JU's Quinton White Honored as FWF's Marine Conservationist of the Year

Over the five years I’ve written for Sunshine State News, I rarely get personal but a recent honor from the Florida Wildlife Federation (FWF)  makes me forego my usual policy. 

More than a decade ago, back home on the First Coast, I served as the assistant registrar for certification at Jacksonville University (JU). During my time there, I worked under Carolyn Barrett, the registrar and a wonderful mentor, and she reported to Dr. Quinton White who was the dean. White, currently in charge of JU’s  Marine Science Research Institute, was named as the FWF’S Marine Conservationist of the Year for “exceptional work in conservation of Florida’s marine life and ecosystems, especially the manatee and kingfish.”

“This is a great honor, and I am humbled to be recognized by the Florida Wildlife Federation,” White said on Tuesday. “The FWF has consistently been a leader in protecting the Florida environment and its wildlife. With the increasing pressure of development on the Florida natural resources that people know and love, we must continue to educate our political leaders and policymakers on what is truly important.”

As JU noted on Tuesday, White has been racking up awards in recent months with Jacksonville’s  Environmental Protection Board honoring him with the Christi P. Veleta Environmental Award and the Northeast Florida Regional Council presenting him with the Regional Leadership Award back in December. 

White is an activist, a scholar, a gentleman and one of the finest educational administrators I had the pleasure of knowing during my time in higher education and it’s nice to see him being recognized.