Amila Tica— "Tica, like pizza," she joked—is UFIC’s Coordinator of Exchange Student Services, advising and assisting all inbound international students studying abroad here at UF. Amila is a double Gator, with a B.A. in International Studies and English and an M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education.
Born in Germany to Bosnian parents, Amila moved to the United States when she was 5 years old. “My family escaped from the war in Bosnia and lived in Germany for 7 years—it’s where my brother and I were born. We came as refugees to Jacksonville in 2000, when our residence in Germany became tenuous.” Growing up in Jacksonville, she always was close to her Bosnian heritage, “Jacksonville has one of the highest percentages of Bosnian folks in the US—it was nice for my family, because the community already existed and provided us with welcome tastes of home.”
Amila earned her International Baccalaureate degree from her high school in Jacksonville and started as a student at UF in 2013. Amila was still pursuing her undergraduate degree when she began working at the International Center as student assistant, “At the time, the International Studies major was also housed out of the UFIC offices, and they were hiring for a marketing student assistant, assisting with events, programing and getting involved with the International Center.” After she graduated, Amila started full-time at UFIC, “I started as OPS, but my mentor at the time helped create a Program Assistant job for me after a short time,” says Amila, “I’ve been here ever since!”
In 2021, Amila was promoted to her current position. Shortly before, she was taking advantage of the Employee Education Program (EEP) an incredible program offered to UF employees, allowing her to complete her master’s degree while working full-time, “I wanted to strengthen my foundation in the theoretical concepts of the job I was already doing, so I chose to pursue a M.Ed. in Student Personal in Higher Education,” explains Amila. “It was interesting to see the overlap between my degree and working at the same time with the same concepts—ePortfolio, internships, and study abroad—all part of what I was already doing in the International Scholar’s Program.”
At UFIC, the student is always Amila’s number one priority. “I enjoy when students come by more than just during their check-in, and I get to know them on a deeper level,” says Amila. “I had a Ukrainian student back in 2022, when Russia invaded, and was greatly impacted by her. We worked together to access resources on campus, and we were even able to extend her program so that she wasn’t thrust back into such a tumultuous scenario in her home country."
Amila has the passion necessary to work in International Education because she loves what she does. “I currently work with the Exchange Students—students studying abroad here at UF—I am the first point of contact.” Her favorite part of her job is creating events for the J-1 students, “With the help of my fabulous student assistants, we make a space for the exchange students to interact, and it gives face time with the students and scholars, whose experiences are often unique from the typical undergraduate.”
Not only does Amila encourage the students she advises to make the most of their time abroad, but she also takes that advice to heart. Amila’s development as an administrator has been shaped by her own international experiences. “After high school, I had the opportunity to teach English to elementary students in Turkey. It was my first time traveling alone internationally.” She’s traveled to five of the seven continents, most recently celebrating her milestone birthday in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. “It was the first time I traveled internationally for fun. There was no obligation besides experiencing the cities, the food, the tourist attractions—I fell in love with an elephant named Thandi!”
When she’s not out traveling the world, Amila loves her little corner of the world here in Gainesville, “There’s always something going on—markets, cultural festivals. I like to take advantage of the nature here in Central Florida.” She has an extremely tight-knit family, and being close to Jacksonville helps keep them that way. “It’s a very big part of Bosnian culture—intergenerational households are the norm,” she says, “you take care of your family, and they take care of you.”
Amila Tica’s journey—from a young refugee to a dedicated advocate for international students—reflects her resilience, compassion, and deep commitment to global education. Her lived experiences and academic pursuits have shaped a professional who not only understands the complexities of cross-cultural transitions but also embraces them with empathy and enthusiasm. Whether she’s organizing events for exchange students, advising those facing difficult circumstances, or exploring new corners of the world herself, Amila brings warmth, understanding, and joy to everything she does. Her story is a testament to the power of international education and the profound impact one individual can have on a global community.
Story by: Terrence Funke
UF Photos by: Christina Cozart