NFCC Welcomes Florida College System Chancellor Madeline M. Pumariega as Commencement Speaker

FCS Chancellor Madeline PumariegaMADISON, FL – North Florida Community College graduates completing degrees or certificates in December will be honored at NFCC’s Fall 2016 commencement ceremony on Dec. 13 at Van H. Priest Auditorium. The ceremony is a special occasion for NFCC graduates, their families and friends, and the College. This year’s commencement speaker, offering the keynote address to graduates during this momentous occasion, is Florida College System Chancellor Madeline M. Pumariega.

“We are honored to have Chancellor Pumariega as our guest speaker,” said NFCC President John Grosskopf. “Her leadership of the Florida College System and commitment to making education accessible to all students is paramount to our success. We look forward to the message and words of encouragement that she will share with our graduates.”

Pumariega became the FCS Chancellor in August 2015. She is proud that the 28 Florida colleges offer flexible programs and schedules that enable residents to pursue higher education regardless of whether they recently graduated from high school or are returning to re-tool for another career path. Her goal is to ensure that all students have a pathway to complete their degree or professional credential that lead them to meet their academic goals and ultimately helps them get a job.

Pumariega most recently served as president of the statewide non-profit Take Stock in Children. Prior to joining Take Stock in Children, Madeline spent 20 years growing her career at Miami Dade College. She is regarded for her work in developing innovative approaches to support academic progress and student success, ensuring that thousands of youth can access and complete college.

Pumariega is a member of Leadership Florida Class 33 and was a Kellogg Fellow for the League for Innovation’s Expanding Leadership Diversity in Community Colleges, which is an innovative program focusing on leadership development and capacity building as a change agent for communities. Her volunteer activities include serving on the board of The Center for Postsecondary Success, City Year Miami, serving on the steering committee for The Miami Foundation, and membership in the International Women’s Forum.

Chancellor Pumariega is an alum of Miami Dade College, a doctoral candidate at Barry University and a graduate of St. Thomas University and The Florida Atlantic University College of Education.

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