Student Success & Enrollment Management

January 6, 2026

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The deadline to hire Federal Work-Study (FWS) students for the 2025-26 academic year is January 30, as all available funds have been fully allocated. Students currently employed under FWS can continue to work until they meet their Federal Work-Study award amount. If you are planning to hire a FWS student, please ensure everything has been submitted and approved by financial aid by the deadline. Requests submitted after January 30 will not be fulfilled.

For questions related to FWS student award amounts, contact Vanessa Wagamon at vwagamon@fgcu.edu. For questions regarding FWS student hiring, contact Grace O’Connor at gloconnor@fgcu.edu or Saundra Hartman at shartman@fgcu.edu in Human Resources.

Thank you for your continued support of our student employment programs.

January 14, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past six months, Student Success & Enrollment Management (SSEM) has been developing a customized student success model designed to improve our performance on several performance metrics. Our efforts are already showing results, but we must always look systematically across the division and make strategic moves to elevate our performance. Today, I want to announce organizational changes intended to improve our efforts to engage students, create a rich and rewarding on-campus experience, and support their well-being.

As a result of these changes, Dr. Jennifer Hammat will be leaving Florida Gulf Coast University. She has served as associate vice president for Student Engagement since June 2023. On behalf of SSEM and FGCU, I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Hammat for the many contributions she has made to our community. Please join me in wishing her well as she moves into the next chapter of her professional career.

The area of Student Engagement will be reorganized into three distinct functional units: Student Care & Conduct, Housing & Residence Life, and Campus Life – each led by a person reporting directly to me. With these changes, the position of associate vice president for Student Engagement has been eliminated.

Effective today, please note the following expanded duties and responsibilities of the leaders below:

• Dr. Suzanne Jones will assume additional responsibility and oversight for Student Health Services, with Director Cherise Schmitt reporting directly to her. Dr. Jones will continue her current duties and serve as assistant vice president and dean of students of Care & Conduct.
  
  
• Jameson Moschella will continue his duties as assistant vice president of University Housing.
  
  
• Suzanne Ries will assume additional duties as supervisor of Campus Life, with Alexandra Pipitone, Lindsey Johns, Julie Gleason, and George Lang reporting directly to her. She will continue her current duties and serve as assistant vice president of Campus Life, Recreation & Wellness. Additionally, Billy Marcantel will take on expanded duties within University Recreation & Wellness.
  
  

This reorganization is designed to advance our strategic objectives through a systematic approach to promoting student success and ensuring alignment with the division’s initiatives. Day-to-day operations will continue without interruption, and this structure is expected to enhance coordination, responsiveness, and service delivery across the unit.

I am grateful to these leaders for their willingness to take on expanded responsibilities and for their continued commitment to FGCU. I also appreciate the professionalism and collaboration of our colleagues as we move forward with this organizational alignment.

This structure better positions us to advance the university’s mission and support the evolving needs of our campus community. FGCU places a high priority on elevating and enhancing programs and services in this area, recognizing that the residential experience, student activities, campus life, recreational programs, and health and wellness contribute directly to persistence and graduation.

Thank you for your continued engagement and dedication to FGCU.