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The Career Employees' Council (CEC) is the representative voice for the Career employees of FSCJ, with the goal to be committed to the continuous development of a collaborative work environment whereby the value and respect of Career employees are elevated through increased recognition, involvement and opportunities to achieve a higher degree of excellence. In this spirit, we put a "spotlight" on one of our members each month.

September's Career Employees' Council (CEC) spotlight features Senior Specialist Brittani Fisher. In her role, Brittani coordinates and supports customized training contracts between FSCJ and business and organizational partners. She enjoys the unique opportunity to support students while balancing the goals and expectations of both the College and its employer partners, helping ensure successful outcomes for everyone involved.

Professional development and employee advocacy are central to Brittani's approach to her work. She believes that continuous learning creates stronger leaders and better outcomes for students, faculty and staff. Throughout her career, she has embraced opportunities to grow professionally and now advocates for both her colleagues' well-being and the integrity of FSCJ's training programs. Brittani was also honored to participate in FSCJ's Lead from Where You Are leadership development program, where she strengthened her leadership skills and built valuable relationships with colleagues across the College.

Brittani's commitment to lifelong learning is reflected in her academic achievements. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Literature from the University of South Florida and a Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership Administration from Capella University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Performance Improvement Leadership at Capella University.

Beyond her daily responsibilities, Brittani actively contributes to the College through service on several committees. As a member of the Education Technology Committee, she collaborated with colleagues to explore innovative strategies for integrating technology across online, live-online and face-to-face learning environments. She particularly valued discussions centered on student engagement, digital literacy and active learning. Her service on the Scholarship Committee also provided a meaningful opportunity to support students by helping review scholarship applications and contributing to decisions that expand educational access and opportunity.

Brittani's passion for service extends beyond FSCJ. She serves as Board President of the Global Arts Parent Teacher Organization in Jacksonville, where she partners with parents, educators and community members to support students and school initiatives. She also volunteers with Trinity Rescue Mission, assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

When she's away from work, Brittani enjoys spending time reading, cooking, taking a well-deserved nap and watching classic television—especially The Golden Girls.

Thank you, Brittani, for your dedication to student success, commitment to professional growth and continued service to both FSCJ and the Jacksonville community. Your leadership and passion make a lasting difference.

Our spotlight seeks to showcase a CEC representative from each campus/center at least once a year. Nominations for the spotlight may be directed to the CEC Publicity Committee Chair Vanessa Gordon at CEC@fscj.edu. Learn more about CEC on our SharePoint website, https://fscj.sharepoint.com/teams/CareerEmployeeCouncil.

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.

Born and raised in Miami, Talani Torres grew up surrounded by a vibrant blend of cultures. Her father was Puerto Rican, her mother Chilean, and, as she likes to say, growing up in Miami made her "Cuban by association." Those influences gave her a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives, community, and the connections that bring people together.

Talani's path to higher education has been anything but traditional. Before entering academic leadership, she built a career in the arts as a dancer, choreographer, educator, studio owner and nonprofit leader. She earned an Associate in Arts from Miami Dade College, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

For ten years, Talani owned and operated a dance studio in Miami while directing the nonprofit Miami Children's Dance Ensemble, creating opportunities for young dancers to perform, create and grow through the arts. Her choreography has been presented nationally and internationally, and her creative interests often explore the intersections of art and technology. One example is Study in Frames, a multimedia work exploring the relationship between movement, technology and human connection. 

Her creative and scholarly work has earned recognition including a North Carolina Dance Alliance Choreography Fellowship, a United Arts Regional Artist Project Grant and a Top Paper Citation from the National Dance Education Organization for co-authored research on student learning and perception. In 2024, she was honored as a Distinguished Alumna by UNC Greensboro's School of Dance, and in 2025 she received FSCJ's iRISE Integrity Award.

Talani joined FSCJ in 2011, and has spent the past 15 years serving the College as a faculty member, interim dean and dean. Throughout her time at FSCJ, she has remained committed to supporting faculty and strengthening programs across the humanities, fine arts, world languages, English for Academic Purposes and related disciplines.

When asked what she enjoys most about her work, Talani's answer is simple: the people. She values the opportunity to work alongside talented faculty, dedicated colleagues, and engaged students while helping others discover opportunities, overcome challenges and achieve their goals. She also loves that no two days are ever the same. One day may involve collaborating on curriculum, another attending a student performance, solving a complex challenge or helping move a new initiative forward. The variety keeps her energized, curious and continually growing.

A central theme in both Talani's leadership and personal life is integrity. She believes integrity means being honest, accountable and fair, especially when decisions are difficult. For her, trust is the foundation of effective leadership. Integrity isn't measured by awards or recognition, but by the choices we make every day and our commitment to doing what is right, even when no one is watching.

Talani is also a registered yoga teacher, and many of the principles that guide her practice influence her approach to leadership. Awareness, balance, compassion and presence shape how she works with others and approaches challenges. She sees leadership much like teaching, choreography and yoga: creating conditions for growth, helping others discover their strengths and supporting people as they find their own path forward. 

Outside of FSCJ, Talani enjoys spending time with her wife, their three sons and two golden retrievers. Whether she's walking on the beach, riding her bike, attending arts events or exploring new ideas, she remains inspired by creativity, connection and finding beauty in unexpected places.

Above all, Talani considers it a privilege to serve at FSCJ and remains grateful for the opportunity to work alongside colleagues whose dedication to students and education continues to inspire her every day.

Our spotlight shines on each campus/center at least once a year. Nominations for the spotlight may be directed to your campus representative or any officer.

Learn more about APC here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1024098564929654

Next month, the Student Recruitment Office and the Office of Civic Engagement will host their annual Community Connections: Community Partner Event at Kent Campus. This event provides an opportunity for the two externally focused College offices to collaborate in bringing valued community partners to campus for meaningful conversations about collective impact and community engagement.

Earlier this summer, the two offices partnered with JAXUSA Partnership to host Kim Krupa, Director of Network Engagement and Communications for the Florida College Access Network (FCAN), for a visit highlighting the Earn Up Level Up summer camp initiative. Below is an excerpt from an article Dr. Krupa wrote for the FCAN Blog about the camp.

Most of the work that goes into getting a Florida high school student to college happens during the school year. What about the summer?

Level Up, a boot camp offered through JAXUSA Partnership’s Earn Up initiative in collaboration with Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), answers that question. Rising high school juniors and seniors spend a week on FSCJ’s campus for career assessments, financial aid instruction and direct contact with recent graduates and local employers, months before senior year decisions have to be made. The program is one of 12 projects funded through FCAN’s Post-High School College Enrollment Innovation Grant, a DeLuca Foundation initiative that launched in January 2025.

Click here to read more of the article.

Upcoming Recruitment Events:

September 14: Cornerstone Classical Academy visit at South Campus

September 22: Fletcher High School Financial Aid Night

September 26: NACAC National College Fair Jacksonville

September 29: Yulee High School Financial Aid Night

Don’t forget: College Open House is Saturday, November 14.

During the Tech Coast Conference, FSCJ was presented with a $7,500 scholarship award in partnership with Keiser University to support Information Technology students.

The scholarship presentation highlights the strong collaboration between higher education institutions and the Northeast Florida technology community, as well as the continued investment in developing the next generation of IT professionals. These funds will provide financial support and educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in high-demand technology fields.

"We are grateful to receive this scholarship support each year, as it directly benefits our students and helps reduce financial barriers while encouraging continued excellence in technology education," said Dean of Information Technology Programs Sha’Kia Riggins.

The Tech Coast Conference brings together technology leaders, educators, industry partners and innovators from across the region to discuss emerging trends, workforce development and the future of technology. FSCJ's participation reinforces its commitment to preparing students with the skills needed to succeed in today's rapidly evolving digital economy.