Edison State College Board of Trustees elected a new Chairman for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Christopher T. Vernon, J.D. was unanimously elected to a one-year term as head of the College Board.
“Working with Edison is rewarding on several levels,” said Vernon. “From a macro level, the success of an open enrollment higher education institution such as Edison is crucial to our five county area, to our state and to our country's future. On a micro level, Edison is an amazingly lean organization. It is very well run in both its day to day operations and its constant focus on staying relevant in order to meet the needs of students and the community in the future.”
Mr. Vernon is a founding partner of the business and investment litigation firm of Vernon Healy in Naples. He and his wife live in Collier County with their two children.
“I find it rewarding to work with my fellow board members who are both collectively and individually motivated exclusively by the mission of Edison and by what is in the best interests of the students,” said Vernon.
Current board member Dr. David Klein of Charlotte County will serve as Vice-Chairman. Dr. Klein is an ophthalmologist in Port Charlotte, his wife Stephanie is an analyst with Fawcett Memorial Hospital. The couple has two grown sons.
“Edison State College is a center of learning and social activity in Charlotte County and throughout our area,” Klein said. “I’m honored, flattered and committed to being a part of this school as a donor and a trustee.”
Board members and Edison State College President, Dr. Kenneth Walker extends a warm thanks to Dr. Randy Parrish who most recently served as Board Chairman.
“It has been my pleasure to serve on the Board of Trustees for this highly progressive College,” said Parrish. “As a proud alumnus of Edison, I know what a true asset this school is to the Southwest Florida community.”
Dr. Parrish is a practicing optometrist and alumnus of Edison College. Dr. Parrish was appointed to the board in March 2006 by then-governor Jeb Bush. He and his family live in LaBelle.
As directed by College policy the Board of Trustees elects a new chair at the close of each fiscal year.
The nine-member District Board of Trustees is charged with the responsibility for exercising maximum local autonomy to establish rules, policies and procedures to make certain the College is meeting the changing post-secondary educational needs of the region and is reflecting community values in fulfilling the college mission.
Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most established, most accessible and most affordable school of higher education serving more than 20,000 students in 5 counties with campuses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte, and a center serving Hendry/Glades. Many classes are available online, www.edison.edu