In February, Saint Leo University broke ground on the Wellness Center, which will be located on the west end of campus by Lake Jovita. The 59,000-square-foot facility will create an environment for holistic health and well-being that integrates student recreation, fitness, health services, counseling services, and campus ministry.
The groundbreaking ceremony included remarks from Dewey Mitchell, chair of the Saint Leo University Board of Trustees, who welcomed everyone.
“This day is finally here; praise God,” said Mitchell. “This is a wonderful amenity for the university and the community.”
Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, Saint Leo president; Celine-Deon Palmer, Student Government Union president 2019-2020; and D. Dewey Mitchell, Saint Leo Board of Trustees chair, break ground for the Wellness Center.University President Jeffrey D. Senese emphasizes the impact the Wellness Center will make on the region.
Dr. Melanie Storms, senior vice president, served as the emcee, and Sister Roberta Bailey, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, provided those in attendance with a historical perspective on the property. University President Jeffrey D. Senese made remarks about the benefits of the Wellness Center, and Abbot Isaac Camacho, OSB, a Saint Leo alumnus, blessed the site.
Construction is underway with plans to open the Wellness Center in Fall 2021.
Dr. Mary Spoto
After serving as acting vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for some time, Dr. Mary Spoto was named the university’s vice president for Academic Affairs by President Jeffrey Senese in November. Spoto has served in several roles during her 25-year history with Saint Leo. Before serving as dean, she was the chair of the Department of English, Fine Arts, and Humanities, now referred to as the Department of Language Studies and the Arts. She also is a professor of English. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and doctoral degree in English from the University of South Florida.
Dr. Jen Shaw
In January, Saint Leo welcomed Dr. Jen Shaw as the new vice president of Student Affairs. Shaw oversees all student affairs departments, which include Dining Services, Student Activities, Counseling Services, Health and Wellness, Campus Life, Career Services, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Accessibility Services. She brings 25 years of experience in higher education to the position, serving in a variety of student affairs leadership positions. She most recently served as associate vice president and dean of students at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Shaw earned a doctorate in higher education from Florida State University; a master’s degree in college student personnel services from Miami University in Oxford, OH; and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.
Dr. Robyn Parker
In February, Dr. Robyn Parker joined Saint Leo as dean of the Tapia College of Business. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, serving in both public and private institutions. Parker most recently served as dean of the College of Business Administration at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, an institution she joined as a faculty member in 2010 to teach management courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Parker earned her doctorate in organizational communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, and a master’s in human resource development from Boston University. For her undergraduate degree, Parker earned a bachelor’s in communication studies from the State University of New York College at Oswego.
Dr. Mary Spoto
Dr. Jen Shaw
Dr. Robyn Parker