smiling students

Meet our Mocs

Mocs have countless opportunities to explore new interests and connect with others.

They are encouraged to pursue research opportunities, travel abroad, and participate in internships. Additionally, our 100+ student-run organizations offer a plethora of ways to get involved. We invite you to connect with our students and learn how Florida Southern is helping them to achieve their goals.

Colby Firestone

Colby Firestone

Merit Marketing

SOUTHERN GIVES YOU SO MUCH! Even in the best environment, college students go through difficult times. It’s the support from RAs, faculty, and resources like the Counseling and Wellness Centers that help you through. EVERYONE here wants to see you excel; they are always there — pushing you to be your best.

Colby grew up in Hershey, PA. The daughter of a proud alum, she majors in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in graphic design.

Colby is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, the Dean’s Advisory Council, and Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity. She also serves as a Southern Ambassador and Orientation Leader welcoming families to campus.

Colby Enjoys...

crafting, art, helping people, and making people laugh

Madelyn Walsh

Madelyn Walsh

EVERY MEMBER OF THE FSC COMMUNITY EMBRACES THE IDEA OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. We believe we’re all in it together and we look out for one another. While we are a community rooted in tradition, we are also innovators. As the voice of my fellow students, I have the privilege of helping the College moves forward — making FSC an even better place.

Growing up in nearby Auburndale, FL, Madelyn always knew she would attend FSC. An advertising and public relations major with a minor in business administration, Madelyn serves on Florida Southern’s student government executive board. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and a Citrus Hall of Fame Fellow.

MADELYN IS PASSIONATE ABOUT...

dogs, creativity, friends and family, service

Alexandra Faust

Alexandra Faust

Professors are very job-oriented and constantly give you good ideas on what’s available in the field.

Alexandra is a California native who knew she didn’t want to spend her days sitting in a large lecture hall. When she came for a tour, she saw how eager the faculty is and how invested they are in making sure students gain real-world experience.

Passionate about making art and protecting the environment, Alexandra appreciates being able to combine her interests and growing skills. Her hands-on classes have allowed her to dig into solving pressing ecological issues. She is currently researching wastewater management systems and how the land can be restored to natural reserves.

ALEXANDRA IS PASSIONATE ABOUT...

Botany and gardening, photography, and waffles!

Katelyn Shilbilski

Katelyn Shilbilski

CHOOSING TO ATTEND FLORIDA SOUTHERN IS ONE OF THE BEST CHOICES I’VE EVER MADE.

This Odenton, MD native knew two things when she was searching for colleges: She wanted to attend a school where she could really build relationships and also gain experience in her field. A psychology major with a minor in neuroscience, Katelyn especially grateful for to participate in a learning community. Not only has she been able to develop close relationships with her psychology faculty and classmates, but has also joined in multiple research groups which have allowed her to develop her research skills, and attend national psychology conferences.

KATELYN IS INVOLVED WITH...

Disney Club Psychology Research Assistant Psychology Club Honors Program Association of Campus Entertainment

Onosetale Ijewere

Onosetale Ijewere

I chose FSC for the small classes, the exceptional nursing program that I’m so in love with, and encouraging students and teachers who are always extremely eager to lend a helping hand.

Despite a rigorous course load (her favorite course being Anatomy and Physiology!), this passionate Moccasin is involved in lots of on campus organizations including the Student Accountability Board, the Balandi Kids Program, and the Multicultural Student Council. Onosetale also takes time to share her love of Florida Southern by serving as a Southern Ambassador -- a student tour guide -- helping other students to discover FSC too.

ONOSETALE ENJOYS...

Zumba classes at the Wellness Center and getting Acai Bowls at Tea Largo!

Phoebe French

Phoebe French

I GET TO MEET PEOPLE I WOULDN’T HAVE MET OTHERWISE. Professors encourage us to be active participants in our fields. They give us their personal contact information and invite us to reach out. They use their networks to get us connected with opportunities that propel us towards our goals, even if our dream is to star on Broadway!

Phoebe is a native of Tallahassee, FL. After applying to more than thirty schools, she found the perfect college home at Florida Southern. Working toward a BFA in theatre performance, Phoebe is an active player in FSC’s Vagabonds, appearing most recently in an all-female production of Julius Caesar. When not on stage, Phoebe enjoys giving tours of campus to prospective students as a Southern Ambassador.

PHOEBE IS INVOLVED WITH...

Vagabonds, Greek Life, Association of Campus Entertainment, Studio Box, Southern Ambassadors

Sebastian Mendoza

Sebastian Mendoza

FSC is just the right size. I feel as though I’ve had a chance to meet everyone here — unlike what a larger university would allow.

This business major from Ocala has ambitious plans for his future. Sebastian, who is a collaborator at heart, appreciates the FSC’s small class sizes because it provides an opportunity to work closely with classmates. For example, the first business class challenged him to work with his teammates to conceive and pitch a new service to business faculty, and their project won! While he’s not 100 percent sure of what he wants to do after graduation, he is confident in the skills he's learning.

SEBASTIAN IS INVOLVED IN...

Association of Campus Entertainment

Malique Bowen

Malique Bowen

FSC offers opportunities that help me have a better understanding of what I need to do now to help me prepare for a future in the sciences after my undergraduate studies. Attending a conference always makes me feel more confident with what I’m doing with my career path. I met so many people through conferences that were not only eager to share their research but also eager to hear about my research and goals.

Malique Bowen loves the environment and all its inhabitants – to include all the animals and plants. Malique has taken advantage of all of FSC’s resources and has advanced his way academically and professionally. As an RA, he enjoys being a guide and resource for the campus community. As a TA (teaching assistant), he absorbs all the knowledge the faculty around him have to offer. His accomplishments have also been plenty, winning awards at conferences hosted by the American Society of Primatology and conducting research on primates at the monkey jungle in DuMond Conservancy in Miami.

Connor Bligh

Connor Bligh

"I’ve developed just as much as a person as I have a student, and that’s because of the people at Florida Southern. Colleges love to flaunt new renovations and facilities and whatnot, but you can’t put a price on people. And I firmly believe we have the best."

Connor, who is from Naples, FL, toured more than 20 colleges before finding Florida Southern. Out of all the tours, the friendly community he found at FSC made it feel like home. "It just felt right."

Connor is a double major in business communication and economics and finance. He enjoys helping other students connect with the FSC community as a Southern Ambassador. You’ll often Connor biking around Lake Hollingworth and enjoying all the outdoor recreation Lakeland offers.

CONNOR IS INVOLVED WITH ...

Adam Smith Club, Greek Life, Intramurals

Emma Edgars

Emma Edgars

Real-world and hands-on experiences are incorporated into every class at FSC! Whether the course is a general education requirement or for your major, professors work to provide opportunities for students to apply the curriculum, the moment they learn it. A great example is a science course that our BA students take as a gen-ed, Intro to Horticulture. Students who take that class get to go out in the rose gardens on campus pruning and preparing them for the new season!

Emma is from Managua, Nicaragua. She studies communication, double majoring in interpersonal & organizational communication and advertising and PR. She's also minoring in Spanish and philosophy.

Emma is a residential advisor and Scholars Weekend Leader. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association's official honor society, Alpha Chi Omega, and the Astronomy club.

EMMA IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ...

coffee dates (and exploring local coffee shops), Pelican snowballs, Target runs, yoga and bike rides