Northwest Florida State College’s District Board of Trustees has selected four finalists for the college presidency, with on-campus interviews scheduled for November 4-5, 2024.
- The finalists, chosen following an October 25 vote by the nine-member Presidential Search Committee, are Okaloosa Commissioner Mel Ponder, Brigadier General R. Gwyn Armfield (ret.), Dr. James Walter Ross, and Dr. Mark F. Strickland, Jr.
“Our Presidential Search Committee recruited, reviewed, and interviewed an excellent pool of candidates with a wealth of life experience,” said Rhea Goff, NWFSC Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustee’s Presidential Search Committee.
Ponder currently serves dual roles as Association Executive for the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and Okaloosa County Commissioner for District 5. His public service includes terms as Destin’s mayor, city councilman, and state representative.
- During his legislative tenure, Ponder chaired the Children, Families, and Seniors Subcommittee and served as Vice Chair of Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida State University.
Armfield, a retired Air Force Brigadier General with 28 years of service, founded RGA Consulting Group, LLC, which provides strategic planning services focused on business profitability. His military career included leading over 30,000 U.S., NATO, and Afghan special operations personnel.
- He previously commanded Hurlburt Field’s 24th Special Operations Wing, leading 2,000 personnel globally. Armfield holds degrees from The Citadel and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Ross brings 25 years of higher education leadership experience, including 14 years in the Florida College System. As President of Pamlico Community College, his institution ranked first nationally for student success in 2021 and 2023. He previously served as Vice President for Advancement and Public Affairs at Eastern Florida State College, overseeing operations for a 25,000-student institution.
- Ross holds a doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University and completed leadership development at Harvard.
Strickland has served as Provost and Chief Campus Officer of St. Petersburg College’s Seminole Campus since 2015, recently adding oversight of the Health Education and Vet Tech Centers to his responsibilities.
- His 24-year career at St. Petersburg College includes roles as College Recruiter, Director of Enrollment Management, Associate Provost, and Athletic Director. Strickland holds a doctorate in Leadership and Management from St. Thomas University.
Board of Trustees Chair Lori Kelley emphasized the significance of the selection process: “Selecting the next president of our College is a responsibility we do not take lightly.”
The finalists will participate in various campus activities during their visits, culminating in individual interviews with the Board of Trustees. The college has posted candidate resumes and interview schedules at www.nwfsc.edu/presidential-search, where updates will continue to be shared.
