New College of Florida has been quietly making a meaningful and lasting impact on the Sarasota-Manatee economy since its founding, but especially for the past two years. Through New College’s Center for Career & Engagement Opportunity (CEO), close to 100 local nonprofits and businesses have been assisted by New College grant funding to offer paid internships and students completing internships. The interns’ collective work has been immeasurable.
Read more at Sarasota Magazine.
Image: Lauren David with the Manasota Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Three New College of Florida students – and budding entrepreneurs -presented their business pitches before a panel of judges at the inaugural Launch [ ]! event, held at 26 West Center on the State College of Florida (SCF) campus.
Lauren David (fourth year Environmental/Urban Studies), Darwin Tepe (third year Public Policy/Theatre), and Hannah Barker (second year Art/Art History) took part in this academic version of Shark Tank, competing for $250 in seed money for their new businesses.
In February of this year, 26 West Center partnered with New College of Florida, creating a new experiential learning program. This event was the culmination of a year of study for New College students at the center, a hub for our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“It was our students who fueled my passion to bring entrepreneurship education and start-up support to the New College campus,” said Executive Director of NCF Career Engagement & Opportunity Dwayne Peterson. “It turns out our community was also in the process of expanding its support of entrepreneurship through the launch of a community incubator – the 26 West Center. I met the director, Kim Richmond, two years ago, and we spent months dreaming about how we could get New College student entrepreneurs involved in this incubator. This past January, we launched our joint venture, aptly named Launch [ ]! Students who come here are led by industry and entrepreneurship experts. It provided our students with workspace, mentorship, education, resources, and access to investors. In other words, it helped our students work through the physical and mental roller-coaster involved in starting a new business,” he said.
“This has been an incredible experience for our students,” Peterson added. “We are really fortunate that the higher education institutions in our region believe that we are stronger together than apart. Launch [ ]! is a living, breathing example of what that collaboration can do.”
“This inaugural pitch showcase marked a passage for these talented students from the classroom into the real world,” said Kim Richmond, Director of SCF’s 26 West Entrepreneurship Center. “And that is the real power of experiential learning.”
Also speaking was Entrepreneurship Instructor and Coach Katie Close, who noted that “Launch [ ]! Is a place where a college education and entrepreneurship meet.”
The three students each had seven minutes to sell their pitches to the judges: Davis and her company, Skin by Lauren, a skin-care company devoted to self-care, equitable processes and sustainability; Tepe and his company, Briggantia, a nonprofit social enterprise project. This featured groundbreaking humanities projects, called “behavior beacons,” which are designed to encourage behavior change in the people who encounter the art. The first goal was litter, a critical problem here in Sarasota. The company’s first art installation will be Sandy the Manatee, a sculpture that contains a waste bin; and Barker and her company, Hannah Joy Barker art. Barker offers graphic design services, developing signature logo pieces for small businesses and nonprofits.
Judges were able to ask questions before rating each of the students on their presentations. In their comments, judges noted the students’ passion, strong preparation and overall presentations.
Darwin Tepe took home the $250 check for his presentation, though all three students were invited to continue their work building their businesses at 26 West Center through the end of the academic year.
“Briggantia’s seed money will go toward research. That means the purchase of academic text and also transportation to conduct field studies to further aid in my decision making,” Tepe said, adding that, “26 West Center was a great host of the Launch program. Kim Richmond’s expertise and vast resource pool coupled with Katie Close’s passion and creative problem-solving skill set made for an awesome learning environment. I hope more students partner with Launch and the 26 West Center in the future!”
Investor judges at the event were Mitchell Epstein, Pat Dwechter, Russel Holloway, Lisa Krebs-Knepp, Lynn Morris, Jordan Owens and Jon Stuart.
Among the special guests from New College were Mary Ruiz, chair of the New College Board of Trustees; Dr. Suzanne Sherman, Vice President Academic Affairs and Provost; MaryAnn Young, Vice President of Advancement; and Declan Sheehy, Director of Philanthropy.
Photos Courtesy of State College of Florida.
Gayle Guynup is a contributor to New College News.
Dwayne Peterson, the executive director of the Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity (CEO), discussed how New College faculty members are collaborating with career educators to integrate career preparation and development into the classroom. It is an approach that scales foundational career skills and prepares all students for the rapidly changing job market.
“We can no longer rely on a peripheral and optional career services delivery model if we want to ensure the successful transition of all students into careers at graduation,” Peterson said. “Academics alone are also not the solution, as employers are expecting students to understand and demonstrate their skills outside of the classroom. So, to meet this expectation, students need intentional training and support to build skills and learn to communicate those skills effectively.”
The only way to ensure that every student receives the training and support they need to be career-ready is to “embrace career education as a learning outcome of the entire academic experience,” Peterson said.
The Chronicle, published since 1966, is the leading source of news, information and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators. The New Pathways report examined the pressing challenges that higher education institutions face, specifically “a shifting recruitment landscape, the rise of remote work, and persistent inequities in employment outcomes for underrepresented and first-generation students.”
New College is taking all of these factors into consideration. From day one at New College, all students are paired with their own nationally certified career coach/adviser—a luxury that larger colleges cannot provide.
Through the Novo Career Advantage program (a customized four-year career prep plan), New College’s career coaches help students apply for internships and fellowships, guide them through job exploration, and connect them with mentors through the Novo Network Mentorship Program. And nearly every student at New College completes an internship before graduation.
Beyond that, Peterson and his team work directly with professors to infuse the New College curriculum with career-building skills.
“We have always known that our academic program gives students knowledge and skills, such as critical thinking and communication,” Peterson said. “But what’s traditionally a missing component of a broad bachelor’s degree is ensuring that students can see those skills–how the skills connect to careers, and effectively demonstrate competence in that skill to an external non-academic audience (such as an employer) in writing and also verbally.”
During an 18th-century British drama course with New College Professor of English and Gender Studies Miriam Wallace, Ph.D., Peterson developed a workshop in which students were taught about valuable workplace skills based on their own career aspirations. Students were then asked to engage in self-reflection, analyzing where in the course they may have gained those skills.
Rather than write a final paper, students compiled a dramaturgy packet for one of the plays they studied. The students had to research the history of the play, highlight key performances and unpack major themes. Peterson worked with the students on a writing exercise that asked, “What if the course was their only experience? What would they put on their résumé?”
Students realized that they had been learning to use different databases, conducting critical analysis, distilling complex ideas and writing for a popular audience—all in one class. They then practiced writing those skills in a way that employers would understand.
In years past, especially at liberal arts institutions, faculty members and career educators did not collaborate on such a career-focused level. But at New College, this type of collaboration empowers students in all fields of study–from British literature to marine biology–to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to the workplace.
According to data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), students at New College are more likely to participate in career education activities (such as interview prep, résumé review, and career engagement with their professors) than students at other small liberal arts colleges.
“The NSSE data is early evidence that our institutional efforts to scale and integrate careers with academics is working,” Peterson said. “Career planning and preparation are being normalized by students and faculty as an essential academic endeavor, which ensures that all students will be ready for their future by graduation.”
For more information on the Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity (CEO) at New College of Florida, visit ncf.edu/ceo.
For more information on The Chronicle report, visit store.chronicle.com/products/new-pathways-from-college-to-career.
“New College taught me a number of skills—analytical thinking, preparedness, ability to communicate—that have prepared me well for my career, both as an attorney and as a business owner,” said Reese, who is a class-action consumer protection attorney and the owner of Reese LLP in New York City.
Last February, Reese served as a judge for one of the practice rounds of the New College Moot Court Team. He was so impressed with the work of pre-law students Natalie Spivey, Libby Harrity and Francis Garcia Fernandez that he wanted to contribute to the New College Law Society. Reese’s donation will help fund students as they continue to participate in moot court matches and other pre-law events at New College and throughout the country.
“As you can imagine, the students were beyond thrilled with Mr. Reese’s donation. I know how hard these students work, how talented they are, and what this gift means to them and to all of the other students on our legal advocacy teams,” said New College of Florida General Counsel David Fugett, who coaches the New College Moot Court Team. “It is historic, it will be put to very good use, and I can’t thank Mr. Reese enough.”
New College, Reese believes, is an ideal place for pre-law students to learn. Reese graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in European History under the advisement of Professor Laszlo Deme, Ph.D., and wrote a thesis entitled Gladstone’s Irish Policy. Reese founded his own law firm 15 years ago and now has offices throughout the United States.
“A successful law career requires creative thinking, preparation and the ability to think on one’s feet, and a New College education provides all three of these skills,” Reese said. “The small class size of New College requires that you always have to be prepared and able to discuss the topics at a high level with professors who have mastered their subjects. The New College thesis, and the requirement to defend that thesis before professors, translates directly to the ability to appear in a court of law and advocate for your position.”
Watching the pre-law program at New College evolve over the past three decades since he graduated has been exciting for Reese.
Moot court events are now regular occurrences at New College, providing students with the opportunity to participate in simulated court proceedings. Exercises involve students analyzing and arguing both sides of a hypothetical legal issue, while using procedures modeled after those employed in state and federal appellate courts. Judges question students, testing their knowledge of case law and the cohesion of their oral arguments.
“The moot court program at New College is fantastic. David Fugett has done an absolutely terrific job putting together the program, and it is a real asset to New College. I wish the program existed when I attended,” Reese said. “The students at the moot court were excellent and all made compelling, highly sophisticated arguments. It was a real pleasure to serve as a moot court judge.”
Spivey, who is the president of the New College Law Society and the captain of the New College Moot Court Team, said that having Reese as one of her judges was incredibly beneficial.
“Michael gave us some great insight for competition day. I doubt that there are other colleges out there that have their very own legal alumni serving as voluntary practice judges for moot court, and that’s part of what makes our team so unique (we are definitely representative of our school’s spirit),” said Spivey, who is a third-year political science major. “Michael’s donation was an incredible gift that came from his generosity and faith in the team, and it will carry us through multiple seasons.”
For more information on the Pre-Law Professional Program at New College of Florida, visit ncf.edu/pre-law.
To donate to New College, visit ncf.edu/give.
This nationally-recognized program is designed to increase student access to paid, experiential internships, and organizations and agencies that qualify will receive a Spring 2023 grant. The funds will support one New College intern from January 30 to May 12.
“Our programs focus on reducing barriers to work-integrated learning by increasing equity and access to paid internships, so that all New College students can pursue an internship experience,” said Madeline Tympanick, the associate director of employer relations and work-based learning at New College of Florida. “We do that by partnering with the community to develop and fund opportunities around the greatest areas of need. This is uniquely distinct from other internship program models.”
Funds for the spring internships will be provided by New College, primarily through an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant (but also with support from donors and local foundations). The program will meet the goals of the Mellon Foundation grant by supporting community-driven projects, and strengthening community outreach and engagement. Projects will be focused on areas such as the arts, humanities, social services, counseling, education, and museum or archival work.
Priority will be given to internships that provide career pathways, and applicants are encouraged to submit project ideas that do not focus solely on social media or marketing needs.
Apply here and learn more about the program here.
Profeta was born and raised in Miami and has a Cuban-American/Jewish background. She attended Florida State University (FSU), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences with a minor in Law and Society. Profeta learned about family dynamics, and the science behind child and parental development, and decided she wanted to represent children and their well-being.
During her time at FSU, Virginia was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, where she developed an interest in attending law school. Profeta also interned at two different law firms: BeharBehar Insurance and Commercial Law Firm, and Fournier Family Law Firm.
She took a gap year between graduating from FSU and starting Stetson, during which time she took the LSAT exam and worked as a substitute teacher for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (primarily at a K-8 center).
Profeta started Stetson in Fall 2021. She was originally interested in pursuing family law to work in the adoption and foster care industries. However, she was introduced to the field of higher education law by Professor Peter Lake, the director of the Center of Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy (the only center for higher education law in the nation).
Recently, Profeta was offered the position of Center Fellow. She will be working directly under Lake and act as the student representative for the Center. With this fellowship, Profeta will also be helping to organize the Center’s Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education.
Additionally at Stetson, Profeta is the secretary of the Jewish Law Student Association and a member of the Hispanic Bar Association. This past summer, Profeta interned with Grand River Solutions as a Title IX and Equity intern, conducting research projects and preparing documentation.
With Profeta’s externship this semester, she hopes to get firsthand experience working as a general counsel for a college—a future career to which she aspires.
“We are extremely happy that our program is now recognized in national rankings as one of the top in-person master’s programs in this field,” said Burcin Bozkaya, Ph.D., the director of the Applied Data Science graduate program at New College.
New College’s program is one of only 28 listed in the 2022 ranking. The signature 36-credit-hour, four-semester program includes a rigorous two-year curriculum with many practical components—including a summer internship, a full-time paid practicum, and an industry-led capstone project course.
“These components allow our graduates to have substantial real-world experiences before they join the workforce,” Bozkaya said.
Fortune reported that data scientist job openings have grown by 480 percent since 2016, according to Glassdoor. Companies are offering six-figure salaries to vie for top data science talent (the mean salary for data scientists is $108,660, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
And ambitious students have enrolled in New College’s Applied Data Science graduate program from across the globe, pursuing data science as a lucrative pathway to begin solving the planet’s greatest problems— from improving transportation to creating cancer treatments.
New College’s program blends interdisciplinary theory and practical skill application through courses such as “Exploratory Data Analysis,” “Applied Statistics” and “Data Visualization.” Undergraduates at New College can combine their primary major with a secondary focus in applied data science to earn both a data science bachelor of arts (B.A.) and master of science (M.S.) degree in five years, instead of the usual six.
The career outcomes for New College’s program are part of the appeal. In fact, every student from the Class of 2021 secured a full-time job in data science within one month of graduation. Those students gained experience applying both R and Python to develop solutions for corporate partners, all while cultivating the industry knowledge and technical skills to thrive after college.
“We plan to add more partnerships and industrial collaborations to our already highly affordable program to further increase the value we offer,” Bozkaya said.
For more information on the Applied Data Science graduate program at New College of Florida, visit ncf.edu/academics/graduate-program.
“We’re inspired by the ways in which New College immerses students in their fields, all while fostering a welcoming community that will support them through and beyond their college years,” said Wes Creel, the founder of Colleges of Distinction, which is a respected guide for college-bound students. “Every student has individual needs and their own environment in which they’re most likely to thrive. We want to extend our praise to the schools that prioritize and cater to students’ goals.”
New College’s inclusion in this list is informed by the ways it commits to helping students achieve success. Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has supported student-centered schools that are often overlooked by traditional rankings. The website provides dynamic college profiles, along with customized tools and resources for students, parents and high school counselors.
Colleges of Distinction’s selection process involves conducting research and detailed interviews with each school about the freshman experience, retention efforts, career development, the strategic plan and student satisfaction. Schools are only accepted if they adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community and Successful Outcomes.
New College was chosen in the area of Career Development because it equips students with the self-reflection and networking skills necessary for their career journeys.
“New College offers resources and provides unparalleled support throughout every stage of career exploration, development, and application,” said Tyson Schritter, the chief operating officer at Colleges of Distinction. “The College brings career readiness into the classroom, making intentional connections between students of all majors and the careers they pursue after graduation.”
In the area of Equity & Inclusion, New College was regarded as providing exceptional support to all of its students.
“Equity is an action, not a statement,” Schritter said. “New College is always listening to how it can create a more just environment, from the administrative level down to the students’ everyday experience on campus. We’re encouraged to see this school’s long history of promoting inclusion and making swift yet mindful adjustments along with the ever-changing times.”
For more information on Colleges of Distinction, visit collegesofdistinction.com.
Abby Weingarten is the senior editor in the Office of Communications & Marketing.
Thank you to President Okker, the New College community, and the graduation committee for nominating me. I am delighted and terrified to speak at my alma mater. It’s been almost 20 years since I graduated from New College and, even though I’m wearing shoes and don’t have on fairy wings, I swear I went here. I was even NCSA president, which is also a shocker. My campaign slogan was that I don’t sleep and I don’t celebrate Christmas so I could work 24/7 for my fellow students. I won by two votes so I was lovingly called Landslide Maxeme.
It’s incredible to see so many of my professors in the audience. Now that I don’t have any papers due for them, I feel way more relaxed in their presence. Friends and families, how special it is to have you here. And yes, this is the weirdest graduation you will ever go to, and yes, you will somehow find a way to bring it up in almost every conversation you have in the future, just like my parents have.
To be asked to come back here to the place that has had a true impact on my career, and life, and to be your speaker…is an astonishing honor. New College was the obvious choice for me. As a first-generation Jewban (Jewish Cuban) who would be the first to graduate from college and who had almost dropped out of high school, a place where I could design my own education, could only pass or fail, and the teaching ratio was 10-to-1 sounded like a dream to me. I still remember my answer to the application question “Why New College?” It was “Why Not?” And they still let me in, so I guess New College was not intimidated by feisty Latinas.
Graduating class, thank you for letting me be a part of your day. I’m in awe of you all. Having to go through the last two years of your college career while the world was falling apart around you is nothing short of inspirational. Honestly, if you can get through that, you’ll be able to get through anything.
In that same vein, if I had been the commencement speaker for the Class of 2019, my advice would be wildly different. I would have given you advice on getting a job. Now it’s very clear that the best way to shape your future is to build your future yourself. So, my goal today is to help you navigate a brave new world, and be bold enough to give you advice for a life and future career that unfortunately no one in this tent has gone through before you! That sounds terrifying and daunting but, hopefully, you’ll remember one of my 10 pieces of advice when the time is right for you.
#1. Know that nothing lasts forever, so be open to and embrace change.
As a society, we have turned forever into the only acceptable definition of success. If you go on to a grad program and never do anything with it, let it bring joy to you that you studied something you loved more in depth.
If you start a business and decide to close it after a while, relish in the fact that you made the customers you served at that time really happy. If you marry someone, and the marriage is good for a while and then stops working and you get divorced, take comfort in the fact that you wonderfully shared your life with someone for a period and probably learned something new about yourself. You will find success in many things in your life, so treat those moments—no matter how long they last—as precious.
#2. Make being underestimated your fuel.
People will make assumptions about you and, unfortunately, you cannot control that, but what you can control is how you let it affect you. I had a professor once tell me I wouldn’t amount to anything because I was only accepted to that school because I checked the Latina box on my application. For years, I doubted my qualifications for everything. I felt undeserving of success and assumed, like this professor, that I was just a charity case or part of a diversity quota.
I wasted years doubting myself until I met a man by the name of Gary Trujillo. I was at Harvard Business School’s welcome weekend and he told a story about a similar comment made by a fellow student once they learned he was Mexican. During office hours, he brought up his new self-doubt to a professor who quickly righted the ship. He said, “Gary, so what?… maybe you did get in because you’re Mexican. But you won’t graduate just because you’re Mexican, so go show them how truly overqualified you are to be here. Those words finally freed me from the self-doubt I had been carrying around for 10 years! And, to my professor that doubted me, all I have to say is…look at me now.
#3. Playbooks are being rewritten, so get involved in rewriting them.
This is across all industries, so this is the best time to get involved in something you are passionate about. Everyone is having to reinvent the way they do business, government, research, etc. It’s an amazing time to be starting to build something.
#4. Related to #3, if you’re not going to go out and build your own thing yet, attach your cart to the right horse.
Since we’re all reinventing the way we work, get hired by people who will sponsor and support you. Don’t look for mentors; seek out sponsors. A mentor is forced to check in and have coffee with you. A sponsor will put their name behind you, open doors for you, and will help you get into the room and get a seat at the table. That is way more important than working on interesting projects and incredibly more valuable, long-term, to your career.
#5. Be aware of your privilege and use it to help others.
As Lizzo says, “If I’m shinin’, everybody gonna shine.” When you have power, use it. Seek power so you can redistribute it. When you get invited to speak somewhere or participate in something, look at who is around the table. Use your power and privilege to make sure diverse voices are always represented. Sometimes you have to give up your seat to do that, and you should.
#6. Pursue your dreams at any cost.
My favorite book is The Alchemist. I read it almost every year, and each time it means something different to me depending on where I am in my life. But the central theme stays the same. Put your mind to something and the world will conspire to help you. No matter how difficult building a startup has been, I have always trusted that the obstacles were lessons to learn from. Life comes with its twist and turns. It is never a straight line. If it is, you actually aren’t living or fulfilling your true potential.
And, most importantly, follow the omens—or, in plain terms—follow your gut or intuition. Identifying as a woman, a Latina, and basing our company in Miami means I had a very small chance of building a successfully-funded startup. But I trusted my gut, followed the signs, and put all of my energy into creating Caribu. The universe conspired to help me and we beat all the odds.
Less than two percent of venture capital dollars go to women and people of color. Somehow, with those odds, I became the 59th Latina to raise over $1 million, and we’ve now raised over $6 million.
We received a predatory term sheet from an investor for half a million dollars but trusted our gut that we should turn him down (risky choice when the stats are what they are). But it was the right path because we turned to equity crowdfunding and raised three times more than we would have gotten from that shady investor. We then went from zero to $1 million in sales a year in just six months, proving that what Beyoncé says is true: “The best revenge is your paper.”
People said no one could build a successful startup outside of Silicon Valley but, in 2020, we were named one of the 15 best apps in the world by Apple.
And naysayers said there were no diverse people in tech, and yet our team is 67 percent people of color, 50 percent women, and we have high LGBTQIA+ representation. I’ve done things my way even when it wasn’t expected or traditional. Honestly, when you truly put your mind to something, nothing can stop you.
#7. Take risks and see failure as an opportunity.
Stay in the uncomfortable. You know how they say sitting is the new smoking? Well, being in your comfort zone has the same effect on your life and career, so start moving and get uncomfortable.
#8. I know I’m at an academic institution but, honestly, knowledge is not power. Problem solving and analysis are.
Information is easy to access now. The critical thinking of figuring out how to pattern-match will be the key skill you need in the future. Knowing what to look for, and knowing what the truth is, is more important than memorizing the facts.
#9. As the saying goes, YOLO.
The past two years have taught us that you only live once, so Marie Kondo your life. Live in the moment and only do things that bring you joy. You only have 86,400 seconds a day. Does what you’re doing bring you joy? If not, don’t finish the movie, the book, or even the degree. Leave the relationship. I found a website once that had a sobering look at what you can truly do in a lifetime.
If you assume a 100-year life:
- I personally have 60 summers left
- I swim in the ocean twice a year, so I have 120 more swims
- If I read five books a year, I get 300 more
The same often goes for old friends. In Dortstein, I lived in our self-created Esquina Latina, and I sat around playing Mafia with the same group of women about five days a week (two of whom are here!). In four years, we probably racked up 700 group hangouts. Now, scattered around the country with totally different lives and schedules, the group of us are in the same room at the same time probably 10 days each decade. That means I have 40 days left with them. I know. Depressing. But why the Debbie Downer info.?
It’s because proximity matters. Living close to the people you love becomes incredibly more important as you go through life. After these past two years, I think we can all probably agree that how you spend your time and with whom matters. Prioritize accordingly and make each moment count. Set your boundaries and live the life you want, not the one people want for you. And lastly, be present. Knowing how fleeting time can be when you’re with people who matter to you, make it quality time. Every moment is precious.
#10. Make gratitude your daily antidepressant.
A recent study even showed that gratitude improved the lives of women with breast cancer, so the health benefits are really real. Gratitude is a “life orientation towards noticing and appreciating the positive in the world.” Gratitude is fundamentally different from optimism or hope because it focuses on the present moment. A person with a high level of dispositional gratitude can appreciate others and generally seize the day because of their understanding that life is short.
Never before has the whole modern world gone through such a traumatic event at the same time. Your mental health is extremely important and we won’t know the long-term ramifications of what we just went through for years. So, something you can do every day to help is to express your gratitude. You can start tonight.
Whoever came here to celebrate your graduation, this is the time to tell them how grateful you are that they helped you become who you are today. And even if there’s a complicated relationship, you can have gratitude for the fact that they showed up for you tonight. Tomorrow, write a letter, send an email or text…or just tell the barista how grateful you are for the caffeine, or the flight attendant for showing up so you can get where you need to go. Patience and gratitude are what the world needs more of right now and, selfishly, it will probably improve your health.
So that’s it. Follow those 10 guiding principles and the world will be your oyster. For those of you who have figured out what’s next…and for those of you who haven’t built it yet…you are moments away from changing the world, so go conquer it—or your little piece of it—and I honestly cannot wait to read about all of your accomplishments over the next 60 years! Thank you to this class and this institution. The pleasure and honor to be with you today were truly mine.
About Maxeme Tuchman
Maxeme Tuchman graduated from New College of Florida in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies.
Today, she is the co-founder and CEO of the Miami-based tech company, Caribu—a digital calling platform, often described as “FaceTime meets Kindle,” which enables children to have virtual playdates with family members when they cannot be physically together.
A graduate of Design and Architecture Senior High School in Miami, Tuchman set out to be the first in her family to attend college. She always knew she would find a way to incorporate her passion for educating young people into her post-graduate work. And youth education has been a key component of Caribu, which has grown exponentially during the pandemic and was even named a “Best of 2020” app by Apple.
Tuchman’s undergraduate thesis research at New College laid some of the groundwork for her current venture, as it was focused on education as a tool for social justice. But it wasn’t just research and writing at New College that gave Tuchman insight into how to lead and inspire.
She served as president of the New College Student Alliance (student government); and was a co-founder of La Esquina Latina (“The Latin Corner”), a student-designed living arrangement in the Dort and Goldstein Residence Halls. La Esquina Latina allowed female Spanish-speaking students to room together and immerse themselves in their culture while attending college. Through many extracurricular methods, Tuchman found a way to make sure her classmates always had a voice.
Tuchman also learned autonomy and independence at New College through the contract system (evaluations rather than traditional grades) and Independent Study Projects (ISPs).
“The thing that New College teaches you is to really advocate for yourself, to think about your college career with a holistic approach, and to take risks,” Tuchman said. “I wouldn’t have had that agency elsewhere. I wouldn’t have taken as much ownership of my education elsewhere.”
Since graduating from New College, Tuchman has worked in nearly every level of education—as a public school teacher, a consultant at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an executive director of Teach For America, and a manager of education projects under former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools Michelle Rhee.
Tuchman holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a second master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. She is a graduate of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs and the Miami Fellows program.
Before co-founding Caribu, Tuchman was appointed by former President Barack Obama to serve as a White House Fellow at the United States Department of the Treasury. During the 2015-2016 year, she worked as a strategic policy adviser, providing guidance and planning on financial inclusion initiatives (only about 16 aspiring leaders are appointed as White House Fellows annually).
As a businessperson, Tuchman has been a winner or finalist in more than 30 pitch competitions, is the 59th Latina in the United States to raise more than $1 million in venture funding, and is the first Latinx founder (male or female) to raise $1 million in equity crowdfunding. She was even named one of Inc. Magazine’s “Top 100 Female Founders” in 2019.
Caribu made Fast Company’s list of “World-Changing Ideas” in 2019, was one of TIME Magazine’s “Best Inventions 2019,” was singled out as one of the “Top 10 EdTech Companies” in Forbes in 2018, and became one of the most innovative startups in the world by winning the 1776 Global Challenge Cup in 2018.
A granddaughter of immigrants and a daughter of parents who fled Cuba for America, Tuchman is also dedicated to employing individuals from underserved populations. She has helped bring economic growth to Miami by headquartering her company in her hometown.
Change is being made daily under Tuchman’s watch. When she reads testimonials from users of Caribu—grandparents who spent the pandemic years away from their grandchildren, who have found joy in something Tuchman helped create—she knows she is in the right place doing the exact right thing.
In Tuchman’s words: “I’m so proud of what we’ve built from nothing. And I’m so grateful that what we’ve built is changing lives.”
Tuchman’s citation, presented by President Okker, at New College Commencement 2022
Maxeme Tuchman: entrepreneur, executive, visionary, New College alumna, humanitarian and role model.
Since your graduation from New College in 2004, you have helped transform the technological and educational landscape on a global scale. You have embodied the relentless drive and resourceful mindset that we hope to nurture in all of our students at New College.
As an award-winning entrepreneur and CEO, you have proudly represented your hometown of Miami, Florida—bringing great economic growth to your beloved city. You have spearheaded your company, Caribu, which—especially during the pandemic—brought families together to learn and connect on a revolutionary digital platform.
You have been a shining example for Latina businesswomen, and you have shown just how much representation matters. You have been an equitable employer, making sure diversity and inclusion are a critical part of your business model. You have imbued everything you do with integrity, and you have inspired us all to do the same.
It was no surprise to those who shared time with you as an undergraduate that you would become such a fierce leader in life. You served our campus well as New College Student Alliance president and as co-founder of a residential living space that encouraged Spanish-language immersion. You went on to earn graduate degrees from Harvard before returning to Florida to build your company from the ground up.
Today, we are so incredibly proud to welcome you back to your alma mater. We admire your tenacity, your work ethic, your humility and your commitment to the greater good.
And so, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees of New College of Florida, it is my privilege to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, with all its customary rights and privileges.
Learn more about Tuchman here: ncf.edu/news/tech-trailblazer-alumna-creates-florida-jobs.
Watch Class of 2022 New College graduate Aleah Colón-Alfonso interview Tuchman here.
Watch Tuchman’s full graduation speech, and the entirety of New College Commencement 2022, here.
Embodying this idea is a brand-new initiative, known as the Launch [ ]! Student Entrepreneurship Program, which was collaboratively spearheaded this spring by New College and our friends at State College of Florida (SCF) Manatee-Sarasota.
New College students are now learning how to become entrepreneurs—at no cost to them—by participating in a yearlong training program at the business incubator at SCF’s 26 West Center. The program—which is guided by industry experts—is funded by generous New College donors, and four of our students (known as “Launchers”) have joined the inaugural 2022 cohort.
“New College is the perfect partner for our 26 West Center student incubator because it reflects our values of creating an environment in which innovative thinking thrives, and then putting that mindset into action in all areas—from industry to social entrepreneurship,” says Todd Fritch, Ph.D., the executive vice president and provost at SCF.
Students in the Launch [ ]! program earn a certificate of completion for attending 10 entrepreneurship training classes—on topics such as developing a business model, finances, raising capital, customer discovery, branding and risk mitigation. While Launch [ ]! gives students the resources to start a business or nonprofit, our career coaches at New College’s Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity (CEO) help students brainstorm how to integrate their entrepreneurial ventures into their academic goals (through tutorials, senior projects/theses and course selections).
“What’s exciting about Launch [ ]! is that now we are helping students harness their entrepreneurial thinking into viable businesses and connecting them to a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem before they even graduate,” says Dwayne Peterson, the executive director of career education at New College. “New College, with its focus on student self-agency, engrains entrepreneurial thinking into all of our students. This creative approach to solving problems is a natural outcome of the New College experience and explains why so many of our graduates become successful entrepreneurs.”
Bristen Groves, a second-year theatre student at New College, got involved with Launch [ ]! because “it is the exact opportunity I have been praying for: a means of helping me finally launch my business idea through mentorship and a business community,” she says.
Her business idea is called Gracefully Creative Co.—a platform for her to encourage and inspire others through the creative arts. It will likely include a blog, a shop where Groves can sell and showcase her graphic design works, and possibly dance videos and/or a podcast.
Michelle Read, a first-year environmental studies student at New College and current Launcher, is interested in using her “passion for environmental sustainability for creating and supporting ethical nonprofits and/or businesses,” Read says. Read aims to start a company that offers healthy, sustainable snacks, such as vegan, organic frozen yogurt.
Camila Blasi, a third-year general studies student at New College, joined Launch [ ]! to “start a food forest that will supply the New College cafeteria with fresh food daily, so that students and the Sarasota community can eat for free or at a low cost,” Blasi says.
And Lauren David, a third-year enviro/urban studies student at New College, wants to build a skincare brand called Saphalata (the Hindi word for “success”). All of her products will be 100 percent organic, cruelty-free, recyclable and handmade, David says.
“Our goal is to provide transparent, trustworthy, luxury body care that leaves your skin glowing and heart happy,” David says.
Groves, Read, Blasi and David all exemplify the entrepreneurial thinking that the Launch [ ]! program—and New College as a whole—aim to nurture. We are thrilled to offer this to our students, as we help them realize their ambitious visions and prepare them for the world ahead.
Patricia Okker, Ph.D. is the president of New College of Florida.
(Story from SRQ on 5-7-22)