(Orlando, FL) – The family at the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities grew by one this month. We are excited to introduce Ms. Darlene Durham as our new Contract and Grants Specialist. Darlene started at the Florida Consortium on October 18th after a committee of professionals from our member institutions conducted a national search between July and September.
Darlene grew up in Lubbock, Texas, also known as Hub City, home of Rock and Roll legend Buddy Holly, and Texas Tech University, where she worked for more than 20 years. The Hub City moniker comes from Lubbock’s geographical location in the center of five highways in Texas. The town is part of the South Plains (located between the Permian Basin to the south near cities like Odessa and Midland and north towards the Texas Panhandle and Amarillo). The nickname also comes from Lubbock being a hub for two dozen counties in the healthcare, education, and economic sectors.
Darlene started working in higher education in 1997 when she went to work for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The department is part of the Finance and Administration Division. She held several positions during her 22 years as a Red Raider relevant to the work she is doing now with the Consortium. Including P-Card Reviewer and Travel Services Section Supervisor as well as a Senior Purchaser.
Darlene is a two-time graduate of Lubbock Christian University (three miles down the road from Texas Tech on West Loop 289). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management in 2007) and her Master of Science in Leadership in 2015.
Executive Director of the Florida Consortium, Dr. Michael Preston, says Darlene’s experience and educational background is a great fit, “Darlene brings more than 20 years of experience managing and coordinating complex organizations. When we set out to find our next specialist, we wanted someone who could do more than complete paperwork and schedule engagements. We needed a leader who could jump in and make an impact. In just a couple of weeks, she has done just that.”
Darlene moved to Central Florida in 2018 to be closer to family. She worked for the City of St. Cloud and Lynx. However, she wanted to return to a university environment, “I enjoyed working in higher education and was involved in the foreign exchange home-stay program for college students before moving to Orlando. When I saw the posting on the UCF job site and researched the Florida Consortium website, I was impressed with their story and believe it’s a great match for my passion for service. Knowing that I am doing my share in supporting an organization that is devoted to the educational advancement and career of our future leaders is exciting.”
You can often find Darlene spending time with family and friends. She is the proud mom of a son serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in Sicily, Italy. Darlene recently returned from a month-long trip overseas to visit him and spent time site-seeing all around the Italian peninsula. Darlene’s granddaughter has some ties to the Florida Consortium as she is completing her final year at Florida State College at Jacksonville. FSCJ is one of 28 state colleges that make up the Florida College System. FCS collaborates with Consortium and the Helios Education Foundation on multiple student success initiatives throughout the year. Darlene not only loves to travel, but she also loves shopping, volunteering with organizations like Lubbock Meals on Wheels, and spending time with her great-nieces and nephews.
There’s an old saying in Lubbock, “Lucky me! I live in Lubbock,” but we are shouting something a little different these days, “Lucky us! Darlene lives in Orlando.” Welcome Darlene, we are glad you are part of our team.