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USF SARASOTA-MANATEE ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR AND FACULTY APPOINTMENTS FOR SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY PROGRAMS

(Sarasota, FL, August 20, 2004) - University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee recently announced the appointments of Susan Freeman, director of USF Sarasota-Manatee south county program and Assistant Professor Ross Alander, south county program assistant director and faculty for the College of Business courses offered at Manatee Community College Venice.

Freeman, who finished her doctoral coursework in higher education administration and is preparing for her dissertation said, “We want to expand the course offerings, increase enrollment, and get the word out in south Sarasota County.”

“We are pleased to work with our partners at MCC and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice,” said Freeman. “This is important for our community’s continued economic growth and development.”

“We offer quality programs in business, education and interdisciplinary social science. Eventually, we want to offer more degree completion programs, certification programs for non-profits and possibly online courses,” Freeman said. The General Business Administration programs appeal to the employees of various businesses and organizations and a technical focus to customize classes for that segment of the population also is being considered.

Alander said, “We are taking a pro-active approach and will survey students to make sure our programs are user-friendly. Engaging the community and small businesses in partnerships will help us develop plans to offer on-site classes for the private and public sectors including non-profits, city and county offices, and local school districts Alander’s background is in human resources and organizational development. A trained mediator with 30-years experience, he’s worked in health care, the auto industry and for non-profits. As Vice President of Tampa General Hospital’s human resource and organizational development department he led a team of 200 members.

As counselor, academic advisor and adjunct faculty member Freeman has 4 years prior experience in working with students at USF. She has a love of education and believes in the value of obtaining higher-level degrees. “I grew up in this area and I’m very excited to have the opportunity to offer these programs to MCC students and the residents of south county,” she said.

Freeman received a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education and Master of Science in Sport Management from Georgia Southern College, a Master of Arts in Physical Education from the University of Central Florida, and is working on her Doctor of Philosophy in Administration in Higher Education from the University of South Florida.

Alander received a Bachelor of Science in Social Science and Economics and his Master’s Degree in Labor & Industrial Relations from Michigan State University. Both Alander and Freeman have an appreciation for and experience with community colleges that helps them understand the benefits and challenges that students face while completing their four-year degrees.