Top: FSW student, Josue Briones, receives award from the members of the State Board of Education for his work helping FSW student veterans and vets create support and leadership opportunities during the fall and spring semesters.
Left: Dr. Jeffery Allbritten gives his report the State Board of Education and describes the excellent work and student outcomes that have continued to make FSW a leader in education in the Southwest Florida community.
Right: State Board of Education members listen as Dr. Jeffery Allbritten gives his report on the work done at FSW. Dr. Allbritten included notable stories about alumni from the fire program working to help contain the wildfires as well as notable Alumni J.C. Perez who was involved with the Artemis program and now manages project at Blue Origin.
NAPLES, Fla. – APRIL 17, 2026 – Dr. Jeff Allbritten, President of Florida SouthWestern State College, presented on behalf of the Florida College System Council of Presidents at the April 17, 2026, meeting of the Florida State Board of Education in Naples.
Allbritten highlighted the continued strength and impact of Florida’s state colleges. He emphasized sustained enrollment growth, increased student completions, and the system’s strong alignment with workforce needs across the state.
"We are especially proud of the recent announcement by Governor DeSantis recognizing Florida as the number one state in the nation for workforce education, achieving the goals of Executive Order 19-31 five years ahead of schedule," noted Allbritten. "At the center of that success is our shared mission: preparing students for academic success and workforce outcomes today and tomorrow."
The presentation also highlighted student achievement across the system, including 45 Florida College System students being named semi-finalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship."
Through accessible, affordable, and career‑focused education, our colleges help Floridians achieve their educational and career goals with confidence," said Allbritten.
Additionally, he pointed to the significant economic impact of the Florida College System, citing strong returns on investment for students and billions in projected lifetime earnings gains.
Allbritten closed by thanking the Governor, Commissioner of Education, and State Board of Education for their continued leadership and support and reaffirmed the Florida College System’s commitment to student success and a strong future for Florida’s communities and economy.