Willis N. Holcombe
Encyclopedia
Dr. Will Holcombe became Chancellor of the Florida College System in October 2007. Prior to this position, Holcombe served as President of Broward College from 1987 to 2004, and returned as interim President from November 2006 to July 2007.
, with a time of 21.2 set in 1963.
He graduated in 1967 with a Bachelors degree from Baldwin-Wallace College
, where he ran track and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He later earned a master's and doctorate in College Administration from the University of Florida
.
In addition, he was a former U.S. Marine Corps Captain before he was honorably discharged.
. He later joined Florida's State College System, serving as an English professor at Santa Fe College and Broward College, where he eventually became president in 1987.
He has served as Interim Chancellor of the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Community Colleges. In addition he was Vice-Chancellor of the Miami Chamber of Commerce. Holcombe has more than 30 years of experience in educational leadership and collegiate administration.
He has also served as Vice President of Brevard Community College
, provost and academic dean for Broward Community College's Central Campus and assistant to the President for Broward Community College.http://www.flboe.org/news/2008/2008_01_24.asp
Dr. Holcombe has numerous professional affiliations. He is a member of the Florida Collegiate Consortium for International/Intercultural Education, the Steering Committee of statewide Council of Community College Presidents,
Florida Association of Community Colleges, Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, Florida Distance Learning Institute, College Consortium of International Studies, and the Community College of the Air Force. Dr. Holcombe's community activities include the United Way of Broward County, the Coordinating Council of Broward, Community Blood Centers of South Florida, the
Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and the Broward Alliance.
Since 2003, he has been serving on the Board of Directors of BankAtlantic, on the compensation committee.
Athletic Hall of Fame.
Broward College would later name an ultra-high tech Higher Education Complex on its main downtown Fort Lauderdale as the "Willis Holcombe Center."
Holcombe was a torchbearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta. He has also received the "Miami Herald Spirit of Excellence Charles Whited Award," "Leader of the Year Award" from Leadership Broward, "Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters" from Nova Southeastern University
, the "Silver Medallion Award" from the National Conference of Community and Justice, and the "President's Award for Professional Excellence" from the Florida Association of Community Colleges.
There is a transfer student scholarship in his name at Florida International University
that is awarded to students who not only thrive in the classroom but outside as well through volunteer and community involvement. It is available to graduates of Broward College covers the full cost of in-state tuition and registration fees. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 is required.
Early life
Holcombe was born on April 18, 1945. He graduated in 1963 from Defiance High School in Defiance, Ohio. He ran track and still owns the school record in the 200 meter dash200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
, with a time of 21.2 set in 1963.
He graduated in 1967 with a Bachelors degree from Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
, where he ran track and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He later earned a master's and doctorate in College Administration from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
In addition, he was a former U.S. Marine Corps Captain before he was honorably discharged.
Career
Holcombe began his teaching career at Ford Junior High School in Brook Park, OhioBrook Park, Ohio
-External links:*...
. He later joined Florida's State College System, serving as an English professor at Santa Fe College and Broward College, where he eventually became president in 1987.
He has served as Interim Chancellor of the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Community Colleges. In addition he was Vice-Chancellor of the Miami Chamber of Commerce. Holcombe has more than 30 years of experience in educational leadership and collegiate administration.
He has also served as Vice President of Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College, founded in 1960, is a community college on Florida's Space Coast, in Brevard County, Florida. It has four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as an Aerospace program at Kennedy Space Center and a Virtual Campus...
, provost and academic dean for Broward Community College's Central Campus and assistant to the President for Broward Community College.http://www.flboe.org/news/2008/2008_01_24.asp
Dr. Holcombe has numerous professional affiliations. He is a member of the Florida Collegiate Consortium for International/Intercultural Education, the Steering Committee of statewide Council of Community College Presidents,
Florida Association of Community Colleges, Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, Florida Distance Learning Institute, College Consortium of International Studies, and the Community College of the Air Force. Dr. Holcombe's community activities include the United Way of Broward County, the Coordinating Council of Broward, Community Blood Centers of South Florida, the
Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and the Broward Alliance.
Since 2003, he has been serving on the Board of Directors of BankAtlantic, on the compensation committee.
Awards and recognition
He was inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace CollegeBaldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
Athletic Hall of Fame.
Broward College would later name an ultra-high tech Higher Education Complex on its main downtown Fort Lauderdale as the "Willis Holcombe Center."
Holcombe was a torchbearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta. He has also received the "Miami Herald Spirit of Excellence Charles Whited Award," "Leader of the Year Award" from Leadership Broward, "Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters" from Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University, commonly referred to as NSU or Nova, is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, research university located in Broward County, Florida, with its main campus in the town of Davie...
, the "Silver Medallion Award" from the National Conference of Community and Justice, and the "President's Award for Professional Excellence" from the Florida Association of Community Colleges.
There is a transfer student scholarship in his name at Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
that is awarded to students who not only thrive in the classroom but outside as well through volunteer and community involvement. It is available to graduates of Broward College covers the full cost of in-state tuition and registration fees. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 is required.
See also
- Education in FloridaEducation in FloridaThe Florida education system consists of public and private schools in Florida, including the State University System of Florida , the Florida College System , the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and other private institutions, and also secondary and primary schools.- Overview...
- Florida College System
- List of Baldwin-Wallace College people