2024 Statewide Officer Candidates

PRESIDENT-ELECT - (1 Candidate):

Dr. Mark A. Ross
Campus Dual Enrollment Coordinator, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Outside Dual Enrollment, I am involved with numerous college-wide and state-wide initiatives where I have assisted or led the organization of service-learning projects and/or workshops. Notably, the Career Employees’ Council (CEC) Chair for two years and a second stint that started in July of 2021, (2013-2015 and 2021-2022) serving as the liaison between FSCJ’s career employees and the College’s leadership. I also served as the Association of Florida Colleges’ (AFC) FSCJ Chapter President (2015-2018), Career and Professional Employees Commission Chair (2017), and Region II Director (2019). As a member of the AFC, I have attended and/or hosted numerous conferences, chapter and/or regional activities throughout my last seven-plus years of membership with the association. 

VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT FOR COMMISSIONS – (1 Candidate):

Dianne Valdivia
Director of Campus Administration and teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College

Dianne Valdivia has been working in higher education for 15 years. She serves as Director of Campus Administration and teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College. Her professional experience includes roles in advancement, external relations, student services, and operations, and she enjoys helping students and employees grow. Additionally, her interest in community partnerships led her to build programs such as the Ring Ceremony, National Panther Day of Service, 5K Run/Walk for Education, Commencement, Spooky Night, Parent and Family Night, and Early Voting with her county. 

As the Assistant Director for Alumni Relations at Florida International University, Dianne advised several student organizations and managed the institution’s membership program. She then joined the Florida College System as an Executive Assistant to a Campus President at Miami Dade College. Dianne has been a member of AFC for 10 years where she has served as Campus Treasurer followed by Student Development Commission Secretary, Chair-Elect, and later Chair. She completed the Association of Florida Colleges (AFC) Certified College Professional Program, joined the AFC Foundation Silent Auction Committee and Service Projects Committee, and secured a grant that provided AFC promotional items for the 2023 Annual Conference. Dianne is enrolled in the current NLLP cohort and serves as the 2023 AFC Region V Director. This higher education leader is also a member of NASPA, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, and Chi Sigma Alpha International Student Affairs Honor Society.

Prior to working at Miami Dade College and Florida International University, Dianne held human resources and finance positions at BankUnited. She received her Master of Science in Higher Education, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Training and Instructional Design Certificate from Florida International University. She is currently pursuing an EdD in Organizational Leadership, with a Human Resource Development specialization.