New District Vice President for Academic and Student Services is Named

02/28/2008: Polk Community College has named Dr. Ken Ross to be District Vice President for Academic and Student Services. He comes to PCC after spending 24 years at Broward Community College (BCC) where he was Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Ross holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Florida (1974), a Master’s degree in Education from UF (1976) and a Doctorate degree in Education from the University of Tennessee (1982).

He started his teaching career in 1976 as a high school math teacher in Palatka, FL and served from 1980 to 1983 as Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

In 1983, Dr. Ross started at BCC. He has held various increasingly responsible positions, including Professor of Mathematics, Department Head of Mathematics, Director of Transfer Education, and Dean of Academic Affairs, Central Campus.

He was chosen in 2006 to be BCC’s Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. In that position, Dr. Ross was responsible for the planning, implementation and assessment of all academic programs including college transfer, career and workforce education, allied health, dual enrollment, international education, instructional technology, developmental education, honors institute, on-site collegiate high school, baccalaureate degree program development and SACS.

Dr. Ross has served in a leadership role in advancing Student Services’ programs including the national Achieving the Dream initiative, Title III, Title V, learning communities, success coaches, staff development initiatives, grants management, enrollment management strategies and online tutoring.

PCC President Eileen Holden said he will be “an excellent addition to our staff.” She added that supervisors and colleagues at BCC “describe Dr. Ross as collaborative, experienced and student-centered administrator who is passionate about the community college mission.”

Dr. Ross has been involved in various civic activities in Ft. Lauderdale. He served on the board of the BrightStar Credit Union and has been a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Breast Cancer Walk for Life. 

He is married. His wife, Kim, is an operating nurse. They have two children: Joseph, 26, who is working on a Ph.D. in mathematics at Columbia University, and Jessica, 23, a high school math teacher in Ft. Lauderdale.