West Jax Rotary

Dr. Steven R. Wallace
President, Florida Community College at Jacksonville

Steven Ray Wallace became FCCJ’s fourth College President on July 28, 1997. His résumé includes professional service in Minnesota, Ohio and California. In all, Dr. Wallace has spent 30 years working in community colleges, starting with his alma mater, Chaffey Community College in California.

Dr. Wallace has served as both an instructor and administrator during his career. He began as an adjunct faculty member at Chaffey, and in 1975 became a full-time faculty member in the college’s innovative Learning Center. In 1977, Dr. Wallace became Chaffey’s district director of learning
disabilities and then served as director of marketing and legislative affairs for the 20,000 student college.

In 1981, Dr. Wallace left Chaffey for Lakeland Community College in Ohio. There he served as vice president for administrative services for nine years. Dr. Wallace administered a wide range of college functions including finance, facilities, computer services, human resources, strategic planning, admissions and registration, legislative and legal affairs, and the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Dr. Wallace has held two previous college president positions — both in Minnesota: first at Austin Community College (1990-92) and then at Inver Hills Community College (1992-97). He also held statewide responsibilities concerning faculty professional development, academic and administrative computing, labor relations, and distance learning. He is recognized nationally for his leadership in community economic development, student success initiatives, academic technology and the emerging community college baccalaureate degree.

Dr. Wallace earned an associate in arts degree in 1972 from Chaffey Community College, followed by bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from California State University at San Bernardino. He received a doctorate in higher education administration in 1989 from Claremont Graduate University in California. His dissertation was titled “Influence of the Economic Development Program of a Comprehensive Community College on Business Decisions of Companies in its Service Area.”

Dr. Wallace’s tenure at Florida Community College at Jacksonville has been devoted to enhancing the College’s responsiveness to student, employer and community needs. Significant planning efforts have resulted in major new initiatives in student access and success, technology, program development and facilities construction.

Since arriving in Jacksonville, Dr. Wallace has been actively involved in the community serving on numerous local boards such as the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce (2007 chair), Alliance for World Class Education (chair-elect), WJCT Public Broadcasting (2005 chair), Prosperity Scholarship Fund Governing Council (chair), Take Stock in Children (2001-04 chair), United Way, Communities in Schools, First Coast YMCA, Enterprise North Florida, WorkSource, Jacksonville Symphony, and the Schultz Center for Teaching & Leadership. His state-wide leadership roles have included chairmanship of the Florida Community College Council of Presidents and the Council’s Economic Development Committee, plus appointments to the boards of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, North Florida Technology Alliance, Florida Distance Learning Consortium, Florida Virtual Campus (co-chair), Enterprise Florida Life Sciences Advisory Committee, and the Business & Higher Education Partnership of the Florida Council of 100. At the national level, he was vice-chair of the Community College Baccalaureate Association. He was a member of Leadership Florida’s Class 18 (2000), the Leadership Jacksonville Class of 1999, and is currently a member of the Downtown Jacksonville Rotary.

Dr. Wallace resides on the Southside with his wife, Amelia — a teacher — and two children, Devon (25) and Michael (15).

Notes
Bob Kidd announced that the October 22nd meeting would be cancelled and we would be meeting on October 24th at NASJAX for the Blue Angel’s air show. You will need a base pass so please fill out at next meeting or contact Bob Kidd.

Jeff Collins announced another dove shoot at his 4 hearts farm on October 18th. Please contact Jeff if you plan on attending.

Charlie Wilson reminded us about the Memorial Park clean up and read a brief history about the park. Sign ups were on the table.

Will Croft reminded us about the Road Side clean up.

Lee Wimberley reminded us about the Bishop Snyder Career day event on October 29th.

Jeff Bell from the Oceanside Club announced the Talent Explosion contest. More information is available at www.oceansiderotary.com.

A host family is needed for Monika for about ten days this month and from the end of October to the end of January.

Will Croft won the Football Pool.

Ed Pratt-Daniel Introduced Kerry Romesburg President of JU

Kerry has been at JU and loves the feel of a smaller, private university but does miss some of the public funding dollars. Unemployment is good for public university and college enrollment and a case in point is FCCJ’s thirty percent enrollment increase this year. The opposite is true for private universities because poor economic conditions make it difficult for people to meet tuition requirements. Some of JU’s 3400 students did not return this year for that very reason. The current banking conditions make it very difficult for many parents to send children to school using the equity in their homes. One in for students at JU is PELL eligible which is evidence that not all students are not from wealthy backgrounds.

Some other facts about JU:

• They are the second largest ROTC college in the country
• No scholarships are given to football players
• They are Division 1A in all sports
• The football program is a money maker
• They also have a very strong aviation program
• They are kicking off a new Marine Research Institute that partners with the FWC and the St. John’s Riverkeeper
• They lost a 35 to 7 half time lead over Davidson Saturday for a loss

Q&A:

• Phil Voss had a few questions and some discussion about the suspension of some scholarship programs due to the current banking conditions.
• There was also some discussion about the MBA and Nursing programs and how they partner with local entities for savings and maximum benefit.

Visiting Rotarians:
Ed Witt — Downtown Club
Buck Autrey — Downtown Club
Ron Autrey — Downtown Club
John Hughes — Downtown Club
Joe Tatum, Jr. — Green Cove Springs
Tracy Dickerson — Pensacola West
Jeff Bell — Oceanside
Dan Powers — East Arlington
Dearing Mullen — Riverside
Bob Broome — Riverside

Rotary guests:
Zoe White — Guest of Rob Conolly
Carlin Boswell — Guest of Tom Kustura

Birthdays
Kevin O’Connor — October 4
Bill Howey — October 7
Bob Kidd — October 7

Next Week
Greeters — Rob Conolly, Gray Strum
Invocation — Paul Broome
Pledge — Del Wallace
Four-way Test — Ward Bramlett
Speaker — Ed Pratt-Dannals, Superintendent, Duval County Public Schools