{"id":2494,"date":"2018-10-18T15:39:29","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T19:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/public-safety-policy-legal-studies-educational-information\/?p=2494"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:52:59","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T20:52:59","slug":"public-policy-leadership-speaker-series-welcomes-spc-president-tonjua-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/public-safety-policy-legal-studies-educational-information\/public-policy-leadership-speaker-series-welcomes-spc-president-tonjua-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Policy Leadership Speaker Series Welcomes SPC President Tonjua Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Petersburg College\u2019s Public Policy and Administration<\/a> Department held their bi-annual Public Policy Leadership Speaker Series Oct. 17. The event pairs Public Policy and Administration students with local dignitaries and guests to hear an invited speaker. Over a catered lunch at the Seminole Campus Conference Center, the group welcomed SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams as the keynote speaker.<\/p>\n

A great opportunity for students<\/h5>\n

Program Director Jeff Kronschnabl said he modeled the speaker series after programs he experienced while attending the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. He said that not only does it allow Public Policy students to dress up and attend a business luncheon where they bring their business cards for networking, but also for the program to form lasting partnerships with invited speakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been blessed with leaders from international, national, state and local levels,\u201d Kronschnabl said, noting that none of the speakers are paid for their attendance. \u201cThey come to engage our students and make a difference.\u00a0Many of our speakers come back to the next luncheon to continue their relationships with our students and SPC.\u00a0There were three previous speakers there yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams emphasizes partnerships<\/h5>\n

In her talk, Williams focused on the importance of SPC\u2019s partnerships, including those with the local workforce community, the Pinellas County community, and the College\u2019s internal community. She emphasized that SPC is a place where lives are made better.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never heard one of our students say, \u2018I want to be poor,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cThey want to change their lives; improve their lives. That\u2019s why they\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams outlined the ways that SPC has worked over the past year to refocus its efforts by outlining them in the College\u2019s three pillars: Academic Excellence, Economic Mobility and Community Engagement. First, she emphasized academic excellence, noting that it can only happen with a strong faculty, student support and the educational ecosystem that SPC is forming with Pinellas County Schools and the University of South Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to make sure that there are no gaps between k-12 schools, SPC and USF,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for economic mobility, Williams said she wants to be sure that our students not only graduate, but also get jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure our graduate, who has a diploma on the wall that says St. Petersburg College, is able to make a good living,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

According to Williams, community engagement factors in at the regional level as well as right at home on all of the campuses at the college. It involves helping our students as much as it does helping the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you know we have students who are homeless?\u201d Williams asked the rapt crowd. \u201cDid you know we have students who are hungry? Internal community is just as important as external.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams noted that SPC must form partnerships in the community, as well, including commitments with the local workforce, which drive SPC\u2019s curriculum and partnerships with community resources that help students with much-needed resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are plenty of undereducated people in this county,\u201d Williams said. \u201cOur county will not move forward if we don\u2019t address that. So we have to come together and partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

A warm reception<\/h5>\n

\"Public<\/a>Williams\u2019 speech was met with a standing ovation, and she followed up with a question and answer session. Several students took the opportunity to speak and ask questions about student involvement on campuses, support for struggling demographics and reflections on her accomplishments so far as SPC President. Kronschnabl said he received a lot of positive feedback regarding Dr. Williams\u2019 presentation.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Williams was fantastic,\u201d he said. \u201cStudents were engaged in conversations with her before, during and after her presentation, and the fact that she stayed until the very last student had an opportunity to speak with her was a clear testament of the collaborative leadership she spoke about during her presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Williams talk, a representative from USF, accompanied by Public Policy and Administration Grad Sane Haidara, invited the students in attendance to consider USF\u2019s MBA program after completing their studies at SPC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe value that this luncheon brings to all who attend is nothing short of outstanding,\u201d Kronschnabl said. \u201cStudents can come face to face with world class leaders and engage them in conversation.\u00a0Government is the art of negotiation, and collaborative partnerships are integral to achieving and preserving our quality of life and sense of place.\u00a0Our Public Policy Leadership Speaker Series luncheon does all of that and more.\u201d<\/p>\n