Election Central

The Graham Center leads voter registration and mobilization efforts at UF. We host events, activities, and drives throughout the year to ensure that Gators are vote-ready.

TurboVote, a service available to all Gators including alumni, keeps you updated with timely messages to ensure your vote is always cast and counted. TurboVote helps you register to vote, sends election reminders, updates your voter registration information, and applies for an absentee ballot. Sign up here to be confident for future elections.

Student-led Groups and Initiatives

Student groups are essential to the Graham Center’s goal of training future generations of leaders in Florida and beyond. In addition to leadership experience and professional development, these groups present opportunities to meet and work with some of the state’s most passionate students and community leaders.

Florida Political Review - FPR is Florida’s preeminent undergraduate journal for politics and public policy. Managed entirely by UF students, FPR brings quality analysis and commentary on current affairs and political issues facing Florida.

Future of Florida Summit - The Summit is an annual, statewide conference led by students to focus on issues of critical importance to the state of Florida, and develop policy proposals.

Gators Vote Everywhere - The Graham Center partners with the Andrew Goodman Foundation to bring the Vote Everywhere program to UF. Vote Everywhere Ambassadors receive training and hands-on experience with voter engagement, community organizing, and campaigning.

Freshman Leadership Council - The FLC provides personal, professional, and leadership growth opportunities for a select group of freshmen students through service, programming, and educational experiences.

Bob Graham Center Student Fellows - As the official student representatives of the Center, Fellows plan major events, advocate for change, lead discussions, organize community projects, and more.

Public Leadership Society - The Public Leadership Society aids in the professional advancement of individuals committed to learning the principles of effective public leadership and fostering civic involvement through public and community service.

John Quincy Adams Society - UF's chapter of the John Quincy Adams Society holds events to study and impact U.S. foreign policy.

Public Events

If you notice a public figure speaking at UF but the event is separate from the ACCENT Speakers Bureau, it’s probably the Graham Center! We provide a wide variety of events for students and the public on topics related to civic engagement, public leadership, and the pressing issues of our time. Previous guests include Jimmy Carter, John Lewis, Sandra Day O’Connor, Tessa Thompson, Kal Penn, Ibram X. Kendi, Jon Meacham, as well as U.S. senators, representatives, and other public figures. Join our newsletter to be the first to hear about upcoming events.

The Graham Center also presents the annual Citizen of the Year Award and Brian Dassler Young Floridian of Year Award.

Internships

The Bob Graham Center offers a variety of internships and fellowships for UF undergraduates of all academic majors. We’ve placed hundreds of interns in positions with public entities and private companies. Recurring opportunities include:

Washington Center Internships - In partnership with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, students are invited to apply for summer, fall, and spring internships in more than 400 public, private, non-profit, and government agencies in all fields in Washington, D.C.

Tallahassee Internship Program - Coinciding with the legislative session every spring, the Graham Center sends up to 15 students to a wide array of public- and private-sector internships. Placements include positions within the state legislature, the governor’s office, and executive branch agencies, as well as various associations and lobbying organizations.

City of Gainesville Fellowship - The City of Gainesville and the Graham Center partner to offer the annual City of Gainesville Local Government Fellowship program. Under the direction of City staff, students who are selected as fellows work part time during the fall and spring semesters of an academic year.

Research

In addition to classwork, UF encourages all undergraduate students to participate in research. This is like a form of data exploration, attempting to answer a research question by becoming knowledgeable and engaged with the trends surrounding a topic of interest. The Graham Center offers a series of funded research opportunities for undergraduates ranging from semester-long, county-level research projects to more extensive faculty-guided research. These programs are designed to introduce students to the exciting world of academic research and provide an understanding of various research methodologies. Opportunities include:

Graham Civic Scholars - One semester of entry-level research open to all undergraduates looking at critical issues impacting the State of Florida. Data is visualized in the Barometer Florida portal to help the public track progress on challenges facing our state. Civic Scholars receive a $500 stipend.

Reubin Askew Scholars - A select cohort of spring semester sophomores take several courses in public policy, receive intensive leadership training, and work with a mentor to prepare for a life of civic involvement. Askew Scholars receive a scholarship of $3000 to support a significant public service or research project through their junior and senior years.

Haskell Faculty Research Award - Three student-faculty pairs receive research awards to produce an essay on a major public policy issue facing society. Essays should advance public understanding of this issue and be published in the public sphere. Faculty receive a $3000 research award, and undergraduates receive $1500.

Career Development

Unsure about your future? We provide a place where you can explore opportunities and attend events created for the curious. To help you figure out your path, we can put you in touch with the Graham Center's network of organizations and offices around the globe.

The Graham Center hosts various Careers in Public Service events throughout the year with Gator grads who have become professionals in their fields, from community organizers to U.S. ambassadors. We also: recommend students for jobs; write letters of recommendation; put students in touch with organizations and events; nominate students for awards, honors, and recognitions; and we provide academic advising to students who just want to talk about about possible opportunities.

If any of this interests you, be sure to schedule office hours at the bottom of our student newsletter or come by Pugh Hall between 9 and 5 any weekday!