JEFFERY S. ALLBRITTEN

PRESIDENT, FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE, FORT MYERS

With campuses in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda and LaBelle, SouthWestern State College (FSW) serves nearly 19,000 students, offering everything from certificates to bachelor’s degrees. Allbritten has served as president since July 2012, overseeing the school through a period of unprecedented growth.

EDUCATION: Murray State University (BS, MS), Middle Tennessee State University (Ph.D.)

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: Storm chasing

SOMETHING SURPRISING: At 61, I remain an active musician, continuing a journey that began in 1978 with rock bands. Today, I channel this passion through FSW’s faculty rock band, The Salty Dogs, proving that leadership and creativity are lifelong pursuits that enrich both personal fulfillment and professional authenticity.

INDUSTRY TREND: Higher education is undergoing a fundamental shift toward agile, workforce-responsive programming through microcredentials and accelerated pathways that meet immediate employer needs. At FSW, we’re pioneering this transformation by aligning emerging technology certifications with Southwest Florida’s booming health care, IT and business sectors.