Sheldon Reed
Director, Fire Academy of the South

As the Director of the Fire Academy of the South, Sheldon Reed provides leadership and academic guidance to the Fire Academy.  The Academy maintains a strong relationship with industries and agencies across the state of Florida providing industry brigade training, aircraft fire fighting training and other employer specific fire training.  In the course of his duties, Sheldon is also the liaison for the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department (JFRD).

During his nine year tenure, the Fire Academy has increased enrollment in the Fire Fighter II program, and instituted new programing including Marine firefighting, Aircraft firefighting, and the use of drones in public safety, and is currently developing a Liquefied Natural Gas prop, which will be one of only three in the United States. Chief Reed also implemented an EMT and paramedic program at the Fire Academy. The Fire Academy was named the Florida Fire Training Center of the Year in 2010 and in 2016 by the Florida Training Directors Association.

Chief Reed retired from the City of Naples Fire Department after 25 years of service, and served the last seven years of his tenure as Chief of Department. Upon retirement from municipal service, Chief Reed was the Fire Science Technology Coordinator for Edison State College in Fort Myers, FL.  While at Edison, he developed the curriculum for Edison’s first Bachelor degree, BAS in Public Safety Management. Chief Reed possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. He has also taken executive level courses at the National Fire Academy and is certified as a Florida Fire Instructor III.

Outside the college, Sheldon and his wife enjoy riding his Harley, spending time at their Smoky Mountain retreat, and building their North Carolina forever home.

Jametoria Burton
Associate Director of Program Development, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Administrative Offices

As Associate Director of Program Development in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Jametoria Burton provides Collegewide leadership by supporting academic engagement, curriculum services, academic foundations and service learning through the Center for Civic Engagement. In addition, she also serves as the Chair of the Administrative and Professional Collaborative for the 2017-18 academic year.

Jametoria holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in secondary education from Spelman College and a master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Rhode Island. She is a currently on target to complete her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida in 2017. Jametoria worked for community organizations spanning 10 years before transitioning into academia. She has spent 16 years in higher education having served FSCJ since 2006 in several roles including Librarian/Faculty and department head of the former Deerwood Library between 2006-11); Chair, Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning from 2011-13;  Coordinator, General Education Assessment from 2013-15); and Coordinator, Transfer and Articulation from 2015-17). Her research interests include higher education leadership, information leadership, student equity and inclusive excellence. She is a consummate lifelong learner.

Jametoria was proud to celebrate her 11 years at FSCJ having served the College on numerous committees, initiatives and programs in Academic Affairs, while keeping pace with connections to Student Affairs. Her motto centers on the importance and critical need of educating the whole student, while fulfilling the mission of the community college of providing open access and academic support.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, extended family and close friends. She loves watching classic television, game shows, and talent programs. She relishes the opportunity to listen to and perform great vocal music and travels for leisure when time allows.

Doreen Sterling
Department Chair for Biological Sciences 

As the Department Chair for Biological Sciences Doreen’s focus is to meet student, faculty and institutional needs. She participates in discipline, school, division, and college meetings in order to foster communication, efficiency, effectiveness, and a positive organizational culture. More specifically, this is exhibited in collaborating/problem-solving with colleagues in order to demonstrate strategic decision making in the areas of faculty concerns, student affairs, and other everyday functions.  She also assists and/or oversees adjunct affairs, represents the discipline in beneficial partnerships with community organizations, and participates in the intricacies of grant programs and the like. Lastly, she has the pleasure of returning to teach when needed.

Doreen holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in pre-med and a master’s degree in biology with a concentration in cytogenetics, as well as a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. She began her career in FSCJ in 2016 as an Academic Director of Natural Sciences, School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as well an adjunct of Special Topics in Biomedical Sciences. These opportunities, along with her dissertation focus on professional development, provoke her to continuously research and/or recommend opportunities for personal and faculty growth via professional development that is driven by cutting-edge research and evidence based practices.

Outside the college, Doreen enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, exploring new foods, traveling, and quiet time.

Kathleen CIez-Volz
Associate Provost of Curriculum and Instruction
Administrative Offices

As Associate Provost of Curriculum and Instruction, Kathleen Ciez-Volz provides collegewide leadership in the areas of curriculum creation and enhancement; instructional support and development; and programs designed to promote student learning, success, and retention.  Working with an extraordinary team of faculty, staff, and administrative colleagues, Kathleen serves as the collegewide leader for academic support, with oversight of Curriculum Services, Academic Foundations, the Library and Learning Commons, Academic Engagement, Service Learning and Civic Engagement.

Kathleen holds a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in secondary education as well as a master’s degree in English and a doctoral degree in higher educational administration.  She began her career at FSCJ in 1995 as an English tutor and adjunct instructor before serving as professor of English at the Kent Campus between 1998 and 2008.  Since 2008, Kathleen has served in a variety of administrative positions in Academic Affairs.  Her research interests include literacy instruction, college readiness, academic and career pathways, and digital learning solutions.

Outside the college, Kathleen enjoys a good game of kickball with family and friends; taking long, leisurely walks with “Yoda,” her thirty-pound terrier, along the St. Johns River; and reading for work and pleasure.

Veleashia “Vee” Byrd
Associate Director of Diversity and Social Change

Vee Byrd is FSCJ’s new Associate Director of Diversity and Social Change. Vee oversees the H.O.P.E. Food Pantry, Volunteer Services, minority male mentoring, certified peer educators, History & Heritage months, and diversity and inclusion programming and training. She is a native of Kentucky and received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. As a professional, she has served as a program coordinator at Vanderbilt University, Director of the Martin Luther King Cultural Center at the University of Kentucky, Asst. Director of Student Development at Western Kentucky University, and Director of Black Affairs at the University of Florida.

Mrs. Byrd has won several awards including Staff of the Year at the University of Kentucky and the University of Florida, Woman of the Year at Western Kentucky University, and the President’s Award for Diversity at the University of Kentucky. She has traveled the country speaking at universities, schools, and conferences on topics about black student retention and enrichment, motivation, and The N Word.

She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and currently serves as the Florida state coordinator for the Association of Black Culture Centers among other memberships and affiliations.

She is married to her best friend, Brandon Byrd and is now the Bonus Mom to two young boys and her two cats.

Dr. Judy Jones-Liptrot
Assessment and Certification Manager
Deerwood Center

Dr. Judy Jones-Liptrot is the Assessment and Certification Manager at the Deerwood Center. The assessment center she supervises has received the distinct honor of becoming a National Certified Testing Center granted by the National College Testing Association. Dr. Jones-Liptrot also sits on various councils within FSCJ, collaborating with faculty and other members of the college to meet the needs of students.

Dr. Jones-Liptrot earned her doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a Master’s Degree from Florida State University in Career Development. She is a member of the Florida Association of College Test Administrators (FACTA) where she holds the Parliamentarian position and has received recognition for outstanding leadership in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016. She is also a member of the National College Testing Association (NCTA) and is affiliated with the National Rehabilitation Association as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. In addition, she has presented at national and state conferences such as National College Testing Association-Title “Digital Experience” and the State Assessment Meeting-Title: “Continuous Improvement: Is that even possible in a demanding environment?”

She is married, loves horror movies, traveling, volunteering at her church, and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Naita Guine
Interim Academic Director, School of Business, Professional Studies and Public Safety
Kent Campus

Dr. Naita Guine is the Interim Academic Director for the School of Business, Professional Studies, and Public Safety.  Ms. Naita, as she’s known to students and colleagues, has over 20 years of education experience working with community youth organizations, and public and private (K-16) education programs.  She joined FSCJ in 2004, working as the Dual Enrollment Coordinator for more than 10 years.  During that time, she helped more than 500 high school students attain their high school diploma and associate of arts degree simultaneously.  She has also worked as a K-12 classroom teacher, adjunct business and SLS instructor, student success advisor, interim associate dean, and academic director.

Always on the cutting edge of education innovation and customer service excellence, she has received the 2013 Career Employee Council Excellence Award, she was a finalist for the 2015 Florida Student Development Commission – Exemplary Practice Award, and she received the 2016 Innovation of the Year Award through the League of Innovation.  In her role of interim academic director, Naita looks forward to increasing enrollment and creating more opportunities for student success and engagement within the School of Business.

Dr. Guine is a dynamic presenter who specializes in helping students of all ages develop practical strategies that propel them to their full potential.  She is the proud mother and stepmother of four.  She enjoys family time, reading, traveling, and volunteering at a local animal shelter and place of worship.

Vanessa Howard
Instructional Program Manager for Early Childhood Education
Downtown Campus

Vanessa oversees several educational programs within the department that offer students the knowledge and skills they need to become highly effective teachers in the workforce. She coordinates programs, supervises adjunct faculty, and assists students with daily program services. Vanessa also supports all of the college’s Education programs under the dean’s leadership.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Grambling State University, a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Administration from Capella University. She taught in elementary education for 12 years and managed several non-profit and private early childhood programs for over 18 years.

In 2007, Vanessa worked two years for FSCJ as an adjunct professor for the Continuing Workforce Education program teaching early childhood courses which included teachers and directors of early childcare programs throughout Duval County and the surrounding districts.

Vanessa is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. She spends her time exercising, traveling, and listening to jazz music.