The Faculty Spotlight features the outstanding members of the FGCU faculty, a diverse body of experts in their fields who invest their passion, creativity, and knowledge for the academic and social development of our students, staff, and community. | | Provost's Faculty Fellow develops comprehensive resources for Graduate Education | | Dr. Suzanne Dugger presented at the 2025 American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference during her Provost’s Faculty Fellowship year as part of her commitment to continuing faculty engagement. | | |
Dr. Suzanne M. Dugger, professor in the Department of Counseling, recently completed her term as Provost’s Faculty Fellow in Graduate Studies, where she developed foundational resources to strengthen graduate education at FGCU.
As Provost’s Faculty Fellow, Dr. Dugger created a comprehensive Graduate Student Handbook and a Graduate Faculty Handbook—two essential resources designed to strengthen consistency, clarity, and support across graduate education at FGCU.
In addition to these core resources, she completed a campus-wide needs assessment, contributed to the revision of General Graduate Academic Policies (GGAP), and advanced key recommendations to enhance staffing, communication systems, and graduate faculty credentialing.
The fellowship helped establish a stronger foundation for graduate education by producing two institutional handbooks and a series of policy reports that clarified academic policies, graduate assistantships, and graduate faculty credentialing criteria and processes.
Through interviews with academic leaders and a university-wide needs assessment, Dr. Dugger identified structural challenges that had previously limited coordination and consistency.
These efforts have offered the Office of Graduate Studies clearer tools, increased visibility, and greater capacity to support the university's expanding graduate mission.
| Dr. Dugger is active as a faculty author, having published in 2025 her second edition of her career counseling textbook. | Faculty Spotlight. Are you a FGCU faculty member who has achieved a recent milestone or an accolade? Email us: academicaffairs@fgcu.edu. | |  | |
One key component of her work involved conducting twelve individual interviews with deans, associate deans, assistant deans, and other high-level administrators, who shared common challenges they were facing in supporting graduate education.
Dr. Dugger then worked closely with Dr. Dawn Kirby, associate provost for Academic Programs and Curriculum Development, and Ms. Shannon Acosta, director of Graduate Programs, to communicate these concerns and collaborate on improvements to policies, processes, and support structures.
This partnership strengthened institutional responsiveness and helped lay the groundwork for better support of graduate programs.
“The Graduate Student Handbook is now positioned to become a central resource in new graduate student orientation, and the Graduate Faculty Handbook is positioned to provide clear guidance to faculty, program leaders, and administrators.
Together, these documents support greater transparency and alignment across programs, and I hope they will serve as enduring tools for students, faculty, and administrators alike,” said Dr. Dugger.
Dr. Dugger’s participation in the fellowship expanded her institutional perspective and sharpened her understanding of how centralized academic structures can either support or impede student success. It also deepened her long-standing commitment to strengthening graduate education at FGCU.
Dr. Dugger expressed gratitude to Dr. Kirby and Ms. Acosta for their thoughtful collaboration and sustained commitment to graduate education. She also thanked the entire staff of the Provost’s Office and the members of the Provost’s Council, all of whom welcomed her into their work and made her feel like a valued colleague from the start.
“The results of my fellowship align directly with FGCU’s strategic goals to Innovate in Academic Excellence and Enhance Student Success and Well-being. By developing foundational handbooks, streamlining graduate policies, and improving access to information, my work contributes to a more cohesive and student-centered graduate experience.”
Dr. Dugger looks forward to future opportunities to support the efforts that promote thoughtful infrastructure, strong leadership, and academic excellence across FGCU’s graduate programs.
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CORRECTION
In the previous edition, Roger Green's last name was misspelled.
CLARIFICATION
While Dr. Sandra Pavelka often teaches in the Department of Justice Studies, she is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science, Public Administration, and History.
| Above, left to right, Faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences, Roger Green, John Reilly, Nathaniel Amos, Brian Johnson, and Menaka Navaratna. Below, left to right, Kimberly James, Morgan Paine, and Jaffar Ali Shahul Hameed. | | (Left to right) Sandra Pavelka, Department of Political Science, Public Administration, and History; from the Department of Justice Studies: David Steckler, Legal Studies; Jennifer Jacobi, Internship Coordinator for Justice Studies Internships; Jan Martijn Meij, Sociology; Pamella Seay, Criminal Justice and chair of the Department of Justice Studies; Kitty Wahlberg, Anthropology; Max Stein, Anthropology; David Thomas, Forensic Studies; Lucy Papp, Forensic Studies; and Shawn Keller, Criminal Justice. | |
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About the Creamery
FGCU's student-operated ice cream business offers a unique, hands-on learning experience that empowers students to develop practical skills in all aspects of entrepreneurship. From sourcing ingredients and overseeing production to crafting marketing strategies and delivering exceptional customer service, students gain firsthand knowledge of managing a business. This experience builds expertise in leadership, financial management, teamwork, and innovation while instilling a strong sense of accountability and ownership. It’s more than just a business lesson—it’s about applying those lessons in a real-world setting, building confidence, and preparing for future success.
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Take note of the dining hours for May 2025
Questions? Contact: Business Services
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Dendritic Summer Academy on AI and Data Science
Learn about the present and future of AI and Data Science at our Summer Academy. This innovative program combines trainings, workshops, and webinars to provide a flexible and thorough learning experience for both academic and industry participants.
2025 Registration Now Open!
| Click below to view Calendar and register. Seats are limited. You can register for one or more activities. | |
Program Assessment HelioCampus Workshop
Hosted by Planning & Institutional Performance
Wednesday, May 21 2025
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 251 888 461 692 9
Passcode: Cb3E28Ze
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Notice of Hanover Grant Academy 2025-2026
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (OSRP) is soliciting nominations for the Hanover Grant Academy. The goal is for eight faculty to undergo an intensive proposal development plan over a one-year time frame.
The Academy consists of approximately 4-6 in-person meetings during the year and one-on-one meetings with the Hanover experts. The requested information for application is listed below. A key factor in selection will be the goal of submitting a proposal for extramural funding.
Hanover will provide grantsmanship training, proposal critique, guidance on project and alignment with grant opportunities, and proposal revision assistance. Faculty selected are expected to submit a proposal for extramural funding at the completion of the grant academy.
Faculty are permitted to apply for an additional round of intensive proposal development assistance provided an application for extramural funding was submitted during their previous participation.
The deadline is September 15, 2025, by 5 PM. Please submit the application as a single pdf to Dr. Rosemary Higgins (rhiggins@fgcu.edu). Questions can be referred to Dr. Higgins.
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2026 Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program Proposals - Due June 2, 2025
Faculty interested in leading a study abroad program during Spring Break, Summer or Fall 2026 may request a proposal packet by e-mailing the Study Abroad Office at studyabroad@fgcu.edu.
Faculty proposing new programs or who have not previously led a program at FGCU should also schedule a meeting with Dr. Dechen Albero (dalbero@fgcu.edu) or Dr. Michael McDonald (mmcdonal@fgcu.edu) to discuss their plans.
Proposals and supporting documents are due via e-mail to studyabroad@fgcu.edu by June 2, 2025.
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The Lucas Center for Faculty Development invites you to register for our Summer Programs!
For more information on each workshop/academy and to secure your spot, visit: www.fgcu.edu/lucascenter/programs#Academies
*All programs take place in the Lucas Center (LIB-221)*
Please note that programs may fill up prior to the indicated registration deadline!
| | Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) Announcements | | |
FGCU continues to use our negotiated Federal Rate Agreement
The indirect rates continue to be 43% for on-campus activities and 19% for off-campus activities. ORSP staff will work with faculty to ensure proper rates are applied.
Please reach out to ORSP if you have questions.
| | Opportunities for Your Students | | |
News from Career Development Services
This May, the FGCU Career Development Services office is offering a series of virtual Career Prep Workshops. These opportunities are designed to support graduating students as they make their final preparations for entering the workforce, and to help underclassmen begin their journey toward career success.
1. Internships Decoded: Breaking Down the Process
When: Monday, May 19 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET
What You’ll Learn: Where to find internships, how to apply, and insider tips for a winning interview.
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
• Meeting ID: 915 5120 7447 | Passcode: 623469
2. Ace the Interview
When: Thursday, May 22 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET
What You’ll Learn: Proven strategies for preparation, practice, and making a lasting impression.
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
• Meeting ID: 958 2296 8560 | Passcode: 741919
3. From Campus to Career: Job & Internship Search Strategies
When: Tuesday, May 27 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET
What You’ll Learn: Effective search strategies to stand out as a top candidate and secure your next opportunity.
🔗 Join Zoom Meeting
• Meeting ID: 951 8969 1989| Passcode: 050987
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Submission requests must be sent to academicaffairs@fgcu.edu by end of business on the Wednesday of the prior week. Submissions received after this deadline will not be shared until the following newsletter.
Please send attachments as either a .PNG or .JPEG file 250kb or less.
.PDFs are NOT accepted.
| | Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and content expressed in these programs, events, and materials are those of the author(s)/presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, positions, or endorsements of Florida Gulf Coast University's Academic Affairs Division. | | | | |
