A Change of Plans: Natalie Wilson’s (’23) Path from Florida College to Disaster Recovery
July 22, 2026 | 2-3 min read
Natalie Wilson almost did not attend Florida College.
She had scholarships waiting, a full ride on the table, and an acceptance letter from a film school in New York City. FC wasn’t even at the top of her list. But her junior year of high school, when she was wrestling hard with her faith, someone she trusted told her something she couldn’t shake: that FC was a place where she could find a community to help strengthen her relationship with God. She decided to give it one year before moving on to film school.
Then FC launched their mass media program, and everything changed.
Suddenly, she didn’t have to choose between the school she had grown to love and the passion she had always wanted to pursue. Wilson stayed, graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in communication with a specialization in mass media and built a foundation she still draws from every day.
Today, she works for BDO on the Rebuild Florida Hurricane Ian Housing Repair and Replacement program, helping families across Florida get back on their feet after one of the most destructive storms in the state’s history. As a case manager specializing in temporary housing, she coordinates hotel and apartment accommodations for applicants who have nowhere to stay while their homes are being rebuilt, juggling the needs of construction teams, hotel partners, and families all at once.
“I really enjoy being able to engage with our applicants directly, and see how my work makes an impact on their experience during an exciting but difficult transition for most of them,” Wilson shared.
It’s work that puts her FC communication coursework to use every day.
“Precision and accuracy in communication is something that has to be learned and practiced. My entire job relies on communicating with often 7 or 8 different parties with conflicting interests and concerns,” she said.
Beyond the coursework, it was the people at FC who shaped her most. She described the staff as defined by a quiet, consistent selflessness that left a lasting impression.
“Every staff member I knew was quietly noticing, serving, and sacrificing for innumerable people at any given time,” Wilson reflected. “I hope to be able to carry forward their example of humble love in my professional environment.”
That hope shows up both in how she approaches her work now and in what she is looking for next. More than a specific role or career path, Wilson is looking for opportunities to serve and to share her faith wherever she lands.
“FC taught me not only the skills necessary to succeed in my career, but also gave me a mission to motivate me to work with diligence and integrity: honoring Christ.”