Ross Brooks Capstone Presentation

Ross Brooks
Program Chair and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics 

Ross Brooks has been employed at TSC for 10 years where he has served as the mathematics department’s lead faculty and currently serves as the program chair. Most recently, Professor Brooks joined the Statewide Mathematics Council subcommittee to help revise the statewide learning outcomes for developmental and gateway mathematics courses and determine K-12 standards and alignment. He has served as TSC’s faculty liaison to the Florida-Caribbean Louis Stokes Center for Regional Excellence; a project focused on promoting growth mindset interventions with underrepresented students in college-level STEM courses. After initially attending Chipola Junior College, Ross found that the experiences he had as a student at a community college gave him the desire to teach at a two-year college. After graduating from community college he attended Florida State University. As a community college graduate, Ross brings a unique perspective to teaching at the community college level. 

Nyla Davis Capstone Presentation

Nyla Davis
Human Resources Director

Nyla Davis, Human Resources Director at Tallahassee State College (TSC), has 20 years of experience in human resources. Currently, Ms. Davis is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of human resources at the college. She has spent most of her career in the public sector specializing in strategic planning, organizational change, performance management and employee relations. Prior to joining TSC, she was the Human Resource Director with the Florida Lottery and served as the Director of Administrative Services within the Department of Financial Services, Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation. She has a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in Human Resource Management. She serves as the Board Chair of the Pace Center for Girls, Leon County, is a member of Leadership Tallahassee, Class 34, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.   

Sam DeZerga Capstone Presentation

Sam DeZerga
Interim Director & Success Coach, Learning Commons 

Sam DeZerga has seven years of experience working with college students through each
step of their education – from admission to college to graduation. She currently serves as the Interim Director of the Learning Commons, an academic success coach, and an adjunct for the College. Sam is a two-time graduate of Florida State University, earning a B.S. in Psychology and Humanities and a M.S. in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies.

Renee Gordon
STEM Program Director

Dr. Renee Gordon serves as the STEM Program Director at Tallahassee State College. She cultivates STEM projects and activities for all ages to encourage students to learn new and innovative topics. Through the STEM Program, TSC students have learned how to use 3-D printers, maneuver drones, conduct undergraduate research, and create their own world within Virtual Reality. Dr. Gordon is a successful grant writer and manages over one million dollars in grant funding. In addition, she guides students on their chosen career path. Her goal is to make the transition from TSC to University a successful experience. Dr. Gordon focuses on the whole student, so they are well-rounded and ready for the exciting path ahead. She earned her Ph.D. from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University. 

Desiree Gorman Capstone Presentation

Desiree Gorman
Coordinator, Workforce Development

Desiree Gorman currently serves as the Workforce Development Coordinator within the Division of Workforce Development. Ms. Gorman has worked in workforce development since 1997, beginning her career with the local workforce development board upon its creation after the privatization of the Florida Department of Labor. She is a proud graduate of Wakulla High School and alum of Tallahassee State College. Desiree serves her community in a number of ways including serving on the Rotary Club of Wakulla Board of Directors (Past Secretary), Wakulla 4H Advisory Board and the Tallahassee State College Association of Florida College’s President. 

Candice Grause Capstone Presentation

Candice Grause
Chief of Staff

Candice Grause serves as the Chief of Staff to the President of Tallahassee State
College, located in the capital city of Tallahassee, Florida. Before her appointment in 2018, Candice served in the Office of Communications and Marketing at TSC in
consecutive and progressively responsible roles for over eight years. Among Candice's
awards and distinctions, she received the Rising Star Award by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR), which recognizes leadership as a communications professional at a two-year community or technical college. Prior to her time at TSC, Candice worked in the private sector in insurance and risk-management. She holds a bachelor of arts in English from Florida State University. 

Dr Leticia Henderson Baker Capstone Presentation

Leticia Henderson Baker
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Leticia Henderson Baker currently serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology and Sociology at TSC. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, with a major in Psychology and minor in Sociology. After returning to Jackson County, she began working at her local community college and soon after accepted a position at the community mental health program while pursuing her master’s degree in Advanced Community Counseling at Troy University. She became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the State of Florida. She has served as Clinical Director of a female juvenile residential facility overseeing the mental health services for incarcerated females, between the ages of 15-18. Leticia has also been a contracted therapist for a private mental health business. After teaching as an Adjunct Instructor at a local community college for 8 years, Leticia joined the TSC staff in August of 2018.

Sila Lott Capstone Presentation

Sila Lott
Faculty Librarian

Sila Lott currently serves as a Faculty Librarian and Adjunct Professor at Tallahassee State College. She holds a master of science degree in Library & Information Studies and is pursuing her doctorate in Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies at Florida State University. Sila is professionally certified in Online Instructional Development and Reference Services and has been teaching information literacy and Microsoft PowerPoint at the college for the past 5 years.

Johnny Petit Capstone Presentation

Johnny Petit
Professor of Mathematics

Johnny Petit currently serves as Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Tallahassee State College. In addition to this role, he serves as the Phi Theta Kappa Lead Advisor. He was born and raised in Haiti. After moving to the United States, Johnny pursued and received his associate degree from Broward College and undergraduate and graduate degrees from Florida State University. He has been a full time mathematics assistant professor since January 2018, and has served as the Phi Theta Kappa Advisor since August 2018. 

Tricia Rizza
Associate Dean of Faculty Initiatives

Tricia Rizza began her career in education as an in the K-12 classroom where she taught grades ranging from kindergarten all the way through high school. She joined Tallahassee State College in the fall of 2015 as a faculty member in Transitional Studies. From there, she moved into Communications and Humanities as an English professor before taking on her role as Associate Dean for Faculty Initiatives. In April 2022 she will complete her Ph.D. at Florida State University with a focus in Rhetoric and Composition. Her research focuses on priorities, practices, and policies that can close equity gaps in Higher Education.

Melinda Rodgers Capstone Presentation

Melinda Rodgers
Dean of Enrollment Services and College Registrar

Melinda Rodgers currently serves as the Dean of Enrollment Services, as well as College Registrar at Tallahassee State College. Prior to joining TSC in 2016, she worked for the University System of Georgia for 13 years in various roles within Enrollment Management and Financial Aid. Melinda leads the Admissions and Records team, as well as the Enrollment Call Center to increase new student enrollment, redesign the student experience, and confer degrees for students. She is the Workday Lead for Student Records, developing and refining the system processes to enhance the student experience.Melinda is the recipient of the 2015 USG Chancellor’s Excellence Award, 2017 FCSChancellor’s Best Practice’s Award, 2018 TSC Eagle Award and 2020 NISOD Excellence Award.

Josh Willoughby Capstone Presentation

Josh Willoughby
Manager of Web Development 

Josh Willoughby currently serves as the Manager of Web Development within the IT
Department at Tallahassee State College. After graduating from Florida State
University with a degree in music, Josh began working within the field of higher
education. He has spent the last 15 years honing his skills in Marketing & Communications, and now most recently, Information Technology. He enjoys working on projects that combine design skills and technical skills to produce easy-to-use applications, and is always excited to incorporate new and emerging technologies to build quality projects and systems.

Al Wynn III Capstone Presentation

Albert (Al) Wynn III
Associate Director Wakulla Environmental Institute 

Albert (Al) Wynn III is the Associate Director for the TSC's Wakulla Environmental Institute (WEI), as well serves as Director of the FAA UAS-CTI National Drone Training Program. He is a licensed Part 107 Remote Pilot and has over 250+ hours of flight time. Al oversees all Academic Programs at WEI, as well as training for staff and faculty. Under Al’s leadership, WEI is one of the first 26 appointed FAA UAS-CTI Drone Training programs in the nation. Al is excited to move the College's innovations forward as the WEI is positioned to provide the most innovative training in environmental applications. Al holds an advanced degree in Computational Theoretical Physics. He is a veteran, having served in both the Marines and the Navy, retiring after 24 years of service.