Please review the candidates and respond to your email to vote. Contact Josephine Carey if you did not receive an email.
Vice President
Jovany Felix
Florida State University
Director, Student Support Services
Jovany currently serves as the Treasurer of Florida TRiO for the 2015-2017 term year. Prior to his position as the Treasurer, Jovany held the position of Vice-President of FAEOPP in 2009-2010, Member-at-Large for the Northern area from 2007-2009, the Committee Chair for 3 FAEOPP Olympics (2 at FSU; 1 at FAMU), the Conference Committee Chair for the FAEOPP State Conference in 2009, member of the Vendor/Exhibit committee for Tri-State in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, member of the SAEOPP Conference Committee from 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, and the Florida representative for the COE Policy Conference in 2009 and 2010. Not only has Jovany spent his time in Florida TRiO, but has served as a general member of the Florida Evaluation Association.
Jovany has 5 years of experience of working with Florida TRiO (FAEOPP) in leadership position in various capacities and 3 years of conference committee experiences at the SAEOPP level. He shares that his programming experience, budgetary experience, and membership recruiting experience allowed him to be a well-rounded leader for FAEOPP. Unfortunately, Jovany states that he was unable to complete his tenure due to a change of jobs. However, he is ready and able to follow through with the projects and services that can benefit FL TRiO. His reasons for seeking office is to assist the association President with fulfilling her goals and objectives. In addition, Jovany feel that this position is very vital in the operation of this organization. His understands his position will be responsible for the coordination of many of the organization’s activities including governmental relations with the federal government.
The assets that Jovany will contribute to the organization is the ability to think “big”. Seeing that he had the opportunity to see the organization change and grow; he will provide effective guidance and assist the association to have a bigger presence in the State of Florida. His experience in managing not for profit organizations allows him to bring a level of professionalization to the association’s business practices. He has written for (4) TRiO grants (SSS, ETS, EOC, and UB) and feels that it provided him with a unique insight of the issues that TRiO programs personnel face.
Jovany’s vision for Florida TRiO is to see an expansion of organizational services that support the membership in their mission to provided services to first- generational/low-come students. He envision external partnerships with other organizations that can strengthen the association. He understands that the current political climate is not favorable to TRiO and feels that the TRiO association needs to position itself to strongly defend its federal programs. In regards to the office of the Vice President, a related civic and/ or community activity would be to offer the suggestion to the membership of sponsoring a state philanthropy that the organization could adopt.
2. Beatrice Turpin-Peek
Eastern Florida College
Director, Student Support Services
Currently, Beatrice serves as the Central Member-at –Large Representative for the state association. She has had the opportunity to network and talk about things that matter with TRiO staff and students through national, regional, and state association conferences. Additionally, Beatrice has served as a committee member for the Moderators Committee at the state and regional level and 6 years as a Scholarship Committee member. She states that participation on the Scholarship committee has been a labor intensive responsibility, but was very rewarding to assist a youth and adult learner with financial assistance to continue their education. Beatrice describes her experience with Florida TRiO as inspiring and very positive. Continuing to support FL TRiO, she assisted with the FAEOPP Student Leadership Conference in preparing program booklets, on-site registration, SGA elections, and workshop facilitation. Likewise, Beatrice created a workshop to help better prepare scholarship participants with properly filing out their application called “How to Get Your Groove on: FAEOPP Style”. She participated in FAEOPP Upward Bound Olympics as a judge, completed FAEOPP and SAEOPP Emerging Leaders Institute, and Co-Chaired FAEOPP State Conference in early 2000’s.
Beatrice shares that although she has not served or held any elected officer position at the COE level, she was selected as one of 30 participants who attended the First Annual European TRiO Professional Development State Exchange Initiative sponsored by COE. This trip involved a 10 day visit to four countries: London, England; Liverpool, United Kingdom; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Paris, France. This opportunity afforded her with the ability to learn about European college systems that were trying to implement programs similar to the TRiO mission of serving first generation, low-income, and students with disabilities. Beatrice states that “This was one of the most treasured highlights of my professional career”.
The professional experience that Beatrice bring in relation to the office she is seeking is supervisory skills, public speaking, grant writing, strong interpersonal skills, budget and financial management, program planning and coordination, workshop facilitation, and team work. Beatrice reason for seeking the position of Vice President is to become more involved and less of a spectator given the critical times that TRiO is experiencing with funding (remaining at level funding), educational initiatives that have adversely impacted our demographics of students, and the need to serve an association that has been instrumental in her development as a professional. The assets that she will bring to the office include, but are not limited to, excellent customer service, professionalism, belief in the mission of TRIO, public speaking skills, organization skills, a can do attitude, mentoring, effective listening, and a desire to make a difference.
Beatrice states that she would like to implement a civic lessons workshop during a future student leadership conference to help the youth understand the power of their voices and to engage them in robust dialogue and positive community activism. Her ideas include city beautification projects within our local communities, reading and or donating children’s books to poorly funded schools, and providing resources during the holidays for women, children, and families in need. Additionally, she would like to challenge more of her TRiO colleagues to be more actively engaged by serving on committees and or running for office. Her campaign slogan is “ Need a Voice, I’m You’re Choice!”.
Secretary
No candidates
Treasurer
Joyce Jones
Tallahassee Community College
Staff Assistant, Talent Search
Currently, Joyce serves on the 2017 Tri-State Conference Committee, sub-committee-facilities and technology on the Student Leadership Conference Committee, sub-committees, facilities and registration. She also served on the 2016 Tri-State Conference Committee, sub-committee-facilities and technology. Likewise, Joyce has assisted with registrations and volunteered as a moderator during those conferences. She served on the 2015 Tri-State Conference Committee, sub-committee-moderators. She has completed Emerging Leaders Institute for Florida TRIO, Tri-State, and SAEOPP. She served on the registration committee for the 2015 SAEOPP Annual Conference as well as serving as moderator for the conference. She supports COE financially through Fair Share. She has coordinated with SC TRIO and GA TRIO while serving on the Tri-State Conference Committee.
Joyce holds an AAS in Accounting and has a total of 12 years’ experience in the accounting field. Her work experiences including Accountant Assistant, Office Manager/Bookkeeper, Auditor, and Tax Specialist. She would like to serve as Treasurer in order to utilize her talents to benefit Florida TRIO. I would be able to effectively and efficiently maintain the finances for Florida TRIO with her accounting and bookkeeping knowledge. She believes her tenacious work ethic, and meticulous attention to detail will be great assets in this position. She is always willing to go above and beyond and give any assistance to any member of the TRIO community. Her vision for FLTRIO is for it to continue to grow so that we can provide more educational opportunities and experiences to the youths in our communities. She currently serves on the board of A*Rise Ministries, which is a non-profit organization that works with disadvantaged youth in Gadsen County. She is also the bookkeeper for the organization. She participates in youth activities as well as various fundraisers to support the organization. She also mentors a middle school participant.
Member at Large (North)
Dororthy Colbert
Tallahassee Community College
Program Assistant, Talent Search
Dorothy has served for the past two years as a judge for the Student Leadership Conference’s Debate Competition and as a Moderator with SAEOPP. She has contribute financially to Fair Share each year and attended last year the COE Conference in Washington, D. C; where she walked the halls of Congress and interacted with congressmen and women enthusiastically sharing the value of TRiO. She believes TRiO Works.
Although Dorothy does not have any experience with any other state association, she has worked as a school psychologist with the Leon County School District and as a Protective Services Worker for the State of Florida. In both capacities, Dorothy states that she has worked closely with families (students and parents) to ensure appropriate services. Based on her previous experiences, it will allow her to work closely with the staff in both collegiate and pre-collegiate campuses to ensure communication is to and from the Board of Directors is received. Dorothy states that her reason for seeking office is to first add to the wealth of knowledge and experience already available in the office. She wish to be the difference and it is her desire to influence positive change. Her goal is to strengthen the values and programs already in place. The assets she will bring to office of Member-at-large North, is passion for people and working towards their success, willingness to learn, listen, and lead, ability to work with people with different views, and desire to help make Florida TRiO greater and more inclusive. Dorothy shares her vision for Florida TRiO as seeing the association serve as an inclusive body while strengthening the pre-collegiate programs and closely with supporting the collegiate and community involvement. Her goal is to gather, evaluate, and disseminate information to all programs. Dorothy currently is the Executive Director for Resolution and Mediation Services (RAMS), teacher at the C. H. Mason Bible Institute, and Board Member of World Youth Ministries. She shares that RAMS is dedicated to teaching, training, and dissimilating information to assist in community development. WYM, Inc. works with community youth, ages 5-25, assisting with life skills. Classes are designed to help pre-collegiate develop skills needed for high school graduation. Utilizing this experience will assist in the position of Member-at-large for the North region.
Member at Large (Central)
Lawanna M. Hair
University of South Florida
Academic Advisor, Upward Bound Program
Lawanna M. Hair is an Academic Advisor with the University of South Florida Upward Bound Program. She was a past participant in the Emerging Leaders Institute at the Tri-State conference in Savannah, Georgia. Immediately, as a new ELI member, she took the responsibility of monitoring the Fair Share table. She explained to conference participants the purpose of Fair Share and encouraging them to contribute. Also, Lawanna extended her service to the hospitality committee. Wanting to provide an atmosphere of relaxation and fun, she organized games that a large group can play and promoted networking opportunities to meet new people.
In 2016, Lawanna had the opportunity of serving as a committee member for the Student Leadership Conference and assisted with the Florida TRiO student government election process. During that process, she helped the Florida TRiO Secretary implement a new voting system that would allow the voting system to be fair, confidential, and resulting in faster results. In addition, Lawanna assisted with registration table during the same conference. For the past two years, Lawanna has offered her services to assist with registration at the SAEOPP Conference. This ensured services for checking in, receiving fees, and dissimilating conference items. Lawanna shares that she loves greeting, working with people, and is looking forward to the 2017 SAEOPP Conference. She states that she assist in any place needed and is always willing to lead a hand.
Lawanna states the professional experience that she will bring to the Member-at-Large (Central) position is organization and dedication. She shares as an organized person, she would make sure that any project that she is assigned to complete will be done in a timely and order manner. Lawanna feels that when things are organized they can run smoothly. She is dedicated to any task she is assigned to and will strive to do a great job. The reason Lawanna is seeking this office is because she wants to contribute more to the Florida TRiO family. She has been a part of the TRiO family since she was 13 years of age from Educational Talent Search (FAMU) to the Upward Bound Program (FSU) as a summer counselor and now she is an Academic Advisor with the Upward Bound Program at (USF). Lawanna feels that it is her turn to give back. Wanting more TRiO programs to get involved, she plans to contact all the programs in central region to inform them about the conferences, create workshops for staff professional/ leadership development, and assist in any way with Florida TRiO, Tri-State, or SAEOPP if elected.
The assets that Lawanna will bring to the office is creativity. She always think of things that are bigger and better. She wants to be able to create things that would benefit the students of TRiO. Lawanna always think outside the box and in a way that would reach the audience she is targeting. For this office, she wishes to come up with a creative way to get all the Florida TRiO programs back active in the association. Lawanna believes that creating mini staff conferences will sharpen the skills of the Florida TRiO staff. She states the more training the staff receives, then the more information will be provided to the students. TRiO Works!!!
Lawanna’s vision for Florida TRiO is to get all the TRiO programs in Florida back active and create a summer Olympics for Student Support Services students. Lawanna’s goal is to create a community service project for student at the Student Leadership Conference. Orlando, Florida has a high percentage in human trafficking, homelessness and foster kids. Creating opportunities for community services will teach students, make them aware, and give them community service hours. Lawanna explains that when people have a clear understanding of things, they learn to appreciate the simple things in life; such as being in a TRiO program.