UNF senior builds a future in sports leadership

Growing up in Palatka, Florida, Lance Dollar spent much of his childhood around sports. As a track and field athlete, he developed a passion for competition, teamwork and leadership, but he knew his future wasn't necessarily on the field. Instead, he wanted to build a career helping the next generation of student-athletes.

That goal led him to the University of North Florida, where he's spent the last two years turning classroom lessons into hands-on experiences across athletics, leadership development and event management.

"I liked the location of Jacksonville and the opportunity to learn about sports organizations while being involved with Division I athletics," Dollar said. "At a university like UNF, you get noticed more. There are opportunities here that you might not get at a larger school."

Now preparing to graduate this fall with a bachelor's degree in sport management and a minor in leadership, Dollar leaves UNF having taken advantage of every opportunity to learn, lead and make an impact both on campus, where he helped plan athletic events and announce Osprey games, and behind the scenes with The Ritz-Carlton leadership program. Dollar's journey reflects the hands-on experiences and meaningful connections that drew him to UNF in the first place.

Finding opportunities through athletics

Dollar's involvement at UNF began almost immediately.

During his first semester, a class assignment required students to volunteer with a sports team. What started as a course requirement quickly became a launching point for deeper involvement within the athletic department.

Already a licensed drone pilot with his own small drone business, Dollar was able to contribute by capturing aerial footage of UNF basketball practices and events.

Since then, Dollar has become deeply involved across campus, taking on a variety of leadership and service roles. He volunteered with the UNF softball team, supporting data analytics efforts, served as a volunteer at THE PLAYERS Championship in both 2025 and 2026 and spent the past year as a public address announcer for UNF Athletics. He also played a key role in the 2026 Silverfield College of Education and Human Services Coaching Symposium, serving as lead volunteer coordinator and managing around 20 student volunteers to help ensure the event ran smoothly.

His experiences also led him to a practicum with UNF Athletics, where he worked under Natalia Rivera, assistant athletic director for business operations. The opportunity later led to a full-time internship with the Athletics Facilities and Operations team under Ervin Lewis, deputy athletic director. In the role, Dollar gained hands-on experience in the business and operational side of collegiate athletics, assisting with everything from event planning and budgeting to coordinating game-day operations and fan experiences.

"I like that no two days are the same," Dollar said. "Most days I'm helping with the business side of athletics, planning events and working through budgets, but I also get to be involved with game-day operations and event setup. I enjoy having a lot of different responsibilities and seeing how all the pieces come together."

Learning leadership through service

While athletics provided practical experience, Dollar credits UNF's Taylor Leadership Institute (TLI) with helping him transform leadership theories into everyday practice. Through his leadership minor, he became involved in the TLI Ritz-Carlton Mentoring Program, one of only a handful of collegiate partnerships with the luxury hospitality brand nationwide. The program pairs students with Ritz-Carlton leaders to learn real-world leadership practices and professional skills.

Dollar joined the program after taking a leadership course with Dr. Matthew Ohlson, TLI executive director and endowed professor of leadership. After completing a competitive application and interview process, Dollar was paired with Julie Harmon, meetings and special events manager at the Ritz-Carlton.

Working alongside Harmon gave Dollar an inside look at the level of planning, service and attention to detail that defines the Ritz-Carlton brand. Through conversations about event operations and guest experiences, he learned how thoughtful leadership and meticulous execution can transform an event from successful to unforgettable

One conversation about event management particularly resonated with him.

"We talked about creating a 'wow factor' for guests," Dollar said. "The goal is that people leave an event without ever having to think about the logistics because everything was planned and executed so well behind the scenes. That level of preparation and teamwork was world-class to me."

The mentorship experience also moved leadership concepts from the classroom into practice. During one event, Dollar observed firsthand how employees approached even the smallest details.

"I remember seeing a flower petal on the ground and someone immediately picked it up," he said. "It's a small thing, but it reflects a culture of excellence. That's what the program taught me - leadership isn't just about big decisions. It's about consistently doing the little things that create a better experience for others."

Those experiences helped shape Dollar's leadership philosophy, one rooted in servant leadership.

"The biggest lesson I've learned is to consider others before yourself," he said. "People often talk about leaders, but leadership also depends on followers. You have to understand how to influence and support others and recognize that sometimes you're leading and other times you're following."

Ohlson said Dollar distinguished himself through both his commitment to learning and his ability to put leadership principles into practice.

"Lance is the kind of student who reminds us why leadership development matters," Ohlson said. "He brought tremendous enthusiasm, curiosity and engagement to my classes and consistently demonstrated a genuine commitment to becoming a leader. When given the opportunity to participate in our Ritz-Carlton Program, Lance took everything he had been learning and applied it on a much larger scale. His confidence, professionalism and willingness to full embrace the experience made him stand out, and I'm incredibly proud of the leader he continues to become."

As he prepares for a career in athletics, Dollar believes those lessons will help him create positive impacts wherever he works.

"In sports, I want to help develop other leaders," he said. "It's not about making leadership a one-way thing. It's about equipping people with the skills and confidence to lead others, too."

After graduation, Dollar plans to continue his education by pursuing a master's degree in leadership with a concentration in athletic administration beginning this spring. Long term, he hopes to build a career in athletic administration, with a dream of one day becoming a high school athletic director.

"For the last ten years, that's been my dream job," he said. "I feel like that's a position where I can make a real impact. Athletics is a business, but it's also about helping young people grow and succeed. That's what excites me the most."

Looking back at his time at UNF, Dollar is grateful for the mentors, experiences and opportunities that helped him grow both professionally and personally.