


Hello! My name is Nia Close. I am a third-year student at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in Health Science with minors in Health Disparities in Society and Leadership. As a proud native of Tallahassee, FL, I am the eldest daughter of Drs. Billy and Fran Close. I have two extraordinary younger sisters, Nataki and Nyla. I currently serve as a resident assistant on campus and worked three years as a student assistant at the UF Student Health Care Center Pharmacy. I am a Kognito Ambassador for the UF Counseling and Wellness Center. I enjoy working with others and challenging myself daily.
As a first year student at UF, I was selected to become a part of Gators of Tomorrow. Gators of Tomorrow is a leadership honorary that recognizes the top 25 freshmen at the University of Florida. The following year, I served on the Gators of Tomorrow Executive Board as the Programming Coordinator. I was also a member of the Leadership Development Institute under the UF Black Student Union. As a student leader, I truly value service and mentorship to others.
During my tenure as a Gator I have conducted different research projects and presented my findings around the state. I am an ambassador for the UF Center for Undergraduate Research, I assist other students in finding research opportunities and discovering new areas of research on campus. I am a member of the inaugural cohort of the UF Dean’s Leadership Program where I have had the privilege to work with the UF Dean of Students. During this program I learned about various leadership skills, engaged in dialogue around leadership, and connected with other student leaders. I am a member of the Florida Cicerones where I have the opportunity to lead tours to prospective students and their families while connecting past, present, and future Gators through our service to the UF Alumni Association and UF Athletic Association.
I am a member of the Fall 2019 Tapping Class of Florida Blue Key. I currently serve as the Junior Class Vice Chancellor under Student Government. I have the opportunity to plan and organize events to promote school spirit and engage students in Gator traditions. I am also a Reitz Scholar where I have been able to grow professionally and personally with other student leaders on campus and expand my leadership capacity while learning from various faculty at UF.
This past summer I had the privilege to serve as an intern at the Florida Department of Health Leon County. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the program administrator and learning about health service delivery. I am a 2019 Florida Alliance Health Professions Diversity Health Equity Research Institute Scholar. I have conducted research projects on health literacy, personalized medicine, and barriers to quality healthcare. I enjoy learning about new areas of the healthcare system as well as figuring out innovative ways to increase and improve access to healthcare for people in underserved communities.
With a growing passion to lead, conduct research, and make a difference in the healthcare industry, I serve as the undergraduate research liaison for the College of Public Health and Health Professions. I have the opportunity work with faculty in the college to improve and expand undergraduate research. I am a member of the UF Student Health Advisory Board where I serve on the finance sub-committee and serve as a student voice in the realm of healthcare. My future goals are to earn a Masters in Health Administration and a PhD in Health Policy and Management. I would like to work at a hospital as a healthcare administrator and ultimately become the CEO of a healthcare center.
In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball and reading mystery novels. My faith in Jesus Christ along with my family support system drives me every day to do my very best and put full effort into all that I do. I am very family-oriented and love to travel. I am looking forward to the upcoming opportunities that lie ahead in the Gator Nation and beyond. I am very blessed to attend such a great university and thankful to be a part of the College of Public Health and Health Professions. I truly enjoy the classes and experiences of the Health Science major. If you have any questions about the Bachelor of Health Science Program or my involvement please feel free to reach out to me at nia.close@ufl.edu.