Dr. Audrienna Burgin and other UNF alumni make up a quarter of JBJ 40 Under 40 list

Dr. Audrieanna Burgin, University of North Florida's founding director of the Diversity in Business program, adjunct instructor of economics and Coggin College of Business alumni ('11), represents UNF as one of Jacksonville Business Journal's 2024 40 Under 40 honorees.

Since 2019, Burgin has endeavored as a leader and change agent within innovative nonprofit organizations. She has played an integral role in actively transforming the educational landscape of the First Coast and advancing inclusion for all, collectively raising over six million dollars for education and equity initiatives in Jacksonville.

Having originally joined the UNF community as a visiting assistant professor of economics, Burgin became director of the Diversity in Business program for the Coggin College of Business (CCB) before its launch in the Spring of 2022.

The program provides a supportive community for students of color within the CCB, offering multi-level mentorship initiatives and an intense high school outreach that educates student groups in the Jacksonville area about the benefits of business education, demonstrating through innovative and engaging events that such an education is financially accessible through the college.

"Achieving equity in education means ensuring all students have access to the resources and opportunities needed to obtain a high-quality education, regardless of their social, economic or racial background," Burgin said. "Despite the challenges, my determination to be a trailblazer for future generations in my hometown of Jacksonville propels me forward."

Among her list of accomplishments, Burgin has been selected as one of Jacksonville's Class of 2023 top 17 Emerging Leaders by the Jax Chamber Hightower Fellowship. She has also received the UNF Award of Excellence (2023), the UNF Black Alumni Achievement Award (2022), the UNF Certificate in Grant Writing (2021) and the Florida State University Charles E. Rockwood Teaching Award & Scholarship for Excellence in Teaching (2015-16).

Burgin is the senior research scientist at WGU Labs and a board member of various organizations, including Nonprofit Center of Northeast FL, I am the Prize Inc., Becoming Collegiate Academy and The Sound of Change Inc.

Among the individuals honored by the Jacksonville Business Journal, Burgin is one of ten UNF alumni who made the list. Other UNF alumni include Amber Wilson ('06), Kimberly Simon ('06), Michael O'Neal ('08), Samantha Spaniak ('10), Matt McCarthy ('10), Stephen Freeman ('13), Chase Smith ('13, '20), Kendall Sisisky Valliere ('15) and Tyler Holder ('15).

For the full list of honorees, visit the Jacksonville Business Journal.