Interim Executive Director, Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs

John is the Interim Executive Director of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs. He is a Columbia University graduate and former Wall Street merchant banker.

 Director of the Florida Institute of Government

Joanne is the Director of the Florida Institute of Government at Florida Gulf Coast University.  She has been in the field of training and organizational development for more than 30 years, most of it in Southwest Florida.  Joanne has been with FGCU for 11 years and understands the challenges and successes of the local community.

Joanne’s career experience includes 5 years as a social worker, 1 year as a consultant in the hospitality industry, and 2 years as a trainer and facilitator for the State of Florida.

Ms. Hartke earned her B.S. from Ohio State University, and her M.S. from Xavier University. 

In her role at the Institute Joanne markets the variety of professional trainings, organizational development services, and top-level trainer/facilitators that are available through IOG to assist individuals and local organizations to succeed and grow.  Joanne’s focus with the Institute is to provide high quality, priced-right services that clients need and want, and then follows up to ensure expectations have been met and/or exceeded.

Program Manager

Chris develops and teaches new and emerging programs in a number of subject areas, including contact hour programs for health and human services professions.

Dr. Gallagher has a range of experience in both the private sector and academia.  Her interests in continuing education and the arts intersect in current work at Lee Memorial Health System, where she provides expressive arts activities for oncology patients.  Prior to joining FGCU, she was Director of Education at Hope Hospice, overseeing health education efforts serving an 8-county area in addition to teaching silk painting workshops as stress relief for field personnel.  She's a graduate of Purdue University and University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was Director of Precollege Programs for the campus, collectively serving 12,000 K-12 students annually, and offering educational programs proving exposure, enrichment and enhancement. She began her career in inner-city Indianapolis, teaching K-8 art.

New Business Development Manager

Dr. Peterson has over 30 years’ experience in training managers and supervisors of several major Fortune 500 companies as well as numerous medium and smaller-sized firms.  Additionally, he has over twenty years of full-time university and college level teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, nine years working in the marketing department of a Fortune 250 company, and over 3 years’ experience as the Training Manager at a plant of a major US automotive manufacturing company.

Dr. Peterson has over twenty years of leading Six Sigma certification for all facets of business, including manufacturing, health care, government, education, and service.  He recently completed Six Sigma training for the Lee County Emergency Medical Service.  He holds a PhD in Organizational Development from Southern Illinois University.  Dr. Peterson is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and was trained in Six Sigma by General Electric.

Program Assistant

Brenda joined FGCU in 2011 and is currently a Program Assistant with The Renaissance Academy.  Her priority is displaying a “can-do” attitude in serving participants, staff, and instructors. Brenda moved to Florida from Westchester, NY where she worked for 17 years as an assistant to the Director of Finance and Administration for The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester New York.

Internet Marketing Specialist

Anita is the Internet Marketing Specialist for FGCU's Office of Continuing Education. Anita studied Advertising Design at The University of Maryland and started her career in graphics as a traffic manager and typesetter at a leading Washington Metro ad agency. Anita's career in marketing spans the movement of print graphics from paste-up production through desktop publishing and ultimately, web development. Anita runs Continuing Education's social media accounts, produces The Renaissance Academy's weekly online newsletter, and updates and maintains our web sites and blog.

Business Manager

Anne is the Business Manager for the Continuing Education division. She joined FGCU in 2011. Prior to FGCU, she was a Finance Officer in the United States Air Force. She also has extensive experience with non-profits including her role as Past President of the Junior League of Fort Myers. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Kentucky and an M.B.A. from Webster University and serves on the Board of the Children’s Advocacy Center of SWFL. Anne enjoys running, reading, baking, playing Sudoku, outdoor activities, and cheering-on the Kentucky Wildcats.

Program Coordinator

Enereida started working for FGCU in 2001, upon relocating from Puerto Rico.  Currently, she is the Coordinator for Training and Educational Programs with the Florida Institute of Government.  She has over 20 years of experience in the business industry, 13 of these years working in the higher education environment.  Enereida holds a bachelor's degree in Office Systems from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master's degree in Education, with a major in Special Education from Florida Gulf Coast University.  Enereida enjoys reading, loves to write and play music and is actively involved with her community volunteering and sharing her passion with others.

Program Assistant

Cynthia joined FGCU in January 2011 and is currently the Program Assistant at the Renaissance Academy at FGCU Naples Center.  Cynthia is originally from Massachusetts, where she worked as the Financial Assistant to the Director of Pupil Personnel in the Andover Public Schools.  She and her husband moved to Florida in 2007 when their son entered Florida State University.  Now graduating and attending Rice University as a Piano Performance major, Cynthia spends her spare time supporting her son in his promising performance career.   

Student Advising Assistant/Hendry & Glades Counties Coordinator

A member of Continuing Education since 2008, Rick began as a Graduate Assistant Academic Advisor, primarily helping Edison State College graduates transition to FGCU, while pursuing his own History MA at Florida Gulf Coast University.  Since then, he has been named CE's Hendry/Glades Counties Coordinator, and the Coordinator for online Driving Courses, as well as assisting with Charlotte County's Renaissance Academy program when required. 

Rick graduated from FGCU with a History BA in May 2008 after attending the university for three years.  He enrolled at FGCU in 2005 after serving 28 years in the Untied States Coast Guard.  In the Coast Guard, Rick rose to the rank of CWO4 (BOSN) and commanded the Coast Guard Station in Fort Myers Beach, before retiring in 2003.  

Program Assistant

Nancy is currently overseeing the new facility for the Office of Continuing Education at the Herald Court Centre in Punta Gorda.  In the past, Nancy worked with the Institute of Government for almost 4 years.  In this position, her passion is customer service excellence and strives to ensure that participants, clients and facilitators have exactly what they need.

An interest in life-long learning helped Nancy make the decision to leave a previous position, go back to college and earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

In her spare time, Nancy enjoys live music, her two rescue dogs, and being out in the Florida sunshine!

Naples Center Office Manager

Soon after discovering the Renaissance Academy, as a student in its inaugural year, Patti became the FGCU Naples Center office manager.  That was 7 years ago.  She has enjoyed watching the curriculum in Naples grow from a dozen classes in 2003 to over 200 in the 2010 Winter term.  The reward of her position is witnessing the joy as new students discover us.  Her promise is to continue welcoming back our returning students each year with a familiar smile.