Dr. Marielena DeSanctis serves as the interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and student services at Broward College in Florida. In this role, she leads the work of all the campus presidents, the vice provost of student services, the vice provost of academic affairs, the executive director of international education, and the associate vice president of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Dr. DeSanctis joined the college in April 2014, and she brings almost six years of experience as an engineer and 16 years of experience in K-12 education.

She has served as a committee member and leader of several professional organizations, including her election to the position of state president of the Florida Association of School Administrators; chair of the statewide Council of Student Affairs; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Board on Higher Education and the Workforce; and a board member of the National Community College Hispanic Council.

Dr. DeSanctis earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in math education from Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Florida Atlantic University.

She is a graduate of Leadership Florida Class XXXV, received the College Board Inspiration Award, was a Broward County Principal of the Year finalist, received a Center for Digital Education K-12 Best of the Web Award, and a 2016 Hispanic Woman of Distinction award, among other honors.

She is fluent in Spanish and a mother of two children, Conner (24) and Allie (21). She is married to Lance DeSanctis.