Southern Scholarship Foundation

With years of experience directing scholarship programs and student housing, I am thrilled to be SSF’s President/CEO. Our residents inspire me to elevate the foundation’s profile and attract new supporters to our cause. When not at SSF, I spend time with my wife and two teenagers—and together we occasionally travel to far-flung places to visit friends and family.

Hi, I’m Teresa and I am the Director of Student Affairs for our Central Florida Campus! In my role I am lucky enough to meet our students during the interview process and hear their powerful stories. But the real joy comes in watching them grow into these highly productive adults who are out there every day achieving their dreams. My time with SSF goes beyond the word rewarding because the impact our residents have made on me is something I will always carry with me.

Hello! My name is Isabella Castillo and I am the Student Affairs Coordinator for Central Florida. I am majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. As an SSF resident, I know how much love is poured into this community and giving back to it in this way is such a rewarding experience. From the leadership experience I have gained to the countless friendships I have made, SSF has been a powerful impact in my life.

Hi, I’m Daniela! I am the Student Affairs Coordinator for SSF North Florida Campus and I am passionate about the experiences of our students! As hospitality major at Florida State University, I use my experience working for SSF to broaden my understanding of service and hospitality. I am an avid fan of reality television and Zaxby’s.

Hello, my name is Dale and I’m the Maintenance Director for Central FL. I look after all the resident houses in Gainesville and Ft. Myers. I have been doing maintenance for over 25 years and I really enjoy helping people.

Hey, I’m Trent! As Director of Student Affairs for North Florida, I have the opportunity to serve our residents both directly and indirectly. I work with the House Managers, who manage day-to-day operations within the houses, and the Ambassador Team members who organize events to bring our community even closer together. Hearing the stories of our amazing residents and learning of their aspirations motivates me to make the best of every day.

Hello, my name is Akira Hung. At work, numbers are my partner. Loyal, dependable and organization are my friends. Being a crazy cat lady and mother of two, I love to snuggle and take naps with my family.

Hi, I’m Norman! As the Director of Maintenance for our North Florida Homes my job centers on keeping all 17 of them up and running. Even though it can be a daunting task at times, I do get the privilege to meet and learn a little about our incredible residents along the way. After almost 12 years I have seen many students come and go, and I look forward to meeting the future residents of SSF.

My name is David Nelson and as Senior Maintenance Technician I assist the Director of Maintenance for North Florida, Norman. We repair and maintain the SSF facilities so residents can have a home-away-from-home. I’ve enjoyed working here for 13 years, and proud to encourage our residents to have “An Education for Life”!

Hey there, I’m Emily! As the Communication Specialist it’s my job to spread the #SSFLove far and wide through various digital mediums. As an alum and having served as the House Manager of the Polk Scholarship House and Student Affairs Coordinator for North Florida, I am dedicated to SSF and helping students obtain an Education for Life!

Hi! I’m Kristie! As the Director of Development for SSF, I want to learn and share the amazing success stories of our residents to inspire existing and new donors to help even more students reach their greatest potential. I am ecstatic to be a part of the SSF team. Outside of work you might find me taking photos, watching football or on an adventure with my husband and my two extraordinary children.

Hey, I’m Troy, the Development Associate! As a member of the Development Team, I communicate with current donors, and seek new ones to create opportunities for students to embrace SSF. As an alum and former House Manager of Knight House, I am passionate about providing students the opportunity to seek an “Education for Life”.