TJ Villamil named special assistant to UF President Bernie Machen

June 16, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Jose Antonio “TJ” Villamil IV has been named special assistant to University of Florida President Bernie Machen.

In his new role, Villamil will act as a liaison and assist the president with communications to internal and external audiences, direct special projects, advance key presidential and Board of Trustees initiatives, mentor students and serve on the president’s cabinet.  He also will assume the role of assistant corporate secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Villamil, 24, of Miami is an entrepreneur who most recently was co-founder and director of business development for Gulejo, a Gainesville-based coffee company.  He also served as vice president of marketing and external relations for the Washington Economics Group Inc., and co-founder of Floridanomics, a subscription-only website that provides economic information for business executives, professionals and decision makers with existing or future operations and investments in Florida.

A 2013 UF graduate with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship, Villamil served as student body president and a member of the Board of Trustees in 2012-13.  Prior to that, his student government positions included treasurer and budget and appropriations committee chair.

Villamil was named to the UF Hall of Fame in 2013 and was a member of the College Leadership Florida Class XII.  He also was the recipient of the Chairman’s Award at Dade Days.

Villamil succeeds Jamal Sowell who left to attend law school.

“TJ brings to this position invaluable experience as a student body president and member of the UF Board of Trustees,” Machen said.  “He is well known and respected on and off campus and will be an asset to the University of Florida.”