Jennifer Carroll
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Carroll is a Trinidadian
-born American politician who is the 18th and current Lieutenant Governor
of the U.S. state of Florida. The first African American and the first woman elected to the position, she assumed the office on January 4, 2011. Carroll previously served in the Florida House of Representatives
from 2003 until 2010.
, Trinidad and Tobago. She moved to the United States at the age of eight. Two years after graduating from Uniondale High School in New York state, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1979. After serving as an Aviation Machinist Mate (Jet Mechanic), she was selected for Enlisted Commissioning Program, becoming an Aviation Maintenance Officer in 1985. She retired from the Navy in 1999 as a Lieutenant Commander
. In 1981, she received an Associate of Arts degree from Leeward Community College
. She followed this in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Mexico
. She moved to Florida in 1986. She received a Master of Business Administration
degree from unaccredited online Kensington University in 1995, and then earned another Master of Business Administration
degree online from St. Leo University in 2008.
in 2000 and in 2002. Following her defeat in the 2000 election, she was appointed as Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
serving in that post until July, 2002.
She has been elected successively to the Florida House since winning a special election in April 2003, when she became the first African-American female Republican ever elected to the Florida Legislature
.
On September 2, 2010, after winning the Republican primary, Rick Scott named Carroll his running mate in the 2010 Florida gubernatorial election. Carroll thus became the second black woman to be a major party candidate for lieutenant governor in Florida's history, and the first black woman on any statewide Republican ticket. Scott and Carroll won the election, and assumed office on January 4, 2011. She is the second woman to hold the position of lieutenant governor, following Toni Jennings
, who was appointed in 2003 to finish the term of Frank Brogan
.
, played college football for University of Maryland
, and is now a member of the Miami Dolphins
.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
-born American politician who is the 18th and current Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Florida
The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the Governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of Governor if it...
of the U.S. state of Florida. The first African American and the first woman elected to the position, she assumed the office on January 4, 2011. Carroll previously served in the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
from 2003 until 2010.
Biography
Carroll was born in Port of SpainPort of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad and Tobago. She moved to the United States at the age of eight. Two years after graduating from Uniondale High School in New York state, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1979. After serving as an Aviation Machinist Mate (Jet Mechanic), she was selected for Enlisted Commissioning Program, becoming an Aviation Maintenance Officer in 1985. She retired from the Navy in 1999 as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. In 1981, she received an Associate of Arts degree from Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College is a public, commuter community college adjacent to the in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. The main campus also houses the temporary campus of the University of Hawaii-West Oahu...
. She followed this in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. She moved to Florida in 1986. She received a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree from unaccredited online Kensington University in 1995, and then earned another Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree online from St. Leo University in 2008.
Politics
Carroll is a member of the Clay County Republican Executive Committee. She made two unsuccessful bids for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2000 and in 2002. Following her defeat in the 2000 election, she was appointed as Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs is a government agency of the state of Florida under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to....
serving in that post until July, 2002.
She has been elected successively to the Florida House since winning a special election in April 2003, when she became the first African-American female Republican ever elected to the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
.
On September 2, 2010, after winning the Republican primary, Rick Scott named Carroll his running mate in the 2010 Florida gubernatorial election. Carroll thus became the second black woman to be a major party candidate for lieutenant governor in Florida's history, and the first black woman on any statewide Republican ticket. Scott and Carroll won the election, and assumed office on January 4, 2011. She is the second woman to hold the position of lieutenant governor, following Toni Jennings
Toni Jennings
Antoinette "Toni" Jennings was the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Florida. She was nominated to the office by Governor Jeb Bush in February 2003 to replace Frank Brogan, who resigned to become president of Florida Atlantic University. She was sworn in on March 3, 2003, becoming the first woman to...
, who was appointed in 2003 to finish the term of Frank Brogan
Frank Brogan
Frank T. Brogan is the current Chancellor of the State University System of Florida and the former President of Florida Atlantic University. He was also the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Florida...
.
Personal life
Carroll is married to Nolan Carroll, Sr., and has three children. Her son, Nolan Carroll, Jr.Nolan Carroll
Nolan Carroll, Jr. is an American football defensive back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins from the University of Maryland.-Early life:...
, played college football for University of Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, and is now a member of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.