Nikki Jessee joined Florida Polytechnic University in 2026 as the institution’s first head coach for women’s basketball. The program is part of Florida Poly’s 2026 eight-sport athletics program launch.
Prior to joining Florida Poly, Jessee led the women’s basketball programs at several institutions, including as Warner University’s head coach (2019-2024), Saint Leo University’s head coach (2011-2014), University of Tampa’s assistant coach (2009-2011), Lynn University’s head coach (2007-2009), and Martin Methodist College’s head coach (2004-2007). She also was assistant coach at Tusculum College (2003-2004) and Campbell University (2000-2002).
Her coaching experience led to many achievements at the institutions:
Jessee’s experience also includes achievements as a player at all levels:
A basketball family through and through, Jessee is married to University of Tampa women’s basketball head coach Tom Jessee; they have one daughter, Rudi. Her own passion for the game is clear in her fandom, where she counts Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and legendary Celtic Larry Bird as her top all-time favorites.
She is an active member of Bay Life Church, volunteering her time for important causes, and has embarked on a mission trip to Village of Hope Uganda, a nonprofit organization that provides care for vulnerable children, orphans and former child soldiers.
Education
Awards and Honors
Community Involvement
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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.
Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at Florida Polytechnic University, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining Florida Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.
