Running for Vice President:
Zoraya Betancourt
University of South Florida
Zoraya Betancourt is Director of the Academic Success Center (ASC) at the University of South Florida (USF). She’s been serving in this role for 5 years and has over 15 year’s experience in learning support. In her time at the ASC, Zoraya has led in the efforts to grow the unit’s services to include establishing a PASS program, growing an Academic Peer Mentoring initiative, and providing on-site academic care and advocacy support to students. Under Zoraya’s leadership, the ASC continues to be CRLA level III certified and has expanded its professional development opportunities to its tutoring staff through a special writing topics course that serves as a pipeline to train and vet writing tutors. Furthermore, Zoraya has been an active member of the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) community; she has presented at several conferences, was elected to serve on the Florida College Learning Center Association (FCLCA) Executive Board as Secretary from 2017 to 2019, and served as Conference Planning Chair for FCLCA in 2019, which was hosted at USF. In recent years, she has discovered and embraced her inner “data geek” and has immense gratitude for those LAP mentors who helped expand her mind and enlightened her view of the beauty of data. Zoraya is passionate about college access and success. She coaches, guides, and mentors college students in developing their talent towards achieving academic, personal, and professional goals. She believes everyone has potential and takes very seriously the opportunities she’s been given to pay it forward and empower others towards being their absolute best. The opportunity to serve on the FCLCA Executive Board would be a great honor for her. Allowing her to give back to a community of peers who are passionate about their work in helping students thrive academically, personally, and beyond. She believes that we are stronger together.
Running for Membership Secretary:
Ann Gunther
Keiser University
I became interested in serving on the FCLCA board after our last regional conference that was held at Palm Beach State and FAU. I currently serve as the Director of the Center for Academic Success & Achievement (CASA) at Keiser University’s Flagship Campus, where I also coordinate the campus Writing Studio. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the FCLCA Executive Board as the potential Membership Secretary and would like to share some of the skills and experience I bring to the role.
I offer a strong foundation in administration, organization, communication, and technology. As a director and supervisor, I regularly lead meetings and am responsible for maintaining accurate and detailed minutes. My daily responsibilities include managing and updating records for our academic support department, requiring meticulous attention to detail—an asset I would apply to ensure organizational and legal compliance in the Membership Secretary role.
I am proficient in Excel and can use it to manage and analyze membership data effectively. My writing skills support the drafting and distribution of professional communications, while my experience designing promotional materials in Canva and PowerPoint could assist in member recruitment and engagement.
Most importantly, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with current FCLCA board members to plan events, grow our membership, and strengthen connections within our community.
I hope this brief overview highlights both my qualifications and my genuine interest in serving on the FCLCA Executive Board.
Running for Professional Development Officer:
Comfort Olugbuyi
Florida Atlantic University
With over 15 years of experience in academic support, student success, and professional development across multiple higher education institutions, I bring a deep commitment to empowering educators and student leaders. As Associate Director for Online Academic Support at Florida Atlantic University and a former Director of Academic Resources at Palm Beach Atlantic University, I have led CRLA-certified trainings, developed strategic academic initiatives, and presented at International conferences on student development, Academic Support, and Leadership. I am excited to serve as FCLCA’s Professional Development Chair to collaborate with members statewide, share evidence-based practices, and design engaging, relevant opportunities that help elevate learning center professionals across Florida. Within the community I have had the opportunity to help coordinate and organize multi-day events and conferences including: Super Bowl LIV and LV, Palm Beach Food and Wine Fest, Sunfest Art & Music Festival, and American Council of Education Women's Network. I look forward to serving alongside to board to put on an excellent conference and creating professional development opportunities for our learning center staff.
Running for Professional Development Officer:
Samantha Allyson Garcia
Florida Gulf Coast University
Hello Florida College Learning Center Association E-board and Members!
Aside from being a researcher and technical writer my interest in the FCLCA has been thoroughly peaked through the diverse sessions and attendees. In my previous position as a high school English teacher I have assisted in the successful creation, coordination, and organization of various school events at the Central Florida Christian Academy. In my current position as Florida Gulf Coast Universities writing lab coordinator I am planning outreach, events, and cross departmental collaboration for student success. Inside the office or outside the office I am timely and manage my agenda according to the priorities and deadlines. I utilize various planning strategies and tools to ensure the completion of tasks and goals before or by the due dates. As for data collection I have been collecting data and observing outcomes for a few years now most recently as an English teacher and Writing Lab coordinator. The data I have collected has pertained to specific metrics benefitting students in either academy. I am organized yet flexible for any unplanned tasks which I like to call little surprises. My qualifications on paper can show you how I will objectively succeed in this role as the FCLCA's Professional Development Officer, but my genuine interest in the members, attendees, and research can show how I will contribute meaningfully to the FCLCA. I would like to sow my interests in the FCLCA and explore the ways we continue to benefit our students.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Running for Professional Development Officer
Will Forde-Mazrui
University of South Florida
I have been in my current role as the Assistant Director of Tutoring and Writing Services at the Academic Success Center at the University of South Florida, Tampa campus since January 2023 and am excited to be considered for Professional Development Officer. My current position revolves around the planning and implementation of tutoring services, duties which I believe prepare me well to contribute to the Professional Development Officer role. During my graduate studies, I helped plan the inaugural conference “The Future of Graduate Studies in the Humanities” alongside USF Department of English in 2017. This planning experience gave me valuable practice writing a CFP, organizing a small conference, branding, advertising, and helping to run the conference on the day. While this was a small conference, there was no history to build upon, which made the planning both challenging and enriching. I hope to be able to bring an innovative and thoughtful approach to the future of FCLCA. Additionally, professional development is one of my main foci with my student staff, as the professional staff of the ASC. I see this position as an opportunity for me to throw myself into not only my own professional development, but also that of my colleagues across the state.
Running for Professional Development Officer:
Christine Kassover
Palm Beach State College
Thank you for this opportunity to share about myself. I have experience as a proposal reviewer (TESOL, SSTESOL), scholarship reviewer, and member of the 2024 TESOL Convention hosting committee, with a background in corporate event planning and logistics. I have had the pleasure of presenting at the last two FCLCA conferences and am eager to support professional development by coordinating proposals and sharing my skills while learning from others.
Additionally, I am well versed in newsletter development, committee work, by-law reviews, parliamentary procedures, and many other facets of volunter organizations having served in the past as president of FAU's National Alumni Association, president of my children's PTA, regional board member of SSTESOL, and secretary of our local soccer association. When I am not working in PBSC's Student Learning Center or volunteering, I am studying for my PhD in Curriculum & Instruction at FAU's College of Education, specializing in culturally sustaining linguistic practices in and outside of college classrooms.