as well and I wanted to do something that would be meaningful to them.”

Life is more than UF for Bolen. The single mother of a 9-year-old said she has ADD, which keeps her hyperfixed on new projects. When COVID hit, she enrolled in night school at Florida Gateway College then started Bronze Beauty Esthetics, a specialized skin care compnay.

Hanging out with her favorite uncle, a bartender, she became interested in mixology. She shadowed him to learn and now works at some of his events.

Now? She’s getting a graduate certificate in social media at the College. Next? She wants to learn about property management.

“I always have to be doing something.”

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