The Association of Florida Colleges (AFC) and the Florida College System Council of Presidents (COP) announced their new leadership this week.
The AFC has secured Tony Carvajal to serve as its CEO and executive director, and voted Pensacola State College President Dr. C. Edward Meadows as chair of the COP. The COP is also recognizing Pasco-Hernando State College President Dr. Timothy Beard as honorary chair until his retirement.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected to lead the Association of Florida Colleges. Florida leads the nation in higher education,” said Carvajal. “Our state and community colleges are truly changing the lives of students and the communities that they serve. I look forward to working with our college presidents and education partners to lead this association.”
Carvajal has a long history in public policy and organizational leadership. Before joining AFC, he served as an executive vice president at Florida TaxWatch in Tallahassee, Fla. He has also held leadership positions with distinguished organizations including the Able Trust, Florida Chamber Foundation, and Collins Center for Public Policy. He has a bachelor of arts in psychology and communication from Florida State University. He also holds a master’s in public administration from Florida International University.
Meadows is the sixth president for Pensacola State College and was selected following a national search in June 2008. He is a past chair of the COP and has been gracious in accepting to serve in the role again following President Beard’s retirement.
“The governor, Legislature, and State Board of Education have worked together to award the Florida College System with an infusion of much-needed new funding to enable our colleges to begin implementing our plan to Accelerate Florida with the goal of creating new pathways for academic success and career attainment for our students in the great state of Florida,” said Meadows. “The Council of Presidents look forward to this coming year to continue to work with all stakeholders to further implement Accelerate Florida.”
Beard became president of PHSC in 2015, after serving for years as its vice president. Before arriving at PHSC, Beard worked at institutions including Florida A&M University, Florida State University, and University of South Alabama. Under Beard’s leadership, PHSC has expanded greatly, with an operating budget increase of 40 percent. During his presidential term, PHSC opened a state-of-the-art performing arts center at its Wesley Chapel location. Additionally, plans are underway to construct a fire academy and a business school.
“I believe you have to serve if you want to lead, and after serving as the council’s policy and advocacy chair this past year, I am honored to be selected to work with the Association of Florida Colleges’ new executive director and lead my fellow presidents as this year’s honorary chair,” said Beard. “Each day, I’m proud of the work our 28 institutions do to go above and beyond for our students, communities, and workforce partners. Thanks to our college presidents, state’s elected leaders, and partners at the Florida Department of Education, we will continue to lead the nation in higher education.”
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