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ASA College President Jose Valencia is making an impact on the South Florida Higher Education landscape with his recent appointment to the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC). Established in 1956, FAPSC has been working on behalf of hundreds of degree and non-degree-granting career schools in Florida.
The appointment of Valencia marks the first time in the 36-year history of ASA College that its president or anyone from its executive team has been elected to the board of any association of schools, colleges, universities or academic institutions anywhere in the country. In the Board appointment letter from FAPSC, the advocacy group acknowledged that Valencia’s position on the Board will “…ensure that we continue to provide our member schools with new and innovative ideas from leaders in the sector.”
Being a pioneer and innovator in education is a descriptive that best fits Valencia, who is only the second Ecuadorian American to hold the title of president at an American college or university in U.S. history, the other one being Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, the current president of Framingham State University in Framingham, MA. With ASA College campuses in both New York and Florida, the number one and number three most populated states of Ecuadorians respectively, his leadership role and FAPSC Board appointment provide a sense of pride and crucial representation in the education sector for Ecuadorians.
Prior to joining ASA College in 2009, Valencia was the President and CEO of the New York Association of New Americans (NYANA), an $80 million a year nonprofit agency which is world-renowned for resettling 500,000 Jewish refugees. Valencia remains the only non-Jewish President of a Jewish organization in history.
In response to his FAPSC Board appointment, Valencia offered, “I am deeply honored and extremely grateful to the FAPSC Board for giving me this opportunity to serve the 250,000 students in 200 occupational fields that the FAPSC serves.”
Given the rich diversity of the South Florida market, Valencia and ASA College are committed to providing access and opportunity to quality higher education in underserved markets in South Florida. In addition to earning the high standard of regional accreditation, ASA College also offers a variety of Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs relevant to the South Florida and national workforce. Student athletes are also able to participate in NJCAA competitive sports programs at their Hialeah campus.
Under the leadership of Valencia, ASA College is redefining the role of colleges to provide students an education and experience that promotes holistic growth and professional advancement. A part of their community impact plan, ASA College is also committed to become a more visible positive community change agent for the residents of Hialeah and surrounding municipalities.
ASA College was founded in 1985 with one campus location in Manhattan, NY, and has now expanded to include campuses in Brooklyn, NY and Hialeah, FL.
ABOUT ASA COLLEGE
ASA College began in 1985 with Alex Shchegol and 12 students in a small Manhattan classroom. Known then as ‘Advanced Software Analysis’, the College focused on computer programming, as New York City had a dire shortage of qualified mainframe programmers at that time. Since then, the college has grown to more than 3,000 students, 20 programs of study, and two large, centrally-located campuses in midtown Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, as well as one campus in Hialeah, FL. For more information visit asa.edu.
