Strength in teamwork
Assistant Director of Human Resources and Army veteran Will Stephens champions collaboration
Oct. 29, 2024 — Will Stephens believes in the power of a strong team. Whether supporting troops around the world as a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Army or guiding human resources in Gainesville at the University of Florida College of Medicine, he is a firm advocate for empowering and serving others.
“There’s truly a ‘we’ concept at UF,” he said. “That’s so important to me coming from the military and a team environment. Things work and flow so much more efficiently when there’s a collaborative environment investing in success.”
This commitment to teamwork is evident in Stephens’ approach to his work as assistant director of human resources at the College of Medicine. He sees his role as an opportunity to foster a culture of leadership and knowledge that enables all faculty and staff to make strategic, informed decisions and helps advance the transformative education, research, and patient care at the heart of the college’s mission.
Stephens’ military background played a significant role in shaping the man and leader he is today. After growing up in the Bronx borough of New York City, he joined the Army at 18 and was exposed to many different ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking during training and active duty. Purpose, direction, and motivation are key lessons he still carries today, as well as the skill and flexibility to apply them to ever-changing scenarios.
While serving in Botswana, Stephens helped integrate women into the local defense force, ensuring collaboration and addressing any issues between military members. Seeing the real-time positive change and impact this had on the community is something he’ll never forget.
“When you have a team of folks working on that common goal, it’s impactful,” he said. “Here at the College of Medicine, recruiting the right physician, researcher, and staff member who will provide top-tier service and make a daily impact in patients’ lives is really important.”
Stephens first came to UF in 2019 after retiring from the Army as a Sergeant First Class and moving to Florida to spend time with his mother. He attended a job fair in Lake City and was encouraged to talk to the UF talent acquisition and onboarding team by a vendor one table over.
“I had never thought of the university as employment,” he said. “I thought of it as a place to go back to school and continue your education. It really opened my eyes.”
Starting out in employee relations at the academic health science center under the supervision of Keisha Reynolds, now director of human resources at the UF College of Journalism and Communications, was the perfect role to help Stephens bridge the gap between military and civilian service. Then in 2021, he segued to an HR generalist position at the College of Medicine, supporting the workforce through a busy three years of transition and growth before recently being promoted to assistant director in recognition of his dedication and leadership.
“What I look forward to every day is coming into this environment and working with a great team of professionals,” Stephens said. “We’ve got some big goals. We want the college to succeed. And at the end of the day, we have a service to provide our employees, but we also have a service to provide to the community as a teaching hospital. Finding ways to impact the community several layers behind the scenes can be challenging, but we make that happen.”
Outside of work, Stephens spends time with his wife, two children, and four dogs. They engage in athletics and combat sports, like weightlifting and boxing, and are a family of foodies, enjoying a good meal at local restaurants.