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Leadership

Leadership at Florida Poly

At Florida Poly, our leadership is committed to driving progress, elevating student success, and expanding our impact. Every individual on our dedicated team plays a vital role in driving the University’s mission forward and empowering students to thrive in a technology-driven world.

Dr. Devin Stephenson

President, Florida Polytechnic University

As the President of Florida Poly, Dr. Devin Stephenson leads the University with a bold vision for innovation, growth, and academic excellence.

With more than 30 years of experience in higher education and over 15 years as a university president and CEO, Dr. Stephenson is driving Florida’s only public STEM university into a dynamic new era. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to student success, strategic partnerships, and elevating Florida Poly’s reputation as a premier institution for science, technology, engineering, and math.

Board of Trustees

Florida Polytechnic University’s Board of Trustees serves as the institution’s governing authority. Charged with shaping policy, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and overseeing the University’s strategic vision, the Board is composed of leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds who bring expertise, accountability, and dedication to Florida Poly’s long-term success.

Strategy Circle

The President’s Strategy Circle is Florida Poly’s executive leadership team, composed of senior administrators who meet regularly to guide university-wide priorities and ensure alignment with the institution’s strategic plan. The Strategy Circle includes representatives from these key University areas:

Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Brad Thiessen serves as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, overseeing all academic operations and ensuring a rigorous, high-impact learning environment. He leads efforts to enhance faculty excellence, drive curricular innovation, and support student achievement, positioning Florida Poly as a leader in STEM-focused education.

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Vice Provost of Academic Affairs

Tom Dvorske, The Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, plays a vital role in advancing the University’s academic mission. This leader focuses on strategic academic planning, student-centered initiatives, faculty support, and institutional effectiveness—helping to build a thriving academic community that empowers student success and innovation.

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Session Details

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.

Presenter Profile

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.