Every year, FSU College of Communication and Information selects alumni from each school in the college for the Distinguished Alumni Award. The alumni chosen for the award go above and beyond in their professional careers. From their exceptional service to outstanding leadership, these alumni have made a significant impact in their fields.

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Dr. Alliete Alfano Headshot

Dr. Alliete Alfano

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Alliete Alfano, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and assistant professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Florida International...
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Alliete Alfano, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and assistant professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Florida International University. She received her Bachelors in Speech-Language Pathology from FSU in 1998 and her Masters degree in 1998. She received her PhD in Teaching and Learning from the University of Miami in 2007. She provides Auditory-Verbal Therapy to families who have children with hearing loss in English and Spanish at her private practice, The Alfano Center in Miami. The Alfano Center is also the home to many students who come from FIU and FSU for internships. AT FIU, she teaches Diagnostics, Anatomy Lab, Aural Rehabilitation, and Bilingual Language Development and Multicultural Competency. Her research foci include speech and language development of bilingual children with hearing loss and culture and communication in Hispanic‐Deaf families. She presents internationally in Spanish to train aspiring Auditory-Verbal Therapists on the implementation of Auditory-Verbal Therapy in areas with limited resources, mentors Auditory-Verbal Therapy mentees internationally, and coaches teachers in auditory-oral classrooms on their use of Auditory-Verbal Therapy strategies while teaching.
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Dr. Randolph T. Barker

School of Communication

Dr. Barker is Professor Emeritus in Management from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Business and a Fellow and Professor in the Williamson Institute for Health Studies in the VCU...
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Dr. Barker is Professor Emeritus in Management from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Business and a Fellow and Professor in the Williamson Institute for Health Studies in the VCU School of Allied Health. He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science/Government and a master’s and a Ph.D. degree in Communication from FSU. Prior to his academic career, he worked in both the public and private sectors with experience in organizational communication, leadership, management, and program implementation. He serves as an Affiliate Faculty Senior Research Associate and Administrative Volunteer in The Center for Human-Animal Interaction at VCU School of Medicine.
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John Cantú

School of Communication

John Cantú is an editor at the in house creative operations of Universal, Inside Job. He’s been in theatrical marketing for a dozen years and has cut award-winning trailers or tv spots for...
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John Cantú is an editor at the in house creative operations of Universal, Inside Job. He’s been in theatrical marketing for a dozen years and has cut award-winning trailers or tv spots for several films including Get Out and Nightcrawler. He’s also directed music videos, web-series, and documentaries with a focus on art and community.
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Victoria Cruce

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Cruce is the National Director of Clinical Services for Halcyon Rehabilitation and is an ASHA-certified and State of Florida-licensed speech-language pathologist. She enjoys consulting for various...
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Cruce is the National Director of Clinical Services for Halcyon Rehabilitation and is an ASHA-certified and State of Florida-licensed speech-language pathologist. She enjoys consulting for various companies needing education in speech-language pathology and the interdisciplinary fields. Cruce holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Science and Disorders as well as a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from FSU. Tori enjoys providing clinical education, documentation auditing, continuing education, program development, and quality assurance training for PTs, OTs, and SLPs. Tori assists with clinical development and mentorship of Clinical Services staff, Rehab Directors and clinicians in order to improve clinical service delivery and program presence at the facility level.
Lorraine Dey Summers Headshot

Lorraine Dey Summers

School of Information

Neil DiSarno Headshot

Neil DiSarno

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Neil DiSarno received his MS and PhD in audiology from the Florida State University. He recently completed 14 years as department head of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Missouri State...
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Neil DiSarno received his MS and PhD in audiology from the Florida State University. He recently completed 14 years as department head of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Missouri State University. Presently he is the Chief Staff Office of Audiology at the American Speech- Language Hearing Association. He has been active as a practicing clinical audiologist and researcher for the past 25 years.
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Warrick Dunn

School of Library & Information Studies

Warrick Dunn is as well known for his philanthropic endeavors as he is for his success as a professional football player. The Warrick Dunn Foundation, established in 2002, is dedicated to providing...
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Warrick Dunn is as well known for his philanthropic endeavors as he is for his success as a professional football player. The Warrick Dunn Foundation, established in 2002, is dedicated to providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged single parents and children who have demonstrated a commitment to achieve financial independence and stability. Warrick started Homes for the Holidays, a program of the Foundation, in 1997 during his rookie year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The program is a tribute to his mother, Betty Smothers, a Baton Rouge police officer, who as a single-mother of six, worked tirelessly to achieve the American dream of owning her own home. While working a second job as a security guard, she was killed in the line of duty and was never able to realize that dream. Through Homes for the Holidays, Warrick has been able to honor her memory. In 2007 Homes for the Holidays expanded to include single-fathers. To date, the program has assisted 91 single parents and 246 children and dependents to achieve first-time home ownership in Tampa and Tallahassee, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Dr. Vicki Freimuth

School of Communication

Dr. Vicki Freimuth is Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia where she also held a joint appointment in the Department of Speech Communication and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass...
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Dr. Vicki Freimuth is Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia where she also held a joint appointment in the Department of Speech Communication and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Before joining the faculty at the University of Georgia, she served as Director of Communication at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1996-2003. Dr. Freimuth received her B.S. from Eastern Illinois University, her Master’s from the University of Iowa, and her Ph.D. from the Department of Communication at Florida State University in 1974.
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Marcos Gabriel

Soapbox Films

Born in Puerto Rico, Marcos is an award-winning writer who leaned on his upbringing to ground the world of the upcoming feature film The Old Ways. Recently, he penned the feature Construct for...
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Born in Puerto Rico, Marcos is an award-winning writer who leaned on his upbringing to ground the world of the upcoming feature film The Old Ways. Recently, he penned the feature Construct for Automatik and producers Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger, and is currently on the story team for the Disney+ series MUPPETS NOW! As Executive Creative Director and co-founder of Soapbox Films, Marcos focuses on bringing a unique sensibility to original content of all varieties. Whether it’s a branded ad for Google, a series of shorts for Apple TV +, a music video for Netflix, or a spectrum of marketing materials for Disney, Universal, and Paramount, Marcos has developed a career centered around a love of movies and storytelling.
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David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe

School of Communication

David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe founded Renegade 83 in 1994. Since its Inception, Renegade 83 has been one of Hollywood’s most prolific television production companies. Best known for rewriting the...
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David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe founded Renegade 83 in 1994. Since its Inception, Renegade 83 has been one of Hollywood’s most prolific television production companies. Best known for rewriting the rules of reality television with the creation of the extraordinarily successful dating series Blind Date, David and Jay also created such hits as ABC’s Miracle Workers, NBC’s The Law Firm, and Discovery’s One Man Army and Man Woman Wild. Two of their productions – USA’s The 4400 and the highly acclaimed documentary Special, The Kennedy Detail, have been nominated for Emmys. Currently, The reality duo is producing an expansive slate of programming including Ready For Love for which they partnered with Eva Longoria to executive produce for NBC, 130 episodes of Excused for CBS Distribution, Naked and Afraid for Discovery, American Jury for ABC, Women of Wall Street for Bravo and The Hunt for the CW.
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Carol Gill

For Carol Gill, Florida State opened a world of possibilities. “Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who went to college,” said Gill. “I was the first in my direct line to go.” After...
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For Carol Gill, Florida State opened a world of possibilities. “Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who went to college,” said Gill. “I was the first in my direct line to go.” After completing her undergraduate education in earth sciences and geology at the University of Tulsa, Carol came to Tallahassee for her master’s degree in library science. “FSU was a good school with good faculty, including an advisor who helped me get started on my career,” she said. Carol became a science librarian, working for employers that included petroleum companies and universities all over the country.
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Dr. Virginia Gilmore Walker

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Dr. Virginia Gilmore Walker was a Professor with the FSU Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders from 1979-2004. While working towards her doctoral degree, she held various part-time...
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Dr. Virginia Gilmore Walker was a Professor with the FSU Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders from 1979-2004. While working towards her doctoral degree, she held various part-time teaching and clinical positions in the Department of Communication Science & Disorders. Dr. Walker received her B.A. from Longwood College in 1964, her M.Ed. from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. from Florida State University.
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Marquita Gooch-Voyd

Academy of Art University

Marquita Gooch-Voyd has over 16 years of varying library field experience including public, research and school libraries. Her primary areas of expertise are new and emerging technologies, library...
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Marquita Gooch-Voyd has over 16 years of varying library field experience including public, research and school libraries. Her primary areas of expertise are new and emerging technologies, library marketing, community engagement, and workflow simplification. Since leaving her position as the Assistant Director for Technology, Training and Innovation and the Marketing Coordinator for the Clayton County Library System, she has gone on to consult on two projects for the Georgia Public Library System and now works remotely as the Marketing Operations Manager and researcher for Academy of Art University. When she’s not hard at work, she’s practicing her skills as a DJ and novice filmmaker, and running her small wedding business as an ordained minister of marriage.
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Charlette M. Green

Cherokee County School District

Charlette M. Green, Executive Director of Special Education and 504 in Cherokee County School District, GA, received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology...
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Charlette M. Green, Executive Director of Special Education and 504 in Cherokee County School District, GA, received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University. Charlette has also obtained the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Students (CAGS) in Special Education Administration. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2008 Patricia Lindamood Award for Leadership, the New Special Education Director of the Year, and the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders President’s Professional of the Year. In 2021, she was approved as a Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language by the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders. Charlette is a life-long learner with a passion for developing leaders and supporting students with disabilities. She is an avid reader, dedicated wife and mother.
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Carole Jo Hardiman

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Carole Jo Hardiman served 35 years as a faculty member for the Department of Communication Disorders before retiring in 2004. Hardiman earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at FSU, and after...
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Carole Jo Hardiman served 35 years as a faculty member for the Department of Communication Disorders before retiring in 2004. Hardiman earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at FSU, and after employment in the public schools and at the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center in Tallahassee, she began working as a master clinician in the newly established Regional Rehabilitation Center. Hardiman is Fellow of the American Speech Language Hearing Association and a past president of the Florida Language, Speech and Hearing Association.
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TaRhonda Harvey

TaRhonda Harvey is a Personal Branding Coach/Strategist and Web Designer. With over a decade of experience, TaRhonda helps entrepreneurs create a captivating brand that attracts clients and builds a...
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TaRhonda Harvey is a Personal Branding Coach/Strategist and Web Designer. With over a decade of experience, TaRhonda helps entrepreneurs create a captivating brand that attracts clients and builds a digital presence to match. Her work had not only helped her clients achieve tangible success within their business, but her personal brand of lending actionable motivation and inspiration provides her audience with the roadmap for creating a positive mindset that is necessary to pursue and reach goals. When TaRhonda is not mapping out success for client, she’s sharing her knowledge in podcasts, digital products, and more.
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Samantha K. Hastings

School of Library & Information Studies

Dr. S. K. “Sam” Hastings (PhD ‘94) joined the University of South Carolina, School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) as director and professor in 2006. She directed the digital image...
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Dr. S. K. “Sam” Hastings (PhD ‘94) joined the University of South Carolina, School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) as director and professor in 2006. She directed the digital image management program at the University of North Texas, SLIS, serving as interim dean 2004-2005, and president of ASIST, 2004. Her research interests include retrieval of digital images, cultural heritage, telecommunications and evaluation of networked information services.
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Sol Hirsch

Alachua County Library District

Sol Hirsch (MLS 1972), director of the Alachua County Library District and member of the board of directors of SOLINET, has contributed to the library and information studies profession (e.g. FLA....
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Sol Hirsch (MLS 1972), director of the Alachua County Library District and member of the board of directors of SOLINET, has contributed to the library and information studies profession (e.g. FLA. president 2006-2007, FLA board of directors 2003-2008, NEFLIN board of directors 1999-2002) and to the lives of those around him. He received the ALA-APA2007 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Salaries and Statusfor Library Workers at the Alachua County Library District and was responsible for initiatives that resulted in receipt of the NEFLIN Golden Apple award for five consecutive years for commitment to staff development and continuing education for library workers.
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Traylor Howard

School of Communication

Traylor Howard was born and raised in Orlando. She attended Lake Highland Preparatory School, and while there, appeared in a Juicy Fruit gum commercial. Howard graduated from Lake Highland...
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Traylor Howard was born and raised in Orlando. She attended Lake Highland Preparatory School, and while there, appeared in a Juicy Fruit gum commercial. Howard graduated from Lake Highland Preparatory School in 1984. Howard then went on to graduate from Florida State University with a degree in communications and advertising and a minor in English.
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Althea Jenkins

School of Information

Amy Johnson Headshot

Amy Johnson

School of Information

Amy L. Johnson was appointed State Librarian and Director of the Division of Library and Information Services at the Florida Department of State in February 2015. Since joining the Division in 2000...
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Amy L. Johnson was appointed State Librarian and Director of the Division of Library and Information Services at the Florida Department of State in February 2015. Since joining the Division in 2000 Ms. Johnson has held several positions. Prior to joining the Florida Department of State, Ms. Johnson was a Librarian at the Marshall W. Hamilton Library at North Florida Community College in Madison, Florida. Ms. Johnson completed a Master of Science in Library Science degree at Florida State University. She completed her undergraduate education at The University of The South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Ms. Johnson has two children, Maren, a sophomore at The University of the South and, Jonas, a sophomore at Leon High School.
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Dr. Aisha Johnson-Jones

School of Information

Dr. Aisha Johnson-Jones earned her Ph.D. and master’s degrees in Library and Information Studies from the School of Information, and was selected as the school’s Distinguished Alumna for 2020....
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Dr. Aisha Johnson-Jones earned her Ph.D. and master’s degrees in Library and Information Studies from the School of Information, and was selected as the school’s Distinguished Alumna for 2020. She is an Assistant Professor at North Carolina Central University, School of Library and Information Sciences, where she also serves as the Program Director for Archives and Records Management. Dr. Johnson-Jones has focused her research on the development of literacy in the African-American community, and philanthropic efforts to develop public libraries in the South. Her advocacy for libraries and archives is not only conveyed in her research, but also her professional career.
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Jim E. Kirk

School of Communication

Jim E. Kirk is a retired broadcaster and owner of WMOP Radio, Inc. in Ocala, where he is known as “Country Jim.” He received his B. S. from The Florida State University in 1952. His degree in...
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Jim E. Kirk is a retired broadcaster and owner of WMOP Radio, Inc. in Ocala, where he is known as “Country Jim.” He received his B. S. from The Florida State University in 1952. His degree in speech, with an emphasis in broadcasting, was the first of its kind granted by the university. Kirk served as mayor of Ocala for three terms. He is a lifetime member of the FSU Alumni Association and a former chairman of the board of Seminole Boosters. He also endowed a professorship, the Jim E. Kirk Professor of Communication, which is currently held by Dr. Barry Sapolsky.
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Dr. Christie Koontz

School of Library & Information Studies

Christie Koontz serves state, national and international library and information organizations and has won numerous awards for her research. She recently received the International Federation of...
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Christie Koontz serves state, national and international library and information organizations and has won numerous awards for her research. She recently received the International Federation of Library Agencies Scroll of Appreciation (2011) for her body of work. Christie serves as executive director of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information Studies Honor Society and as American Library Association student chapter faculty advisor.
Willie Lee Jackson, Jr. Headshot

Willie Lee Jackson, Jr.

School of Information

Willie Jackson is the Founder and Publisher of Abernathy, the magazine for Black men. Additionally, he is the Tech Lead for Seth Godin's altMBA, intensive, 4-week online workshop designed to...
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Willie Jackson is the Founder and Publisher of Abernathy, the magazine for Black men. Additionally, he is the Tech Lead for Seth Godin's altMBA, intensive, 4-week online workshop designed to accelerate leaders to become change agents for the future. Previously, Willie served as the Director of Web Optimization at W3 EDGE, a Boston based interactive web development and marketing agency. In this role, he supported users of products such as W3 Total Cache, a popular web performance framework for WordPress. Before W3 EDGE, Willie relocated to Buenos Aires, Argentina and spent five months immersing himself in a foreign culture in order to challenge himself and his assumptions about life outside what’s familiar. Much to the relief of his dear mother, he did not find himself stranded and destitute at any point during the adventure. In 2011, Willie served as the CTO of The Domino Project, a publishing company in New York City started by bestselling author and marketing guru Seth Godin. In its year-long lifecycle, The Domino Project published twelve books, all of which became bestsellers, and redefined the way books are created, published, and shared. Before The Domino Project, Willie spent three years as an IT Consultant with Accenture in Atlanta. He specialized in portal and content management deployments, and helped select, implement, and support Enterprise technology solutions for Fortune 500 clients across North America. Willie is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council. He is an advisor to and has worked with several bestselling authors, entrepreneurs, consumer goods companies, and startups spanning varied industries, including fitness, travel, and law. He is a regular speaker at conferences, where he addresses topics such as Web Performance, careers, and doing the impossible. He has been featured in documentaries (I’m Fine, Thanks), on HTGV (House Hunters International Episode HHINT-5010H), and in print (Icarus Deception by Seth Godin, 2012). Willie writes semi-regularly on his eponymous blog about business and success through the eyes of a curious marketer. A graduate of Florida State University (Information Technology), Jackson currently lives in New York City. Willie also served on the College of Communication & Information Leadership Board.
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Jamie Linden

Jamie Linden is a screenwriter best known for We Are Marshall (2006) and Dear John (2010). He started his career as an assistant to directors Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella before penning...
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Jamie Linden is a screenwriter best known for We Are Marshall (2006) and Dear John (2010). He started his career as an assistant to directors Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella before penning his own script about the 1970 plane crash that killed most of the Marshall University football team, a story which he found in an issue of FSView & Florida Flambeau.
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Mary Jane Little

Mary Jane Little graduated from FSU with her bachelor's and master's degrees in library science. Her undergraduate work focused on school librarianship, and her graduate work was in academic, public,...
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Mary Jane Little graduated from FSU with her bachelor's and master's degrees in library science. Her undergraduate work focused on school librarianship, and her graduate work was in academic, public, and reference librarianship. Little spent 17 years with the Leon County public library system, working in youth services. She came to the St. Johns County public library system in 1991 as the first assistant director in the system. In 1993 she was appointed the library system director. She has also served as an adjunct instructor for FSU for over 20 years, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in librarianship. She is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the honorary society for librarians with master's degrees. She is also a member of the First Coast Pilot Club, the St. Augustine Rotary Club (and is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club), the Enterprising Women's Leadership Institute (where she was recently honored for her leadership to her community through the First Coast Pilot Club), the American Library Association, the Florida Library Association, and the Women's Exchange of St. Augustine. As the 1999 President of the Florida Library Association, she succeeded in bringing the Annual Conference of the Florida Library Association to the World Golf Village. She has participated in the Leadership St. Johns Program of the St. Augustine-St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, the Florida Library Association named Little its first Librarian of the Year. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from FSU in 2006, and in 2008 she was welcomed to the James D. Westcott Legacy Society/Florida State University President's Club. Mary Jane Little retired on January 31, 2008. She lives in East Palatka in Putnam County, Florida, with her husband, David Covington.
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Janice McClung

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Janice received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University. For the past 35 years she’s worked in a number of settings within her field....
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Janice received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Florida State University. For the past 35 years she’s worked in a number of settings within her field. These include the Florida public school system, skilled nursing facilities, the L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic, and her private practice. If you asked Janice what she likes the most about being a speech-language pathologist she’d quickly respond that she loves to practice her profession. First, and foremost, she loves working with individuals, family members and friends affected by communication disorders and differences. She takes the job of researching disorders and using evidence based practices seriously and works tirelessly to share information and model therapy approaches.Janice also enjoys mentoring. She’s supervised undergraduate and graduate students for over 30 years and enjoys learning from students as much as she enjoys teaching them. Janice completed the majority of her mentoring in public school settings as well as in the L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic. Janice retired from practicing speech-language pathology in the public school setting in December, 2014. She now provides private service in Tallahassee.
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Dr. Cindy McGovern

School of Communication

The CEO of Orange Leaf Consulting, Dr. McGovern helps companies and individuals achieve professional success with her expertise in sales, interpersonal communication, leadership, and management. A...
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The CEO of Orange Leaf Consulting, Dr. McGovern helps companies and individuals achieve professional success with her expertise in sales, interpersonal communication, leadership, and management. A Wall Street Journal best selling author, she has also presented at national and international conferences. With a Ph.D. from the School of Communication in Organizational Communication, Dr. McGovern has the ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently across a wide range of industries.
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Ryan Miller

School of Information

After graduating with his Bachelors in Information Studies from the Florida State University, Ryan has worked at The Walt Disney Company since 2004 and has had a variety of roles in the functional...
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After graduating with his Bachelors in Information Studies from the Florida State University, Ryan has worked at The Walt Disney Company since 2004 and has had a variety of roles in the functional areas of Human Resources. Throughout his career at Disney, he has had the opportunity to be involved in a number of global initiatives. His team was responsible for the change management, communication, and training for the global deployment of Disney's new talent acquisition technology and career portal. Additionally, he was responsible for leading the implementation of a global Human Resources portal, including the interface design and knowledge management strategy, marking the first time employees would be able to access personalized company and HR information which was relevant to them anytime, anywhere, on any device. He recently relocated to London with his wife and is currently leading a European employee services team responsible for providing HR services across Europe, Middle East, and Africa. He enjoys living in London because of the history, culture, and diversity of the city but it is one that does not come without challenges, especially learning the subtle cultural differences between everyone! Outside of work Ryan enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, and learning. He is currently enrolled in Spanish classes to improve his language skills.
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Lawrence Miller

School of Information

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Bill Mills, Jr.

School of Communication

Bill Mills, Jr. has served more than 50 years in advertising, marketing and management in the financial services industry. Before founding The William Mills Agency in 1977, he was vice president of...
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Bill Mills, Jr. has served more than 50 years in advertising, marketing and management in the financial services industry. Before founding The William Mills Agency in 1977, he was vice president of marketing at the John H. Harland Company. He has served as director of advertising for Equifax and as advertising manager for Citizens & Southern National Bank. Bill earned his degree in advertising from FSU College of Business.
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Eloise B. Mills

School of Communication

Eloise Mills has served The William Mills Agency since its inception. She supervises media planning, buying and negotiation services. She also oversees all accounting, payroll and billing functions....
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Eloise Mills has served The William Mills Agency since its inception. She supervises media planning, buying and negotiation services. She also oversees all accounting, payroll and billing functions. Her 30 years of experience include stints at Grizzard Advertising and Fred Worrill Advertising. She graduated cum laude from FSU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
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Jacqueline D. Montgomery

School of Information

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Sully Moreno

Culture Shift Consulting

Sully Moreno is the founder of Culture Shift Consulting, an agency that specializes in community engagement, strategic planning, and communications. Guided by the principles of antiracism,...
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Sully Moreno is the founder of Culture Shift Consulting, an agency that specializes in community engagement, strategic planning, and communications. Guided by the principles of antiracism, intersectionality, and power sharing, Sully’s work brings together groups of stakeholders with different lived experiences, identities, and understandings of equity together to shape programs and strategies that center the needs of those furthest from justice. Her approach is shaped both by professional training and her own lived experience as an immigrant from Panama and a woman of color. After receiving her Master’s degree in Media and Communication Studies from Florida State University in 2012, Sully moved to Seattle, WA, where she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, or just reading a book in her hammock. Her deepest passion is giving back to her community, and in her spare time she serves on the Board of Directors of Sustainable Seattle and Washington Trails Association, and volunteers for Latino Outdoors. Sully is also the first recipient of CCI’s Distinguished Young Alumni for Social Justice award.
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Michele Newberry

School of Information

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Dr. Doreen Oyadomari

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Doreen Oyadomari has over forty years experience in the field of speech language pathology. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Speech Pathology from Florida State University and her Ph.D. from...
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Doreen Oyadomari has over forty years experience in the field of speech language pathology. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Speech Pathology from Florida State University and her Ph.D. from University of South Florida. She served as Chief of the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service at Birmingham VA Medical Center for sixteen years before retiring in 2006. Doreen is an ASHA fellow and a member of the National Council of State Boards. She has been a member of the CCILB since 2016.
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Charles E. “Charlie” Parker

Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Retired

Charles E. Parker (Charlie) retired as Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium in August 2018 having served since 2003. He received the Masters in Library Science from the School of...
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Charles E. Parker (Charlie) retired as Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium in August 2018 having served since 2003. He received the Masters in Library Science from the School of Library and Information Studies in 1977. He served on a School of Library and Information Services Alumni Board that merged with the CCI Leadership Board in 2009 and served as the Leadership Board Chair that year. In 2007 he received the College of Information Distinguished Alumni Award. Early in his career he directed two Florida public libraries, helping them transition from operation by Women’s Clubs to municipalities and counties. Working as a consultant with the State Library and Archives of Florida (1989 - 2003) he and a team helped public libraries implement public access Internet service. At the state and national levels he helped launch the E-Rate program that provides schools and public libraries discounted broadband, working with the Florida Public Service Commission and the F.C.C., and chaired an American Library Association E-Rate Task Force. At TBLC he directed statewide services including Florida Library Webinars, Statewide Delivery Service, and Ask a Librarian. He was very involved in expansion of popular e-books in public libraries, offering a regional platform for libraries at TBLC and nationally by engaging with publishers and aggregators through American Library Association. Throughout his career, he has been a leader and advocate for libraries. During his service at the Florida State Library and Archives he worked with policy issues and advocating for funding and legislation at the state and federal levels. He has provided leadership through the Florida Library Association (FLA), serving as president in 2008, helping public libraries retain state funding during the recession. He continues to play an active role in Florida library advocacy.
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Anna H. Perrault

School of Information

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Dominique Pierce

After completing her MLIS in August 2012, Dominique moved to Washington, DC where she began her career at the George Washington University. Initially, she worked as a Library Specialist; her role...
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After completing her MLIS in August 2012, Dominique moved to Washington, DC where she began her career at the George Washington University. Initially, she worked as a Library Specialist; her role included tech support and acquisitions. In July 2015, she transitioned to the job of Systems Specialist providing desktop support for GW Libraries staff. One major accomplishment in this role has been the implementation and promotion of the library’s 3D printing program.
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Kaki Pope

Audio Rehab Lab

Kaki Pope purchased Audio Rehab Lab in November, 1988, and this coming November will mark the 35th anniversary of her ownership. Kaki’s mission has been to provide an innovative hearing healthcare...
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Kaki Pope purchased Audio Rehab Lab in November, 1988, and this coming November will mark the 35th anniversary of her ownership. Kaki’s mission has been to provide an innovative hearing healthcare facility that focuses on state-of-the-art technology and the direct care of hearing-impaired individuals. She is also dedicated to giving back to the community. Audio Rehab Lab also hosts an annual drive for vital local charities, some of which include Big Bend Hospice, The Alzheimer’s Project, and Refuge House Inc. In partnership with FSU’s Speech and Hearing clinic, Audio Rehab Lab also regularly collects hearing aids and supplies that are donated to their Guatemala Aid trip. She enjoys nature walks, container gardening, historical biographies, and movies. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her beloved miniature poodle “Lucy”.
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Ilya Pozin

School of Information

A serial entrepreneur, writer, and investor, Pozin is the founder of Pluto TV, Open Me, and Ciplex. Pozin immigrated from Russia to the U.S. in 1991, and started his first company, Ciplex, when he...
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A serial entrepreneur, writer, and investor, Pozin is the founder of Pluto TV, Open Me, and Ciplex. Pozin immigrated from Russia to the U.S. in 1991, and started his first company, Ciplex, when he was only 17 years old. Ciplex, a digital agency, was acquired in 2016, pivoted to a startup accelerator and rebranded as Coplex. Open Me, the second of Pozin’s company’s, raised $500,000 and was acquired by Rowl in 2016 for $6 million. Finally, Pozin founded Pluto TV, a free streaming television service, that was recently acquired by Viacom for $340 million. Pozin was recognized as a 30 under 30 by Inc. Magazine and writes for various publications including Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and AdWeek. He received his bachelor’s degree in Information Studies from FSU in 2005.
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Carlene Reid

Federal government

Carlene has 15 years of experience as a special educator. Currently, she works as a project officer for the federal government administering personnel preparation and education technology grants....
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Carlene has 15 years of experience as a special educator. Currently, she works as a project officer for the federal government administering personnel preparation and education technology grants. Carlene has been highly active in community efforts related to education. In 2017, she was awarded the Wilma Holmes Tootle Education Enhancement award by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., an organization that she is a proud and active member of. Lastly, Carlene is a certified member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).
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Bernadette Roberts Storck

School of Information

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Ronald Rule

School of Information

Ronald Rule is Sr. Business Support Manager responsible for the centralized operating office for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) at Bank of America Driving greater accountability into the...
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Ronald Rule is Sr. Business Support Manager responsible for the centralized operating office for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) at Bank of America Driving greater accountability into the legacy product portfolios for key compliance pillar areas Financial management and oversight of $60MM Yearly Budget in the Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) organization He led the expense reduction of $50MM over 3 Year Span (2014-2016) through the LAS NewBAC effort Ron traveled to Memphis the summer of 2016 for the Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project Memphis families that partnered with Memphis Habitat to build or improve their homes and will travel to Edmonton, Alberta in the summer of 2017 to continue to build homes Ron received one of the Bank of America 2016 Global Diversity and Inclusion Award Winner for my work in support of Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership and Advancement Employee Network and the Hispanic Latino Leadership Council, which strives to connect our Hispanic-Latino leaders and influence strategies that would positively impact our Hispanic-Latino employees, clients, customers and communities
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Martha Saunders

University of West Florida

Martha Saunders is the sixth president of the University of West Florida. In her 30-plus years in higher education, Dr. Saunders has served in academic and leadership roles at universities in...
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Martha Saunders is the sixth president of the University of West Florida. In her 30-plus years in higher education, Dr. Saunders has served in academic and leadership roles at universities in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin and Mississippi. Equity and diversity initiatives launched under her guidance propelled the institution to receive the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine six times. When Dr. Saunders is not attending to University needs, she and her husband, Joe Bailey, can be found walking, shelling, gardening, kayaking or fishing on her beloved Pensacola Beach.
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Ms. Patricia Sibley

School of Communication

Pat Sibley is consistently recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for being in the “Top 10 Largest Woman Owned Businesses in Atlanta.” She is one of only four women listed in “Georgia’s...
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Pat Sibley is consistently recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for being in the “Top 10 Largest Woman Owned Businesses in Atlanta.” She is one of only four women listed in “Georgia’s Top 100 Privately Held Companies.” Pat was named “Female Entrepreneur of the year for 2006” by Atlanta Woman Magazine and has been named twice by Catalyst Magazine as one of “Georgia’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs.”
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Tom W. Sloan

School of Library & Information Studies

Tom W. Sloan is the executive director of the DuPage Library System, a regional library system consisting of more than 130 members in over 300 libraries in the greater Chicago area. Sloan received...
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Tom W. Sloan is the executive director of the DuPage Library System, a regional library system consisting of more than 130 members in over 300 libraries in the greater Chicago area. Sloan received his bachelor of science in education from the University of Tennessee before attending The Florida State University, where he earned a master’s in library science. Sloan has held many offices in state and national professional library associations, such as the American Library Association.
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Dave Smith

Soapbox Films

Dave Smith is the President of Soapbox Films in Burbank, California. He has previously worked at MGM as a marketing director. He currently serves as a board member of “All Things Comedy.”

Dave Smith is the President of Soapbox Films in Burbank, California. He has previously worked at MGM as a marketing director. He currently serves as a board member of “All Things Comedy.”
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Sally Smollar

School of Information

For the past nine years, Sally has served as the librarian at Plumosa School of the Arts (PSA) in Delray Beach, FL where she teaches digital media classes to third, fourth, and fifth graders. As a...
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For the past nine years, Sally has served as the librarian at Plumosa School of the Arts (PSA) in Delray Beach, FL where she teaches digital media classes to third, fourth, and fifth graders. As a forward thinker, Sally strives to “utilize library resources and access to technology to engage students in a variety of projects that encourage them to jump out of bed in the morning,” she says. To motivate reluctant readers, she taught the kids to create iMovie trailers to promote the Sunshine State Young Reader Award nominees and had over 100 students participated in the school’s Battle of the Books. In addition to leading the student council and yearbook committees, Sally works with the Palm Beach County Bar Association to stage an annual mock trial, that attempts to expose students to future careers in the law. After attending a faculty seminar about cyber safety, she invited the speaker, Gregory Schiller, special predator enforcement prosecutor with the Florida State Attorney’s office, to come to the school where he spoke to adults about the dangers of online bullying or location tracking via GPS and Bluetooth on computers or mobile devices. Sally brought her passion for organic gardening to the school through PSA’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program, by teaching kids about gardening. She encouraged students to enter the Grow’ums Blue Ribbon Contest and several students won blue ribbons for participation. In addition, she had students produce videos on how to plant seeds, as well as promote the contest and fundraiser. Whatever experiences she creates for her students, “I am constantly reminded that my effect on students may not always be apparent or immediate,” Sally says, recounting how she ran into the mother of a girl who had taken her digital media class back in 2001. Her daughter is now working at ABC News in New York City, an achievement that her mother credits to Sally’s guidance. Sally’s most recent honor was in being selected as a finalist in the 2015 Library Journal School Librarian of the Year Award. Sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, this award honors K-12 school library professionals for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of 21st-century tools and services to engage students toward fostering multiple literacies.
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Ann Thornton

School of Library & Information Studies

Ms. Ann Thornton began working in the New York Public Library in 1996 when she was hired as the Science, Industry, and Business Library’s first public training coordinator. She is a board member of...
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Ms. Ann Thornton began working in the New York Public Library in 1996 when she was hired as the Science, Industry, and Business Library’s first public training coordinator. She is a board member of the Metropolitan New York Library Council and serves on the New York State Education Department’s Board of Regents Advisory Council on Libraries. Ms. Thornton subsequently held the positions of Assistant Director of Electronic Resources, Associate Director, Humanities and Social Sciences Library, Director of Reference and Research Services, and Acting Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries.
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Dr. Bill Williams

School of Communication Science & Disorders

Dr. Bill Williams is director of and a professor at the University of Florida Craniofacial Center in Gainesville, Florida. He is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a...
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Dr. Bill Williams is director of and a professor at the University of Florida Craniofacial Center in Gainesville, Florida. He is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a recipient of the Florida Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Clinical Achievement Award and is past president of the Florida Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. Dr. Williams’ areas of clinical interests include radiography, endoscopy, oral sensation-perception and oral motor disorders associated with craniofacial malformations. He has published extensively on the topic of communicative disorders associated with craniofacial malformations. He is the principal investigator of two international NIDCR grants in cooperation with the University of Sáo Paulo, Bauru, Brazil, investigating speech outcome measures for different palatal surgeries.
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Dr. Rhonda Work

School of Communication Science & Disorder

Rhonda Work, a retired public education speech-language pathologist, served as president of the Florida Speech-Language-Hearing Association (FLASHA) and as vice president for professional affairs of...
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Rhonda Work, a retired public education speech-language pathologist, served as president of the Florida Speech-Language-Hearing Association (FLASHA) and as vice president for professional affairs of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She received the Honors of FLASHA and was elected a Fellow of ASHA. She was awarded the Sustained Superior Achievement Award from the Department of Education.