On Friday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of two new members to the Commission for Independent Education, as well as the reappointment of three current commissioners.
Gov. DeSantis appointed Joseph Battista and Nelson Caballero to the Commission, while Jeff Cross, Troy Stefano, and Burton “Tra” Williams III were reappointed. Below are the appointees’ details and career backgrounds, as provided by an official statement from the Governor’s Office:
Joseph Battista
Joseph Battista, from Heathrow, serves as the Vice President of Workforce, Career, and Professional Education at Valencia College. He is also a member of the CareerSource Central Florida Board of Directors. Battista holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance from St. Joseph’s University.
Nelson Caballero
Nelson Caballero, from Pinecrest, is the Vice President of the South Florida Institute of Technology. He has previously worked as a Partner at Caballero, Fierman, Llerena & Garcia, LLP, and as a Financial Accounting Instructor at Miami Dade College. Caballero earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida International University.
Jeff Cross
Jeff Cross, from Orlando, is the Online President and Senior Vice President of Operations at Herzing University. He has held various leadership roles, including Regional President for Florida, President of Herzing University’s Orlando campus, and Vice President of Admissions at West Coast University, Argosy University, and Ashford University. Cross holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University Fullerton and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
Troy Stefano, Ph.D.
Dr. Troy Stefano, from Wellington, is a Professor of Theological Studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, as well as the President and Founder of Health Copilot AI, Inc., and President of Stefano Consulting. Stefano is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Catholic Philosophical Association and the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Thomas University, his master’s degree in theological studies from the University of Notre Dame, and his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.
Burton “Tra” Williams III
Burton “Tra” Williams III, from Lakewood Ranch, is the President and Owner of FleetForce Truck Driver Training. He is also a member of the Manatee and Sarasota County Chambers of Commerce and the Florida Trucking Association. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.
These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
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