President's Welcome

Learn Why Hodges University Is A Distinctive University in Southwest Florida

Meet Dr. Wendel and Hodges University

I am honored to be the President of Hodges University. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of serving in various capacities within higher education. From faculty member to administrator, from mentor to advocate, I have worked tirelessly to create an environment that nurtures intellectual growth, fosters innovation, and empowers individuals to achieve their goals.

Throughout my journey in academia, I have witnessed the transformative power of education firsthand. I have seen lives changed, dreams realized, and communities uplifted through the pursuit of knowledge.

I am a firm believer in the value of accessible education. At Hodges University, we are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment that meets the unique needs of our diverse student body. We embrace non-traditional students, career changers, and lifelong learners, recognizing that education knows no boundaries and changes lives.

Hodges University’s Incomparable Environment

Hodges University provides a learning environment unlike any other institution in the region by offering:

In addition, many of our programs help our students attain professional credentials in areas such as nursing, public accounting, and mental health counseling. Others lead to industry certification. Military veterans, active duty service members, and their families can obtain assistance with their educational goals through our Dr. Peter Thomas Veterans Services Center.

Hodges University also offers an outstanding and comprehensive English as a Second Language (ESL) program that offers English language immersion to non-native speakers of English who want to increase their fluency. More than 25 different countries are typically represented among our ESL student population.

hodges university logo, stay near go far

Hodges University’s Mission, Vision, and Pillars

Mission Statement

Hodges University—a private nonprofit institution—prepares students to leverage higher learning in their personal, professional, and civic endeavors.

Vision Statement

Hodges University will be recognized for excellence in career-focused inclusive education and community engagement.

Institutional Pillars

  • Programmatic Excellence
  • Operational Effectiveness
  • Community Engagement
  • Institutional Growth
  • Institutional Objectives
Hodges graduates smiling at their ceremony

Institutional Objectives

Hodges graduates smiling at their ceremony

Programmatic Excellence

  • Continuously improve Hodges’ product portfolio to meet community and employer needs.
  • For academic programs, increase the likelihood of student enrollment, retention, graduation, and employment.
  • For non-academic programs, serve community needs and the interests of participants.
  • Develop innovative programs for unmet, emerging, and future needs within our communities, for the benefit of regional employers and our students.
  • Put on hiatus or retire programs that no longer meet institutional and community stakeholder objectives.

Operational Effectiveness

  • Attract and retain a qualified, diverse workforce and increase the positive impact of individual employees.
  • Implement process improvements that increase efficiency and that improve the quality of service to students and other stakeholders.
  • Focus efforts on the financial health of the institution.

Community Engagement

Institutional Growth

Board of Trustees

2024 Class (Term Expires October 2024):

  • Randy Henderson, Corbin Henderson Company
  • Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, City of Fort Myers
  • Sam Lewis, Founder/CEO, Wear the Fund
  • Tamika Peters - Vice-Chair, President & CEO, Grow Your Non-Profit

2025 Class (Term Expires October 2025)

  • Rebekah Barney, Owner/President, Alzada Company
  • Angel Cerritos, Regional Executive Director, YMCA of Southwest Florida
  • Leslie H. King III, Private Management Consultant
  • Dr. Tyler Patek, Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects
  • Carmen Salome - Chair, Retired

2026 Class (Term Expires October 2026)

  • Gerard (Jerry) McHale, Owner/President, McHale, P.A.
Hodges campus building U

Ex-Officio:

  • Charlene Wendel, President
  • Linda Nguyen, Treasurer
  • Diana Schultz, Secretary
Academic Calendar Course Schedule Student Handbook

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