Presenter Bio - Sophia Andrews

Sophia Andrews currently serves as the Assistant Director for Youth Compliance and Ethics at the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida.

She is a child safety professional with over a decade of experience in higher education and child welfare. Her passion for child safety was initiated as a youth coordinator for a variety of school and military programs. This led her into a career as a dependency case manager for children within Florida’s foster care system. Case management was an eye-opening experience which solidified her commitment to child safety. Her desire to serve youth led her back to her alma mater, the University of Florida, to serve as the Youth Compliance and Volunteer Coordinator for the 4-H Youth Development Program.

She currently functions as the University of Florida’s Assistant Director for Compliance and Ethics specializing in Youth compliance. This role allows her to set policies and guidance for a variety of youth programs which serve over 150,000 participants annually. The diversity of programming under her purview included day camps, overnight camps, athletic camps, childcare facilities, on campus K – 12 school, virtual programming, community outreach, and school-based programming. Her unique experience as a child welfare professional and youth coordinator allows her to bring a perspective that integrates the principles of child safety in higher education.

Andrews is a two-time Gator, earning a Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences and a Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida. She enjoys all things compliance and child safety. Youth Compliance is an evolving field in higher education which id dependent upon experts sharing knowledge and experiences. She is a lifelong learner and educator who encourages youth professionals to reach out with any questions, concerns, or advice.