Florida State College Jacksonville
Press Release
October 2021
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) recently pledged more than $300,000, focusing on Military and Veteran Services at the College. The project includes the creation of an Executive Director of Military and Veteran Services. These resources will be used to provide specialized academic advising, increased staffing to process GI Bill benefits, coaches to connect students with both academic and life resources, and support with the transition to civilian life.
Led by Retired United States Navy Rear Admiral James Stevenson, FSCJ Military and Veteran Services will serve as a strategic internal partner to existing academic and cocurricular programs within the College, catalyzing enrollment growth and modeling excellence in support of and engagement with active duty military and veterans.
Admiral Stevenson has over 32 years of leadership experience in the professional development of large, diverse and dynamic domestic and international organizations. He has conceived and managed complex organizational change with significant experience in communicating organizational vision and providing development oversight. Areas of expertise include strategic planning and implementation, team building and conflict resolution, resource management and consensus achievement.
“FSCJ has always maintained a commitment to our military and veteran students, but I believe that this new leadership structure allows us to truly move toward becoming one of the most military friendly institutions in the country,” said FSCJ President John Avendano, Ph.D. “Our military and veteran students have unique needs and come to college to gain the skills necessary to be successful in their educational journey. We are thankful to be able to provide them with much-needed support at each step along their academic path.”
The project will also support Military and Veteran Services employees, as they require specific skills, training and knowledge to best meet the complex needs of this student population. Staff will benefit from continued professional development activities and specialized Veterans Affairs (VA) training which will further enhance the active duty military and veteran student experience. Additionally, it will help reestablish the presence of FSCJ on the bases to meet active duty military students where they are.
About FSCJ
Known as “the community’s college,” Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) exists to provide valuable, high-quality learning opportunities to anyone with the desire to enhance themselves through the pursuit of higher education. Serving more than 45,000 students and awarding nearly 7,000 degrees and certificates on an annual basis, the College plays a significant role in supplying the region’s employers with a highly skilled, educated workforce.