FGCU president inspires Chamber members
Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson G. Bradshaw, Ph.D.
spoke highly about his institution’s growth, vision, challenges and how it will be a catalyst in helping Southwest Florida rise out of the current economic downslide. He was the guest speaker at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Gulfshore Grill Thursday.
Dr. Bradshaw stated that FGCU has nearly 12,000 students and envisions an increase to 20,000 students in eight years time.
“We are now locked on to a vision that will result in FGCU becoming a premier, comprehensive university in Southwest Florida,” he said. “We plan to be the institution of choice not only in Southwest Florida, but throughout the state.
“This fall, for the first time, we had more applications from outside Southwest Florida than we had within Southwest Florida. If we can diversify the economy of Southwest Florida, we can have those students staying here and contributing to that economic development and diversity of this region.”
Bradshaw said FGCU officials understand that construction and tourism will continue to be important to the area.
“FGCU may not always be the leader, but we will be a catalyst and part of the solution,” he said. “We will talk to the business community to determine kinds of academic programs we need to put out. We will work with Edison State College and other institutions of higher education to see how we can bring those programs together in a way that is economical and in a way that will serve the people of this region.
“It’s going to be a challenge at FGCU, but we’ve seen challenges before. Those challenges don’t paralyze us. They excite us.”
Now in its 13th year since opening in 1997, FGCU has introduced
new academic programs with currently more than 80 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and other advanced graduate degrees.
President Bradshaw is active in civic, educational and philanthropic initiatives in FGCU’s Southwest Florida region and beyond. He serves as the chairman of the Alliance of Educational Leaders Board of Directors and is a board member for the Naples Botanical Gardens, Lee County Education Foundation, Searching for Solutions, Inc., Campus Compact and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
His recent awards include the Florida Campus Compact Founder’s Award and as Gulfshore Life’s 2009 Man of the Year.
“It’s a very exciting time for us,” said Bradford. “We don’t have time to look back. We have time to look forward.”
The FGCU president accepted a few compliments for the institution’s active contribution to Beach activities such as the Coastal Cleanups. He also informed chamber members about the university’s Small Business Development Center being ready to serve the public with many free programs.
Bradshaw came to FGCU from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he served for seven years as president.
His previous positions include provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Vice President and Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at Georgia Southern University and Dean of Graduate Studies at Florida Atlantic University.
Born in Sanford and raised in West Palm Beach, Dr. Bradshaw earned his Associate of Arts degree from Palm Beach Community (Jr.) College; bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University; and doctorate in Psycho-biology from the University of Pittsburgh. He was awarded a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the Laboratory of Neural and Endocrine Regulation at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Go to www.fgcu.edu for more information on FGCU.
Next month’s scheduled luncheon speaker is Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott at Skye’s Mexican Restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 11.
FGCU president inspires Chamber members
Florida Gulf Coast University President Wilson G. Bradshaw, Ph.D.
spoke highly about his institution’s growth, vision, challenges and how it will be a catalyst in helping Southwest Florida rise out of the current economic downslide. He was the guest speaker at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Gulfshore Grill Thursday.
Dr. Bradshaw stated that FGCU has nearly 12,000 students and envisions an increase to 20,000 students in eight years time.
“We are now locked on to a vision that will result in FGCU becoming a premier, comprehensive university in Southwest Florida,” he said. “We plan to be the institution of choice not only in Southwest Florida, but throughout the state.
“This fall, for the first time, we had more applications from outside Southwest Florida than we had within Southwest Florida. If we can diversify the economy of Southwest Florida, we can have those students staying here and contributing to that economic development and diversity of this region.”
Bradshaw said FGCU officials understand that construction and tourism will continue to be important to the area.
“FGCU may not always be the leader, but we will be a catalyst and part of the solution,” he said. “We will talk to the business community to determine kinds of academic programs we need to put out. We will work with Edison State College and other institutions of higher education to see how we can bring those programs together in a way that is economical and in a way that will serve the people of this region.
“It’s going to be a challenge at FGCU, but we’ve seen challenges before. Those challenges don’t paralyze us. They excite us.”
Now in its 13th year since opening in 1997, FGCU has introduced
new academic programs with currently more than 80 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and other advanced graduate degrees.
President Bradshaw is active in civic, educational and philanthropic initiatives in FGCU’s Southwest Florida region and beyond. He serves as the chairman of the Alliance of Educational Leaders Board of Directors and is a board member for the Naples Botanical Gardens, Lee County Education Foundation, Searching for Solutions, Inc., Campus Compact and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
His recent awards include the Florida Campus Compact Founder’s Award and as Gulfshore Life’s 2009 Man of the Year.
“It’s a very exciting time for us,” said Bradford. “We don’t have time to look back. We have time to look forward.”
The FGCU president accepted a few compliments for the institution’s active contribution to Beach activities such as the Coastal Cleanups. He also informed chamber members about the university’s Small Business Development Center being ready to serve the public with many free programs.
Bradshaw came to FGCU from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he served for seven years as president.
His previous positions include provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Vice President and Dean for Graduate Studies and Research at Georgia Southern University and Dean of Graduate Studies at Florida Atlantic University.
Born in Sanford and raised in West Palm Beach, Dr. Bradshaw earned his Associate of Arts degree from Palm Beach Community (Jr.) College; bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University; and doctorate in Psycho-biology from the University of Pittsburgh. He was awarded a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the Laboratory of Neural and Endocrine Regulation at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Go to www.fgcu.edu for more information on FGCU.
Next month’s scheduled luncheon speaker is Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott at Skye’s Mexican Restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 11.