Biography

Gabriel “Gabe” Peña is a proud alumnus of UF, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor of the arts in History from the College of the Liberal Arts and Sciences. Originally from Miami, FL, Gabe is a first generation Cuban-American who gained a passion for the arts from his heritage and the culturally rich area of South Florida.

After graduating, Gabe stayed in Gainesville to work on entrepreneurial ventures, including the multipurpose venue, Mars Pub & Laser Tag, where local artists and musicians were encouraged to practice, create, and perform in a safe environment.  

After several years of successfully managing agency relationships in the insurance industry, Gabe is thrilled to work in collaboration with alumni and friends to support the University of Florida College of the Arts.  In December 2018, he began his work as the Assistant Director of Development. He creates and implements strategies to identify, cultivate, engage and steward donors in support of the College’s mission and goals.

In his free time, Gabe enjoys creating, cooking and gardening.  He is the proud father of daughter Penelope and husband to Melissa.