Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the appointment of Joseph Battista and Nelson Caballero, along with the reappointment of Jeff Cross, Dr. Troy Stefano, and Burton “Tra” Williams III, to Florida’s Commission for Independent Education.
These individuals bring diverse expertise and leadership to the commission, which oversees independent educational institutions in the state
Joseph Battista
Battista, of Heathrow, currently serves as the Vice President of Workforce, Career, and Professional Education at Valencia College.
He is also a member of the CareerSource Central Florida Board of Directors. Battista holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance from St. Joseph’s University.
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Nelson Caballero
Caballero, of Pinecrest, is the Vice President of the South Florida Institute of Technology. Previously, he was a Partner at Caballero, Fierman, Llerena & Garcia, LLP, and served as a Financial Accounting Instructor at Miami Dade College.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida International University.
Jeff Cross
Cross, of Orlando, is the Online President and Senior Vice President of Operations for Herzing University. His previous roles include Regional President for Florida and President of the Orlando Campus of Herzing University, as well as Vice President of Admissions for West Coast University, Argosy University, and Ashford University.
Cross earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University Fullerton and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
Troy Stefano, Ph.D.
Dr. Stefano, of Wellington, is a Professor of Theological Studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary and the President and Founder of Health Copilot AI, Inc., as well as Stefano Consulting. He is actively involved in organizations such as the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, and the American Public Health Association.
Dr. Stefano earned his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Thomas University, a master’s degree in theological studies from the University of Notre Dame, and his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.
Burton “Tra” Williams III
Williams, of Lakewood Ranch, is the President and Owner of FleetForce Truck Driver Training. He is a dedicated community member, participating in the Manatee and Sarasota County Chambers of Commerce and the Florida Trucking Association.
Williams earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.
These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
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