Email: kwharton@floridapoly.edu
Phone: +1 (863) 874-8614
Location: Main Campus
Office: LTB-2127
Department: Office of the President
Kristen Wharton brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role at Florida Polytechnic University. As the special assistant to the university president and the corporate secretary to the Board of Trustees, she combines strategic leadership with a genuine commitment to excellence.
Wharton ensures seamless communication between University leadership and the Board of Trustees. She meticulously plans and executes board meetings, facilitates new trustee orientations, and maintains high standards of corporate governance. As special assistant to the president, she champions presidential initiatives that align with the institution’s mission, streamlines operations, manages confidential matters, and anticipates the needs of university leadership. Her 30+ years of C-level experience contribute to effective decision-making.
Wharton fosters strong relationships with stakeholders, both within and beyond the University. Her strong sense of responsibility extends to community engagement and collaboration. Outside of her professional endeavors, Kristen enjoys volunteering, traveling, photography, and cherishing time with her husband, Jeff, and their five grandchildren. She holds a master’s degree in executive leadership from Liberty University.
Community Involvement
Education
Professional Activities
This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.
Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.
