Before retiring in January 2024, Dr. Linda Herlocker served as vice president for student services at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), during which time FSCJ engaged and achieved leader college status with Achieving the Dream. Before FSCJ, she served at Valencia College in Orlando — the first Aspen Award winner for community colleges and one of ATD’s original leader colleges. Throughout her 30+ year career, Dr. Herlocker held a variety of leadership roles in both public and private institutions, two-year and four-year schools, and in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Moreover, her higher ed experience extends beyond student affairs. She has been a dean of academic affairs, taught as an adjunct faculty member at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and had several unique professional opportunities, including opening a campus, closing a campus, and constructing a new student services building in a national historic district. Before coming to higher ed, she served as a naval officer for 11 years on active duty and nine years as a reservist, retiring with the rank of commander. Dr. Herlocker earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of South Florida, an MBA from National University, and a B.A. from Penn State.
Education
- Ed.D. (Educational Leadership) | University of South Florida
- MBA | National University
- B.A. | Pennsylvania State University
- Other non-degree work:
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- post-graduate work — George Washington University
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- post-graduate work — California School of Professional Psychology
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- undergraduate work — Schiller College
Past Experience
- Vice President of Student Services |Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Registrar and Assoc Vice President of Admissions, Records, Registration and Graduation |Valencia College
- Dean of Student Services |West Campus, Valencia College
- Interim Dean of Academic Affairs |Ybor City Campus, Hillsborough Community College
- Dean of Student Services | Ybor City Campus, Hillsborough Community College
How has education changed your life/your family?
In my family, education taught us to be open to new ideas, to be curious, to be creative, to be brave, to be empathetic, to be self-aware and to be aware of others. My grandmother taught K–12 in a one-room schoolhouse. She knew that education provided both a lens for seeing the world and a pathway for exploring it. I began my journey in the Pennsylvania version of a state community college system and there, discovered my passion for a profession that has the power to change the future trajectories of entire families. Education is magical!