For over a decade, Dr. Lauren Albaum has served in leadership roles at various institutions of higher education across offices of student activities, athletics, advising, career services, and academic affairs. The current Executive Director of Career Services at Florida Southern College, Dr. Albaum creates and executes a strategic vision for the campus-wide career services department. Lauren’s passion for working with collegiate learners stems from the transformative experiences afforded to her at the Florida State University where she served in diverse leadership positions including the Homecoming Executive Council, Oglesby Union Board, Relay for Life, Honors Council, and College of Music Board of Advisors. It was through these opportunities and the support of amazing mentors that Lauren decided she would pursue a career, not in music, but in higher education helping others to “find their fit." Dr. Albaum holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Florida State University, a Masters of Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina, and both a post-graduate certificate in College Teaching and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Florida. Her research focuses on the relationship between student success, academic performance, and motivation, an engaging subject matter that informs her passion for leadership development in adults of all ages. Dr. Albaum is a frequent regional and national speaker and writer and serves in various leadership positions regionally, nationally, and within the local community including the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Polk Noles, The Florida Children’s Museum, United Way of Central Florida, Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, Polk Academies Advisory Board, Lakeland Economic Development Council, the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. For her efforts, Dr. Albaum has received the Spirit of the Cornerstone Award, Bridge to the Community Award, Outstanding Academic Advisor of the Year Award, Graduate Assistant of the Year Award, and was awarded a NASPA Excellence Award. Dr. Albaum is married to her Seminole sweetheart, a 2019 Notable Nole, and they now have a future Seminole of their own, Nina.

As an avid sports fan, Ashley studied marketing and sport management at FSU. During her time in Tallahassee, she was involved in organizations that helped encourage her to pursue a career in sports. She was a feature twirler with the Marching Chiefs, part of the executive board with the Sport Management Student Association and served on the 52nd Oglesby Union Board. Ashley is the senior manager of membership services for the Florida Panthers Hockey Club in Sunrise, Florida. She is responsible for generating maximum revenue through the management of the General Membership Service Team, while developing and implementing engaging member events and retention strategies. Ashley has a passion for encouraging and mentoring women in sports and serves as the 2024-25 Florida Panthers co-lead for the Women’s ERG. In 2023, she started Ignite Baton Twirling, a program that helps develop self-confidence through the sport. She also is a part of the United States Twirling Association Growth and Development Committee, which focuses on growth and retention in the sport of baton twirling in the United States. In her spare time, you can find Ashley traveling, trying new wines and spending time with her corgi, Dolly.

Mitchell Budihas currently serves as a mitigation planner and mitigation coordinator for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. A native of Leavenworth, Kansas, Mitchell grew up in a military family traveling the country, living in seven states and Germany before attending the University of Kansas for his undergraduate degree. He completed his studies and was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army in May 2017. He was assigned to Fort Benning, serving as a company operations officer and company executive officer. After the Army, he set his sights on Tallahassee and Florida State to complete his master’s program, where he worked at the Student Veterans Center and was involved with the Collegiate Veterans Association, Veterans Student Union and International Studies Graduate Association. Graduating in fall 2022 with a Master of Science in international affairs, he has continued to mentor and assist other student veterans and fellow Noles. Mitchell strives to continue to support young alumni and foster a supportive environment for all in the Nole family.

Shayna is a committed member of the FSU family, beginning her time at FSU as a Presidential Scholar and continuing her studies at FSU through her graduate work. She is an avid fan of the FSU circus, learning to juggle from one of its former performers. During her time at Florida State University, Shayna was committed to both academic excellence and community engagement. She is a founding member of the Jewish Student Union, where she worked to increase outreach and education while building a strong center for Jewish life on campus. Shayna’s family has a long history of public service that she is working to continue. Through her research background, she works to improve and shape public policy. She is a former Legislative Fellow for the Education Committee of the Florida House of Representatives and previously served as a Research Analyst for the Miami-Dade Board of Commissioners in the Office of the Commission Auditor. Shayna currently works as a Legislative Aide for State Senator Tina Polsky, working to improve the lives of the citizens in not only Broward and Palm Beach Counties, but also across the state of Florida. Florida State provided Shayna with the personal and professional development to do the work she loves and hopes to continue to foster the community that means so much to her.

Santiago Cucalon, a sports management graduate from Florida State University, is dedicated to transforming businesses across industries with the power of artificial intelligence. Currently an associate at Neural, a dynamic startup leveraging proprietary geospatial data analytics and machine intelligence, Santiago uses his expertise in marketing and business development to expand the company's reach and impact. Santiago has a proven track record of raising significant capital from venture capital firms, angel investors and institutional investors.

Prior to his role at Neural, Santiago founded and operated a successful sports marketing agency. There, he represented professional and collegiate athletes, brokering substantial marketing deals and campaigns.

During his time at Florida State University, Santiago was actively involved with the Athletic Department, FSU Club Sports and women's basketball program. He spent three years working as a scout team player and manager for the women's basketball team, traveling with the team during the season. Additionally, Santiago helped lead FSU’s club basketball team to a national #4 ranking and a regional championship.

He is an active member of the FSU Young Alumni Council, where he contributes his skills and insights to foster alumni engagement, event planning and sponsorship sourcing. In his spare time, Santiago enjoys watching college sports, playing golf and exploring new technologies.

Tatianna Duperier began her journey at Florida State University in the summer of 2018 through the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). Tatianna immediately immersed herself in campus life and as a member of the Black Student Union during her undergraduate years, her involvement reflected her deep-rooted commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and support among marginalized communities. After graduating in 2022, Tatianna transitioned seamlessly into her role as an academic advisor at Florida State University. Drawing from her experiences and challenges as a student, she provides invaluable guidance and mentorship to help students navigate their academic journeys successfully. Currently pursuing her master's degree in Learning and Cognition at Florida State University, Tatianna remains dedicated to expanding her knowledge and expertise in educational psychology. Her academic pursuits complement her role as an academic advisor, allowing her to better understand the learning processes and tailor her support to meet the diverse needs of students. In addition to her role as an academic advisor, she serves as the advisor for the FSU chapter of SISTUHS Incorporated. Outside of her professional and academic endeavors, Tatianna finds fulfillment in spending time with her loved ones, embracing new experiences, and giving back to her community. Her passion for service and making a positive impact extends beyond the university campus, as she actively seeks opportunities to contribute to the well-being of others.

Nimna Gabadage is the manager of partnerships and strategy at Gravity Research, the newly spun-out corporate reputation insights firm of the National Journal Group in Washington, D.C.

He attended Florida State University's Honors College, where he received his B.S. in finance in 2023 and served as student body president and a university trustee. He was also elected chairman of the Florida Student Association, a role in which he represented the state's 500,000 public university students as a governor on the Florida Board of Governors.

Nimna is currently a national youth advisor to the non-profit Young Invincibles, where he weighs in on nonpartisan strategies for boosting civic engagement among young people in America, particularly within the key policy areas of the economy, healthcare and higher education.

A former educator (once a teacher, always a teacher), nonprofit fundraiser, and current community outreach officer, no matter where she is living or her job title, Claire Gallo finds herself engaging in the community and working to empower women and girls. She is a proud alumna of FSU’s College of Education where earned a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and went on to teach 4th grade in Leon County Schools championing her local teacher’s union. While on campus, Claire learned through leadership serving as the Student Alumni Association President and Director of Administration for Alpha Phi Fraternity. She volunteers with Girls on the Run of Tampa Bay, serves on the advisory board of the Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, is an active member of the Junior League of Tampa, and supports alumni engagement at her alma mater Clearwater Central Catholic High School. She currently works as an Assistant Vice President, Community Outreach Officer for Hancock Whitney Bank and resides in Tampa, FL. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading mysteries/thrillers, and trying new restaurants!

My name is Khamare Garner (B.S. 2022) and I am a proud graduate of the Florida State University. In my time at FSU, I studied Political Science and Music. I am from a small town in central Florida, named Eustis. I currently live in our nations’ capitol, Washington, DC, where I advocate on behalf of retired federal employees. In my spare time, I like to be outdoors with the DC flag football league or a hiking group.

Elizabeth Gloria started her journey at Florida State University in 2015 through the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement’s Summer Bridge Program. As a first-generation college student and Mexican-American, she takes pride in her educational journey and creates spaces for others to do so as well.

Elizabeth currently works at the University of South Carolina as the football and men's golf advisor. She has been in this role since May 2022 and has immersed herself within the team. Through her role, she draws from her own collegiate experience to mentor and guide student-athletes to be successful not only in their sport, but also as young men and scholars.

She previously worked at Florida State University, where she served as an assistant academic advisor with football through a post-graduate internship. She was in charge of monitoring academic eligibility, progress toward degrees, and academic support for assigned student-athletes. She simultaneously worked as a coordinator of the L.Y.F.E Program (Leaders Yearning for Excellence), which aims to increase the graduation rate of male black student-athletes.

Elizabeth earned her master’s degree in higher education leadership from the University of Texas of Austin. While pursuing her degree, Elizabeth worked for the Texas Athletics Academic Services Department, where she worked one-on-one with student-athletes across various sports. She simultaneously worked with the Longhorn Center for Academic Equity, where she helped incoming first-generation longhorns successfully transition into the university setting.

Elizabeth received her bachelor’s degree in sport management from Florida State University in 2019. She was heavily involved with the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement. She was inducted in the CARE Hall of Fame in 2019, and still has an ongoing partnership with them.

Ever since attending his first Youth in Government conference in Tallahassee during his junior year of high school, Hunter Hamrick is someone who always had a passion and motivation for public policy and public service. It was this devotion to the public good that led Hunter Hamrick to graduate from Florida State University with his Bachelor of Science in Political Science (with Honors) and his Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs (with Honors) with minors in Political Philosophy and Law.

In addition to academics, Hunter focused a lot of his FSU career becoming involved with key on-campus organizations. He was a Founding Member of the Social Science Leadership Council, a recipient of the Social Science Scholars Award, and was recognized as a Garnet & Gold Scholar. In addition to these awards, Hunter focused a lot of his time conducting undergraduate research with the College of Social Sciences and became a published author with the publication of his thesis, “From Laughter to Learning: The Effects of Political Satire on Political Acquisition.”

After graduation, Hunter moved to Washington DC where he spent the next few years working within all realms of the public policy field. Currently, Hunter is a Senior Associate at Aptive Resources where he utilizes his data and public policy background to work with the Department of Veteran Affairs in increasing all forms of healthcare access for Veterans. Prior to working at Aptive, Hunter worked for several key organizations including the United States Coast Guard, National Journal, and the Office of Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14). Since moving to Washington DC, Hunter has become involved with a lot of organizations including the DC Noles, the State Society of Florida, and the DC Phi Beta Kappa Association where he served as the former Vice President and the former Young Professional Network chair. Hunter is also an avid DnD player and a board game fan. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Hunter now resides in Washington DC with his partner Colton and their two lovely dogs, Neo and Storm.

Kaitlyn Heintz is a dedicated and accomplished professional and a proud first-generation college student. Kaitlyn graduated from Florida State University in spring 2023 with a dual degree in hospitality and tourism management and business management. Continuing her educational journey at FSU, Kaitlyn graduated in summer 2024 with a Master of Business Administration.

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Kaitlyn now calls Tallahassee home. Despite having no prior ties to FSU before starting her studies, she quickly found a home at the university. Kaitlyn was actively involved with the Dedman College of Hospitality, holding leadership roles in FSU-FRLA and the ESD Chapter. Most notably, she served as president of the Student Alumni Association, where she discovered her passion for engaging with the university and giving back to FSU and the Alumni Association.

In September 2024, Kaitlyn will begin her career as an assistant general manager with Aimbridge Hospitality, bringing her expertise and passion for hospitality to the role. Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Kaitlyn enjoys traveling to new destinations, soaking up the sun at the beach, and spending time with family. She is dedicated to bridging the gap with young alumni and creating lasting memories for all students and alumni of FSU.

Kyle began at FSU in the Summer of 2017. While there, Kyle joined a multitude of organizations while studying Finance and Real Estate. Kyle held multiple executive leadership positions in Theta Chi Fraternity, serving as President of the Gamma Rho chapter and as well as serving as Vice President of Health and Safety of the chapter, prior to becoming President. Additionally, Kyle served on the Seminole Student Boosters executive board and was responsible for helping plan multiple of the widely attended booster events. Kyle also served on the Operations Team for Dance Marathon and raised money each year for the Children’s Miracle Network while contributing to the event’s operational execution. Kyle graduated early with honors with two B.S.’s in Finance and Real Estate from Florida State University in December of 2020. After graduating, Kyle moved to Chicago, IL to work at B.C. Ziegler and Co. in January of 2021 as an Investment Banking Analyst in their Senior Living Finance Practice, where he continues to work today. At Ziegler, his primary responsibilities include providing technical support to the investment banking team, and performing high-level financial analysis of current and prospective clientele. Additionally, he is responsible for performing detailed credit analysis, and providing industry research and analysis to address clientele needs. Even though Kyle has a lot of physical distance to FSU, he still stays involved by attending the many events put on by the Windy City Seminoles in Chicago!

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Michael is a double graduate from Orlando, Florida, and he holds degrees in civil engineering and law. He currently practices construction law in Orlando. While at Florida State, Michael studied abroad in Valencia, Spain, and was heavily involved with extra-curricular activities, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, Florida Engineering Society, Student Government, and intramural sports (including an all-campus champion co-ed softball team). Since graduating, Michael has served on the Team Selection Committee for Florida Citrus Sports, was a judge for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida’s Engineering Excellence Award and is a member of The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section. When not working or engaging with the community, Michael enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dogs, cooking, traveling, staying active and watching any FSU game.

Luc Poliard started his educational journey at FSU in the summer of 2014 by way of the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement’s Summer Bridge Program. However, his passion for the garnet and gold stems back earlier to his little league football days in his hometown of North Miami, FL., where he played on a team called the North Miami Seminoles. After four years of learning, fellowship, and involvement, Luc graduated with his B.S. degree in Exercise Physiology in the fall of 2018. In 2019, Luc was granted admission to the University of Central Florida to pursue a master’s degree in healthcare administration. While in school, Luc sharpened his foundational knowledge in healthcare operations during his two years of service with AdventHealth in Orlando. While matriculating through graduate school, Luc leveraged his experiences and connections to land a post-graduate Administrative Fellowship opportunity with the Mayo Clinic in Florida. In August of 2021, Luc officially earned his master’s degree and moved to Jacksonville, FL to begin his career. Today, Luc is a Clinical Operations Consulting for Huron Consulting Group. Outside of school and work, Luc enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering in the community, mentoring younger college students and at-risk teens, and indoor roller skating.

From uncertain beginnings in high school to earning dual degrees from Florida State University within five years, Tabisha’s journey showcases the transformative potential of resilience and community support. As a first-generation college student, Tabisha had significant doubts about attending college. However, her resolve led her to FSU, where she began her academic career in 2016 through the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE).

During her time at FSU, Tabisha actively engaged with the campus community, building meaningful relationships through her involvement in various clubs and organizations and dedicated community work. Her contributions earned her a place in the inaugural cohort of the Seminole Torchbearer 100 and the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s Impact Award. Although the pandemic in 2020 cut short her physical presence on campus, Tabisha was able to complete her bachelor’s degree in social work remotely in the spring of 2020. She continued her studies online, obtaining her master’s degree in social work in the summer of 2021.

A CARE Hall of Fame recipient, Tabish’s significant college activities set the stage for her post-graduation endeavors. Tabisha leveraged her relationship-building skills and began her path in Hamilton, NY. She now serves as the assistant director of First@Colgate at Colgate University, where she works with first-generation students, drawing from her own experiences to support and empower them. Tabisha remains committed to fostering a sense of community and providing the support that helped her succeed.

Courtney Rolle has always had a passion and motivation for serving her community. During her time at Florida State University, Courtney had the pleasure of serving in a variety of capacities, most notably as President of the FSU Chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Subsequent to graduating from FSU with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Courtney began her career in education as an elementary school teacher, teaching both first and second grades for six years. During that time, she also obtained her Master's of Educational Leadership. Next, she transitioned into serving in the field of higher education, working with collegiate pre-service K-12 teachers in pursuit of bachelor's degrees. She also simultaneously served as an adjunct professor for the Broward College Education Program. Currently, Courtney continues to serve and impact the educational community, working at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a leading K-12 education and learning technology company, as an Associate Customer Success Manager. In her spare time, Courtney has proven to be a leader in her community, volunteering with various organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and in her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Andres Salas is a first-generation Spring 2021 graduate of Florida State University with a B.S in Political Science & a B.S in International Affairs. Andres was born in Bogota, Colombia and raised in Boynton Beach, Florida and currently calls Austin, Texas home. Andres has recently began his career as an inside sales representative at Dell Technologies; focusing on providing small to enterprise businesses hardware and software solutions to modernize their IT departments in an everchanging technology landscape. Despite never visiting or touring FSU before deciding on the university to pursue higher education, the university would leave an immense impact on him. While at FSU, he was involved in Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity as Chapter President, Seminole Student Boosters, and held various roles in Linedance: Showcase of the Arts. He is a proud inductee in the Garnet & Gold Key Leadership Honorary and Greek Hall of Fame. Andres’ greatest honor while at FSU was being crowned as the 2021 Homecoming Chief, which ignited his passion for giving back to the Florida State community & alumni association. As a younger member of the council, Andres strives to engage young alumni to become lifelong members of the alumni associate and remain active after graduation.

Annamarie Shrader is a dynamic strategic communications and marketing management professional with a strong foundation in digital marketing and community engagement. She holds a bachelor’s degree in digital media production and a master’s degree in integrated marketing and management communications from Florida State University. Her unique blend of technical prowess and strategic insight drives impactful results.

During her time at FSU, Annamarie engaged in Transfers Helping Transfers, Relay For Life, the College of Communication and Information Student Leadership Council, Coaches Video, WVFS - V89, Dance Marathon, The Big Event, Lambda Pi Eta, and Phi Eta Sigma. Professionally, she has crafted compelling content for notable organizations including Marriott International, the Maryland Terrapins, the City of Greenbelt, the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society, the 2013 National Championship team - the Florida State Seminoles, and the Washington Nationals.

Beyond her professional achievements, Annamarie is an avid photographer who enjoys pancakes, whiskey, oversized sweaters and spreading positivity by reminding people of their inherent beauty.

Teaghan Skulszki is a journalist, copywriter and social media strategist who currently resides in Los Angeles. She has contributed impactful content to publications including Business Insider, Sunset Magazine and Outside Magazine. She currently works as a copywriter at Lineage Digital, a creative marketing agency. Before that, she worked at the MRN Agency, developing copy and digital strategy for State Farm, and she orchestrated more than 30 successful media events with The Broadcast Experts. In 2022, she participated in the Futurist Project, a six-month leadership academy for emerging professionals in the outdoor industry. She is passionate about the outdoor industry and creating an environment that champions DEI and sustainability. With a foundation in editing, writing and media, she is dedicated to crafting authentic narratives and devising effective digital strategies across all media platforms. Teaghan believes in the power of the written word to transport audiences to different dimensions.

Christa Tanner currently serves as the District Director to U.S. Congressman Daniel Webster (FL-11). For the past decade, Christa has worked for the U.S. House of Representatives serving in multiple roles, including as a Legislative Correspondent and Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill. Christa graduated from Florida State University in 2012, earning her bachelor’s degree in International Affairs & Business Management. While at Florida State, Christa was a member of Lady Spirithunters and Theta Alpha Christian Sorority. In 2015, Christa earned her master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University in Washington, DC, where she served as a Board Member of the Student Association. A native of Brooksville, Florida, Christa is a fourth generation Floridian. Serving her community is her passion. In 2022, she ran for and was elected to the Brooksville City Council. She is also a member and Past President of the Junior Service League of Brooksville, a member of the Rotary Club of Brooksville, and a graduate of Leadership Hernando Class of 2017. Christa lives in Brooksville with her husband Jared and their dog Macy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cheering on the Noles!

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Michael Walsh is an author and two time alumnus of Florida State University. After earning his Bachelor's in Digital Media Production, he remained at FSU as a marketing and communication coordinator and eventually continued his education here, earning his Master's in Integrated Marketing Communication. When not writing FSU news stories and mentoring current students in his job, Michael can be found at Tallahassee's Black Dog Cafe working on the next entry in his fantasy/sci-fi book series, the Zoboros series.