Susan Crowley
Assistant Vice President-Community Relations, University of Florida
––––––––
Came to Greater Gainesville in 1970 for college
––––––––
What about Greater Gainesville stood out when comparing it to your other options?
I was choosing where to go to college from a distance. I had gone to high school for one year in Alaska and was still in my last year of high school in the Philippines. I had a number of choices for schools, but felt drawn to the University of Florida as my father’s degrees were from there. His strong connection to the school and to the Gators had been evident throughout my life. There is something about UF that engenders deep loyalty across generations. My children have followed in that tradition.
What is your favorite time of year and/or favorite weather conditions?
The fall is by far my favorite season, certainly because of the cooler weather but also for the seasonal celebrations that involve being with my family and friends.
Describe your ideal day in Greater Gainesville.
An ideal day for me would involve my family – my children and my grandchildren. I love cooking big breakfasts to start our day. We would visit the Florida Museum of Natural History and swing by the stadium for Gator themed pictures. We would pick a child-appropriate restaurant like Ballyhoo or One Love Café for lunch, then head to the Santa Fe Zoo or Depot Park. Then, leaving three tired little children at home, we would head to dinner – probably Mildred’s or Leonardo’s 706.