Ford Motor Company donates equipment to IRSC Automotive Technology Program

Indian River State College (IRSC) Automotive Technology students now have three additional pieces of automotive repair equipment, valued at more than $13,000, on which to train, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company’s Technician Career Program.

Ford dealerships on the Treasure Coast have demonstrated ongoing support of IRSC students, providing around 80 Ford and Lincoln service-training modules for the College’s Automotive Technology program, said Christopher Groh, Southeast Area Coordinator for Ford Technician Career Programs. To recognize the company’s regional partnerships with schools like IRSC, Ford raffled some surplus equipment, and IRSC won the raffle, Groh said.

On Thursday, May 25, Groh delivered a Pro-Cut Brake Lathe, used for shaping uneven brake disks; a Robinair Refrigerant Recycling Machine, used to remove, hold, and replace air conditioning refrigerant while diagnosing the a/c system; and a hand-held battery tester.

Students in the IRSC Automotive Technology take the Environmental Protection Agency’s 609 Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) exam. Once they pass the exam, they receive a federal certification allowing them to work on automotive and other mobile air conditioning systems. The Robinair machine will help them obtain the certification, Groh said. Ford is seeking to add around 6,000 new automotive technicians each year, he said. “There’s a huge need, especially in Florida,” he said.

“We take a lot of pride in our training programs,” said Eduard Tautiva, a Technical Placement Specialist who helps Ford recruit automotive technicians. “We believe in investing in colleges like IRSC because this generation—they are our future technicians. They have to combine the old technology with the new, and prepare the technicians for the real world.”

According to Instructor Brian Woodrow, IRSC graduates around 30 students each year in its Automotive Technology program. “Because they complete so many Ford training modules, the local Ford dealers love our graduates,” Woodrow said. “They show up on the job with a leg up.”

The Automotive Technology program will move to the new Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex on the Massey Campus in Fort Pierce this summer. The state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot facility will also house programs in aviation and marine technology; welding; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility will take place later this year. For information about IRSC Workforce Education programs, visit www.irsc.edu.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Jun. 1, 2023|

IRSC hosts discussion on transportation and logistics

The Indian River State College (IRSC) Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex will serve as the backdrop on Wednesday, April 5, for a critical discussion about improving the supply chain through new opportunities in transportation and logistics. The event features remarks from Dr. Timothy Moore, President of Indian River State College; Congressman Brian Mast, Florida’s 21st Congressional District; Chris Thropp, President of Sage Truck Driving Schools; and Bill Solomon, Dean of the IRSC School of Workforce Education.

Among topics for discussion is legislation introduced in January by Congressman Mast that would eliminate age restrictions on truckers. The Ceasing Age-Based (CAB) Trucking Restrictions Act would allow truckers between 18 and 20 years old to transport goods across state lines. Eliminating the age restriction, Mast says, would add to the supply chain workforce, benefitting constituents of the 21st Congressional District.

“Getting more drivers on the road is a key component in addressing the nation’s ongoing supply chain issues,” said Rep. Mast. “I’m grateful to have partners like IRSC and Sage Truck Driving School right here in Florida’s 21st District that can help achieve that goal.”

Attendees will also hear from Veteran and retired Polk County Sheriff Marc Newsom, a Driver Qualification Process Facilitator for Knight Transportation. At Knight, Newsom is accountable for ensuring drivers are DOT-qualified, finalizing the hiring process and providing an orientation to their new position.

Newsom is a graduate of Sage Truck Driving Schools, a comprehensive professional tractor-trailer driver training company working with students and fleets across the country. Sage has offices and classrooms on the Indian River State College Massey Campus. Students enroll in Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training through the IRSC School of Continuing Education.

"For over 30 years, Sage Truck Driving Schools have provided high quality driver training programs to students and fleets across the country. The trucking industry represents a significant element in our nation’s supply chain. As the American Trucking Association puts it, every good in the U.S. has been on a truck at some point in its journey,” said Sage President Chris Thropp. “Our mission is to make sure every student receives personal attention and hands-on training to make them the safest and most knowledgeable drivers they can be. We have been a proud partner with Indian River State College for 16 years, providing a vital career training resource on the Treasure Coast.”

‘Creating New Opportunities—a Path Forward for Improving the Supply Chain and Growing Jobs’ begins at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude at noon. Attendees should park in the lot outside the Tomeu Center (Building C), accessible from S. 30th Street, on the IRSC Massey Campus in Fort Pierce by 10:15 a.m.

“Supply-chain disruptions exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic continue to offer significant and widespread challenges for our nation, and we are delighted to join with Congressman Mast and our partners at Sage Truck Driving Schools to illuminate a path forward,” said Bill Solomon, Dean of the IRSC School of Workforce Education.

For more information about ‘Creating New Opportunities—a Path Forward for Improving the Supply Chain and Growing Jobs’ or to R.S.V.P. for the event, contact Erin Cosentino at[email protected].

Mar. 23, 2023|

High school grads seeking tuition-free associate degrees must pledge IRSC Promise by March 10

Students graduating from Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie County public or public charter high schools and eligible in-district homeschools who wish to earn their Associate degrees tuition-free from Indian River State College (IRSC) must make their formal commitment to the IRSC Promise program no later than Friday, March 10.

High school seniors in the class of 2023 can learn more about the IRSC Promise and take the pledge at promise.irsc.edu.

Nearly 3,200, or nearly half, of anticipated area high school graduates have already pledged to begin their full-time studies at IRSC this fall through the IRSC Promise.

“The IRSC Promise program is changing the trajectory for our students, our families and our communities,” said IRSC Vice President for Student Success Beth Gaskin. “We encourage every student, whether they are looking to ultimately enter the workforce or continue to an advanced degree, to begin their educational foundation by studying tuition-free here at IRSC.”

The IRSC Promise program is not a grant or scholarship. It is a tuition-paid, last-dollar program sponsored by the IRSC Foundation and funded through generous donor philanthropy and unrestricted investment proceeds.

Promise candidates must graduate from an Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, or St. Lucie County public or charter high school in 2023 or be an in-district approved homeschool 2023 graduate; meet all Promise program deadlines; and be a U.S. citizen eligible for in-state tuition or a non-U.S. Citizen eligible for in-state tuition. Students do not need to demonstrate financial need, and there is no GPA requirement for acceptance to the program.

Fall 2023 marks the second year of the IRSC Promise. The first Promise cohort entered the College in the fall of 2022, achieving a dramatic increase in enrollment at IRSC, despite a continuing national enrollment decline. More stunning was the program’s impact on minority, first-generation and low-income populations.

“The IRSC Promise Program is a difference maker for so many in our community,” concludes Gaskin. “It truly activates IRSC’s mission to transform lives through high-quality, affordable and accessible education.”

Mar. 2, 2023|

23 institutions selected to participate in AAC&U Institute on ePortfolios

23 Institutions Selected to Participate in AAC&U Institute on ePortfolios

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) announced today the 23 institutions selected to participate in the third annual Institute on ePortfolios. The Institute provides a yearlong engagement opportunity for campus teams seeking to actualize an ambitious strategy to broaden student and faculty/staff engagement with ePortfolios. The ePortfolio Institute engages campuses directly throughout the 2023 calendar year as participants’ ePortfolio implementation plans are put into practice.

In collaboration with the Association for Authentic, Experiential, and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEEBL) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), AAC&U will launch the 2023 Institute on ePortfolios on January 13. Participants will also take part in the Annual Forum on Open Learning and ePortfolios, a virtual event held on January 23 in conjunction with the AAC&U Annual Meeting. Each team from the participating institutions will design its own implementation plan for bridging curricular and/or cocurricular learning with ePortfolios. Institute faculty will serve as partners for campus plan development and implementation.

“ePortfolios may be the best strategy higher education has available to it to foster integrative learning that connects courses and high-impact educational experiences,” said C. Edward Watson, AAC&U Associate Vice President for Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation. “This Institute’s yearlong model will enable campuses to receive mentorship and consulting as they engage in the complex work of instantiating ePortfolios across courses, and in some cases, across programs and curricula.”

The 23 institutions participating in the 2023 Institute on ePortfolios are:

Augustana University
Bethune-Cookman University
Colorado Mountain College
D'Youville University
Duke Kunshan University
Grand Valley State University
Holy Family University
Indian River State College
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Johns Hopkins University
Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus
Mississippi University for Women
New England College
Ohio Dominican University
Open Society University Network—Bard College, American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), BRAC University (Bangladesh)

AAEEBL provides a community of practice and resources to help meet the needs of the global ePortfolio community and promotes portfolio learning as a major way to transform higher education.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Its work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy, and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states and 25 countries.

Pasadena City College
Pima Community College
University of Arkansas
University of Rochester School of Nursing
University of Saint Mary
University of South Alabama
Virginia State University

Dec. 2, 2022|

IRSC Promise Program 2023 questions and answers

On Nov. 16, 2022, Indian River State College (IRSC) revealed the IRSC Promise Program 2023—its most significant investment in eliminating barriers to higher education. Promise 2023 offers tuition-free Associate degrees for qualifying 2023 graduates from public and public charter high schools in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties, as well as eligible, in-district home school graduates.

Follows are answers to commonly asked questions:

What is the IRSC Promise Program?

The IRSC Promise Program provides tuition-free Associate degrees for students graduating in 2023 from public and public charter high schools in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties and eligible 2023 in-district homeschool graduates.

How does one get into the Program?

To take advantage of the program, eligible high school seniors must commit to IRSC by taking the Promise Pledge, available at promise.irsc.edu. The pledge deadline is March 10, 2023.

Is there a catch?

There is no catch. Any public or public charter high school graduate in the IRSC service district or eligible in-district homeschool graduate for 2023 who qualifies for Florida in-state residency and wishes to enroll as a full-time student in an IRSC Associate Degree program can participate.

What’s an eligible homeschool graduate? 

In-district 2023 homeschool students need to provide an IRSC Homeschool Affidavit Form + School District Letter acknowledging the establishment or termination of their home education program. Students homeschooled through a private school are considered private school students, not homeschoolers and are not eligible for the IRSC Promise Program.

Do students have to demonstrate financial need or be first-generation students to qualify? 

No, the Promise is not based on need, however, Promise students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year.

Is a minimum high school GPA required?

The Promise program requires that you graduate in 2023 from a public or public charter high school in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee or St. Lucie county or be an eligible in-district homeschool graduate. Students must meet the minimum 2.0 GPA required for high school graduation. Once at IRSC, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to receive Promise funding.

Does the Promise apply to career-training (non-degree) certificates?
You must be enrolled full-time in an Associate Degree program to be part of the IRSC Promise Program. Several IRSC programs allow you to earn industry certifications as you progress toward your degree. These include A.S. and A.A.S. programs in trades such as Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Systems Technology; Automotive Service Management Technology; Building Construction Technology; Criminal Justice Technology; and Fire Science Technology. View IRSC Associate in Science/Associate in Applied Science Degree programs at https://irsc.edu/programs/associate-in-science-degree-programs.html. 

Is the Promise available to private school students?

Not yet.  We will continue to evaluate the program to inform future expansion plans. We encourage private school graduates to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for IRSC Foundation scholarships for assistance with funding.

Are Dual Enrollment students eligible for the Promise?

Yes. Any student that is a 2023 graduate from an in-district public or public charter high school or an eligible 2023 in-district homeschool graduate, regardless of incoming credit, can pledge to the IRSC Promise program.

Is the Promise available to G.E.D.® students?

G.E.D.® students are not yet eligible for the IRSC Promise program. We will continue to evaluate the program for next year to make expansion plans. We encourage G.E.D.® students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for IRSC Foundation scholarships for assistance with funding.

Are graduates of Florida Virtual School eligible for the Promise?

No. Only graduates of public and public charter high schools in Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee, and St Lucie counties or eligible in-district homeschool graduates are eligible. We encourage Florida Virtual School graduates to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for IRSC Foundation scholarships for assistance with funding.

Are DACA students eligible for the Promise?

Yes. If the State of Florida considers you a student, IRSC considers you a student. DACA students who qualify for Florida in-state residency can pledge to the Promise. We will work with each student individually to confirm eligibility.

What if a 2023 high school graduate completed an A.A. concurrent with high school graduation and wants to pursue an A.S. at IRSC?

That student would qualify for the Promise program to complete an A.S. Degree.

If I already have Florida Pre-paid, can I still be eligible for the Promise?

The IRSC Promise Program allows families with 529 plans, like Florida Prepaid, to stretch their investments even further. Those seeking to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree after completing an IRSC Associate Degree tuition-free can apply pre-paid balances toward that next educational milestone. Unused Florida Pre-Paid monies may also be returned to you; see  www.myfloridaprepaid.com for details.

Am I still eligible for the Promise if I already have Bright Futures or scholarships?

The Promise will apply to any tuition balance after funds from Bright Futures or scholarships are applied.

If I get financial aid, does the IRSC Promise still apply to me?
The Promise Program is last-dollar funding, meaning it will cover any tuition cost after financial aid and scholarships have been applied.

Will the Promise Program cover my tuition if I don’t qualify for Financial Aid or scholarships?
Yes, the Promise Program will cover the cost of tuition students who don’t qualify for Financial Aid or scholarships.

How is the IRSC Promise Program funded?

The IRSC Promise is a tuition-paid program sponsored by the IRSC Foundation and funded through generous donor philanthropy and unrestricted investment proceeds. The IRSC Promise Program has no cash value. The College looks forward to partnering with other private organizations to expand the program and meet the needs of even more students.

Are there any other costs apart from tuition for the Promise Program? 
The Promise Program covers tuition only. There are additional costs students should budget for, including books, supplies, transportation, rent, and food.  Examples of fees you could be responsible for include distance learning fees, lab fees, and other special fees.  For more information on Indian River State College fees, visit the college catalog.

What if I am not eligible for the Promise Program?

Students not eligible for the Promise Program should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for IRSC Foundation scholarships for assistance with funding.

How do I learn more about the IRSC Promise Program?

Students and parents can talk with their high guidance counselors or visit promise.irsc.edu to view a schedule of upcoming Promise Program Information Sessions, learn more about the program, and take the Promise Pledge.

Nov. 25, 2022|

Sebastian River High School hosts IRSC Program rally

Sebastian River High School hosts IRSC Promise Program rally

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Dr. Timothy Moore, President of Indian River State College, will announce the continuation and expansion of the IRSC Promise Program and provide a community update on the impact of Promise 2022, at an assembly and press conference hosted by the School District of Indian River County Superintendent Dr. David Moore, at Sebastian River High School.

WHAT:

Indian River State College President, Dr. Timothy Moore, addresses a special assembly of Sebastian River High School seniors to introduce year two of the IRSC Promise program—a free tuition program sponsored by the IRSC Foundation.

A community report on the impact of the inaugural year of the Promise Program and a question and answer period for members of the press will follow the assembly/Promise Rally. Leadership from the School District of Indian River County, Indian River State College, and the IRSC Foundation will be on hand to answer questions.

WHEN:

7:30 a.m.: Promise Rally kicks off as students assemble in the Auditorium

7:35 a.m.: Promise program announcement

8:30 a.m.: Community update/Media Q&A with college, school district, and IRSC Foundation leadership

WHERE:

Performing Arts Center, Sebastian River High School, 9001 Shark Blvd., Sebastian, FL 32958. Parking for media is available behind the Performing Arts Center. All others may utilize the guest parking lot.

Media interested in covering the event should contact Suzanne Seldes, Indian River State College, at [email protected] or 772-462-7265.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Nov. 14, 2022|

IRSC Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning distinguished lecture series

IRSC Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning Announces 2022-23 distinguished lecture series

One of the most well-known offerings through the Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning at Indian River State College (IRSC) is the popular Distinguished Lecture Series. This series focuses on subjects in science, the arts, environmental concerns, global issues, and education. Lectures will be offered once per month, starting December 8 at the IRSC Massey Campus in Fort Pierce at 10 a.m.

The following lectures comprise the 2022-’23 season:

December 8, 2022: Matthew Greenhouse
“The James Webb Space Telescope Mission”
Location: IRSC Massey Campus, Fort Pierce.

Matthew Greenhouse has served on the James Webb Space Telescope senior staff as Project Scientist for the Webb science instrument payload since 1997. He specializes in infrared imaging spectroscopy, development of related instrumentation and technologies, flight project science, and technical management.

Greenhouse has served on several NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) flight mission teams. He supported ESA's Infrared Space Observatory mission as a member of the Long Wavelength Spectrometer instrument team. The James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is the largest space telescope ever constructed and will extend humanity's high-definition view of the universe into the infrared spectrum.

January 12, 2023: Janet Roessler
“Reconnecting to Your Passion and Purpose—Practical Tools to Craft Your Vibrant Life”
Location: IRSC Mueller Campus, Vero Beach

Janet Roessler’s purpose is to connect, inspire, teach and learn by utilizing her curiosity, creativity, wonder, and compassion. These journeys of exploration, whether through speaking, art-making events, or experiential exercises are geared towards getting each of us to connect with our gifts, our passion, and purpose, and getting out of our own way so that we are empowered to take action and contribute our part to make this world better.

Janet is and has been a successful serial entrepreneur in several fields all with the common thread of service, she has been a celebrated bodyworker, intuitive counselor, interior designer, craft artist, painter, poet, sculptor, boutique PR services owner, gallery manager, ritual-maker, minister, Toastmaster, and certified success principles trainer. Always open to the pull of the deeper flows within herself and others, she is always seeking the nudges and tugs of “spirit” and intuition.

February 9, 2023: William Craig Fugate
“Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season”
Location: IRSC Massey Campus, Fort Pierce.

Craig Fugate served as President Barack Obama’s FEMA Administrator from May 2009 to January 2017. Previously, he served as Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s Emergency Management Director from 2001-07 and Governor Charlie Crist from 2007-09. Fugate led FEMA through multiple record-breaking disaster years and oversaw the Federal Government’s response to major events such as the Joplin and Moore tornadoes, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Matthew, and the 2016 Louisiana flooding.

Fugate set a clear and compelling vision, mission, and priorities for FEMA and relentlessly drove the Agency to achieve better outcomes for survivors. Before his tenure at FEMA, Fugate was widely praised for his management, under Governor Jeb Bush, of the devastating effects of the 2004 and 2005 Florida hurricane seasons (Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Katrina, and Wilma). Craig currently provides senior-level advice and consultation in disaster management and resiliency policy through Craig Fugate Consulting LLC and is a Strategic Consultant for IRSC in the area of emergency management.

March 2, 2023: Sandra Pearce
“Ethiopia–The Tribes and Traditions”
Location: IRSC Mueller Campus, Vero Beach

Sandra Pearce (McAuley) lives in Okeechobee, Florida, with her husband David McAuley. Sandra has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. She has given up most of her photography work to teach Digital Art. Sandra has earned the Master of Photography, Master of Electronic Imaging, and Craftsman in her national association Professional Photographers of America.

She has traveled to Africa for the past five years and has documented her experiences with photographs. She has been to Ethiopia to visit the remote tribes in the past couple of years where only a few people have traveled. She is working on a travel book about the tribe she has come in contact with. Sandra enjoys the friendships of the many people she has met thru Photography and teaching people to paint in Photoshop.

April 20, 2023: Kimberlie Massnick, Ph.D.
“Cold Cases, College Students and Community Service”

Location: IRSC Massey Campus, Fort Pierce

As an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Indian River State College, Dr. Kimberlie Massnick believes that learning needs to get out of the classroom and into real-life situations. Her teaching styles include staged crime scenes instead of traditional exams, assisting in law enforcement searches, and participating in community opportunities involving the homeless, addicted, and juveniles in need. To be a great educator, she believes one must never stop learning.

Dr. Massnick’s fascination with criminal justice started during a college psychology lecture on serial killers. That single lesson turned into an extensive career as a criminologist who specializes in sexual offenders and serial killers. She is also a subject matter expert on victimology and forensic psychology. Massnick has her own podcast which is victim centered.

The Distinguished Lecture Series is presented by the Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning. Doors open 30 minutes before the lecture. Lectures last approximately one hour and are followed by a moderated 30-minute question-and-answer session. Registration for the five-part series is $150 per person for new and returning members; $100 per person for lifetime members and peer leaders. If available, individual lecture seats are offered at $35 one week before each of the lectures.

The Distinguished Lecture Series is presented by Indian River State College Foundation and School of Continuing Education. To subscribe to the Distinguished Lecture Series, contact the Fielden Institute for Lifelong Learning at 772-462-7880 or visit www.irsc.edu/community. For more information on Lifelong Learning program offerings, visit www.irsc.edu/community/school-of-continuing-education/lifelong-learning.html.

Sandra Pearce

Kimberlie Massnick, Ph.D.

Matthew Greenhouse

Janet Roessler

William Craig Fugate

Nov. 14, 2022|

Former fortune 500 executive returns to Fort Pierce to inspire students and community

IRSC to host ‘Soaring: Turning Challenges into Success’ with Lee Rhyant on Sept. 22

The public is invited to join Lee E. Rhyant, former executive vice president and general manager for Lockheed-Martin Marietta and Fort Pierce native son, on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. for a community conversation in support of his new book, Soaring Eleven Guiding Principles on the Path from Segregation to Success, co-authored with Dr. Catherine Lewis.

The program will take place at the Kight Center for Emerging Technologies, Room V-110, on the Indian River State College Massey Campus, 3209 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce. The talk will be followed by a meet and greet and book signing with the authors. The event is free and open to the public.

A powerful underdog story, Soaring delivers practical leadership advice, business lessons, and tips for career and personal success mined from Rhyant’s 40 years as a corporate leader. Born into poverty in the postwar South, Rhyant was the fourth of eight children raised by a family of sharecroppers struggling to survive the last decades of segregation.

As a child, Lee’s family moved to Fort Pierce, and with help from his family, teachers, clergy, and local community, reached the executive ranks at General Motors, Rolls-Royce Aeronautics, and Lockheed-Martin. During “Soaring: Turning Challenges into Success,” Rhyant and co-author Dr. Catherine Lewis will share his guiding principles and tips for success to demonstrate the transformative power of perseverance.

“I’m cannot think of a better place to launch the publication of this book than in my hometown,” shares Lee Rhyant. “Fort Pierce shaped me into the person I am today, and my family and I owe so much to this community. Indian River State College helped change the trajectory of my life, and I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire and motivate a new generation to strive for success.”

The event at IRSC marks the launch of the book Soaring Eleven Guiding Principles on the Path from Segregation to Success (UGA Press, 2022).

More about Lee Rhyant

From 2000 to 2011, Rhyant served as Executive Vice President and General Manager for Lockheed-Martin Marietta. Since leaving the aerospace industry, Lee has been highly sought after as an executive coach and confidant to Fortune 500 executives across the industrial spectrum. He is the President and CEO of LER Solutions, an executive coaching firm in Atlanta, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

About Dr. Catherine Lewis

Dr. Catherine Lewis is assistant vice president for Museums, Archives & Rare Books and professor of history at Kennesaw State University. She has curated more than 40 exhibitions around the nation and is the author, co-author, or co-editor of fifteen books.

Media interested in covering the event or seeking an advance interview with Lee Rhyant should contact Suzanne Seldes at [email protected] or 772-462-7265.

Aug. 29, 2022|

Dr. Terri A. Graham to succeed Casey Lunceford as IRSC Mueller Campus president

Indian River State College (IRSC) introduced Terri A. Graham, Ed.D., as the next Campus President for the IRSC Mueller Campus in Vero Beach, Florida. Dr. Graham assumes her duties on August 1, 2022. Her service will overlap with the retiring Casey Lunceford. Lunceford has served IRSC with distinction since 1997, holding positions that include Associate Professor and Director of Instrumental Music, Academic Director of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Dean of Arts and Sciences and, since 2014, Mueller Campus President. Lunceford retires at the end of August.

“For some 25 years now, Casey Lunceford has dedicated himself to IRSC, most recently as Mueller Campus President, where he has built strong relationships within Indian River County communities and established a campus culture focused on maximizing student success,” asserts Dr. Timothy Moore, IRSC President. “We wish Casey well in his retirement endeavors and welcome Dr. Terri Graham as our next Campus President. As we embark on IRSC’s next chapter of service in Indian River County, we will draw extensively on Dr. Graham’s track record of exemplary leadership, employee development, teamwork and open communication.”

Graham comes to IRSC from Valencia College in Orlando, where since 2016, she has served as Executive Dean, leading the academic, fiscal, and operational areas of the regional/satellite Winter Park campus in close partnership with the Campus President. In 2020, Graham was named Interim Campus President for the College’s West and Downtown Campus, adding roles as chief academic and operating officer for two sites that collectively enroll over 35,000 students annually.

At IRSC, Graham will oversee operations and management of College staff, programs, curriculum, activities and resources in Indian River County, including those at Mueller Campus and IRSC educational sites in Sebastian and Fellsmere. By actively and visibly representing the College throughout the community, Graham will strengthen and grow collaborative relationships with individuals, businesses, industry, organizations, governmental entities and educational partners and help IRSC identify and respond quickly to the educational and workforce needs of the community.

Before joining Valencia College, Graham was Dean of the School of Academic Foundations at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. She was responsible for planning, developing and implementing instructional and student development programs. Before that, she was Director of Program Development for Workforce Degree and Certificate Programs at Florida State College in Jacksonville.

Throughout her 28-year career, Graham has served in both education and administration. In her early days, she taught at elementary and middle school levels. She has taught at the college level since 2009.

Graham is a frequent presenter on topics such as leadership, higher education and minority achievement and has served on boards including the Downtown Orlando Partnership, Parramore Education and Innovation District, Parramore Community Engagement Council, PACE School for Girls and the Winter Park YMCA. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), an M.B.A. in Management and Marketing from Rollins College, and a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida.

Aug. 2, 2022|

IRSC’s use of Blockchain Technology featured at Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit

The upcoming Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit, presented by The Florida Chamber Foundation, features Indian River State College (IRSC) Vice President of Institutional Technology and CIO Tim Marshall. Marshall will present a session titled “Block Chain Examples in Education and Other Industries.” The daylong Summit takes place on Aug. 31 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street.

In Nov. 2021, Marshall introduced the implementation of blockchain technology to remove barriers and open new opportunities for IRSC students. With blockchain technology, students may freely share their education records with anyone, anytime, expediting the process of entering higher education and accelerating their ability to connect with career opportunities.

Marshall, whose three-decade career in education, technology/management services, banking and defense industries, will share how blockchain technology is transforming IRSC and other educational institutions and its potential use for different industries.

“The Florida Chamber Foundation is working on satisfying six pillars of goals outlined in their FL 2030 Blueprint,” said Tim Marshall, IRSC Vice President of Institutional Technology and CIO. “ My presentation will focus on how blockchain technology can be used to meet the goals of the ‘Improving Florida’s Talent Pipeline for a Better Workforce’ pillar, focusing on education and workforce readiness.”

The IRSC Foundation is a Diamond Sponsor of the event. Those interested in joining IRSC can use the promo code “IRSCFTech22” for 10% off in-person attendee registration. Visit the Florida Chamber Foundation website to register and for more information at https://flchm.co/3z07JG5.

Jul. 26, 2022|

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