Roberts Leverages PhD to Enhance FC’s Commitment to Excellence
October 22, 2025 | 2-3 min read
Suzanne Roberts, PhD (‘85) is helping to shape the future at her alma mater. An elementary education professor at Florida College for 17 years, Roberts recently obtained her doctorate and stepped into the role of Institutional Accreditation Liaison, expanding her reach and commitment to the FC community.
The Louisville native arrived at FC in 1983 and went on to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees in childhood and reading education from the University of South Florida. After a decade as a stay-at-home mom, Roberts spent three years teaching elementary school before returning to FC. In 2014, a conversation with then-president Dr. Buddy Payne piqued Roberts’ interest in a new opportunity.
“We needed a PhD on staff in the education department. My work in program evaluation as part of that degree prepared me for my new role in accreditation,” she explained. “The new focus of accreditation processes is continuous improvement and for the whole organization to be involved in assessment of goals and strengths and making incremental improvement on an ongoing basis. It’s more than paperwork and jumping through hoops.”
Roberts devoted five years to coursework and another five to her dissertation at the University of South Florida. Since graduating in 2024, she’s continued her faculty responsibilities while working alongside personnel to improve all aspects of the FC experience.
“Whether it’s academic, administrative or student support, we’re making sure we have measurable goals, actionable steps, and evidence that we’re improving,” she said. “It can be very meaningful, but we all must engage.”
One such priority is to expand spiritual integration in the classroom in a measurable, structured way.
“That’s such an important commitment to us,” Roberts said. “With all our assessments we want to know what we do well and improve where we can. In planning curriculum, we’re looking at what’s good and God-approved, or maybe what’s missing. We’re always assessing to drive continuous improvement.”
Roberts says her new role is a constant reminder of what first drew her to Florida College.
“I’ve stayed because of the people,” she remarked. “That fact that you can work with Christians and have a spiritual perspective is really what keeps me coming back. The students here are a whole other ballgame as well. My career allows me to combine my passion for kids, teaching, education and God, and FC is a place where it can all co-exist.”