Jan. 6, 2025 — When Daressa Howard Hope, M.A., stepped into the University of Florida College of Medicine anatomy lab, she wasn’t sure what to expect.

As assistant director of M.D. admissions, she cherishes the opportunity to support future Gator physicians through their studies, getting to know them first during the application cycle and then building on those connections over their next four years of training on campus.

During a friendly morning conversation with second-year medical students Liam Kugler and Austin Edwards, Hope was invited to experience firsthand what students note as an unequivocal feature within UF’s medical school curriculum: the anatomy lab. For the first time, she observed the very subjects she often discusses with prospective medical students and witnessed the incredible gift of individuals who donate their bodies to advance medical knowledge.

Seeing a lung for the first time and guided by passionate students describing each feature of the body and organs, she realized: “These students are going to be amazing physicians.”

“When I think about my family, my husband, my children, even myself, I’m like, man, these are exactly the types of physicians I want to care for my family should something ever happen,” Hope said. “It’s really a joy to be able to be a part of the process.”

Born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, Hope grew up on the UF campus visiting her dad at work. She became the first in her family to graduate from college in 2013, earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Florida, before continuing with a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida in 2018. Shortly after, The Swamp called her home, and she worked her way up from UF’s Office of Admissions to the UF College of Journalism and Communications’ online and graduate admissions teams to joining the M.D. admissions leadership with the UF College of Medicine in August 2022.

“As a first-generation student, I really understood the importance of mentorship and how connecting students with educational opportunities can really change the trajectory of their lives,” she said. “I don’t think I could have made it to where I am today without so many mentors and advocates, so it’s a natural part of me to pour into our students.”

In her current role, Hope finds herself excited every day not just by the kind and talented pool of prospective and current medical students, but also by her colleagues, like admissions director Juliet Hill, Ricardo Moreno, and James W. Lynch, M.D., assistant dean of M.D. admissions and a professor of medicine. Whether they are traveling around the state for recruitment, preparing for interview days, calling applicants with exciting news, or sharing advice and resources with prospective students, the whole team knows the importance of showing up and collaborating to further the college’s missions of service and education with compassion and excellence.

“The admissions process is really mission-based,” Hope said. “We are looking for humanistic, team-oriented students who are hard workers and dedicated patient advocates. I truly believe in our mission and in our team, and that keeps me inspired. Seeing students here on campus and all the work manifested, I am very grateful. All that drives and puts fire into my passion and who I hope to continue to grow to be in this world.”

Outside of work, Hope enjoys reading and cooking. Recently, she’s been trying out family recipes inherited from her late grandmother, Marjorie, including a delicious sour cream pound cake. And she just finished reading “Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results,” by James Clear, a book on self-improvement for intentional growth in the new year.

Most of all, she cherishes spending time with her two daughters, Kennedy, 10, and Kendall, 4, her husband, Kenneth, and her parents, Gail and Darryl.

“They are my world,” she said. “Another way I stay inspired is by thinking of my daughters’ futures. I pray that one day in college, they have someone to support them and cheer them on as they navigate the everyday challenges that I may not see or understand.”