With the understanding that leadership is a collaborative process that is open to everyone, not related to formal title or position, we will invite members of the FSU campus and local communities to share lessons learned from their experiences as leaders in a variety of community and professional spaces. All are welcome to join us in learning from our experienced speakers, both in person and virtually. Those who attend this series can expect to learn more about the many facets of leadership and walk away with practical applications for their own lives. We hope that the Community Leadership Speaker Series will encourage and inspire you to become an everyday leader. Participation is always at no cost for all who join.
Upcoming Speakers
Eddie Fordham
A Teenager's Journey from Prison to Purpose: Unlocking and Reimagining Higher Education for Justice-Impacted Students
Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | DSC 2201/2202
Since his release, Eddie has transformed resilience into leadership and scholarship. From leading mentorship programs for Auburn University’s Alabama Prison Arts and Education Project to shaping reentry resources in the Alabama Re-entry Guide, Eddie’s life became proof that redemption is possible. Now studying Public Policy as an undergraduate and accepted into FSU's Combined Pathways to earn credit towards a Master's in Public Administration, Eddie seeks to pave the way for other students who are too often unseen, unheard and unrepresented. His academic work is recognized nationally through prestigious scholarships and research grants, including earning a Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and an FSU IDEA grant, centering his academic work and public service on expanding higher education access for justice-impacted students.
Ebrahim Randeree
Developing Leaders on Campus
Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | DSC 2201/2202
Ebe Randeree is a leader/academic with over two decades of experience guiding students and professionals through the rapidly evolving landscape of information technology. As the Associate Dean and a Teaching Faculty member at Florida State University's College of Communication and Information, he has been a driving force in developing and teaching innovative curricula in areas such as health informatics and IT leadership. His career is marked by a passion for fostering lifelong learning and leveraging technology to solve complex challenges, as demonstrated by his work in streamlining university operations and his extensive research on the use of emerging technologies in healthcare. Randeree's leadership extends beyond the classroom, with a proven track record of mentoring and advising students, preparing them to become the next generation of leaders.
Samantha Vance
Servant Leadership: The Intersection of Mentoring, Service, and Leading
Tuesday, Nov. 18 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | DSC 2201/2202
Samantha Vance is a long-standing community advocate and executive leader in the nonprofit sector advancing fundraising efforts and nonprofit sustainability in sports, entertainment, and government. Sam is the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Sports Foundation (JSF) where she oversees sports tourism for the largest and most populated city in the state of Florida. Sam's experience in founding successful nonprofits, raising over $17 million, forward-thinking to rescue nonprofits, and creating sustainability plans will help to grow Northeast Florida. Sam is a visionary who has brought positive change to Jacksonville's sports and community landscape. Before moving to Jacksonville, Sam consulted nationwide with clients in sports and entertainment from the music and film industries, NFL, NBA, WBA, and worked with Pro2CEO, supporting elite and pro athletes and artists in their career transitions. A native of Las Vegas, she made roots in Tallahassee where she lived for 16 years, inserting herself as a respected voice in politics and serving the state and community as: a Gubernatorial appointed advisor on the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Board, a Mayoral appointed Commissioner on the Status of Women and Girls, and the Founder of Ladies Learning to Lead, a statewide organization serving over 6,000 girls with college-prep and job-readiness skills. Sam was the CEO of two nonprofits and had her start in Tallahassee as the head of operations for the Florida Health Care Association.
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Contact
Rebecca Sardina
Leadership Graduate Assistant
rks21a@fsu.edu
