The University of Florida Alumni Association

Committed to Strengthening The Gator Nation®

The University of Florida Alumni Association was organized and chartered in 1906 by the first group of graduates from the Gainesville campus. Today, living alumni total over 500,000 and reside in every state and in more than 150 countries. The Gator Nation truly is everywhere.

The Alumni Association is responsible for a network of nearly 76 Gator Clubs® & 10 Affiliate Groups across Florida, the U.S. and internationally. These clubs are composed of alumni and friends who represent UF in their communities. These groups raise money for scholarships, volunteer for a variety of philanthropic organizations and host engagement events each year.

The Alumni Association is also actively involved with the recruitment of superior students to attend the University and with financial assistance programs in the form of scholarships sponsored by the Gator Clubs®. In addition, we host outreach programs that bring faculty and administrators on the road to carry the University's message to alumni and friends.

Reunion programs are organized and conducted by the Alumni Association and have been successful in bringing alumni back to Gainesville, with activities that are designed to involve returning graduates with campus life. We host the Grand Guard Reunion, which honors 50 year graduates of UF. We also host several signature events including Gator100, 40 Gators Under 40 and Gator Nation Tailgates before each home football game and during Orange & Blue Weekend.

Specific groups have been organized to represent the needs of special interests on the campus, including the Association of Black Alumni and the Association of Hispanic Alumni. In addition, Student Membership in the Alumni Association was developed to create networking opportunities between current students and alumni. With more than 10,000 members, this group offers career networking, social events and special programming. The Florida Cicerones, who are UF's official student ambassadors, are also members of this group. These students, specially selected to represent the University, connect and engage with past, present and future Gators.

A History of Making a Difference

We, the members of the Class of 1906, the first graduates of the University of Florida, in order to keep alive a sentiment of affection of our Alma Mater, unite the graduates of successive years by a common tie of fellowship, foster the feelings of friendship and love toward each other, promote the welfare of the University, and encourage education, do ordain and establish the constitution for our government.

With those words, the 14 graduates of 1906 established the UF Alumni Association at the close of their commencement ceremony. The first president was W.A. Munsell of Green Cove Springs. At that time, the main purpose of the Alumni Association was to hold annual meetings and social events.

Additionally, the UFAA coordinates a travel program, with trips planned to the Amazon River, Provence, London, Verona and Tuscany during our centennial year. We also work with UF's leading professors and scholars through our outreach program by coordinating speaking engagements for them across the country. With more than 35,000 members, our alumni and friends are truly the heart and soul of the University of Florida.