The Administrative & Professional Collaborative (APC) is the representative voice for the Administrative & Professional employees of FSCJ.

In an effort to build cohesiveness, awareness and collegiality, each month we put a “spotlight” on one of our members. February's Administrative & Professional Collaborative (APC) spotlight shines on Vice President for Student Development Elliott Strickland is brand new to FSCJ, having just joined the College in January. In his role, he provides collaborative leadership within all areas of Student Services. His vision revolves around being “student centered,” meaning that all we do is for the benefit of our students and their success. He also believes we should be “student driven,” meaning students should be involved and engaged in every facet of the areas that impact them.

Elliott has over 26 years of experience in higher education primarily in student affairs and enrollment management. For the last 13 years, he has served as the Vice President for Student Affairs/Chief Student Affairs Office at Pennsylvania College of Technology. His focus on transformative leadership shifted campus culture in the creation of a more student-centered campus environment. He also led efforts in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, co-chaired the College’s Inclusion Taskforce, spearheaded the campus climate assessment, and started a Bias Education & Response Team (BEST).

Elliott earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management from the University of South Carolina-Aiken, his Master of Education in Student Personnel Services & Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina-Columbia and is completing his Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Gwynedd Mercy University. He has been extremely involved in professional development organizations, most notably the American College Health Association (ACHA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NACA)/Northeast Athletic Conference (NEAC).

Elliott and, his wife, Carolyn (also a leader in higher education), are committed to the communities in which they live. They have served on boards and volunteered for multiple organizations, including the Susquehanna Health Foundation, Williamsport Community Concert Association, Community Arts Center, YWCA, Scouts BSA, and First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania. Their greatest contribution to society, however, is their daughter, Emma, who is a freshman at the University of South Carolina Honors College, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Economics on a Pre-Law track. The entire family loves traveling (internationally and domestically), attending concerts (rock, jazz, blues, and, yes, Taylor Swift), supporting the beautiful game (look for them cheering on the Women’s National Team at the Olympics), cooking gourmet meals, and, on occasion, binging Netflix/Disney/Hulu/Max/Paramount/Peacock/Apple/Amazon Prime… They are currently working through eating at every restaurant in the greater Jacksonville area and hiking/visiting every state park in Florida.