FPN News

Nikia Kaiza Named Inaugural FPN-Anchin Center Research Fellow

FPN President Katie Ensign; (r.) and FPN Vice President David Biemesderfer (l.) welcome Nikia Kaiza as the FPN-Anchin Center Research Fellow

University of South Florida graduate student Nikia Kaiza has been named the inaugural Florida Philanthropic Network-David C. Anchin Center Research Fellow. As part of this one-year fellowship, Kaiza will assist FPN in numerous research projects to analyze and document Florida philanthropy, including research on the overall size and scope of Florida's charitable giving and the future outlook for Florida grantmaking.

"We are thrilled to welcome Nikia Kaiza as the recipient of this first-ever fellowship," said FPN President Katie Ensign. "Her work will contribute to FPN's growing body of research to help define and understand the diverse philanthropic activity in the Sunshine State. And we are pleased to be able to offer the fellowship through our valued partnership with the Anchin Center."

Kaiza received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Florida in 2006, and she is in her final year of studies for a master's degree in public administration from USF. She also brings to the fellowship her extensive experience working in Florida's nonprofit sector, including serving as Career Manager for the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, Program Administrator for the Tampa United Methodist Centers, and Assistant Site Director and Counselor for YMCA Latchkey.

"The David C. Anchin Center welcomes the opportunity to partner with Florida Philanthropic Network in offering this fellowship," said Dr. Bruce A. Jones, Director of the Anchin Center, Endowed Professor of Education, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education at the University of South Florida. "We understand the value that Florida philanthropy brings not only to education but to all areas of our society, and the fellowship is part of the Anchin Center's ongoing commitment to the advancement of research and service in Florida."

The David C. Anchin Center is the largest research and policy center in the University of South Florida's College of Education, which is the fourth-largest college of education in the United States. The Center has 15 employees, three senior research scientists, five senior research associates, 24 graduate research assistants and three student assistants. Among the Center's many recent accomplishments is a formal partnership it has created with the Hillsborough County School District, the eighth-largest school district in the country, which has generated more than $82 million in external funding over a three-year period. The Anchin Center is a Friend of Florida Philanthropic Network. In July, the Center hosted and co-sponsored a youth gang prevention convening with FPN and the Florida Attorney General's Office.