After six months, director of LGBTQ Affairs to resign

The director of LGBTQ Affairs is resigning today after six months at UF.

Roxie Patton announced Feb. 1 that she would be leaving for a different job, said Will Atkins, the interim executive director of UF Multicultural and Diversity Affairs.

He said Patton will be leaving for a position with diversity affairs at the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Patton began her position at UF Aug. 8, 2016, Atkins said.

“We anticipated her possible transition,” Atkins said, adding that Patton wanted to pursue other opportunities.

Patton couldn’t be reached for comment.

Several of the LGBTQ Affairs student ambassadors declined to comment or could not be immediately reached.

Vee Byrd, the director of UF Black Affairs, also plans to leave for a new position Wednesday.

Byrd will take a position as the associate director of student engagement at Florida State College at Jacksonville.

She said the new position will allow her to grow as a professional, and it was time to move on from UF.

Atkins said UF hopes to fill the vacant positions over the Summer. A search team will be assembled to look for new candidates. In the meantime, the department’s administration and graduate assistants will cover the responsibilities of Byrd and Patton.

“We’re excited for (Patton) and very supportive of her in this transition,” Atkins said. “I think she wanted to pursue a different opportunity.”

Roxie Patton