Florida Poly president earns distinguished statewide recognition

Skip to content Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University, was recognized among Florida’s 50 Over 50 leaders by the News Service of Florida. Florida Poly president earns distinguished statewide recognition April 21, 2026 Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University, has been named one of Florida’s 50 most influential leaders over the age of 50 by the News Service of Florida. The Florida 50 Over 50 recognition acknowledges individuals across multiple sectors, including government, advocacy, media, business, and education, who continue to shape the state through their leadership, achievements, and commitment to making a difference. “I am deeply honored to be included among these accomplished leaders who are helping define the future of Florida,” Stephenson said. “This distinction speaks to the bold work happening at Florida Poly and the shared commitment of our students, faculty, staff, and partners to push boundaries, innovate and create lasting impact.” Since joining the University in July 2024, Stephenson has led significant growth across the institution. Florida Poly has achieved record enrollment for two consecutive years and remains on track to reach 3,000 students by 2030. The recent launch of a new collegiate athletics program and the addition of several in-demand degrees coming this fall further reinforce the University’s upward trajectory. Additionally, the Lakeland campus is experiencing substantial infrastructure growth. The Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center opened last fall with specialized research and development labs, and the Public Safety and Campus Operations Center is scheduled to open later this year. Construction plans are advancing for its Student Achievement Center, supported by $12 million in state funding to date. The facility will serve as a hub for student life, career development, and academic success. “Florida Poly is building momentum in every area that matters most. We are expanding opportunities for our students, investing in world-class facilities, and solidifying our role as a key driver of high-tech economic growth for Florida,” Stephenson said. “Our focus remains on preparing a highly skilled workforce ready to lead in the state’s most critical and emerging fields.” Under Stephenson’s leadership, Florida Poly continues to strengthen its position as a leading STEM institution. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, the University was named the No. 1 public college in the South for the fifth consecutive year and No. 3 best value public school in the region. It also remains among the nation’s Top 30 public engineering programs without a Ph.D. In WalletHub’s 2026 rankings, Florida Poly placed in the Top 10 nationally for career outcomes and ranked No. 5 among public universities for cost and financing, underscoring its strong return on investment. 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Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises. Presenter Profile Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.