by Mae KigginsCarl Barfield is a professor and the Undergraduate Coordinator in the Department of Entomology and Nematology. He has been advising undergraduate students full-time for the past six and a half years and is in the unique position of having a 100% teaching/advising appointment. His prior six years were spent in the Provost’s office as an Associate Provost. These wide ranging experiences are an asset to both his students and the University.
Why be an advisor
Dr. Barfield loves being an advisor. He originally became a professor because he loved working with students. He did research because it was required of faculty members. He wants students to be as happy and excited about their careers as he is about his. Dr. Barfield is finally getting to focus solely on students, which is exactly what he has always wanted to do.
Approach to advising
Dr. Barfield focuses on helping students find their passion and advising them in how to be successful in reaching their academic and professional goals. The first time he advises a student he teaches them how to read an audit so that subsequent visits can focus solely on student growth and development.
Favorite part of advising
Watching students find and follow their dreams.
Least favorite part of advising
Dealing with the increasing percentage of students who are in over their heads and play games to get out of stuff.
Motivation
Watching students mature. The best thing a student has ever told Dr. Barfield is that he received his own National Science Foundation grant.
Accomplishments while serving as Associate Provost
Some of Dr. Barfield’s accomplishments include designing the first online transfer manual, creating the first “Choose Your Major” brochure, and developing a scholarship program for community college transfer students. He assisted in implementing a teaching improvement program and drafted the UF faculty and advisor awards criteria.
In addition to advising
Dr. Barfield teaches ENY3005 – Introduction to Entomology and ENY1001 – Bugs & People, assists with Freshman Preview, taught First Year Florida for six years, and teaches an upper-division Honors Colloquium course for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. At Preview, he gives a presentation to incoming students about faculty expectations. He says he is the only faculty member who gives out his email address at Preview and answers any question that students email him. He usually ends up getting around 1,000 emails during the fall semester from freshman Preview students.
On a personal note
Dr. Barfield has been at UF for over 33 years and will be retiring July 31, 2011. When he was involved in research, his work focused on crop protection strategies in developing countries that did not involve the use of pesticides. He has been married for 34 years and has two sons. His favorite pastimes involve the outdoors, especially sports.
Dr. Barfield quote
“You have the right to be adventuresome, but not the right to be stupid.”
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