Floyd Scholars at Florida Atlantic

Leadership is not just about personal success, it’s about creating opportunities for others to grow, lead, and succeed.

Floyd Scholars embody this commitment by supporting one another, building meaningful connections, and intentionally lifting others along their journey in higher education and beyond. Through mentorship, collaboration, and shared purpose, we are not only developing ourselves as leaders. We are shaping the future of higher education together.

At the heart of the Floyd Scholars experience is mentorship that goes beyond guidance. It is about building leaders who serve with purpose, lead with integrity, and uplift those around them.

Our scholars are not just preparing for careers in higher education, they are learning to create meaningful impact, support others along the way, and lead with both confidence and care.

Because true leadership isn’t about position, it’s about people. 💫

Last night, we experienced what it truly means to be in “the room where it happens.” ✨

As Floyd Scholars, we had the incredible honor of attending the Florida Atlantic Soirée 65 President’s Gala at the Boca Raton Resort: an evening that was as inspiring as it was unforgettable.

What made it even more meaningful is knowing that our presence in that room was made possible through a privately sponsored table in support of the Floyd Scholars. That act of generosity didn’t just give us a seat; it gave us access, exposure, and the opportunity to step into spaces that are shaping our future. 💫

We didn’t just attend, we learned, we connected, and we grew. We witnessed philanthropy in action and experienced firsthand the power of community, generosity, and leadership.

We are deeply grateful to those who made this possible. Opportunities like this stay with us. They shape how we see ourselves, what we believe is possible, and who we are becoming.

🚨 Floyd Scholar Spotlight: Marlynn Lopez 🚨

After four years of data collection and analysis, we are proud to share a new publication co-authored by Floyd Scholar Marlynn Lopez, Dr. Salinas, and Raquel Botello in Belonging (SAGE Journals):

📚 "Hispanic-Serving Institutions are Brazilian-Shaming Institutions”: Brazilian Students’ Meaning Making of Servingness and Belongingness

This qualitative phenomenological study investigates the experiences of 11 Brazilian students at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the Southeast of the United States, focusing on their sense of belonging and understanding of institutional servingness.

The study underscores the need for HSIs to broaden their understanding of Latin* identities and inclusivity to intentionally serve diverse student populations.

This project has been years in the making, and we celebrate the collaboration and thoughtful work that made it possible. 👏

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/30290805261428222

🎉 Floyd Scholar Spotlight: Fedilia Guzman 🎉

We are proud to celebrate Floyd Scholar Fedilia on reaching an incredible milestone. She has officially passed her prospectus/qualifying exam and is now a PhD Candidate! 👏

Reflecting on her journey, Fedilia shared:

“The rigor, critical self-reflection, and teamwork throughout the PhD program have confirmed how leadership is not just about achievement but also about integrity and accountability. I have been especially inspired by our faculty and program leaders, who show genuine care for students and work together with unity and purpose to help us succeed. Their example has strengthened my desire to lead with both excellence and compassion in every part of my professional life.”

Fedilia’s dedication, thoughtfulness, and commitment to leadership with purpose truly embody the spirit of the Floyd Scholars Program.

✨ Join us in congratulating her on this exciting achievement and next chapter!

Mentorship and meaningful support systems play a critical role in student success. As higher education scholar Vincent Tinto reminds us, providing access to college is only the first step, students must also have the guidance, encouragement, and community that help them persist and thrive.

Through mentorship, the Floyd Scholars program is committed to supporting the next generation of higher education leaders.

Leadership isn’t about fitting into the world, it’s about coming alive within it.

At Floyd Scholars, mentorship helps you discover what ignites your passion and empowers you to pursue it with purpose. 💙❤️

🎉 Congratulations to Floyd Scholar, Francine Coker! 🎉

We are thrilled to share that Francine has been awarded the Traica Vangeloff Thomas Endowed Scholarship through Florida Atlantic University’s College of Education.

Established in honor of Traica Vangeloff Thomas’ 88th birthday, this scholarship recognizes students who are deeply committed to community education and meaningful impact: values that strongly reflect Francine’s leadership, passion, and dedication to service.

Francine continues to exemplify the mission of the Floyd Scholars program by advancing research, strengthening communities, and leading with purpose. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to her continued impact in the field of education.

At Floyd Scholars, we believe success is not meant to be held; it is meant to be shared.

Mentorship is how we reach back.
Leadership is how we lift others forward.
Legacy is how we keep the door open.
We are building pathways together.

✨ Celebrating Mentorship, Leadership, and Purpose ✨

The Floyd Scholars community came together for our first Career Mentoring Luncheon at the Tower Club, hosted by Dr. Deborah Floyd. We appreciated an opportunity to meet with our career mentors, leaders who celebrate and support us.

We were honored to be joined by the First Lady of Florida Atlantic University, Jillian Hasner, whose presence reinforced the institution’s commitment to mentorship, leadership, and community. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Stacy Volnick, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, for her inspiring remarks highlighting mentorship, purpose, and service in leadership.

We are equally grateful to inaugural Floyd Scholar, Dr. Dan Cornely, of how impactful the Floyd Scholars Program has been to him and whose reflections reminded us of the lasting impact mentors have across every stage of a career.

This luncheon was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate career mentors, authentic connection, and our shared commitment to developing higher education scholars and leaders at Florida Atlantic., Thank you to our mentors, scholars, and advocates for investing your time, wisdom, and heart into this community. 💙

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

At the heart of the Floyd Scholars Program is mentorship that walks alongside, not ahead—creating space for growth, confidence, and purpose through shared learning and connection. 💙✨