Hodges University President, Dr. Charlene Wendel, Welcomes You!

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:

certificate, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs;
flexible schedules of day, evening, blended, and online classes;
courses taught by professors who are current or former practitioners in their respective fields; and
programming designed to help students leverage what they have learned at work.

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’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

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

More effectively share the Hodges University story with students, faculty and staff, alumni, friends of the University, and our communities, and implement initiatives—often through partnerships with stakeholders—that serve our communities.
Develop innovative ways for students to interact with the broader community so that the Hodges University experience is broader, deeper, and more relevant.
Recognize the geographical opportunities and responsibilities that are present in Southwest Florida, the state of Florida, and our region.

Institutional Growth

Strengthen Hodges’ network of individuals and institutions to expand the institution’s sphere of influence.
Secure new external revenue sources (scholarships, grants, support of capital projects) to support the institution.
Build toward the future through effective strategic planning and implementation.

Board of Trustees

2023 Class (Term Expires October 2023):

Marisa Cleveland, Ed.D., Executive Director, The Seymour Agency
Leslie H. King III, Private Management Consultant
Marilyn Santiago, Partner/CMO Creative Architectural Resin Products, Inc.

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
Dr. Ricardo Bocanegra, Porto Fino Dental
Angel Cerritos, Regional Executive Director, YMCA of Southwest Florida
Dr. Tyler Patek, Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects
Carmen Salome - Chair, Retired

2026 Class (Term Expires October 2026)

Tiffany Esposito, President and CEO of SWFLA Inc., and member of the Florida State House of Representatives (2022)
Gerard (Jerry) McHale, Owner/President, McHale, P.A.

Ex-Officio:

Charlene Wendel, President
Melissa Mitro, Secretary and Treasurer

Academic Calendar Course Schedule Student Handbook

Presidents Welcome

Learn Why Hodges University Is A Distinctive University in Southwest Florida