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FSCJ Professor of Cyber Security Gerry Hilgenberg recently attended the 2026 Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions (ISPS) Student-Led Policy Conference in Tampa with a group of FSCJ students. The conference brought together students and faculty from colleges across Florida to explore the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence, including AI ethics, legal frameworks, workforce development, cybersecurity, environmental impacts and public policy.

Students worked in multidisciplinary teams comprised of participants from different institutions and academic backgrounds to collaborate on real-world policy challenges. Together, they focused on developing recommendations related to AI data centers and their impact on Florida communities.

Congratulations to FSCJ Student Kiara Arapi (seated third from left at the table) achieved outstanding success during the competition. As a member of Group 6, Kiara and her teammates earned:

• First Place for Best Presentation
• First Place for Best Group Photo

As a result, each member of the team received $100 for Best Presentation and $25 for Best Group Photo.

Professor Hilgenberg noted that students were intentionally assigned to teams with participants from different Florida colleges, creating a collaborative environment that mirrored real-world workforce and policy development settings. Students were tasked with researching AI-related issues, developing policy recommendations and presenting their findings before a panel of judges.

This achievement not only highlights Kiara's talent and professionalism but also showcases the strength of FSCJ's cybersecurity programs and our students' ability to compete and excel among peers from across the state. Learn about FSCJ's Center for Cyber Security here: https://www.fscj.edu/cybersecurity. 

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

July's Career Employees' Council (CEC) spotlight features Project Coordinator Jean Dealmeida. With nearly three decades of dedicated service, Jean has become a cornerstone of innovation, collaboration and institutional knowledge at FSCJ. Since first joining the College in August 1997 through a temporary assignment, her career reflects both professional growth and a deep commitment to student success and operational excellence.

Over the past 28 years, Jean has held a variety of roles across Student Services and Information Technology. Her journey has included positions in Admissions, Records and Registration, where she contributed to system implementations, process improvements and staff training. As the College evolved, so did Jean—transitioning into Information Technology and serving as a subject-matter expert during major ERP system conversions, including the transition from Orion to PeopleSoft. Since 2016, she has served as a Project Coordinator within the Applications Development/ERP Support team.

In her current role, Jean provides advanced analytical support for business processes connected to Campus Solutions. She plays a key role in testing system updates, troubleshooting issues and ensuring system reliability. Her work also includes developing detailed documentation, conducting training sessions and performing root cause analysis to resolve complex data issues. Using tools such as SQL, Query Manager and Excel, she helps maintain accuracy and efficiency across College operations.

What Jean values most about her work is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while continuing to learn and grow. She takes pride in solving technical challenges and improving processes that directly support student services. Equally important to her are the relationships she has built over the years. Whether collaborating with colleagues, providing training or helping teams navigate systems, Jean finds fulfillment in supporting others and contributing to shared success.

Jean exemplifies the goals of the Career Employees' Council through her collaborative spirit and solutions-focused mindset. She is known for fostering strong cross-departmental relationships, supporting institutional initiatives and maintaining a positive, professional approach to every challenge. Her ability to bridge communication between functional teams and IT has been instrumental in the success of many Collegewide projects.

A proud FSCJ alumna, Jean has completed her entire educational journey at the College. Her credentials include multiple technical certificates in Office Software Applications, an Associate in Science in Office Software Application Administration, an Associate in Arts degree, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology Management, which she earned in 2021. Balancing full-time work with continued education, Jean has demonstrated resilience, adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Outside of work, Jean enjoys spending time with her family and pursuing a variety of creative and relaxing hobbies. She is passionate about quilting, creating functional pieces that reflect her personal style and enjoys digital scrapbooking to preserve family history through photos and storytelling. Additionally, Jean is an amateur astronomer who loves stargazing and astrophotography, and she finds peace in gardening and spending time outdoors.

From her early days as a temporary employee to her current leadership in project coordination, Jean’s journey is a testament to dedication, growth and the power of continuous learning. Her contributions continue to make a lasting impact across FSCJ, supporting both her colleagues and the students the College 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.

When thinking of student recruitment, large-scale events often come to mind—open houses, financial aid workshops, high school presentations and our new Campus Discovery Days. These events provide valuable opportunities to engage prospective students and their supporters.

However, a fair amount of work of the Student Recruitment Office happens through one-on-one interactions and relationship building. Some of these connections begin as an introduction, while others develop through referrals and community partnerships.

One such success story comes from a new partnership between the Student Recruitment Office and Break Barriers, a local organization focused on reducing recidivism and supporting individuals as they transition into stable, productive lives. After arriving in Jacksonville, the organization's executive director and program director met with Student Recruitment Office leadership to explore career training opportunities for residents of their transitional housing program, located just a few miles from the Downtown Campus.

One resident, Chris S., recently completed the College’s Commercial Vehicle Driving program. Working closely with student recruitment staff, Chris successfully navigated the admissions process and secured a Jump Start scholarship through Workforce Education, helping him begin his educational journey at the College. Today, Chris is employed by a Florida-based trucking company and has launched a career behind the wheel.

The energy of large recruitment events can be incredibly encouraging. Yet stories like Chris’s serve as an inspiring reminder that the impact of student recruitment is often found in a one-on-one connection.

The relationships maintained or developed by staff and faculty are just as important as the ones nurtured by Student Recruitment. If you have partnerships you’d like to introduce the Student Recruitment Office staff to, please contact us at fscjrecruitment@fscj.edu with the subject line “Dive into Manta Ray Nation.” We want to hear from you.

Upcoming events for July:

14: Paxon School for Advanced Studies Junior and Senior Orientation
15: FSU CARE Upward Bound Program @ Downtown Campus
23: Jacksonville Waves basketball game tabling
25: YMCA of Florida's First Coast Military Appreciation Back-to-School Bash (Wildlight YMCA)  
30: Empowerment Resources STEM group @ Downtown Campus