Melissa Hagan Appointed to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women

Florida Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) today appointed Melissa Hagan of Lynn Haven to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

“Melissa Hagan is a respected and successful classroom educator, college administrator, business owner, and community leader,” said President Gaetz. “She will bring those perspectives as well as her experiences as a military spouse to the development of policies that support and advance the status of women in Florida.”

In emphasizing the importance of the Commission and of Hagan’s appointment, Gaetz pointed to the growing majority of new and established businesses that are owned, operated or managed by women.  The Commission, established in 1991, makes recommendations to the Legislature, Governor and Cabinet on issues affecting women.  Gaetz said he hopes the non-partisan board will become even more active in reviewing and advocating educational and economic policies that promote job opportunities for young women entering the workforce.

“Melissa’s expertise in developing and managing private and public sector initiatives preparing young people for STEM careers gives her special insight into the employment challenges new graduates face,” Gaetz said.  “Like Melissa, I am concerned that an alarmingly large share of graduates from Florida universities cannot find jobs in their major fields of study.  The Senate will look to the Commission on the Status of Women for guidance as to how to most effectively implement and expand the Career and Professional Education Act that provides incentives to students, teachers and schools to lash secondary and college education to the realities and opportunities of the economy.”

Mrs. Hagan recently served as Chief Development Officer for Gulf Coast State College and, prior to that, administered IT:CORE, an information technology training program focused on the needs of rural communities.  She is a former classroom teacher, curriculum designer and caseworker for at-risk youth.  She and her husband, Aaron, own and operate Emerald Coast Interview Consulting, a business that trains and helps veterans find high-wage employment.

Mrs. Hagan received her undergraduate degree in communications from Mississippi University for Women.  She earned a Masters degree in educational leadership from the University of Oklahoma.

The Commission is administratively housed in the Office of the Attorney General.    http://www.myfloridalegal.com/

Mrs. Hagan is appointed for a term beginning immediately and expiring on October 1, 2017.