Norman L. Stephens Jr.

Norman L. Stephens Jr. ''' is an American academic and President Emeritus of South Florida State College.

Early life and education

Stephens was born in the Chicago area where the family lived until they moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida when he was in high school. He attended the University of Florida where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree then went on to receive his master's degree. From there, he received a doctoral fellowship in interdisciplinary science education and earned his doctorate 1971.

Career

Stephens began his career in 1968 at St. Petersburg College teaching science later becoming acting vice president of educational and student services. By 1987, he was provost at Hillsborough Community College's Brandon Learning Center in Hillsborough County, Florida.
In 1990, Stephens joined Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois as vice president of academic services, then in 1993 became president. During his presidency he served on the Capital Task Force for the Illinois Community College Board and the Vision 2000 Strategic Plan for the Illinois Community College System. He resigned from that post in September 1999 ahead of the board of trustees dismissing him over various disagreements. The following year in January he joined Oakland Community College in Oakland County, Michigan as head of the Auburn Hills Campus.
In September 2002, Stephens returned to Florida as President of South Florida Community College, a position he held until he retired in 2013.