Dr. James H. Richey

Since becoming president in 2012, Dr. Richey has expanded the College’s academic mission to include bachelor’s degrees and transforming a Community College into one of Florida’s top performing State Colleges. Today, the Eastern Florida offers more than 150 degree programs and certificates, including five bachelor’s degree programs offering 27 areas of specialization.

The College’s number one priority is student success. The goal is two-fold - to design programs that provide students with in-demand job opportunities immediately after graduation, and to ensure businesses on Florida's Space Coast have access to the high-quality workforce they need to be competitive in today’s fast-moving economy.

With input from local business and industry leaders, the College has launched more than 60 new academic programs since 2014 in high-tech career programs, including apprenticeships and internships that give students real-world experience, enhancing the hands-on training received in their courses of study.

These and other efforts have earned EFSC recognition as one of the leading State Colleges in Florida.
Dr. Richey’s vision led to major capital projects designed to take EFSC to that next level as an institution of excellence in higher education and workforce development.

Some Highlights Include:

• State-of-the-art Health Sciences and Public Safety Institutes have been completed on the Melbourne Campus to meet the challenges of educating the next generation of healthcare professionals and first responders.
• The Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE) is in the process of being created on the Titusville Campus to support human spaceflight efforts at the Kennedy Space Center. ACE will include the College’s Aircraft and Powerplant training programs designed to train and certify students to become aviation technicians and mechanics.
• The new Center for Innovative Technology Education (CITE) was recently constructed on the Melbourne Campus to support careers in robotics, advanced manufacturing, engineering technology, mechatronics, drafting, and other high-tech industries.
• A nationally recognized Cybersecurity Center which prepares students on the Space Coast for success in this high-demand career field.
• A Comprehensive Fire Training Center was constructed on the Palm Bay Campus and trains firefighters for all of Brevard County’s cities and Brevard County Fire-Rescue and has recently been recognized by the State of Florida as the finest training facility in the state.
• A modern, vibrant Student Union was constructed in the center of the Melbourne Campus that serves as the center for collegiate life.
• A robust athletics program featuring 13 nationally competitive varsity sports for men and women offer many opportunities for many student athletes.
• Two Student Housing Residence Halls accommodating 192 students have been constructed on the Melbourne Campus to provide students the chance to live on campus and be fully immersed into college life.
• A Student Recreation Building was created to give students an area to network and socialize with one another.  
• Outdoor Basketball, Pickleball and Beach Volleyball courts were constructed for student use. 

These accomplishments among others were accomplished while not raising tuition for 14 straight years, making EFSC one of the most affordable higher education institutions in the nation.

Laser-focused on student success, Dr. Richey also created a variety of new student support services that ensure students have the assistance they need to thrive. They include:

• A Career Services program which has served more than 118,500 students since its inception in 2012, providing students the critical skills to enter the workforce prepared to perform at a high level.
• The Military and Veterans Service Center, which annually assists more than 1,000 veterans and their family members who are attending EFSC to ensure they receive the benefits they deserve from the Veterans Administration and the G.I. Bill.
• Titan Support Centers have been developed on each campus which provide skill-building workshops and connect students to various resources they need.
• The Titan2Titan program that provides food assistance and a clothing closet to EFSC students, faculty, and staff in need.
• Numerous partnerships with Brevard Public Schools to transform the futures of high school students, including the “Tigers to Titans” Welding Program.
• A vibrant Work Study program has been established to create pathways for students to gain valuable employment skills while they learn.

President James H. Richey earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Michigan State University in 1985, and a Juris Doctorate Degree from “The Ohio State University” in 1988.

He is qualified to practice law in Florida and Massachusetts, is a member of the United State Tax Court, Florida Bar Association and a former member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fifth District Court of Appeals, and former Chair of the Grievance Committee of the 18th Circuit Judicial Court.