Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle

December 16, 2009

Landesberg-Boyle Witness to Success

Filed under: Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 6:37 pm
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Witness to Success in Involvement in Student Government

In working in higher education, surrounded by gifted and talented minds both young and shall we say… “not so young” I have had the opportunity to cross paths with very impressive student, staff and faculty members.

I remember one student Erin, who was a shy young woman from a small rural town in Louisiana.  Erin was someone at that point in her history that you might be just unfortunate enough to not even notice, She sat in the back of the room, never seemed to raise her hand (maybe like someone reading this post) and in general just wanted to blend in, just blend into the background.  But, during her orientation with my student affairs staff at the college, I think (no I know) this young woman took Miss Jackie Dale’s words to heart.  She mustered the courage and she went after college head-on and she joined The Student Government Association!!  The first year Erin was elected as a Student Representative where I noticed this young woman again as I was the SGA advisor.  That first year she wasn’t very vocal, but I watched and prompted when I could as she continually challenged herself to meet new friends, connect with more people and get more involved.

The next year, she was back to SGA again and this second year Erin volunteered herself as SGA Secretary.  (she sat and quietly took notes, learning and listening, occasionally asking for clarification)  By now she was beginning to get noticed more and more and upon returning the following year… Erin became Vice President of the SGA and I witnessed this young woman progressively becoming more and more of a leader.  She began to meet other students from around the state networking, learning and leading and when she graduated (yes that completion thing again) she began to work for the state’s department of education a job that was due in no small part to her determination to GET INVOLVED.  Before very long at the Department of Education Erin got recognition from the Secretary of Education, the Secretary then Mr. Bobby Jindal went on to become a Congressman and is now sitting Governor of the State of Louisiana.   Our student who reached out, got involved and graduated college, she did get the attention of that Secretary of Education who went on to become Governor of Louisiana, she followed that rising star to Washington, D.C. and then back to Louisiana where the girl who sat in the back but decided to get involved was named to Gov. Jindal’s staff as Assistant Deputy Director of Education for the State of Louisiana.  SGA rocks!!

December 15, 2009

A word to the students in Take Stock in Children

Filed under: Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 11:47 pm
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Did you know that only 35% of high school students ever go on to attend a college or university?  Again, that number is only 35%.  Think about that a minute… and on top of that statistic, unfortunately, not all of those students who attend will see graduation day.

College is an amazing opportunity.  Through this incredible program, Take Stock in Children and your hard work and determination you have been given this amazing gift, set out in front of you, a chance to go to college.

Now, I have been working in higher education for a very long time, and I think that there are a few secrets I have learned along the way.  The secrets that make the difference between those who do and those who don’t.

SECRET #1 – Ask for Help.  If you find yourself in a situation or facing an issue that you are struggling with, if you need academic help or any other help, look for someone at the school who can help you!!  There are so many people at the colleges I have worked for and my colleagues at every college and university that live for you asking them to help.  They have built their lives around making students successful.  It is what they wake every morning hoping to do.  All you have to do is ask.

SECRET #2 – Get involved!!  Research shows time and time again that those students who are involved in their education, those students who take advantage of ALL they can offer and what is offered to them are many more times likely to graduate.  Many more times more successful at completing their degrees than those students who do not make the effort or take advantage of what is offered to them.

Being involved means being involved at all levels both academically and socially.  Spending time on your studies, getting connected with study groups, spending time on campus connecting with other students, faculty and staff… these pieces are all connected to success.

When I worked at a large university in Louisiana, I had a colleague, Miss Jackie Dale Thomas, who used to say: “You can go to class, go home, study and get a degree… or, you can go to school (still study), and get involved in campus life and GET AN EDUCATION!!  The choice is yours?  Which would you rather do?

Good Luck, Jill Landesberg-Boyle!

December 13, 2009

Landesberg-Boyle – Preventing Suicide

Filed under: Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 4:10 am
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A comprehensive approach for preventing suicide includes many elements including educational outreach, screening opportunities, access to professional services, support networks, means restriction, social marketing, and encouraging social environments to prevent isolation (SPRC, 2004). Having a policy that helps students struggling with depression, self-injurious or suicidal behavior, is one other way administrators may be able to support these students. Our experience with mandatory counseling has convinced us that it can make a difference. All but one of the students we have worked with under this policy returned to school. None of these returning students have had a further self-injurious incident or made further threats. More importantly, they have been emotionally and academically successful after returning and starting counseling. In some cases we hear the impact we have made directly from the student as was the case just last month when one young man told me, “thank you and please thank all the staff  members, for helping me get the help I’ve needed for so long.”

View the entire article on page 6 of this article.  Feel free to contact me with questions, Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle.

December 10, 2009

Students Students Students

Filed under: FKCC, Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 1:49 am
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Quote from Sharon E. Farrell, Department Head of Social Sciences and Fine Arts, FKCC

Most importantly, our students have responded very positively to the transformation of the college into an institution that they are proud to atend.  President Landesberg-Boyle has an open-door policy for students.  She works tirelessly for them and the community, and they know it.  She promoted the establishment of a Student Government and other clubs.  As a result, our students have become quite active in the life of the college.  They no longer attend class and leave campus.  She has also established more scholarships, another great benefit to our students.

December 5, 2009

Something to think about…

Filed under: Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 8:29 pm

Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, nothing else ever has.

- Margaret Meade

November 25, 2009

John Andola Columnist for the Key West Citizen had this to say…

Filed under: FKCC, Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 9:06 pm

In the Key West Citizen as the Key West news man accompanied the President, Faculty and some staffers from the Florida Keys Community College for a celebratory cruise in the beautiful waters off the Keys aboard Capt. Kevin Murphy’s schooner “Hindu” .  The celebration was for the newly minted partnership between the college and Miami based “Shake-a-Leg”  program that will help physically challenged Shake – a – Leg participants take advantage of the diving and other sea related coursed at FKCC.  In John Andola’s article he outlines a frank and open conversation he had with the trans formative president of an emerging and changing institution.

November 23, 2009

Positive Changes for FKCC

Filed under: FKCC, Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 2:37 am
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In my first year as president, I recognized our faculty salaries were the lowest in the state. We eliminated a system of supplements, retained a salary consultant, and increased faculty salaries, on average, an unbelievable 17%. This year, in addition to giving out equity adjustments, we provided 4% across the board raises to all employees— one of only a tiny number of community colleges that were able to give raises.

Our faculty salaries are now in the top half of the range of compensation for the state system, which means we have the resources to retain and attract professors and quality staff from all over the country. In fact, we have two national experts teaching in our marine sciences program. Our newest marine tech faculty member received his training at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

With the help of our Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, 2.8 million dollars has been approved by Congress for Department of Defense work that will be done at FKCC’s Lockwood School of Diving Technologies. In addition to this federal appropriation, we have earned our first federal grant— a grant of over $100,000 from NOAA.

We have a new Marine Technology Building in its design phase that promises to be the gem of the campus, new benefactors who have given approximately two million dollars over the last two years, and corporate partnerships with entities such as Raytheon Technical Services and Hollis Corporation.

Enrollment is through the roof! We have record numbers of new students and have earned ourselves the distinction of being the fastest growing community college in the state—and no longer the smallest! All this, in just two years!

Jill Landesberg-Boyle

November 21, 2009

THE STUDENTS PRESIDENT

Filed under: Dive Program, FKCC, Landesberg-Boyle — Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle @ 9:29 pm
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Key West, FL, —  At a time where cut-backs are the norm, Florida Keys Community College under the direct supervision of college president Dr. Jill Landesberg-Boyle is able to announce monumental expansions and improvements to its diving program, thanks to an unprecedented $1 million bequest. The Florida Keys Educational Foundation, a direct-support organization of FKCC, will recognize the generosity of scuba diving forefather James E. Lockwood, Jr. during a ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 4:00pm at the Dive Lagoon on the Key West campus. The college’s school of diving will be named the James E. Lockwood, Jr. School of Diving and Underwater Technology for its historic benefactor.

The gift will enable FKCC to expand its already stellar diving program into a nationally recognized curriculum that will integrate marine science and diving to further support the needs of local, regional, national and global constituents. FKCC will offer workforce education and re-education in areas such as underwater welding, hyperbaric medicine, port security, aquaculture, coral reef mapping and restoration.

“This gift is going to allow us to pursue a wealth of exciting new initiatives to modernize our program,” says Marine Sciences Director Dr. Patrick Rice. “We’re going to purchase new, high-tech equipment, modernize our existing gear, and develop new curricula. We’ll also be able to extend our support to our Middle and Upper Keys Centers with the purchase of mobile training equipment.”

The dedication ceremony will include remarks from local, state, and national dignitaries. There will be presentations on the history and the future of college’s dive program, as well as diving demonstrations by students in the lagoon, also referred to as the underwater classroom.
Representatives from two organizations that were also funded by Lockwood’s estate will be in attendance: DiveHeart and Shake-A-Leg Miami. Both organizations help children, adults, and veterans with physical, developmental, and economic challenges through diving. FKCC plans to partner with both groups to set up new programs to certify and train individuals with disabilities.

The Florida Keys Educational Foundation will pay tribute to the life of Mr. Lockwood and the legacy he has left to the field of diving and underwater film.

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