For the past 15 years, Kristi Mollis has served as the president and CEO of Everglades University, an accredited, private, not-for-profit university offering bachelor’s and master’s degree programs online and on-campus. She oversees performance, operations, and compliance at their five Florida-based campuses in Boca Raton, Sarasota, Tampa, and Orlando, as well as for their online division.

“It’s one of the most rewarding jobs,” she says. “I have a strong passion for inspiring others to discover their purpose and potential through education.”

That passion has always driven her to do more—more for the university, the people around her, and the greater community.

Leadership

Throughout her 27 years as an academic leader, Kristi Mollis has dedicated her time and efforts to leaving people and places a little bit better than when she found them. Under her leadership, Everglades University has grown from one campus to five, from college to university status, and from a nationally accredited university to a regionally accredited university. President Kristi Mollis was recognized as Team Leader of the Year for ACCSC and later elected as a Commissioner for ACCSC.

CommunityKristi Mollis believes that the University’s impact extends far beyond its classroom walls. Each student that receives a bachelor’s or master’s degree there will someday go out into the world to apply it. That is why, when the University expanded its programs in 2012, it was important to Kristi Mollis to add programs that would potentially impact our community. “We added degree programs that we felt would significantly impact the community, such as Alternative and Renewable Energy Management and Crisis and Disaster Management,” says Mollis. The university is also committed to community service, working with organizations such as Junior Achievement, Boca Helping Hands, The Place of Hope, KIDS in Distress, and Habitat for Humanity.

AwardsRecently, Kristi was ranked second in the Top 10 Women Led Not For Profit Organizations in Florida, in 2017. The Commonwealth Institute, a non-profit organization devoted to advancing businesswomen in leadership positions, compiled the list and it is the fourth consecutive year that she has received the accolade. She has also been recognized as the 2007 ACCSC’s “Team Leader of the Year” and the 2012 South Florida Business Leader of the Year in Education.

For the fourth consecutive year, Kristi Mollis, President of Everglades University, has been selected as a top 10 not-for-profit honoree for women-led businesses in Florida. The Commonwealth Institute (TLC), a non-profit organization devoted to advancing businesswomen in leadership positions, compiled the list through a study that looked at the characteristics of female leaders.

“It is an honor to receive this distinction amongst such an accomplished group of businesswomen,” said Mollis. “I am proud to be recognized by an organization that is driven by a mission I am passionate about.”

President Mollis has been the President of Everglades University for over 15 years and was named the South Florida Business Leader of the Year for Education in 2012. Everglades University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities (SACS) and a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
(ICUF). Everglades University has five campuses located in Boca Raton, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and an Online Division.

President Mollis has also served as a Commissioner for a USDOE recognized accrediting agency and participated in over 30 on-site reviews as a team leader for both the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities (SACS) and the Accrediting Commissions of Careers Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). She was named team leader of the year in 2007 by ACCSC.

Everglades University-President Kristi Mollis with the 2017 Commonwealth Award

The TLC will announce the rankings with a countdown to #1 at its 12th Annual Women-Led Businesses in Florida Luncheon & Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jungle Island in Miami. In addition to networking, awards and recognition, the event will include an extraordinary panel of women sharing their thoughts.

A list of the Top 50 Women-Led businesses and Top 10 Not-for-Profit organizations can be found here. The list will be accompanied by profiles of some of the respondents and an analysis of what it takes for a woman to make it to the top.

About Everglades University: Everglades University has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges since 2010. Everglades University is a private, not-for-profit university offering bachelor’s and master’s degree programs that prepare students to advance in their careers or fields of study. With small class sizes, innovative degree programs, and convenient on-campus and online class schedules to accommodate working students and adult learners, Everglades University is committed to student success.

The university provides relevant degree programs to meet the demands of the evolving job market, which is a result of our partnerships with industry professionals. U. S. Green Building Council and Everglades University are weaving the principles of sustainability, green building, nutrition, and environmental consciousness into its undergraduate degree programs.

Everglades University’s President and CEO, Kristi Mollis, oversees all operations at the school’s four campuses and online division. She is committed to the university’s mission to encourage student’s professional and personal enrichment, and she also encourages faculty and administrators to find drive in their own professional and personal goals.

Kristi sees students’ successes reflective of the university’s successes and the ultimate reward is for students to achieve their goals in one of the university’s top bachelor and master degree programs.

Kristi considers her job as President and CEO of Everglades University the best job she has ever held because she spends every day inspiring and being inspired by students and faculty using education as an incredible tool to discover purpose, passion and change lives.

As president and CEO of Everglades University for over 15 years, Kristi has expanded the university over four different locations in Florida and developed an award-winning online division, making education accessible and available to students across Florida and the nation. The university is well known for its aviation, alternative medicine and business management degree programs and was recently honored with the Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s best colleges.

Kristi graduated with an MBA from Nova University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace University. She is passionate about education, environment and technology.

Kristi Mollis, the President and CEO of Everglades University discusses the new solar installation.