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To the Esteemed Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, Friends and Supporters of Broward College:
Welcome to the new Broward College Update! This monthly newsletter will provide you with news and key updates across Broward College. Our goal is to promote Broward College and all of the great things happening regularly with our students, faculty, staff, alumni and leadership. Under the leadership of our District Board of Trustees, we will continue to transform the lives of all students and adult learners with an eye towards the future and I’m excited for what’s ahead!
March 24th marked my first month as President and Chief Executive Officer of Broward College, and I continue to be excited and energized about the path ahead for the College. Being part of the Seahawk Nation has been terrific – it is everything I thought it would be, and so much more!
We are all partners on this journey toward making Broward College the number one destination for academic excellence, and as part of that, I will be providing regular updates to share news about the College. I want everyone in the Seahawk family to hear success stories about great programs, high-achieving students, awards that we have received and our accomplished alumni. As I continue my listening sessions around the College, I’ve heard a very clear uniform message to better tell our story and promote all aspects of the College. I’ve heard your feedback and I’m taking action!
As you know, I hit the ground running on Day 1, and those efforts haven’t subsided as I continue engaging with students, faculty and staff across our three campuses. In fact, this week I participated in three student “meet and greet” events – South, Central and North campuses – where I talked directly with students to get their thoughts and ideas about our College, what we’re doing right and what we could be doing better. Earlier in the week, I conducted my first media interview with our student-run newspaper, The Observer, surrounded by students as I answered meaningful questions from our student reporters.
What I have already seen is that our faculty and staff are dedicated while ensuring our students receive a high-quality education, and that our students are already accomplished in so many ways as they work to fulfill their dreams. But I know we can do even better, and my mission is to take Broward College to the next level, whether that’s updating our academic offerings to meet the challenges of tomorrow or upgrading our facilities to provide the best learning environments for our students.
As the legislative session continues in Tallahassee, I want to assure you that our District Board of Trustees has tasked me securing more appropriations for the College, including strongly advocating for the remaining $15 million needed for buildings 56 and 57 on our North Campus, along with a separate allocation that supports the entire Florida College System. As you know, the appropriation for buildings 56 and 57 would allow us to develop a state-of-the-art STEM, Health Sciences and Nursing complex that will modernize and expand the College's infrastructure. This project will enhance the College's academic offerings, attract and retain students and faculty and address workforce gaps in the IT and health care sectors.
While in Tallahassee, I met with dozens of legislators and key partners promoting the achievements of the College, including huddling with faculty who were also at the Capitol. We conveyed our commitment to student success, serving more than 51,000 students annually in a diverse range of academic programs across eight pathways. We also shared with our legislators some of our honors and accolades, including that our College was ranked number one in least debt acquired by students in Southern Regional Colleges in 2023 by U.S. News & World Report and was ranked in the top five colleges in the nation in 2023 by the Aspen Institute and recognized again in 2025 by the Aspen Institute as a semi-finalist. Working with our District Board of Trustees, my desire is for Broward College to remain a perennial Top 5 college in the nation!
In short, the future is bright, and I am honored to be working alongside you as, together, we make Broward College the number one destination for academic excellence.
As always, please feel free to contact me directly at officeofthepresident@broward.edu.
Go Seahawks!
Torey Alston
President and CEO
Broward College
The following are agenda items approved by the Broward College District Board of Trustees at its March 11, 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 Zachary Whalen, President of the Student Government Association at the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie.
Where are you from originally?
Living my entire life so far in Fort Lauderdale, I am a Broward County native through and through.
What's your major?
I am a high school senior at the College Academy at Broward College about to graduate at the end of the Spring 2025 semester with my Associate of Arts degree in the business pathway.
What is your ultimate professional goal?
To own or directly support social enterprises that improve our communities and the environment.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
To get the most value out of your time here at Broward College, maximize your time outside of the classroom and involve yourself in our rich community. By actively joining clubs on campus, getting to know your professors through office hours, and seeking out mentors to help you navigate school and life challenges, you will be best positioned to capitalize on the opportunities that Broward College offers. Use Broward College as a time to explore your interests and the kind of person you strive to become.
What was the best part about being a BC student?
Because the institution caters to such a diverse student population, the best part about being a student at Broward College was the flexibility. With a myriad of courses being offered at all times of the day, students can shape their schedules according to their lifestyles, interests and responsibilities. For me, my schedule allowed me to commit myself to representing my peers in our SGA while still having time to socialize and play sports with friends.
What's one important thing you learned outside the classroom while at BC?
One thing that has defined my time outside of the classroom at Broward College is the importance of building a strong network of peers and mentors. These valuable people remind you of your worth when times get hard and encourage you to take on new challenges.
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 Donna Numeroff, an adjunct math professor who has been with the College for 31 years. Numeroff is also a dual enrollment math professor for the College at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Professor Numeroff taught President Alston while a student in Broward County Public Schools.
What drew you to becoming an educator?
I was a software engineer upon graduating college. After a few years, I realized that working in front of a computer was too isolating for me. With my love for math I felt that teaching would give me a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. Being a life-long learner, I really enjoy the educational atmosphere at both the high school and college levels. I like taking difficult topics and simplifying them in a way that students can understand them. That “ah – ha” moment by students never gets old.
What is the best part of being a faculty member at Broward College?
I enjoy working with college students to assist them achieve their educational goals toward their chosen profession. Having the flexibility to teach in the evenings works well with my schedule. Evening classes provide a diverse student population, from those who are going back to school to change careers to Dual Enrollment high school students striving to get college credits. This mix makes for wonderful class discussions. Every class has their own personality and is different each term.
Since 2017, Broward College partnered with Broward County Public Schools to offer Dual Enrollment courses at certain high schools. Since I was already a Broward College faculty member, it was a no brainer to teach this course. It started with one class of 15 students taking college algebra. Now I teach three classes of between 20 – 25 students taking college algebra in the Fall semester and pre-calculus/algebra in the Spring semester. Students get six math college credits from Broward College before graduating high school.
Working with the faculty members at Broward College to keep this partnership going has been a wonderful experience.
What are the changes you’ve seen over the years in the classroom?
The most prevalent change I have seen in the classroom is the student attachment to their cell phones. My mantra to the students before each class is “please put your cell phones away, take your ear pods out and get ready to learn.”
What is your favorite food?
Though I love many types of food, if I had to pick one it would be shrimp and pasta.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Get a personal Pickleball coach and play Pickleball every day
If you would like to nominate a faculty member to be featured, please email us at mediarelations@broward.edu
This month’s alumni spotlight focuses on Tamecka McKay from the Class of 2012.
If you ever needed an example of you should never give up, look no further than Tamecka McKay.
The Broward College alumna, who is currently the Chief Information Officer for the City of Fort Lauderdale, took 10 years to complete her degree at Broward College.
“I could only take one class at a time because of my responsibilities outside of school,” said McKay.
Despite the long duration in obtaining her degree, the mother, wife, and full-time employee emphasized that the experience was valuable, allowing her to gain maturity and work experience alongside her education. Because of the focus and dedication, she was able to excel in each course she took and graduated with highest honors. Due to her academic excellence, she was invited to become a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a prestigious organization that recognizes high-achieving students and provides opportunities for leadership and personal growth.
It was her unique story that led Broward College Alumni & Friends to invite her to come to back to campus and share her story and insight with today’s students. So, in February, she made her way to Central Campus where she spoke with students at a Career Conversations on an alumni panel.
The event was moderated by Central Campus Student Government President Zachary Whalen and Senator Naima Allonce, who are both College Academy students. Responding to questions from the student leaders, Tamecka discussed her role as CIO overseeing technology infrastructure and digital services for the city, her previous positions in public service and her experience as a non-traditional student at Broward College.
Tamecka emphasized the importance of students starting to network while in college leveraging expertise from professors and mentors. She encouraged them to participate in college activities to develop their communication and organizational skills and aspirations, noting this is especially important for students without role models in their immediate family.
“Tamecka McKay is a prime example of how the flexibility of a Broward College education can pave the way toward remarkable success,” said Whalen. “Her determination to succeed despite adversity profoundly resonated with the student audience.”
And she didn’t stop at Broward College – after earning her degree here, Tamecka went on to earn two master's degrees from Florida International University and is currently working toward her Doctorate in Public Administration at Nova Southeastern University.
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.
