People

Dr. LaTanya McNeal, executive dean of the Palm Beach State College Belle Glade campus, has been elected to chair the Glades Area Advisory Board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

She will begin her new two-year term in October after serving as the inaugural board’s vice chair for more than a year. She replaces Spencer Davis who will continue to serve on the 15-member board.

“I am honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as chair of the Glades Area Advisory Board,” said McNeal, whose background includes 23 years in postsecondary and K-12 education. “I’m excited to have been afforded the opportunity to continue to work with such a dynamic and passionate advisory board.”

“LaTanya has the energy, passion and know-how to lead our advisory board,’’ Davis said. “As vice chair she was very active in programs and future plans, and I know she will guide us on a path of continued success that will ensure a world-class experience for club members.”

The Glades area includes a teen center and six elementary school sites that serve about 900 members daily. McNeal moves into the top seat as construction is underway on a $12 million Smith & Moore Family Teen Center in Belle Glade that will replace the existing facility. The 13,000-square-foot center is slated to open in March 2020 and will allow the Boys & Girls Club to serve more youth.

“The new state-of-the-art center will have a tremendous impact on the youth and families of the Glades as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County continues to develop and support youth to become well-rounded citizens and leaders,’’ said McNeal, who also serves as chair of the Board Development Committee and was instrumental in the growth of the Advisory Board.

McNeal has worked at the Belle Glade campus since 2013. She served as Student Learning Center manager before becoming interim assistant dean of student services in 2014 and being selected for the permanent role in 2015. She was named executive dean earlier this year.

The Jacksonville, Florida native who lives in West Palm Beach has worked as a high school science teacher, instructional science coach, assistant principal of student services, vice principal of curriculum and instruction, and principal of an International Baccalaureate magnet middle school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Florida and a doctorate in organizational leadership and higher education from Nova Southeastern University. Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in educational law and policy from the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University. McNeal has one daughter who attended the Boys & Girls Clubs during her preteen and teen years and is now a student at PBSC.