People

Dr. Tunjarnika “Nika” Coleman-Ferrell, dean of academic affairs at Palm Beach State College in Boca Raton, will fill an unexpired term as Association of Florida Colleges president-elect this year and take the helm of the 8,000-member organization in January.

She is completing the term vacated by Robert Van Der Velde, J.D., a former associate dean of academic affairs at the Palm Beach Gardens campus who relocated to California this summer. AFC held a special election nomination process to fill Van Der Velde’s president-elect role and his upcoming term as president for 2018.

“We are happy to have Dr. Coleman-Ferrell as our president-elect,’’ said Michael Brawer, AFC executive director and chief executive officer. “Her experience and leadership skills will be a valuable resource for our association. Her loyalty and service to our association proves how important the college system is to her and to our members.”

Coleman-Ferrell has over 18 years of instructional and administrative experience in higher education, including professor, department chair and associate dean in education. She has been a member of AFC since 1998 and has served in various roles such as PBSC AFC chapter president and chair of the Administration Commission. She has been serving as the vice president—elect for commissions for this year, but she stepped down from that role on the executive board to assume her new position.

“It is indeed an honor to serve AFC and the Florida College System during this exciting time,’’ she said. “AFC is a wonderful organization that calls for innovation, intentionality and creative leadership. It is an open climate for change– pushing the limits. It is my goal to carry out the vision of the membership in excellence with hopes of taking AFC to the next level. Together we can do great things. My mantra is #Make It Happen.”

The Association of Florida Colleges, Inc. is the professional association of Florida’s 28 public member institutions of the Florida College System, their boards, employees, retirees and associates, and the employees of the Division of Florida Colleges. The mission of the Association is to actively promote, represent, and support members and institutions as they provide their students and the citizens of Florida with a world-class college system.