2023 - 2024 Cohort Presentations
 John Bikowitz and Raksha Patel Capstone Presentation |
John Bikowitz John Bikowitz is a dedicated mathematics professor at Tallahassee State College and has serve the College since 2017. Throughout his tenure, he has actively contributed to TSC’s growth by serving on various committees, one of which collaborated with the Dana Center to develop an innovative College Algebra with Corequisite course. He has a passion for open educational resource (OER) courses and helped create OER courses for TSC’s Calculus sequence, ensuring that students have access to valuable learning materials without financial barriers. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, John serves as the Mathematics Program Chair and coaches the TSC Brain Bowl team where he has has held this role since the fall of 2021. Professor Bikowitz’s hard work and dedication has paid off, as his Brain Bowl team reached a remarkable milestone by winning the national championship in the spring of 2023. |
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Raksha Patel Raksha Patel currently serves as a faculty member within the Science and Mathematics Division at Tallahassee State College where she has taught mathematics courses for over fifteen years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from Florida State University. During her time at TSC, she has served on many college-wide and divisional committees as well as contributed to many initiatives. One of which included serving as a member of the TSC cohort where she partnered with the Carnegie Foundation and the Dana Center of Austin, Texas to create co-requisite courses (Statway) for students placed in developmental mathematics to earn college-level statistics credits within two semesters. As a result, she was honored with an invitation to join the Carnegie National Faculty where she continues to serve as a faculty mentor. Additionally, Raksha serves as a mentor for both Math Champions and Sister to Sister at TSC where she works with students to help them sharpen their leadership skills and achieve their academic and professional goals. |
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Jorlyse Dickens Jorlyse Dickens currently serves as a Learning Commons (LC) Success Coach at Tallahassee State College where she supports students with college success and life skills that help to increase student persistence and retention. As a first-generation college student herself, she believes that college is an impactful opportunity for self-development and preparing for one’s future. Jorlyse is responsible for leading the LC team of coaches during their weekly team meetings. Because of her consistent efforts and influence, Jorlyse was awarded recently by her colleagues the Rookie Success Coach of the Year, as well as the Learning Commons C.A.R.E. award highlighting her work that contributes to excellence and student support. Jorlyse is a South Florida native and moved to Tallahassee to complete her studies at Florida State University with a degree in Family and Child Sciences and is currently working towards her Master of Social Work degree. |
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Alison Fleishmann Alison Fleischmann currently serves as the Director of Development for the Tallahassee State College (TSC) Foundation. She has worked within this capacity since 2020. With over 19 years of experience, Alison has garnered expertise in both the nonprofit and fundraising sector and has built a reputation of excellence in the Nonprofit Management industry. She is skilled in maintaining both community partnerships and relationships and has experience collaborating with Nonprofit Organizations, Grassroots Organizing, Government, Crisis Communications, and Campaign Management. Before working at TSC, she served as the Director of Development for the Lighthouse of the Big Bend, served as the Promotion Activation Manager for Visit Florida, and served as the Director of Resource Development at the United Way of the Big Bend. She is a strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor of Science focused in Communications/ Public Relations from the University of North Florida and an Associate in Science from Tallahassee State College. |
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Cerissa Fondo Cerissa Fondo currently serves as the Director of Business & Industry for TSC’s Division of Workforce Development. Within this capacity, she provides oversight for the programs at the Advanced Manufacturing and Training Center, TSC’s Gadsden Center, TSC’s Wakulla Center, and the Spark! Entrepreneurship program. Over the past few years, she has received approval for the TSC Wakulla Center to become an approved College Board SAT Testing Center, implemented multiple new programs including Certified Phlebotomy Technician and Clinical Medical Assistant at both the TSC Gadsden and Wakulla Centers, and increased program enrollment at the AMTC by more than 34 percent. Prior to joining Workforce Development at Tallahassee State College, she operated a preschool in Crawfordville for 11 years where she developed strong community connections, leadership and management skills. Cerissa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Information Studies in 2002 from Florida State University. |
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Kelly Garland Kelly Garland currently serves as Assistant Professor for Tallahassee State College’s Business, Industry and Technology (BIT) division. Prior to this role, she worked for a local public relations firm between 1995-2019 that specialized in destination marketing. In 2005, Kelly was hired as an adjunct instructor at TSC, teaching on campus, online, and at the Federal Correctional Institute. She joined TSC’s faculty full-time in the fall of 2019, where she actively teaches marketing, business communications, and entrepreneurship. She is an invested representative of the TSC campus community, where she serves as co-chair of the Eagle Business Society. Through this organization, she assists with bringing in guest speakers from the business community to help students learn about career pathways and advice for starting a new career. |
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Marckus Harden Marckus Harden currently serves as the Conference & Events Coordinator at Tallahassee State College (TSC) where he began in this role in 2019 under the auspices of Administrative Services. As TSC’s Conference & Events Coordinator, he oversees event reservations and logistics, assists with invoicing and providing customer service for both internal and external stakeholders. Prior to working at TSC, he served several years as Program Director at a camp and retreat center located near Orlando, FL, planning and organizing summer camps for children and youth. Marckus is a proud graduate of Tallahassee State College. Additionally, he received his Bachelor of Science degree as a double-major in Political Science and Religion from Florida State University. |
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Sabrina Melvin Sabrina Melvin currently serves as the Talent Search Program Coordinator at Tallahassee State College. Within this capacity, she oversees the Talent Search federal grant that prepares first-generation and low-income students from Gadsden County for college and a future beyond high school. Sabrina is a Jacksonville native and a proud graduate of Florida State University where she majored in Elementary Education. Prior to her role at TSC, she was a classroom teacher for 3 years before returning to school for her Master's in School Counseling from the University of Georgia. She became a School Counselor for 6 years both in Georgia and here in Tallahassee, FL. Sabrina joined TSC in 2018 as an Admissions Recruiter. Each of these experiences helped shape her love for students and helping them meet their greatest potential. |
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Dr. Gina O'Neal Moffit Dr. Gina O’Neal-Moffit currently serves as a professor of Psychology, as well as Program Chair for the Behavorial and Social Sciences department at Tallahassee State College. Prior to this role, she served for 20 years working in the software and computer technology industry. Dr. O'Neal-Moffitt graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and minor in Religion in 2006, followed by a doctorate in Neuroscience / Biomedical Sciences from FSU's College of Medicine in 2014. Her dissertation research investigated a specific small-molecule therapy for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. She has extensive teaching experience at both the college and university levels and has held an adjunct teaching role at FSU, teaching undergraduate neuroscience courses in the psychology department. |
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Camille Turner-Bragdon and Jennifer Carr Capstone Presentation |
Camille Turner-Bragdon Camille Turner-Bragdon currently serves as an Academic Advisor and Program Support for TSC Online. Though Camille is a US citizen, the majority of her life, (over 30 years) has been spent in the Middle East in Israel. She attended middle school, high school, and select college courses at Ben Gurion University of the Negev. After completing a year of post-secondary studies, Camille spent a year living in West Africa and traveling to several European countries with her father. Upon returning home to Israel, she married her husband of 27 years. Camille relocated back to the US with her family 10 years ago to pursue her journey of higher education. She obtained a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Thomas University and a Master's in Clinical Social Work from Florida State University in 2020. As a TSC Alumna, she’s passionate about helping students achieve success in all aspects of life through proper planning, work/life balance, and the use of positive psychology. As a mentor of teen girls for over 25 years and a current Sister to Sister mentor at TSC, her calling has been fulfilling. |
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Camille Turner-Bragdon and Jennifer Carr Capstone Presentation |
Dr. Jennifer Carr Dr. Jennifer Carr serves as the Dean of Student Services at Tallahassee State College. She comes to TSC with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Previously she served as the Associate Provost at St. Petersburg College, where she was second in command at the Tarpon Spring Campus, Director of Academic Advising and Disability Resources at Hillsborough Community College, and Director of Student Development at Craven Community College, and a host of other positions at Arizona State University, the University of South Florida and an HBCU, Clinton College. Likewise, she is also a proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated member and believes in “Service to all Mankind.” Dr. Carr holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Conflict Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, a BS in Applied Science-Social Work from Winston Salem State University, and an MS in Counseling from North Carolina A&T State University. |
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John Schultz John Schultz currently serves as a professor of Theatre, as well as Program Chair for Communications and Humanities. He is active within his division where he oversees TSC’s Forensics program as Program Director. Professor Schultz has been with the College since 1997. Most notably, under his leadership, the Forensics program has garnered numerous national awards and honors. Prior to his lengthy history at TSC, he taught middle and high school science in Broward County and also served as the Executive Director of the Tallahassee Little Theatre (now Theatre Tallahassee). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Science Education from Bowling Green State University in 1987 and a Master of Science in Theatre from Florida State University in 1993. He has held many leadership roles over the years including President of both the Florida College System Activities Association and the Florida Intercollegiate Forensics Association. |
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Wesley Hardin Chief Wesley Hardin has served as the Chief of Police at Tallahassee State College (TSCPD) since 2021. Before his appointment as Chief at TSCPD, he served over twenty-six years in law enforcement in the Metro Atlanta Area in multiple capacities. In addition to his duties as Chief at TSCPD, Chief Hardin teaches in the Criminal Justice Department as an adjunct and as a General instructor at the Florida Public Safety Institute. Chief Hardin has a passion for learning and sharing that information with younger officers as he grows and develops the next generation of officers and leaders. |
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Kelly Thayer Dr. Kelly Thayer is the newly appointed Director of Teaching, Learning, and Engagement at Tallahassee State College. Prior to this role, she was an Associate Professor of English at TSC, a position she has held since 2015 after earning a Ph.D. from Florida State University’s School of Teacher Education. In her fifteen years of teaching, Dr. Thayer has taught English and Education courses at secondary schools, rural and urban two-year colleges, four-year urban commuter colleges, and four-year research-intensive universities. In addition to her teaching experience, she has held numerous supervisory positions focused on teacher support and curriculum development. These supervisory roles include developing and facilitating professional development for part-time faculty, mentoring pre-service K-12 teachers throughout their student teaching placements, and developing curriculum and training for university writing tutors. Her teaching experience, commitment to teacher professional development, and experience in curriculum development all exemplify her dedication to the education profession. |
