Advisory Board Bio – Dr. Joe Richardson

Dr. Joseph C. Richardson currently serves as the Vice President, Student Affairs at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. In this position, he provides senior leadership for the development, implementation, assessment, and oversight of student services at the College. He leads the development of systems that meet the needs of a diverse student population and enhances student learning, persistence, and completion. He collaborates with vice presidents and campus presidents to develop, maintain, and assess the coordinated delivery of essential student services that lead to positive student learning outcomes, including admissions, new student orientation, registration, financial aid, student records, advising, testing and assessment, counseling, student recruitment, enrollment management, Veterans affairs, student employment, student development, services to students with disabilities, and student conduct. He collaborates with the Vice President-Academic Affairs and Vice President-Analytics and Planning to ensure a seamless student experience from inquiry and application through enrollment, persistence, and graduation. Previously, Dr. Richardson worked as the Executive Director of Veteran Support at the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center as part of Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Dr. Richardson was born in Chicago, Illinois and spent most of his childhood growing up in Lima, Ohio. He is an honorably retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel having served as an aircraft instructor and evaluator navigator/defensive systems officer onboard the KC-135, EC-135, and E-8C JSTARS, completing over 3,500 flight hours with combat tours over the skies of Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has taught at the technical college, undergraduate, and graduate degree levels and has held leadership positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Mercer University, Middle Georgia State University, and Central Georgia Technical College.

Dr. Richardson completed his undergraduate degree at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and received a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. His Doctor of Philosophy degree is in Educational Leadership from Mercer University. Dr. Richardson has also completed the Harvard Graduate School Institute for Management and Leadership in Education. Dr. Richardson is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Prior to moving to Florida, Dr. Richardson resided in Georgia where he served on the Board of Directors for the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, Houston County Development Authority, and Warner Robins Convention and Visitors Bureau.

He and his wife Felicia of 25 years are the proud parents of three wonderful children, son Ryan (deceased), daughter Lyndsay (24 - a graduate of Columbus State University, Georgia and Middle School Chorus teacher in Warner Robins, Georgia) and son Nathan (19 - a freshman at Kennesaw State University, Georgia). He enjoys reading, playing basketball, recording voiceovers and audiobooks, and competing with family and friends to maintain 10,000 steps/day on his pedometer.