Representative Dave Murzin

UWF degree and year of graduation:
BA, Political Science, 1991

Why did you choose to attend UWF?
At the time I came to UWF, I was on my own – I was place bound and could not afford to go anywhere else. UWF quickly became a home to me. The friends I made in my fraternity and through working in Student Activities became my extended family.

What were your goals as a student?
When I first came to UWF, I wanted to go into business. I was thinking about a career in Business Law, while also having political interests. I was politically active, volunteering to work on political campaigns. I received credit hours for this work and switched my academic focus from Management to Political Science. My advisor, Larry Walker helped me focus on my education and kept me on tract.

What is your best memory from your days at UWF?
There are many, but probably the best are the times with my SAE fraternity brothers. Thursday nights at the Rathskellar were great fun. I ran the sound system, spinning records, with my buddy Robert Lee. I also enjoyed working with Student Activities. We worked hard, late, long hours. But we also met entertainers and worked with numerous student organizations on campus.

Who was your favorite professor and why?
Dr. Alfred Cuzan – as a young boy, he and his family emigrated from Cuba only days before the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Dr. Cuzan was a conservative who certainly understood political oppression. He was an excellent professor.

What do you do now and how did UWF help you progress to this point?
I am a State Representative. UWF gave me the opportunity to work on political campaigns and as a result, this experience helped open doors for me. UWF gave me the opportunity to be a campaign manager for Buck Lee, who at that time was running for Escambia County Commissioner. As a result of this campaign, I met Matt Langley Bell, who became my first employer … and it just continued. From UWF, I also learned responsibility, made lifelong friends, and learned the importance of giving back to my community.

How do you stay connected to UWF?
I continue to work with Dr. Cuzan and the internship program in the State Legislature. I travel a great deal, but make time to visit the campus. Also with the UWF presence in Tallahassee, I keep in touch.

What advice do you have to current and future UWF students?
Get real world and real work experience. Take advantage of internships and even volunteer to gain experience. Through these experiences you will learn to apply your education to the real world.

What quality makes UWF special or unique?
The closeness you have with your professors. It is an environment that facilitates building long lasting friendships – with faculty members, fellow classmates, and fraternity brothers.

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