Deborah Fontaine
Vice President, Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Dr. Deborah Fontaine is an experienced higher education leader with more than 20 years of advancing student success, institutional effectiveness, and organizational strategy. As Vice President for Strategic and Institutional Effectiveness at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), she oversees strategic planning, accreditation, assessment, and resource development, ensuring the College’s goals align with student needs and community priorities.
Dr. Fontaine holds a Ph.D. in Technical Communication and Rhetoric from Texas Tech University, master’s degrees in English and Education from Eastern New Mexico University, and a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education from Stetson University. She has guided several transformational initiatives, including FSCJ’s SACSCOC reaffirmation with no findings, redesign of academic assessment across 150+ programs, and development of the College’s Aspen Prize application, which has placed FSCJ among the top 40 institutions nationwide.
A national coach for Achieving the Dream, Dr. Fontaine supports colleges in strengthening student centered strategies and teaching and learning practices. She is also a certified SACSCOC evaluator and Six Sigma Green Belt.
Active in the Jacksonville community, she is a member of Leadership Jax (Class of 2026), Elevate Women, and Earn Up, and serves as a peer reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.
10:30 am - 12:00 pm ET
Workshops I-VI: Block I
Workforce Development as a Neighborhood Asset: Building Workforce Pipelines that Match Real Demand
Room: Grand 8
Workforce systems are most effective when they respond directly to employer demand while remaining accessible to neighborhood residents. This session explores how Goodwill Industries collaborates with employers, education partners, and LIFT JAX, a Purpose Built Communities Network Member, to align training with real job opportunities.
Panelists will discuss how employer input shapes program design, how education partners deliver relevant credentials, and how Community Quarterback Organizations help ensure residents can access and succeed in these pathways.
Participants will:
- Understand how employer demand informs workforce program design
- Learn how workforce experts translate labor needs into training pathways
- Explore how Community Quarterback Organizations strengthen access and completion
- Gain insights into building workforce initiatives that lead to sustainable employment
