Trustees

Overview

Santa Fe College is governed by a citizen board appointed by the governor. The trustees represent Santa Fe College's Alachua-Bradford County service district and ensure that the college meet the needs of the region, state and country.

Current Trustees

Emery A. Gainey, Chair

Emery Gainey has devoted his entire career to law enforcement in our state.

He began in 1982 as a uniform patrol deputy for the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, where he went on to serve 25 years in many roles, including as Chief Deputy, Commander of the Uniform Patrol Division, and Homeland Security Commander. Later he became Sheriff of Marion County.

Mr. Gainey also has held positions in the Florida Office of the Attorney General as Chief of Staff and as Director of Law Enforcement Relations, Victim Services, and Criminal Justice Programs. He served as the primary law enforcement liaison between the Attorney General and Florida's state law enforcement directors, sheriffs, police chiefs, and federal law enforcement agency directors.

Mr. Gainey is a member of the Special Olympics of Florida Board. He previously served on Florida's Constitution Revision Commission and the 8th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.

A Gainesville native, he earned his associate degree from Santa Fe College and bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 188th Session.

Mr. Gainey was appointed to the Board in 2021.

Robert L. Woody, Vice Chair

Robert L. Woody has served on the Florida Judicial Nominating Commission. He was selected as the State of Florida Correctional Probation Officer of the Year and the Gainesville Sun Civic Leader Person of the Year. He received the E.T. York Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the community. Mr. Woody has served as Vice Chair and Chairman of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

He earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta and a master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Rollins College.

Mr. Woody first served on the Board in 1990, becoming Vice Chair and Chair, and was reappointed in 1994 and 1998. In 1994, he was named the State Trustee of the Year by the Florida Association of Community Colleges. He was appointed to the Board again in 2012 and reappointed in 2021.

Michael M. Goldwire, Immediate Past Chair

Michael M. Goldwire is the President of Goldwire Associates, Inc., a management consultant firm. Along with his wife, Mr. Goldwire also co-founded MamaDearCares.com, an online private community for professional women with children aged 0 to 4 years old that provides both career and parenting resources.

A Florida native, Mr. Goldwire graduated from Bradford High School and went on to receive his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida. He continued his education with post graduate studies at Emory University and Nova Southeastern University with a focus in Psychology.

After serving as an Army Intelligence Officer in Vietnam, Mr. Goldwire moved on to senior management positions in human resources, public relations, marketing, and advertising, with both private and public companies.

He has served various community organizations including Kiwanis International, Rotary International, Communities in Schools, the Boy Scouts of America, the Kairos Prison Ministry, and the Bradford County Food Pantry. Further, under Governor Reubin Askew, he briefly served on the Florida Management and Efficiency Study Commission.

Mr. Goldwire was appointed to the Board in 2018.

G.W. "Blake" Fletcher

G.W. "Blake" Fletcher was born and raised in Alachua County, Florida, and is a fourth-generation Floridian. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Millsaps College, then returned home to work within the Fletcher Family Companies, a group of real estate companies with a focus on single-family developments. Mr. Fletcher is a licensed real estate professional with Bosshardt Realty and holds a contractor's license with Fletcher Construction.

Mr. Fletcher is active in the community, serving two terms on the Metropolitan Transportation Advisory Board's Citizen Advisory Committee, volunteering with the PALS organization, serving on the Newberry-Jonesville Chamber Board since 2010 (as President for three years from 2011-2013), serving on Alarion Bank's advisory committee from 2012 - 2014, graduated from the Business Community Coalitions Public Leadership Institute (1), Leadership Gainesville (35), and Connect Florida (5), and was elected in 2013 to the Board of Builders Association of North Central Florida.

Mr. Fletcher was appointed to the Board in 2015 and he was reappointed in 2018.

Caridad "Carrie" E. Lee

Caridad "Carrie" E. Lee is a businesswoman, community leader, and former teacher. She is the Vice President of Florida Woodland Inc., a development company that specializes in owner-financed land sales. Trustee Lee is also the president of Florida Blue Farms, a family-owned and operated commercial blueberry farm located in Waldo, Florida.

Mrs. Lee is a former Chair of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. She has served on the Catholic Charities Board of Directors since 2000 (as Chair from 2004 to 2008) and currently serves on the Diocesan Catholic Charities Board. She is a member and former President of the Gainesville Women's Forum, and a founding member of Friends of the Child Advocacy Center. She also serves on the Board of the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida and previously served as their President. She received the Girl Scouts "Women Who Make a Difference" award.

Mrs. Lee taught in Marion County Schools from 1973 to 1975 and helped develop reading and foreign language programs at North Marion Middle School and St. Patrick School. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Education from the University of Florida, and received a second master's degree in Religious Education from Loyola University in New Orleans.

She was appointed to the Board in 2012 and reappointed in 2021.

Jeff L. Oody

Jeff L. Oody is the President of Community State Bank. He began his banking career at Barnett Bank of Jacksonville as a credit analyst and underwriter for commercial and small business loans. Later, he became area President for several First Union offices and, after Capital City Bank acquired some of the First Union offices in North Florida in 1998, President of several offices in the Capital City Bank group. He remained with Capital City Bank until becoming Director and President of Community State Bank in May 2012.

Mr. Oody invests a large amount of time in community service through the Bradford County Education Foundation, Rotary Club of Starke, North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bradford County Tourism Development Council, SHIP, and Starke Police Pension Fund. He also is extensively involved in local charity events.

Mr. Oody received his associate degree and business certification at Santa Fe College. He went on to the University of North Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Finance and Real Estate and a master's degree in Business Administration. He continued his education by earning an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Liberty University. Later, he pursued a doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors from the Stonier School of Banking.

He was appointed to the Board in 2012 and reappointed in 2015.

Trustee Emeritus

Robert C. Hudson

Robert C. Hudson is President & CEO Emeritus of AvMed Health Plans and Santa Fe HealthCare. He has served on the Board of Trustees of St. Thomas University in Miami and the boards of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Taxwatch, and as Chair of the Florida Chamber Foundation.

He is an honorary member of the Orange Bowl committee in Miami and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. He is a former commissioner of the Florida Historical Commission.

Mr. Hudson is a decorated veteran of the United States Army and served two tours in Vietnam, including one as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division and another as an advisor to a South Vietnamese army unit. He served more than 24 years in the Army on active duty and in the reserves.

He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama and master's degree in Health and Hospital Administration from the University of Florida. He holds a certificate from the Stanford University Executive Program.

Mr. Hudson was appointed to the Board in 2009 and reappointed in 2015. He was named Trustee Emeritus in November 2020 after 11 years of distinguished service to the College.

G. Thomas Mallini

G. Thomas Mallini is a Gainesville banker and participant in community service projects. He has been chairman and CEO of Merchants & Southern Bank in Gainesville since 1985 and previously worked in banks in Georgia and Alabama.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Alachua County and was its campaign chairman in 2003. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Gainesville and is the finance chairman of the School Board of Alachua County/Alachua County Board of County Commissioners joint steering committee for charter school entrepreneurship. He has served with the Florida Museum of Natural History, March of Dimes, and Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Mallini served in the United States Air Force. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Alabama.

Mr. Mallini was appointed to the Board in 2003 and reappointed in 2007 and 2015. He was named Trustee Emeritus in January 2021 after 17 years of distinguished service to the College.

Col. Arley W. McRae, USAF Ret.

Col. McRae served in the United States Air Force and is now an active community advocate in Bradford County. He is Executive Director of the local Habitat for Humanity and is a member of the boards of the Food Pantry, the Children's Table, and the Bradford High School Alumni Association. In 2003, he was inducted as an honorary member into the University of Florida's Golden Key International Honor Society in recognition of his public and military service.

Col. McRae flew fighter aircraft in the USAF and served around the world, including Southeast Asia. He flew 133 combat missions and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Legion of Merit. He is the founder of the Air Force's precision guided weapons, or "smart bomb" program, that changed the way in which warfare is planned and waged. He commanded two USAF bases, Luke in Arizona and Elmendorf in Alaska.

Col. McRae received his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and master's degree from Troy State University.

He was appointed to the Board in 1999 and reappointed in 2002, 2009, and 2015. His final term with the Board ended in January 2018. Col. McRae is Santa Fe College's first Trustee Emeritus, having provided distinguished and extraordinary service and contributions to the College during his 17 years on the Board of Trustees.

Lisa M. Prevatt

Lisa M. Prevatt is the principal of Lawtey Elementary School. Previously, she was the assistant superintendent for the Bradford County School District, an assistant principal at Bradford High School and Southside Elementary School, and the principal of Lawtey Community School.

Mrs. Prevatt received the University of Florida Distinguished Educator award in 1998 and has been a Bradford County Teacher of the Year, with roots that extend deep into the community. In addition to more than 20 years of professional experience with the Bradford County School District, she herself graduated from Bradford High School.

Mrs. Prevatt received her Associate in Science degree in nuclear medicine technology at Santa Fe College, bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida, and master's degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

She was appointed to the Board in 2012 and reappointed in 2021. She was named Trustee Emeritus in April 2022.