Uendi Xhani, originally from Albania, paused her law studies to move to Florida after her sister relocated there. She enrolled at the University of North Florida (UNF), citing its reputation for value and an attractive campus as key reasons for her decision.
“UNF has a reputation for being a great value and with its beautiful campus, coming here was a dream come true,” said Xhani.
Since arriving in Jacksonville in 2022, Xhani has engaged in various projects and organizations on campus. She participated in the UNF Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), where she worked on initiatives focused on environmental awareness at the Tournament Players Club Sawgrass golf course. Xhani noted that she was impressed by the sustainability practices at TPC Sawgrass.
She later used her experience to connect TPC leaders with officials in Kazakhstan to address water sustainability issues. This collaboration spanned more than 6,000 miles and aimed to share solutions between Jacksonville and Kazakhstan.
Xhani is set to graduate from UNF this summer with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in computing. She hopes to apply her education toward founding a nonprofit focused on sustainability solutions.
Fluent in Albanian, English, Japanese, and German, Xhani brought prior youth leadership experience as a Western Balkan Young European Ambassador to the European Union before attending UNF. At UNF, she participated twice in the ELP program, which offers scholarships for students who complete leadership training and implement community-based projects within Northeast Florida. The program’s goal is to develop future environmental leaders through education, networking opportunities, and partnerships.
Her first ELP project partnered with the PGA Tour at TPC Sawgrass focusing on sustainable water use and habitat preservation. Her second project involved working with GlobalJax on a proposal approved by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program; this initiative sought to improve water management strategies in Kazakhstan by connecting local leaders with those abroad.
“It was so powerful to make these connections and bridge continents to share solutions,” Xhani said.
During her time at UNF, Xhani consistently achieved President’s Honor Roll or Dean’s List recognition almost every semester. She also tutored managerial accounting through UNF’s Supplemental Instruction program and held roles such as chief operating officer of the UNF Finance and Investment Society as well as board member of International Ospreys. Additionally, she attended a professional development conference last June in Nashville and worked as house manager at UNF’s Fine Arts Center.
In spring 2025, Xhani completed an internship in wealth management with Capital Analyst of Jacksonville before accepting a full-time financial service associate position there. Inspired by her parents’ small business ownership in Albania, she plans eventually to launch her own company integrating legal, financial, and technological skills for sustainable development both locally and internationally.
“I want to be a force for good in this world,” said Xhani.
Albanians refer to themselves as shqiptarë meaning “sons of eagles.” Now identifying also as an osprey—a nod to UNF’s mascot—Xhani aims to continue building international connections throughout her career.