Governor Ron DeSantis appoints Kevin O’Farrell to the Commission for Independent Education polk.edu/news/governor-ron-d…

This transformational gift from @OrlandoHealth is a testament to the quality of @PolkState’s workforce training in health sciences and nursing, which is directly supporting increasing healthcare demands for our hospitals and growing population. We are grateful for Orlando Health’s $1 million investment and partnership. We look forward to naming the Orlando Health Radiography Suite in our soon-to-open Haines City-Davenport Campus, where this critical workforce training will be expanded thanks to investments like this and those of our Legislature and Governor.

It was an honor to join @USF_Pres Dr. Moez Limayem and my colleagues with the @FLCollegeSystem this morning at the @USouthFlorida in Tampa as we celebrated a decade of the Fuse Program. Fuse is a structured 2+2 degree completion program that guarantees eligible state college students acceptance to USF. At @PolkState, our students become part of the USF culture before they even matriculate, with access to clear academic pathways, advising, and student life at both our college and the university. With a 90% retention rate for Fuse Program participants, we know this partnership works.

“We have inherited a great nation. The way we keep this nation great is for the young people in this room, the young people all over Florida and all over this nation to always remember, first and foremost, that we have to protect our Constitution." — @RepDonaldsPress U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds inspired Polk State's students on Constitution Day! Read more: polk.edu/news/u-s-congressma…

Constitution Day is a meaningful opportunity to reaffirm the importance of civic engagement. Hearing from elected officials in a non-partisan setting is vital for our students who represent the next generation of leaders in Florida. Today, @PolkState hosted both U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds (R) and Florida Senator Rosalind Osgood (D). Thank you, @RepDonaldsPress, for speaking with our students and Lakeland Campus community this morning about the significance of the Constitution and the importance of civic literacy. You provided our students with an understanding of our Constitution not simply as a historical document, but also as a foundation for how citizens participate in our constitutional republic.

Join me in welcoming @KevinOFarrell_ to Polk State College as the Executive Vice President of Workforce & Strategic Initiatives! @PolkState will benefit greatly from his more than 20 years of experience in state and higher education leadership. Dr. O’Farrell will oversee workforce-related programs, including Associate in Science and baccalaureate degrees, programs at the JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales, Advanced Technology Center in Bartow, Airside Centers in Lakeland, and the soon-to-open Haines City-Davenport Campus. He will also lead special initiatives, including civil discourse and civic engagement projects, and provide oversight for Learning Technology and Online Education.

Today, I joined fellow presidents @DrEricHall with @PHSCedu, Dr. Thomas LoBasso with @DSC_News and @semstatepres Dr. Georgia Lorenz to support @SenAshleyMoody in bringing the newly established U.S. Space Academy to Florida.   This legislation will allow the U.S. Space Academy to reach great heights thanks to our state’s existing infrastructure, growing aviation industry and highly skilled talent pipeline that will ensure its success.

Pensacola State College is pleased to share that the Presidential Search Committee has named J. Alex Kelly, Florida's Secretary of Commerce, as the finalist for PSC's next president. Read more: pensacolastate.edu/pensacola… #pensacolastatecollege