This isn’t just another story of a handful of women beating the odds and defying gender stereotypes; this is the story of the pioneering women who broke through the ultimate glass ceiling. “Cracking Aces: A Woman’s Place at the Table” is a feature-length documentary about the women making strides in the male-dominated realm of high-stakes poker. The film was produced by Flagler College communication professor, Dr. Tracy Halcomb.

Flagler College recently welcomed Dr. Jessica Stowell as the college’s new director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. As director, Stowell will assist academic departments with evaluation and assessment and provide support for program reviews, accreditation visits and reporting to government and other external agencies.

The “Spotlight” series offers a glimpse into the lives of those who work behind the scenes to provide an enriching experience for Flagler College students. Faculty and staff featured in the series will be included in periodic faculty and staff newsletters.

Before Hurricane Maria struck his home country of Dominica, Flagler student Nickel Cuffy tried to contact his family members, to warn them of the powerful storm charging toward the island nation. But efforts, he said, “were futile.”

With around 60 student clubs and organizations, Flagler College has to have someone in charge of such groups, and that’s where Kristina Lombardo comes in. Previously the assistant director of Residence Life, Lombardo is the new director of Student Activities. She is the person behind events such as the infamous Harry Potter Week and Flagler Fest, just to name a few. “College is such a crucial time in students’ lives, and I enjoyed my college years so much, so I want to make sure our students enjoy their time as well,” Lombardo said.

Flagler College’s Dr. Michael Butler, along with WJCT and Florida Humanities Council, will host a film screening and panel discussion on the new documentary “The Vietnam War” on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at Flagler College.

Flagler College recently welcomed 14 faculty members to campus. Those individuals with a “Visiting Lecturer” title represent a new rank, elevating former adjunct instructors to full-time teaching and advising responsibilities.

This year marks the 500th commemoration of the Protestant Reformation, the 16th-century upheaval that redefined the Roman Catholic Church. This summer, Flagler College students enjoyed the unique opportunity to study the transformative period at the University of Dresden in Germany, as part of an interdisciplinary-transatlantic program titled “Faces of Faith: Late Medieval and Reformation Germany.”

Six Flagler College students recently returned from a 10-day adventure in Belize, where they worked on research to help save the critically-endangered Hicatee turtle, experienced first-hand living sustainably deep in a tropical rainforest, witnessed wildlife thrive in its native habitat and snorkeled the country’s barrier reef.

Two Flagler College professors, four alumni and two current students recently attended a symposium commemorating the 800th anniversary celebration of the 13th-century Franciscan leader Saint Bonaventure. The conference, held at The Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in New York in mid-July, was dedicated to the cultural and religious dynamics that shaped the scholar’s theology and spirituality.

Flagler College has joined the international arena of historic preservation. Dr. Leslee F. Keys, the college’s assistant professor of History and director of Historic Preservation and Special Initiatives, has been elected to the 21-member Board of Trustees of the United States chapter of the International Commission on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS).  She is the member representing Florida, and one of four newly-elected trustees.

For Flagler students in the college’s Natural Sciences department, the classroom is as much the marsh, wetlands or any other coastal habitat surrounding St. Augustine as it is the lab on campus. Their studies in the field often yield valuable research and play a significant role in better understanding the area’s ecosystems.

This week officially marked the start of Dr. Joseph G. Joyner’s tenure as the fourth president of Flagler College. He succeeds Dr. William T. Abare, Jr., who served in the role for 16 years before retiring this June.

Brian Thompson, who has written an award-winning, weekly column for The St. Augustine Record since 1998, has been named to the board of directors for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Thompson, who is also News and Information Director for Flagler College, will serve as the chair of the organization’s national awards contest.

Flagler College received two awards from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation at its 39th annual conference in St. Petersburg on May 19.

Veteran police chief Creig Doyle was recently named Flagler College’s director of Safety & Security, after serving in an interim director capacity at the college since January.

Flagler College President Dr. William T. Abare, Jr., was inducted as the lone member of the 14th class of its Athletics Hall of Fame Thursday, May 4 at a banquet sponsored by Carrabba's Italian Grill at Flagler's elegant dining hall. The event is part of the College's annual Alumni Weekend (May 4-7).  

The “Spotlight” series offers a glimpse into the lives of those who work behind the scenes to provide an enriching experience for Flagler College students. Faculty and staff featured in the series will be included in the bi-weekly faculty and staff newsletter.

For the first time ever, Flagler College is hosting a Fulbright scholar. Dr. Maraisa Lopes, from the Federal University of Piaui Teresina, Brazil, is working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program in the Education Department to study differences between Brazilian and American higher education experiences in the field.

The founding director of Flagler College’s Law program, Professor Richard Poland, is retiring this year after serving the college for 25 years. Judge Poland, as he is often referred to on campus, has taught nearly 30 courses, fulfilled various leadership roles — including Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs — and has twice received the Faculty of the Year Award (2007-2008 and 2009-2010).