My Fellow Seahawks and Supporters of Broward College:
Summer is here, and we got off to a great start earlier this month with our spring 2026 commencement at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. It is always gratifying to see the joy of graduates who have completed their educational journey at Broward College and are moving onto the next stage of their lives.
At this ceremony, nearly 2,500 people became the newest members of the Seahawk alumni family. And they were welcomed by one of our own graduates—commencement speaker Julie Price, President and CEO of the nonprofit organization Arc Broward. She’s a second-generation Broward College graduate, as her parents met here as students in the 1960s when we were known as the Junior College of Broward County. This kind of story demonstrates the deep roots that Broward College has in this county and how our impact can be felt across generations.
I would like to highlight four recent hires for the College’s senior management team: Dr. John Wensveen for College Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and College Operations; Jon Miller for Vice President of Government and Community Affairs; Ben Rosenberg for General Counsel; and Sara Shayanian for Associate General Counsel. They each bring a wealth of experience to their respective roles that will benefit Broward College. Under the guidance of our District Board of Trustees, we will all work to fulfill our shared vision of being the #1 destination for academic excellence.
One of the ways that we will achieve academic excellence and student success is through the creation of our 2027-2032 strategic plan. The plan will ensure that Broward College is able to adapt and thrive in an evolving world. This plan will broadly impact everything we do, so I encourage you to stay engaged throughout the process and send any questions or comments to strategicplan@broward.edu.
There’s a big change at the Emil Buehler Aviation Institute at the Judson A. Samuels South Campus in Pembroke Pines. GA Telesis, a Fort Lauderdale-based aerospace company and industry partner to Broward College, recently donated two Rolls Royce Trent 800 jet engines, valued at more than $4.1 million, for use in our Aviation Maintenance program. Logistical support from MD Turbines was vital in transporting these engines to our campus. The massive engines are used in Boeing 777 jetliners, so our students are getting hands-on experience that will best prepare them for careers in this fast-growing industry.
It's also important to note that the start of summer also means the beginning of hurricane season, which runs from June 1 - Nov. 30. Hurricane season is a fact of life in South Florida, but we must remain vigilant and prepare accordingly. I urge you to visit our Emergency Preparedness page, which is full of helpful resources. You should also prepare your own personal hurricane plan and have necessary supplies in place so that you can be ready if a storm impacts South Florida.
I hope you have a productive and successful summer. As always, please feel free to contact me directly at officeofthepresident@broward.edu.
Go Seahawks!
Torey Alston
President and CEO
Board Action
The following are agenda items approved by the Broward College District Board of Trustees at its May 26, 2026, regular meeting.
- The Board approved a new three-year contract with Desire2Learn for continued use of Brightspace, the cloud-based learning management system that the College has utilized since 2011.
- The Board authorized curriculum actions recommended by the College Curriculum Committee, including the addition, modification, and termination of courses and programs. These actions reflect faculty-driven proposals designed to ensure academic quality, alignment with institutional goals, compliance with state requirements, and responsiveness to workforce and student needs.
- The Board approved an agreement with Laerdal Medical Corporation for the purchase of high-fidelity simulation manikins. Manikins are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, allowing for the replication of complex clinical scenarios, including cardiovascular emergencies, trauma, and advanced surgical procedures.
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). Following the successful launch of the new MyBC portal and the opening of Fall 2026 registration, the College has entered the next phase of implementation focused on system stabilization, operational readiness, and continued support for students, faculty, and staff.
- Registration: Fall 2026 registration successfully launched through the new MyBC portal, marking a major milestone in the College’s SIS transition.
- Operational Support: Teams across Admissions, Registration, Advising, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Information Technology continue to support daily operations, monitor system performance, and address issues.
- Training and Readiness: Additional training materials, job aids, FAQs, and support resources continue to be developed to support employee readiness and adoption.
- Upcoming Milestones: Preparation efforts continue for upcoming implementations, including Accounts Receivable, CRM Advise, D2L integration, Elevate/Journey (Workforce Education and Continuing Education), and additional system integrations.
- Institutional Commitment: The continued progress of the SIS implementation reflects the strong collaboration and dedication of Broward College employees and implementation partners.
Visit the SIS website for additional information.
Student Spotlight
This month’s student spotlight focuses on Angel Benjamin.
Where are you from?
Lauderdale Lakes, FL.
What’s your major?
Electrical Engineering.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
Don’t stress about having everything figured out. Most people don’t. College is where you explore, grow, and discover the path that truly fits who you are.
What is the best part about being a BC student?
The best part about being a Broward College student is that the experience goes beyond academics. BC doesn’t just give you a small “slice of the cake.” If you take advantage of the opportunities available, you can experience many things that may be life-changing and help you grow as a person.
What’s one important thing you learned outside the classroom while at BC?
Outside the classroom, I’ve learned that making friends is essential to having a unique and fulfilling experience at BC. Building connections with others truly brings out the best parts of college life and allows you to fully embrace that exciting college atmosphere.
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 Elizabeth Beavin, a Senior Director in Legal Services. She has been with the College for nine years and was recognized with an Unsung Hero Award at the 2025 Osprey Awards.
What is the best part of working at Broward College?
Being part of something bigger than yourself; a feeling of service to the community knowing that you are contributing to an organization that is committed to improving lives through education.
What is one thing you’ve accomplished working at Broward College that you’re most proud of?
Transitioning from outdated software to new contract software (CobbleStone). It was a long and tedious endeavor, and at times overwhelming. The sheer grit and dedication needed from our entire team to complete the job is something I am enormously proud of. We now have analytics and reports on the contract review process that can assist in identifying pain points so meaningful solutions can be proposed to improve processing efficiencies.
Are you a morning person or a night owl – and why?
I could answer “both” depending on the day but more often a morning person. The reason would be the same as if I responded with night owl: peace and quiet. Early in the morning and late at night, it’s so peaceful and is a wonderful time for quiet reflection, focusing on the positive, and feeling gratitude for all the special people in your life.
What is your favorite food?
I think this will have to be a three-way tie: steak, sushi, or tacos.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Provide for family, travel, build a house on enough property to have several big dogs, perhaps own a ranch with some horses.
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 Agustin Halac, of the Classes of 2016 and 2018.
Where did you grow up and what motivated you to attend Broward College?
I was born in Anaheim California, but at the age of 2, my family moved to Argentina. When I was 4 years old, we returned to the U.S. and settled in Hollywood, Florida. My mother was a Pre-K teacher and so I would go to school with her - I still remember not speaking any English and having to look to my teacher for help playing with my classmates. What motivated me to attend Broward College was that I was fresh out of the Marine Corps and I needed something to help me transition back into the civilian world. Broward College helped me find what I wanted to do and give me a new career.
Can you tell us about one or two moments that stand out about your time at the College?
The first moment that stands out to me is my bachelor's graduation day. I was with all of my friends and family, and it was a moment I never thought I'd be able to achieve.
The second moment is the Mock Interview Event that the Teacher Education Pathway holds for every cohort of student teachers. It was there that I interviewed with Croissant Park Elementary and they decided to take a chance on me. From there I became the Autism Coach, and as a direct result of that, I transitioned into my current role. I owe Principal Allison so much for giving me the opportunity to put into practice the skills I learned in the program.
Did you have any favorite professors or people at the College who were important to you as a student?
I have a special place in my heart for a few of them: Prof. Kelly Walker, for seeing potential in me and recommending I apply for the University of Miami's Early Childhood Special Education Program; Prof. Santiago, for taking chances and doing so much in her very first semester; Dr. Juan Ospina, for showing us that classroom management can be fun.
Where did you go after Broward College? How did what you learned at the College prepare you for your path?
After Broward College, I went straight into my Master's degree with the University of Miami while working as a first-year Special Education Teacher. I then became an Autism Coach and team leader of the ESE Department at my school. I then joined the Broward College family (as an instructor in Teacher Education).
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:
- Gov. Ron DeSantis has reappointed Zachariah “Reggie” Zachariah Jr. and Mario Zanotti-Cavazzoni to the Broward College District Board of Trustees. Read more HERE.
- The Beuhler Planetarium and Observatory has officially reopened and is hosting events. Read more HERE.
- In late April, the Broward College Foundation hosted the 38th Annual Broward College Golf Classic in Fort Lauderdale to raise funds for student scholarships.
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.
- In 1991, ground was broken on the construction of the new North Regional/Broward College Library at North Campus in Coconut Creek. The libraries at North Campus and the Judson A. Samuels South Campus in Pembroke Pines are joint-use facilities operated by the Broward County Library.
- In October 1994, hundreds of royal palm trees were planted along the main entrance of the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus on Davie Rd.
- In September 1979, Florida Atlantic University began offering 10 courses at Central Campus. The partnership between the two institutions would expand over time.
