Warrington Welcome
Your future starts with Warrington Welcome
Warrington Welcome is your front door to the undergraduate experience at the college of business.
With its rigorous academic framework, structured mentorship, and spirited community engagement, Warrington Welcome invites you to claim your place among the next generation of Business Gators – prepared, connected, and ready to lead.
Learn more about Warrington Welcome and how it builds the foundation for your first year.
What is Warrington Welcome?
Warrington Welcome, is a one-credit course (GEB 2015: Business and You) for first-year business students. It serves as an introduction to life at Warrington and helps you begin establishing both your academic and career goals.
Small, intimate classes are taught by a Warrington staff member and supported by a team of trained upper-level business students called peer leaders. Together, they will help you prepare for success.
By the end of the course, you’ll set a clear academic and career pathway.
Who takes Warrington Welcome?
Warrington Welcome is highly recommended for all first-year students in the BSBA, BABA, and Bachelor of Science in Accounting programs. This includes those in the Pathway to Campus Enrollment (PaCE) program. You should plan to take the course during your first semester at Warrington. This course is designed to help you make the most the Warrington experience.
Strengthen your academic foundations
- Navigate your degree requirements and create a personalized academic plan that aligns with your goals.
- Identify strategies to excel in your coursework, including time management, study techniques and academic support resources.
Develop your leadership potential
- Identify opportunities to grow as a leader through involvement in clubs, organizations and service activities at Warrington and the University more broadly.
- Build personal and professional competencies like critical thinking, teamwork and decision-making that will empower you to lead with impact.
Advance your career development
- Explore potential career paths and define your goals using tools like self-assessments, networking strategies and professional development opportunities.
- Build foundational skills, such as resume writing, interview preparation and effective communication, to prepare for internships and future roles.
Integrate the four pillars into your path
- Combine insights from academics, career development, international studies, and leadership to design a holistic plan for your time at Warrington.
Expand your global and intercultural fluency
- Develop cultural awareness and leadership skills to collaborate effectively in various settings.
- Understand the value of international experiences. Study abroad, learn new languages and enhance your global perspective.
Get started on the career readiness journey
- Through class discussions and workshops, you’ll begin developing the eight key professional competencies that employers look for — from communication and teamwork to leadership and career management.
- At Warrington, all business students complete the Career Readiness Requirement to prepare for life after college. In Warrington Welcome, you’ll learn what this requirement involves and how to fulfill it.
Peer leaders
Peer leaders are experienced business students who co-facilitate the Warrington Welcome course and serve as informal mentors. They offer insight from their own experiences and can answer questions about academics, involvement, internships, and more. They are here to support you and help you make the most of your first year.
Lead by example
By being prepared, professional, and positive, you will show students what success looks like. Your example will help others find their own way to thrive at Warrington.
Serve by supporting others
Peer Leaders create a welcoming environment where new students feel seen and supported. You will answer questions, provide encouragement, and help students gain confidence as they adjust to college life and set goals.
Mentor with purpose
Servant leadership means focusing on the growth of others. As a Peer Leader, you will build trust by meeting students where they are and helping them grow at their own pace.
Facilitate and lead your peers
In the spring, you’ll take a course that will not only prepare you to co-facilitate Warrington Welcome but will provide you with invaluable communication and leadership skills. You will add onto your Warrington Welcome experience by further exploring who you are as a learner, community member, and professional through the framework of servant leadership.
Engagement beyond the classroom
Peer Leaders also help with important events such as the Professional Development Summit and the Human Library. These activities give students more chances to grow and connect.
Lead with others in mind
At its heart, being a Peer Leader means leading with empathy and care. You will walk alongside students as they begin their journey at Warrington. Through this role, you will strengthen your own leadership by serving others first.
Become a Peer Leader
As a Peer Leader, you’ll guide new Warrington students through their first year while growing as a mentor, communicator, and leader yourself.
This role is based on servant leadership, a leadership style that focuses on putting others first. You will lead by listening carefully, showing care, and helping students discover their potential. At the same time, you will build confidence in your own leadership skills
Online written application
- Personal information
- Free response questions
- Copy of your résumé (in PDF form)
- Video file
Video application
Get creative and show us your passion for and interest in this position. Your video should be four minutes or less. You will submit this through the online written application.
For the video, please answer the following prompts:
- Tell us about yourself
- How will your greatest strength help you perform as a peer leader?
- Teach us something new in two minutes
Deadline and other requirements
The Warrington Welcome Peer Leader applications are due October 11 by 5:00 p.m.. Applications are for peer leaders to teach in Summer B 2026, Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semesters for both on-campus and virtual PaCE sections.
If you are selected to be a peer leader, you are required to take the two-credit peer leader training course in the Spring semester (Wednesday periods 7-8 from 1:55 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.).
For questions about your application, contact:
Warrington Welcome Council
Email the Council
Important dates for 2025 recruitment
Application opens: Tuesday, September 2
Pizza with the PLs (casual meet & greet): Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. (Bryan 232)
Information session (business casual): Monday, September 22 at 4:30 p.m. (Heavener 220)
Pop-In with the PLs: October 6–8 (times and locations on Instagram @warringtonwelcome)
Application due: Friday, October 10 by 5:00 p.m.
Interview prep session (invite only): Thursday, October 16 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. (Bryan 232)
Group interviews: Monday, October 20 through Thursday, October 23
Important commitments if selected:
Peer leaders are expected to attend and actively participate in the following:
Peer Leader Retreat: Friday, November 14 from 12:00–5:00 p.m.
Peer Leader Training Course (2 credits): Spring 2026, Wednesdays Periods 3–4 (9:35–11:30 a.m.)
Spring Peer Leader Forums (5:00 p.m.): 01/26/26, 02/23/26, 03/23/26, 04/13/26
Staff & Peer Leader Matching Breakfast: Friday, March 6 from 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Annual Warrington Welcome Training: Thursday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Peer leader recruitment events
Warrington Welcome Council
The Warrington Welcome Council is a leadership team of returning peer leaders who support the development, success and community of the Warrington Welcome Peer Leader Program. The council works behind the scenes to enhance the experience for new and returning peer leaders.
Through their involvement, members continue their leadership journey by shaping the direction of the program, creating meaningful connections, and contributing to the legacy of the peer leader community.
Program development
Assisting with training, workshops, and forums that promote growth, reflection, and collaboration among all peer leaders.
Community building
Planning initiatives that foster a sense of connection and belonging within the peer leader team throughout the year.
Event support
Contributing to key events like the Peer Leader Retreat, Professional Development Summit, and Human Library by helping with planning, logistics, and execution.
- Lara Brennan
Executive Director - Hannah Goin
Director of Training - Gabriele O’Campo
Director of Recruitment - Ethan Lacouty
Director of Global and Cultural Intelligence - Michael O’Malley
Director of Engagement - Kate Miklas
Director of Marketing - Mell Vigoa
Director of Professional Development - Ashley Ulbrich
Director of Operations
Professional Development Summit
February 13th, 2026, Reitz Grand Ballroom
The Warrington Welcome Professional Development Summit is a signature event that brings your coursework to life. This one-day summit offers hands-on, high-impact learning experiences designed to help you grow professionally and connect with others in the Warrington community.
Explore key career competencies
At the summit, you will participate in interactive workshops focused on the eight Heavener competencies. These sessions are designed to help you develop skills that employers value and introduce you to helpful resources that support your academic, personal, and professional goals.
Connect and network
Throughout the event, including during workshops, lunch and the resource fair, you will have the chance to connect one-on-one with student leaders, industry professionals, and representatives from student organizations and Warrington departments. These interactions can help you begin building your professional network early.
Learn from inspiring leaders
You will also hear from engaging speakers and take part in high-impact workshops that are only offered at this event. Speakers often include faculty, student leaders, and professionals who provide real-world advice and practical insights to support your future success.
Reserve your spot
Email the Warrington Welcome Council for more information.
Are you a first-year business student interested in attending the Professional Development Summit?
- Navigate to the student registration form to reserve your spot. Before the event, you will select the workshops you would like to attend throughout the day. Be sure to review the available topics and presenters so you can choose the sessions that best align with your professional development goals, interests, and schedule.
- Workshop and event sign-ups are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and space is limited. Register early to secure your preferred sessions.
- To receive credit for participating, you will need to verify your attendance by completing the Gator Ready survey at each workshop you attend.
Registration opens Fall 2025.
If you are a student organization or campus resource and would like to participate in the Warrington Welcome Professional Development Summit, please reach out via email by December 5th.
8:30am-9:00am
Event Check-in & Networking
Grand Ballroom | Coffee, tea, & water available in breezeway
9:00am-9:20am
Opening Remarks by Heavener Assistant Dean & Director, Dr. Erica Studer-Byrnes
Grand Ballroom
9:30am-10:30am
Faculty-Led Large Group Presentations
Grand and Rion Ballrooms
- Dr. Nicole Stedman
Emotionally Engaged Thinking in Leadership
Decision-making can be one of the most convoluted, difficult tasks a leader must do. Join Dr. Stedman to learn about how to navigate this complex process and how to incorporate Emotionally Engaged Thinking into powerful decision-making practices.
Rion Ballroom East - Dr. Max Dolinsky
Applying Fitness Rules to Excel through Goals, Habits, and Mindset
Students will explore and set behavior goals, while focusing on the power habits and growth mindset. Students will also be introduced to the finance major and Finance Professional Development program at Warrington.
Grand Ballroom
10:45am-11:30am
Breakout Session 1
- Maximize Your Summer | Room 2315
ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) - Personal Branding 101: Define and Develop Your Image on LinkedIn | Room 3315
American Marketing Association - The Invisible Hand that Shapes Success | Room 2330
Business Ethics Ambassadors - Redefining Failure: The Secret to College Success | Room 2365
Business Undergraduate Mentorship Program (BUMP) - Strength in Numbers: The Importance of Fostering Growth Within Community | Room 2320
Delta Sigma Pi - Emotionally Intelligent Goal Setting | Room 2355
Florida Leadership Academy - Discover How Personality Shapes Workplace Success | Room 2340
Florida Women in Business - The Shipwreck Mindset: Adapt & Lead | Room 2335
Heavener Leadership Development Program - What Courses Do I Have To Take In Order To Graduate? | Room 2360
Heavener Peer Advisors - Being An Authentic Professional | Room 3320
Heavener Second Year Experience - Making Your Ethnicity Your Strength | Rion East
Latin American Women in Business - Career Week Crash Course | Room 2325
Pi Sigma Epsilon - A Look Back Through the Years | Rion West
Undergraduate CAP Mentors
11:30am-12:40pm
Lunch | Department & Resources Fair
- Academic & Career Advising
- Brown Center for Leadership and Service
- Career Connections Center
- Disability Resource Center
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center
- Heavener International Programs
- Human Resource Research Center
- Off Campus Life
- Public Utility Research Center (PURC)
- Student Engagemet / Office of Community & Belonging
- The Miller Retail Center, Marketing Department
- Warrington College of Business, Business Career Services
- Warrington: Hough Graduate School: Specialized Master’s Degrees
12:45pm-1:30pm
Breakout Session 2
- Empowering Others: The Essence of Servant Leadership | Room 2360
Alpha Kappa Psi, Alpha Phi Chapter - Funding Your Future: Top Scholarships for Accounting and Finance Students | Room 2340
Beta Alpha Psi - Pursuing Impact Focused Professions | Room 2320
Careers for Changemakers, UF Social Impact & Sustainability Initiative - Let’s Make a Deal: An Introduction to Private Equity | Room 2335
CHOMP Private Equity - Unseen Ripples: The Butterfly Effect in Building Connections | Room 3320
Enactus - Navigating the Business Arena: A Roadmap to Professionalism | Room 2365
First-Generation Business Leaders - Soaring for Soft Skills | Room 3315
Gator Ready - Leading Through Your Values | Room 2355
Heavener Leadership Challenge - Building the Life You Desire and Deserve: Mastering Time Management, Habits, and Mindset for Success | Room 3305
Hedging & Trading Collective - Navigating Cultures in a Business Setting | Room 2330
International Programs Student Ambassadors (IPSA) - Network Know-How | Room 2315
Pride in Business - Navigating Professional Communication | Room 2325
Warrington Diplomats
1:45pm-2:45pm
Keynote Presentation, delivered by Deloitte
Rion Ballroom
- Deloitte
Business Chemistry
Business Chemistry is an approach to strengthening teams and enhancing business relationships. The tool identifies four different types, each characterized by a stable pattern of behaviors and preferences in the workplace. Understanding similarities and differences enables individuals and teams to flex in order to better accommodate different styles.
Rion Ballroom
2:45pm-3:00pm
Closing Remarks by Warrington Dean, Dr. Saby Mitra
Rion Ballroom
Warrington Welcome events
Questions about Warrington Welcome?
Jenna McLaughlin
Program Director & Advisor
Director, Leadership & Experiential Programs
352-273-0165