Latest Blogs
November 2026 Recruitment Update
Get to Know Your Fellow A&P Colleagues - Robin Herriff
FSCJ Athletics Inducts Hall of Fame Honorees
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jerry Santiago Receives Distinguished Service Award
Get to Know Your Fellow CEC Colleagues - Alex Griffin
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.
November's Career Employees' Council (CEC) spotlight features Administrative Services Support Specialist Alex Griffin.
For Alex, working at FSCJ has been more than a job—it's been an integral part of her educational journey. Having worked at FSCJ for just over two years, the same amount of time she has been a student, Alex has found meaningful ways to grow professionally while serving the College community.
As a Library Administrative Services Support Specialist (AS3), Alex plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of the library. Her responsibilities include managing the library's budget, purchasing materials selected by librarians and providing front-line support to students. Whether she's helping students connect to FSCJ's Wi-Fi, lending books and equipment, creating student IDs or simply pointing someone in the right direction, Alex enjoys being a reliable resource for the campus community.
"I enjoy managing our budget because it gives me an opportunity to strengthen my database skills," Alex shares. "But serving our students is always the most rewarding part of my job."
Collaboration is another aspect of the position that Alex values. The library team regularly works together on creative displays, educational workshops and student organization activities. Recently, the team has been cross-training on new technology, including a 3D printer and Cricut machine, expanding the services and resources available to students. Alex appreciates the unique environment of the library, where career employees, librarians and student workers work side by side to support student success.
Alex's connection to FSCJ extends beyond her employment. She earned her GED through the College and is currently completing her Associate in Arts degree, with plans to graduate early next year. Looking ahead, she hopes to formalize her extensive self-taught background in information technology and computer science by earning industry certifications.
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Alex serves on FSCJ's Scholarship Review Committee, where she helps evaluate student scholarship applications each term. It's another opportunity for her to contribute to student success in a meaningful way.
Outside of FSCJ, Alex remains active in the technology community as a member of the Jacksonville Linux Users Group (JaxLUG). The organization is dedicated to promoting free and open-source software through community outreach. This past May, Alex and fellow members hosted a Linux installation event at the University Branch Public Library, assisting approximately 30 community members with installing Linux on their computers.
When she's not at work, Alex enjoys expanding her technical skills through home IT projects, attending technology conferences and meetups, and participating in FSCJ's National Cybersecurity Student Association meetings.
From supporting students in the library to giving back through community technology initiatives, Alex exemplifies FSCJ's commitment to service, lifelong learning and collaboration. Her dedication to both education and innovation continues to make a positive impact on the College and the community it serves.
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.
November 2026 Recruitment Update
The Collegewide Open House is coming up very soon. If you haven't already, mark your calendars for Saturday, November 14 at Downtown Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spots are still available, so if you know of people who may be interested in coming to FSCJ, learn more and have them register here.
As the excitement builds for the big day, the Student Recruitment team asked Campus Dean Jametoria Burton a few questions about the event.
Q: Are you excited that Downtown Campus will serve as the host site for the Open House next month?
A: Yes, I am very excited that FSCJ Downtown was chosen as the host site this year, starting a yearly rotation around the College. We are the central hub of FSCJ, so we are pulling out all the stops for our community and future Manta Rays!
Q: What role will you play as a campus dean?A: As Campus Dean, my role will encompass a variety of engagements, from both leadership and partnership with students. That includes assisting with logistics, reiterating our role as host campus to our employees, welcoming families and prospective students, and creating a positive and enthusiastic environment for everyone involved!
Q: The Downtown Campus Discovery Day held during the spring term was a high-energy event. What do you think is the key to building excitement among faculty and staff to attend and participate?
A: Each week, I send a Campus Dean Newsletter to all employees, which provides a great way to communicate excitement and motivation around this event. I love pictures because they tell a story. By infusing photos and videos from previous Open House events, my aim is to awaken the senses of everyone and truly show all that FSCJ offers. Look for video clips from Dr. Burton and other campus deans as well in their respective communications!
Q: The Downtown Campus was successful in hosting its Campus Discovery Day. What was your favorite part about hosting a Campus Discovery Day, which is like a mini-open house? What does success look like for these types of events?
A: We had the best time during Discovery Day welcoming new faces and new families to the campus. Guests were excited and responded well to smiles, balloons, free food, and just being celebrated for coming. We emphasized how much we appreciated them coming and choosing FSCJ to explore the educational options. Success is great when we see fully attended tours and questions about how to enroll. We also supplied free pizza to our guests, which was a hit, as you can imagine. We also hosted a free food giveaway from Feeding Northeast Florida. Many of the families expressed their appreciation for the food. What a delight!
Q: How does faculty and staff engagement in events like this strengthen our College community?
A: Faculty and staff engagement is essential to the success of Open House. Their presence makes these types of events more personal, less intimidating, and in some cases, less scary, especially for the first time and returning students. Oftentimes, faculty participation helps to seal the deal as to whether prospective students choose FSCJ or another institution.
Q: What message do you hope prospective students, families and community members take away from their experience at the Open House?
A: We want prospective students, families and community members to know that FSCJ is their one-stop shop in their educational pursuits. We are their College, and the sky is the limit for their future. From affordable tuition to quality programs to amazing support services and engaging activities, everything they need is right here at FSCJ, regardless of the campus they attend.
We want to hear from you! To share collaboration ideas or to learn more about what we do, email fscjrecruitment@fscj.edu with the subject line: Dive Into Manta Rays Nation.
Get to Know Your Fellow A&P Colleagues - Robin Herriff
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.
Robin Herriff is the Multimedia Production Manager for the Digital Media Productions (DMP) team at FSCJ. She is an accomplished writer and producer of instructional videos and multimedia projects, helping faculty and staff create instructional and training materials that best serve the needs of students. Robin has been doing this work for nearly 30 years.
Prior to coming to FSCJ, she worked as a producer and news manager for television outlets around the southeast, producing live newscasts and special projects.
Her current workload includes managing a fabulous team of four and coordinating with department heads from around the College. In her role, she has worked with hundreds of subject matter experts over the years to produce educational videos on topics ranging from Microbiology to Paralegal Studies, and just about everything in between. She and her team also livestream major College events like Convocation and Commencement, allowing employees and students’ families to be part of those big days. If you don’t know her face, you probably still recognize her voice, as she frequently narrates video projects for both the DMP and Marketing teams.
In addition, Robin has worked as an adjunct instructor for FSCJ, teaching a Student Life Skills course, and with the Center for eLearning as an instructional design intern, helping to create a media-rich American History course.
During her time at the College, Robin has served on many teams and committees, including planning for Convocation and Commencement, FSCJ’s 60th Anniversary, the APC and the College Wellness Committee.
Robin holds a master’s degree in Instructional Design–eLearning from the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Florida.
In her free time, Robin enjoys reading and traveling, but she is happiest spending time with her husband, adult kids, and almost two-year-old grandson, Emmett. And yes, she’d love to show you pictures.
To reflect the breadth of our A&P community, the APC Spotlight features employees from each FSCJ campus and center at least once each year. Know an A&P employee you would like the FSCJ community to get to know? Nominations for future spotlights may be submitted to your campus representative or any APC officer.
Learn more about APC here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1024098564929654
FSCJ Athletics Inducts Hall of Fame Honorees
On October 29, 2026, FSCJ Athletics hosted its 2nd Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at South Campus, celebrating former student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant impacts in their sports and on the College.
FSCJ Athletics Director Jerry Thor welcomed an audience of family, friends, teammates and College leadership to honor a team, two outstanding student-athlete alumni, and a legendary coach and administrator.
"If not for JUCO athletics many capable students may never even think about pursuing higher education," said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. “We are proud to have a strong athletics program here at FSCJ, because we understand what being on a team means for these athletes. Tonight, we are thrilled to spotlight the athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators who have built what you see today.”
View photos from the event here.
Inductees included:
1985-86 Men's Golf Team: Mark Arbuckle, Paul Helman, John King, Fred Lindgren, John Lindberg, Bob Long, Steve Marchigiano, Greg Placidi and Johan Rystrom
The 1985–86 Men's Golf Team delivered FSCJ (then FJC) its first-ever national championship in a men's team sport, capturing the NJCAA title in Conroe, Texas on June 6, 1986, with a collective 5-over-par 289, defeating runner-up Brevard Community College by 12 shots. John Lindberg claimed the individual national title with a tournament-record 10-under-par 203, while teammate Johan Rystrom finished as national runner-up (209); both, along with Fred Lindgren and honorable mention Bobby Long, earned All-American honors. Built by second-year coach Ernie Romine (who was named FJCAA Men's Golf Coach of the Year) through an innovative international recruiting pipeline that brought three of Sweden's top amateur golfers to Jacksonville, the team elevated a struggling program to national prominence in just two seasons and remains a landmark achievement in college athletics history.
Sylvia Sanchez – Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, 1988-89
Sylvia Sanchez authored one of the most remarkable individual seasons in FSCJ athletics history. On November 11, 1989, she won the NJCAA National Cross Country Championship in Kansas City, Missouri, running the 5K course in 17:12, a course record, and finishing 29 seconds ahead of the runner-up; her time still ranked eight all-time in the NJCAA record book as of 2026. That spring, at the NJCAA Track and Field Championships in Odessa, Texas, she earned All-American honors with a third-place finish in the 3000-meter run and a runner-up finish in the 5000-meter run. Named the Jacksonville Track Club's College Athlete of the Year in 1989 and honored as an Academic All-American at a January 1990 District Board of Trustees meeting, Sanchez was recruited by UNF in September 1990 to continue her running career, earning All-American recognition in cross country and the 5000-meter-run. As Coach Larry Monts said of her national title run: "That day in Kansas City, for those 17 minutes, Sylvia Sanchez was the best in the world at what she did."
Angela Rivera – Softball, 2006-07
Angela Rivera exemplifies the scholar-athlete ideal at every level of her career. At FCCJ, she was captain and played centerfielder for the Softball Team, which made back-to-back appearances in the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Region 8 Tournament. In 2007, she hit .290 with seven doubles, a home run, nine stolen bases, and 16 walks. A two-time All-Mid Florida Conference selection, Rivera maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA at FCCJ. In addition to excelling in the classroom and on the field, Rivera volunteered with Special Olympics, Take Stock in Children, and Shands Hospital. She received the FCCJ President’s Award winner for her academic and athletic excellence, the FCSAA Jean Williams Softball Scholar-Athlete Award, was named FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year, and received the 2006-2007 NJCAA Lea Plarski Award, which recognizes student-athletes for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. After transferring to Augusta University (formerly Augusta State) in Georgia, she was named Peach Belt Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She has since completed physician assistant school at the University of Florida and serves patients as a cardiothoracic surgery physician assistant at the Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.
Coach Mary Andrew – Volleyball, 1989-2012
Mary Andrew rebuilt FSCJ Volleyball from the ground up, taking the helm when the program was resurrected in 1989 after a five-year absence and guiding it for 23 seasons until her retirement in November 2012. A graduate of Stetson University (B.S., Physical Education) and the University of North Florida (M.Ed.), with prior experience as assistant coach at Jacksonville University, Andrew compiled a career that included numerous conference championships, repeated top ten national rankings, her 500th career win in 2009, and a 91% graduation rate among her student-athletes. Her many honors include induction into the Florida Community College Activities Association Hall of Fame (2005), AVCA Region Coach of the Year (2002), the Volleyball Ambassador Award, and the Florida Regional Hall of Fame Award. Beyond FSCJ, she founded the Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Association in 1990, which by 2008–09 generated $6.9 million in annual economic impact for the region.
Ralph Daniel – Athletic Director, 1992-2005
A former University of South Florida baseball player and cross country runner, Ralph Daniel devoted 35 years to FSCJ, joining North Campus as an academic counselor when it opened in 1970 and rising to serve as Athletics Director from February 1992 until his retirement in 2005. Before his administrative appointments, student activities director at North Campus (1985) and interim AD at South Campus (1990), he worked directly with baseball, softball, cross country, and track & field student-athletes as an academic adviser, personal counselor, and sports psychologist. As AD, Daniel published The Star Report athletics newsletter, served a term as chair of the FCSAA Council of Athletic Affairs, and in 1995 launched a department-wide community service program requiring every team to complete at least two service projects per term. In 2007, Daniel was inducted into both the Athletics and Student Government Association Divisions of the FCSAA Hall of Fame. He is best remembered for anchoring the department around three enduring goals: run a clean program, graduate or transfer every player, and excel in competition.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Jerry Santiago Receives Distinguished Service Award
Congratulations to FSCJ Professor and Histologic Technology Program Director Jerry Santiago, Ph.D., HTL(ASCP)CMQIHCCM, on receiving the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification during the ASCP Annual Meeting in Montréal, Canada.
The ASCP shared:
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to volunteers who have served the ASCP Board of Certification for a minimum of six years and have made significant contributions through extraordinary commitment, leadership and service to the organization's mission of providing excellence in certification for laboratory professionals on behalf of patients worldwide.
Dr. Santiago was selected for this honor in recognition of his years of dedicated volunteer service and leadership, including serving as chair of an ASCP Board of Certification committee. Through his expertise, advocacy and commitment to advancing certification standards, he has helped strengthen the profession and support laboratory professionals who serve patients around the world.
This achievement is especially significant for the histology community. Dr. Santiago is only the second histologist to receive the Distinguished Service Award, making this recognition a testament not only to his individual accomplishments but also to the important contributions of histologists within laboratory medicine.
Dr. Santiago has devoted decades of service to advancing histology through leadership, education, mentorship and volunteerism. He is a Past President of NSH and has served in numerous leadership roles, including NSH Vice President, Region III Director, Chair of the Nominations & Election Committee, Chair of the Membership Committee, member of the NSH/CAP HistoQIP Committee, and representative to the Health Professional Network. He also received the Histotechnologist of the Year award in 2022. Today, he continues his service to the profession as NSH's representative to NAACLS and as a HistoQIP grader.
Beyond his national contributions, Jerry has been a longtime leader within the Florida Society for Histotechnology, serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer and Newsletter Editor/Webmaster. His commitment to professional development and excellence has earned him numerous honors throughout his career, including the Career Achievement Award, as well as several national and international recognitions.
Holding a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, he has educated and mentored countless histology professionals and has presented at the state, national and international levels. His influence can be seen not only in the organizations he has served, but also in the generations of laboratory professionals he has helped prepare for successful careers.
The Distinguished Service Award represents a fitting recognition of a career defined by leadership, service and an unwavering commitment to excellence in histology. Please join NSH in congratulating Jerry on this extraordinary achievement.