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To My Fellow Seahawks and Supporters of Broward College:
As I am fond of saying, great things are happening every day across Broward College! May is a special time at Broward College, as we celebrated all our graduating students at Spring 2025 Commencement. I was so impressed to see nearly 2,000 graduates walk across the stage and make that transition from learning and developing skills to the next stage of their lives, where they’ll put those skills to use. It was an honor to recognize a 75-year-old graduate who earned an Associate of Arts degree. He was among a graduating class where we conferred 9,675 credentials, a six percent increase over the previous year.
In addition to commencement, May is also a time where we should be preparing for something that is a fact of life in South Florida – the Atlantic hurricane season. The season begins on June 1, so now is the time to prepare your personal safety plan and gather necessary supplies. Check our Campus Safety & Security page for more information on emergency preparation. You should also ensure that your contact information is up to date so that you receive BC Alerts in the event of adverse weather affecting Broward College’s campuses and centers.
Here are a few other general updates:
Broward College is Thriving - Our students are excelling, our faculty and staff remain committed to ensuring we are the number one destination for academic excellence, and we are already seeing the results. Summer enrollment is up by nearly 10 percent compared to the same period last year, and fall-to-spring retention is up by more than five percentage points over the last two years. Even more encouraging, nearly 500 more first-time-in-college (FTIC) students are enrolled this summer than last summer, a 56 percent increase. Our course success rate rose to roughly 78 percent, up from just over 75 percent in 2023. Our academic programs remain strong, as clearly demonstrated by our newest degree program, the Associate of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence, launching this fall.
We are Building a Dynamic Team - As part of our efforts to support growth, we have launched search committees that include both faculty and students to review applications for key roles. The Broward College Foundation is strong. I recommended additional board members with expertise aligned to high-skill, high-wage industries of the future. The new Foundation chairman recently returned to the board with a mission of refocusing the Foundation’s work on its original purpose: charitable support for our students and the College.
We are Listening and Responding - Listening is critical to my role and working with student government leaders, I hosted three forums on all three campuses a few weeks ago. Our administration, under the direction of our District Board of Trustees, has already begun exploring ideas—suggested by our students, including enhancing campus signage and upgrading student spaces indoors and outdoors—with improved gathering areas, recreational zones, and new outdoor furniture. Over the summer, I will host additional student and staff forums to hear directly from you!
We are Strengthening our Partnerships - In addition to traveling to Tallahassee to promote our legislative agenda and advocating our federal priorities to the congressional delegation, I have met with fellow Florida College System presidents, the Broward Workshop, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida East Coast Chapter, Hispanic Unity of Florida, and the Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools. Our goal is to deepen our partnerships and amplify the jewel that is Broward College.
We are Focused on Telling Our Story - Over the last several weeks, Broward College sent notices to the families of 17,000 graduating seniors in public and charter schools promoting the College and the response has been positive. We are also launching a second notice along with promoting the College in various mediums to share our programs and many offerings.
To become the number one destination for academic excellence and the first choice of graduating seniors and adult learners, I will continue working collaboratively with our community to grow enrollment, boost retention and graduation, increase job placement, deepen partnerships, and secure additional resources for the College. The value we offer is real, and our promise to our community remains strong.
I hope everyone in the Seahawk family has a great summer semester full of learning and exciting new experiences! As always, please feel free to contact me directly at officeofthepresident@broward.edu.
Go Seahawks!
Torey Alston
President and CEO
The following are agenda items approved by the Broward College District Board of Trustees at its May 20, 2025, regular meeting.
To view the recording for this meeting, go HERE.
To read the full agenda, go HERE.
This month’s student spotlight focuses on Kandra Williams, President of the Student Government Association at the North Campus in Coconut Creek.
Where are you from originally?
I am Jamaican American, originally from Fort Lauderdale.
What’s your major?
I am majoring in Linguistics/Spanish.
What is your ultimate professional goal?
No matter what career I end up choosing, my ultimate professional goal is to speak Spanish, work, and live abroad.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
My advice for incoming students is to be involved! If something interests you, go and be a part of it, and actually see if you like it or not. Do not drive yourself crazy thinking of the worst outcome. Take a deep breath and remember this is a part of living. So go out and live!
What is the best part about being a BC student?
The best part of being a student at BC is Student Life. On North campus, the first job I ever applied for and got was to be a work-study in the student life department. This enhanced my student experience because I had to interact with students on a daily basis, found friendship within my work and interactions, and built more confidence in public speaking.
What’s one important thing you learned outside the classroom while at BC?
One important thing I learned outside the classroom is networking. Being in student government, you had the chance to travel to conferences, introduce yourself to so many people, and connect with some of those you meet. In the long run, you could be building a friendship you never knew you needed. Then, you open so many opportunities for yourself and your future. I am forever grateful for the experience that Broward College has offered me being a part of Student Government.
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 Lindell Roy Davidson Jr., Director of College-Wide Landscape & Grounds Maintenance at Broward College. Davidson has been with the College for 19 years.
What is the best part of working at Broward College?
The best part of working at the College is that I have consistently contributed to the growth of Broward College and the Facilities Department.
What is one thing you’ve accomplished working at Broward College that you’re most proud of?
One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact that I brought to the culture at South Campus. During my tenure as the Landscaping & Grounds Supervisor for South Campus, I received commendation from my superiors for my flexibility and timely response to various challenges while maintaining focus on my responsibilities. My role involved coordinating job assignments, leading special projects, and ensuring operational efficiency.
Are you a morning person or a night owl – and why?
I'm a morning person and a night owl. I tried to make proper adjustments so whatever I have planned will go smoothly.
What is your favorite food?
Mangú, a traditional Dominican dish of mashed green plantains. It's usually served with fried cheese and fried Dominican salami, sunnyside up eggs and chopped pickled red onions on top.
If I won the lottery, I would…
I would not tell anyone…
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 Stegman Cropper from the Class of 2025.
Stegman Cropper, a military veteran and Class of 2025 graduate, is the proud recipient of a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology with a specialization in Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking. Originally from Pocomoke City, Maryland, Cropper has charted a path defined by resilience, purpose and family.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, were the first in their immediate families to attend college. Motivated by their shared goal of reaching the milestone of earning a degree, they also hoped their example would inspire their children. While Elizabeth enrolled at Nova Southeastern University, Cropper’s research led him to Broward College. He was drawn to the College’s culture and, as a former service member, said he was “immediately impressed with how veteran-friendly the College was.”
From the start, Cropper’s experience at Broward College was overwhelmingly positive. But his academic journey took a turn in fall 2021, when remote learning became the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online classes were unfamiliar to him, and he struggled to adjust. After testing positive for COVID-19 and having to quarantine, he lost momentum.
“I couldn’t adjust and essentially took my foot off the gas at that time,” Cropper said.
Despite the setback, he maintained regular contact with his professors, whose empathy and support played a key role in his recovery. He credits Professor Djordge Duverval with being especially influential during that period. “Professor Duverval gained much respect from me. He was the one who really threw me a rope,” Cropper said. “I also appreciate the challenge he presents to his students to understand not only what we learn, but why we’re learning it.”
By spring 2024, Cropper returned to Broward College with renewed energy, focus and commitment to finishing what he started. Now, as a college graduate, he says he feels “proud and ecstatic to have completed the bachelor’s program.”
He also credits Broward College’s flexibility and support with helping him succeed not just as a student, but as a husband and new father. The second chance he was given, he said, has made a lasting impact on his life and career.
Building on the foundation he built at Broward College, Cropper will continue his educational journey at Nova Southeastern University, where he plans to pursue a Master of Science in Cyber Defense.
If you would like to nominate an alumnus to be considered for a Spotlight, please send an email to alumni@broward.edu
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:
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
Here are some fun facts and info about Broward College that you may not know.
