This month’s student spotlight focuses on Brandon King, a Marine Corps veteran.

Where are you from?
I'm from Plantation, Florida.

What’s your major?
My major is IT, Cyber Security, and Ethical Hacking.

What is your ultimate professional goal?
My ultimate professional goal is to begin my career with an internship in cybersecurity while still in college, gaining hands-on experience and industry insight. After graduating, I aim to leverage that experience to secure a full-time position in the cybersecurity field. My long-term objectives include obtaining a security clearance sponsored by my employer and transitioning into a remote or hybrid work environment.

What advice would you give to incoming students?
My advice to incoming students is to create a schedule that is manageable and not too overwhelming. While it might seem like finishing school quickly is the goal, overloading yourself can lead to burnout and reduce your ability to focus, especially when balancing responsibilities outside of school. Take the time early on to thoroughly research the field you're planning to study. Don’t just focus on the salary, watch videos of professionals in the field, ask questions, and explore different career paths. Narrow down your options and solidify your decision before committing. The more effort you put into these early steps, the more time, money, and stress you’ll save throughout your academic journey.

What is the best part about being a BC student?
The best part about being a BC student is Student Life. They do an amazing job creating an atmosphere on campus through engaging activities and events. Their work helps keep students connected, involved, and excited to be part of the campus community.

What’s one important thing you learned outside the classroom while at BC?
One important lesson I’ve learned outside the BC campus is that networking is essential to success, both academically and professionally. Building connections opens doors to new opportunities, insights, and support that can make a lasting impact in your life.

If you would like to nominate a student to be featured, please email us at mediarelations@broward.edu

This month’s faculty/staff spotlight focuses on Dr. Billy Jones, an associate professor of English who has been an educator for 29 years, with 11 at Broward College.

What drew you to becoming an educator?
I always enjoyed playing “teacher” among my cousins while I was growing up. I would create grammar lessons for my younger cousins to complete. As I advanced through grade school, I had phenomenal teachers who inspired me to reach my fullest potential. By my senior year in high school, my Language Arts teacher and journalism teachers planted the seeds for my interest in teaching. I admired their intellect, creativity, and compassion. Their passion for teaching and love for supporting students was contagious. However, it was not until my sophomore year in college when I realized that my career must be teaching.

What is the best part of being a faculty member?
The best part about being a faculty member is that I get to help people see themselves and their potentials through their educational empowerment. The magic that we, the students and I, create in the classroom is transformative. Just recently, one of my English Composition II classes was exploring the role of imagery in a selection of poems. One poem that struck the class’s attention was “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. For me, it is important to provide a space for students to explore the complexities of human experiences. I enjoy creating teachable moments that bridge the learning world to the real world. The students and I learn and teach each other. That is very special; I appreciate learning something new from my students by the end of each lesson.

Sometimes, students need a safe space to work through their problems or circumstances. I often tell students, “My office hours are not only for your learning success but also for your well-being. Seek me anytime if you need just a set of ears to listen.” Many of my greatest, teachable moments occur in my office as well. I am grateful that I can help students navigate complex issues such as depression, anxiety, and loss as well as scholarship and transfer applications beyond the class. When students are with me in the office, it is fun to gauge their career goals and interests and to remind them about college support services.

Lastly, I serve as the faculty advisor to a student organization, the Distinction Society. Because of our connection inside and outside of the classroom, several students decide to join the Distinction Society to further our connections, and more importantly, to enhance their professional skills. Overall, I serve as a faculty because “it’s the human thing to do.”

What are the changes you’ve seen over the years in the classroom?
One of the greatest changes that I have seen in almost three decades of instruction is the evolution of instructional technology. I remind students that my education was impacted by the evolution of the desktop and laptop computer as I attended college during the 1990s. From a manual typewriter to the word processor to the first desktop… and then the first laptop, my entire undergraduate and graduate experiences were impacted by this evolutionary moment. So, I am familiar with educational change from a student’s point of view.

Today, several technology forms are transforming the way teaching and learning occur, and I am not just referring to the internet. Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is embedded in many industries, so educators should consider assisting students in navigating the ethical implications for A.I.’s use. Now, there are educational conferences dedicated to A.I. and Virtual Reality (V.R.) in the classrooms at all learning levels (K-12 and post-secondary). Such focuses were unheard of two decades ago. I now have a few assignments embedded in my courses there are A.I. inclusive. All my assignments are labeled A.I. inclusive or resistant with explanations of each. I am providing my students real-world context for solving problems using scenarios and supporting artifacts to teach critical thinking and writing. I am currently creating a plan to produce a mixed reality game that will reinforce grammar skills among post-secondary learners. I am also exploring how I can use an existing V.R. platform for preparing students for their end-of-term research capstone presentations. These opportunities were unavailable before. The technology is more accessible now than it has ever been before. The educator is now a great contributor to technological innovation.

What is your favorite food?
I love a variety of dishes. My favorites are soul, Caribbean, Latin, and Mediterranean.

If I won the lottery, I would…?
Create scholarships funds for BC students via the Broward College Foundation. I would also create foundation funds to incentivize faculty and staff innovation.

If you would like to nominate a faculty or staff member to be featured, please email us at mediarelations@broward.edu

This month’s alumni spotlight focuses on Simona Miulescu from the Classes of 2018 and 2021. 

Simona Miulescu is a data scientist at Peraton, where she has driven innovation since 2015. In 2024, she joined the faculty at Broward College’s Central Campus as an adjunct professor of computer science and technology, sharing her expertise with the next generation of tech professionals.

Miulescu earned a Master of Science in data science from Eastern University in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in technology management, summa cum laude, from Broward College (2021), and an Associate of Science in computer information technology, with highest honors, also from Broward College (2018).

A strong advocate for women in technology, Miulescu received the Women in Tech Award from Broward College in 2018 and was honored by the National Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Science in 2020.

She was one of three Broward College graduate speakers at the College’s Professional Development Day on Feb. 21, 2025, where she shared her personal journey as an adult learner returning to higher education to pivot her career and gain new skills. She credited professors such as Felicidad Archila and Brian Faris for encouraging her to pursue a career in STEM and inspiring her return to the college as an adjunct faculty member.

Reflecting on the college’s impact on her life and career, she said:

“To me, Broward College represents the opportunity of a lifetime. It provided me with technology credentialing and professional certifications, accreditation for two consecutive degrees, and a pathway to career advancement through multiple promotions. It also opened the door to postgraduate education, ultimately leading to my Master of Science in Data Science. I credit my recent successes and achievements to the strong foundation in computer science and technology that I received at Broward College.”

Miulescu’s story is a testament to perseverance, lifelong learning, and the value of a strong educational foundation.

If you would like to nominate an alumnus to be considered for a Spotlight, please send an email to alumni@broward.edu