My Fellow Seahawks and Supporters of Broward College:
As we head into the heart of the summer semester, Broward College continues to move with intentional focus, new energy, and clear momentum. July marks the official start of a new fiscal year—a pivotal milestone that allows us to look back at our recent successes while aggressively preparing for an exceptional academic year this fall.
Broward College is always ready to help in times of need, so I extend my gratitude to everyone in the Seahawk family who donated food and supplies to assist Venezuela following two devastating earthquakes last month. Our efforts resulted in more than 35 boxes being transferred to the relief organization Global Empowerment Mission. These donations will make a difference as Venezuelans begin the long process of recovery.
While summer typically brings a change of pace to our campuses, our commitment to safety and institutional excellence never pauses. We are officially approaching the peak of hurricane season—mid-August to mid-October—and I am calling on every student, faculty, and staff member to remain vigilant. Please take a moment this week to review the comprehensive hurricane safety action guide provided by our Department of Safety, Security, & Emergency Preparedness. Furthermore, I urge you to download the Everbridge 360 app today on the App Store or Google Play. This tool is vital for our collective security, providing direct, immediate access to our Security Operations Center, virtual escorts, and real-time emergency sharing.
True leadership requires active listening, which is why I value the regular forums I host with our community. This past week, I joined our incredible students at the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie for a summer student forum. The insights, passion, and feedback shared by our students are invaluable as we continuously push to elevate the Seahawk experience.
Looking ahead, our campuses will soon be buzzing with the return of our world-class educators. On Aug. 19, our faculty will gather at the North Campus in Coconut Creek for the annual Faculty Welcome Back and Marketplace. This event is a powerful opportunity to reconnect, align our goals, and officially welcome the talented new colleagues joining the Seahawk family. That energy will carry directly into the fall semester with the highly anticipated return of the Clash of the Seahawks competition. Our staff and faculty walked away victorious last time, and I am eager to see if our students can reclaim the title next semester!
Finally, we are maintaining a rapid pace on developing our 2027-2032 Strategic Plan. As we transition into Phase 3, we have just concluded a vital series of focus groups with students, alumni, employees, and regional partners. Your voice is critical to this work. I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to complete our strategic survey. Your input directly shapes the roadmap as we execute our shared vision to make Broward College the #1 destination for academic excellence.
Thank you for your continued dedication to this institution. I wish you a productive, safe, and successful remainder of the summer. As always, please feel free to contact me directly at officeofthepresident@broward.edu.
Go Seahawks!
Torey Alston
President and CEO
Board Action
The Broward College District Board of Trustees is not meeting in July. Its next regularly scheduled meeting will take place on Aug. 25, 2026.
SIS Implementation Update
Broward College continues to make strong progress in the implementation of Ellucian Student powered by Banner, the College’s new Student Information System (SIS). Throughout July, the College achieved several key implementation milestones that strengthened core student services, expanded system capabilities, and advanced readiness for the Fall 2026 term.
- Student Payment Experience: The new student payment experience launched in myBC, providing students with a centralized location to view account balances, make payments, enroll in payment plans, access financial services, and manage their student accounts.
- D2L Integration: The Banner integration with D2L was successfully implemented, supporting automated course roster synchronization and enhancing the teaching and learning experience for faculty and students.
- Faculty Training: Faculty training for the new myBC platform launched through Workday My Learning, offering live Zoom and self-paced learning opportunities to support Fall 2026 readiness.
- Institutional Commitment: The continued progress of the SIS implementation reflects the strong collaboration and dedication of Broward College employees and implementation partners in delivering a modern, student-centered experience.
Visit the SIS website for additional information.
Student Spotlight
This month’s student spotlight focuses on Jayson Taveras, who serves as President of the Student Government Association at North Campus in Coconut Creek.
Where are you from?
Dominican Republic.
What’s your major?
Criminal Justice.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
Stay focused on your goals and achieve the highest grades possible.
What is the best part about being a BC student?
Having new friends and always joining the events that the College has.
What’s one important thing you learned outside the classroom while at BC?
The College gives you a lot of opportunities to explore different paths to take and helps you figure out a plan for yourself.
If you would like to nominate a student to be featured, please email us at mediarelations@broward.edu
Faculty/Staff Spotlight
This month’s faculty/staff spotlight focuses on René Kamisetty, a Development Information Systems Manager in the Office of Advancement. She has been with the College for 12 years and was recognized with a BC Cares Volunteer Superstar Award at the 2025 Osprey Awards.
What is the best part of working at Broward College?
Education has the power to change lives, and I am grateful to be part of that mission at Broward College. Although I work behind the scenes, I am honored to support the efforts that connect our generous donors with students whose lives are transformed through scholarships and other opportunities. Knowing that my work helps make those dreams possible is what inspires me every day.
What is one thing you’ve accomplished working at Broward College that you’re most proud of?
I had the pleasure of giving back to the College with BC Cares with the Campus Beautification Days and the community with Habitat for Humanity and the Beach Cleanups.
Are you a morning person or a night owl – and why?
Night owl, for sure, probably enjoying some hobbies; playing video games, 3D printing, watching anime or a movie.
What is your favorite food?
As far as cuisine, I love Haitian and Korean food, but as I have a sweet tooth, I will say tiramisu.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
If I won the lottery, I would invest it and give it back to my parents and the community.
If you would like to nominate a faculty or staff member to be featured, please email us at mediarelations@broward.edu
Alumni Spotlight
This month’s alumni spotlight focuses on Amanda Scrivani, of the Class of 2016. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
Where did you grow up and what motivated you to attend Broward College?
I grew up in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. I knew I always wanted to go to college to earn a degree, and Broward College was the perfect fit for me at the time. It was close, affordable, and had several majors I was interested in.
Can you tell us about one or two moments that stand out about your time at the College?
During my time at the College, I distinctly remember going on the study abroad programs the Environmental Science program offered. Additionally, my life significantly changed when my advisor, David Serrano, informed me about graduate school opportunities and inspired me to continue my education.
Did you have any favorite professors or people at the College who were important to you as a student?
Micheal Harvey and David Serrano were my favorite professors. They constantly encouraged me to do well in school while also making it a fun experience.
Where did you go after Broward College? How did what you learn at the College prepare you for your path?
After my time at Broward College, I went on to get my master's degree in Sustainable Forest Management in the Forest Engineering, Recourse and Management Department at Oregon State University. All my classes at Broward College significantly prepared me for my continued education path whether it be communication, writing, or research skills.
What do you do currently and what are your future plans?
I currently work as a Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at Port Everglades in Florida. My future plans are to continue my work with the USDA while eventually moving to a higher position as a National Operation Manager where I can write policy and regulations.
If you would like to nominate an alumnus to be considered for a Spotlight, please send an email to alumni@broward.edu
News & Events
There’s always something exciting going on at Broward College’s campuses and locations. These are just some of the recent highlights of what our students, faculty and staff have been up to around the College:
- Russell McCaffery, dean of the College's transportation programs, was recently featured in a South Florida Business Journal story about budget airlines. Read the full story here.
- The Visual & Performing Arts Department will host the Summer Dance Concert at 7:30 p.m. July 24-25 at Bailey Hall on Central Campus. Directed and choreographed by students and alumni, the show will raise funds for student scholarships. See ticket information here.
If you have something that is newsworthy happening on your campus, in your classroom or on stage, please let us know - send us an email at mediarelations@broward.edu
Did You Know...?
Here are some fun facts and info about Broward College that you may not know.
- The Tigertail Lake Recreational Center opened in Dania Beach in 1974. Open to the public, the center offers a variety of recreational activities, including scuba diving, kayaking and canoeing, a ropes course, and stand up paddleboarding.
- The Broward Community College/South Regional Library opened in 1983 on the Judson A. Samuels South Campus in 1983. It was rebuilt in 2007 as the first county building constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standards.
- In February 1979, the Buehler Planetarium and Observatory on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie hosted a viewing of the final solar eclipse of the 20th century.
