Florida College Access Network Board of Advisors

Marlene Spalten, Board Chair
President and CEO
Community Foundation Tampa Bay

Marlene Spalten is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation Tampa Bay (CFTB).Spalten is a graduate of Cornell College and held leadership roles with Baptist Health Foundation and The Bolles School in Jacksonville, and Forman School in Connecticut. 

Under her leadership, the Community Foundation serves as the convening organization for the LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network, Thrive by Five, and the Digital Inclusion Project. During her tenure, CFTB has successfully launched major initiatives including Mental Health First Aid training, and, in collaboration with the Tampa Bay Partnership, USF, and United Way Suncoast, produces the annual Tampa Bay Regional Competitiveness Report. 

Stacey Baier, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Florida Community Engagement, Operations, and Strategic Partnerships
Helios Education Foundation

Stacy Baier has more than 25 years of experience in educational philanthropy. In her role as Senior Vice President, Florida Community Engagement, Operations and Strategic Partnership, she leads Helios’ staff engagement with the community and stakeholders to improve quality, access, and achievement across the birth-16 education continuum. 

Dr. Baier received her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Education from Harvard University. 

Ashley Butler
President and Franchisor
Ice Cold Air

Ashley Butler, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community advocate, uses her personal and professional resources to empower and advance her community. Since 2006, Ashley has been a franchisee of Ice Cold Air and has owned and operated three Ice Cold Air locations.

Born and raised in Tampa, Ashley has been a dedicated and successful entrepreneur for over 20 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida with her concentration in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication.

Cynthia DeLuca
Vice President for Student Success
University of South Florida

Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) DeLuca is the Vice President for Student Success at the University of South Florida (USF).  She provides strategic vision and leadership for admissions, enrollment management, health and wellness, innovative education, undergraduate studies, student affairs, and career services functions.

In her role, DeLuca works supports the academic, professional, and personal growth of students for their ultimate success at USF and in their future. DeLuca holds a doctorate in educational leadership, and she has served as an officer in state, regional, and national organizations.  

Paul Dosal, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Student Success, Division of Student Success and Well-Being
University of Central Florida

Paul Dosal joined the University of Central Florida as the Senior Vice President for Student Success in 2022. In this role, he is responsible for enrollment management, student success and advising, career readiness and experiential learning, student life, and health and well-being. Dosal is a founding Executive Director of ENLACE Florida (now the Florida College Access Network).

Dosal is also a Professor of Latin American History. He earned his B.A. in International Politics at St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He received his M.A. in Latin American Studies and Ph.D. in History at Tulane University in New Orleans. 

Paul Luna
President and CEO
Helios Education Foundation

Paul J. Luna has served as President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation since 2006, where he has led the foundation in its efforts to create opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education. In this role, he is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organization, cultivating strong community relationships, and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida. He brings more than 30 years of public and private professional experience.

A native of Miami, Arizona, Luna attended Stanford University, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering.

Gene Marshall
Community Volunteer

Gene Marshall is a former founding board member and initial Chairman of Northstar Bank, a community bank organized in the State of Florida. After spending 21 years in various management positions in Global Risk Management, International Custody Operations and Treasury Services of the global bank, he moved to the Retail Banking Sector.

Marshall was named Senior Vice President of JPMorgan Chase and retired in 2004 after a career of 35 years with the bank. Marshall holds an MBA in Management from New York University and a BBA in Finance from the Bernard M. Baruch College of the City University of New York.

Madeline Pumariega
President
Miami Dade College

Madeline Pumariega serves as the first female president appointed to lead Miami Dade College (MDC). Before assuming the presidency at MDC, Pumariega made history as the first female and Hispanic chancellor of the Florida College System (FCS). 

In addition to her role at MDC, Pumariega continues to make a profound impact on education at local, state and national levels, serving on the Board of American Council on Education and serving as Chair on the Board of the Florida Prepaid Foundation. Pumariega is the First Vice Chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Orange Bowl Committee.  

Channing D. Thornton
Executive Vice President
Regions Financial Corporation

Channing D. Thornton joined Regions in 1999 as a branch manager in Brandon, Florida. For the past 10 years, he served as consumer banking executive and most recently led branch-banking teams at more than 100 Regions locations across eastern Florida from Miami to Jacksonville, as well as Orlando.

In his role, Thornton enhances the bank’s holistic approach to fair lending. Thornton facilitates ongoing collaboration among Regions’ Community Affairs, Financial Wellness, Mortgage and Consumer Banking associates, who all serve vital roles in the bank’s fair lending strategy.