Posted on Mar 5, 2022

Trailblazer Spotlight: Ann Joyce, associate director of Continuing Education

Trailblazer Spotlight: Ann Joyce, associate director of Continuing Education

Ann Joyce found her inspiration for a career in higher education while working at Moffitt Cancer Center.

There, she worked for seven years in continuing education. In 2001, she was awarded the Outstanding Innovation award for her efforts to develop an online continuing education portal. That was just the start for Joyce!

She started her journey at the University of South Florida (USF) in 2007. Shortly after starting, Joyce helped launch the Orthopaedic Residency program at USF. Quickly, her hard work and dedication were recognized. In 2008, Joyce was named USF’s Employee of the Year.

“My biggest professional accomplishment was the development of the USF Orthopaedic Residency Program,” Joyce said. She helped write the program information form as part of her comprehensive project for her master’s degree. “I received accreditation and it is now in its 15th year. I’ve helped over 60 physicians become orthopaedic surgeons.”

TPD honors Ann Joyce

Joyce worked as the Orthopedic Residency program coordinator for 11 years. Then she accepted a role at the College of Nursing to oversee advanced practice provider fellowships and community affairs. In 2020, she was awarded the college’s Culture Coin for her “unfailing heart for cooperation across the college and community” and her critical role as the project director of both the Peds to Succeed and EnRICHed Families grants.

In December 2021, Tampa Police Department recognized Joyce for her tenacity to make the Peds to Succeed R.I.C.H. House Program a success. Dr. Susan Perry worked tirelessly with Joyce for four years to develop projects to support the R.I.C.H. House Program and describes Joyce as “exceptional.”

“When you have a person who has a heart as genuine she has, the details all just fall into place,” Perry said at the ceremony honoring her.

Now, Joyce balances two roles; she works as the associate director of Professional Development and Strategic Initiatives at the College of Public Health and also works as the associate director of Continuing Education and Certificates at the College of Nursing. Both roles fulfill her passion for higher education. Plus, she says her favorite part about USF is the people.

“It is very inspiring to be around so many brilliant people and so many have great personalities,” she said.

Joyce is on the team that recently made history for developing the Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Program, making the College of Nursing the first in Florida’s state university system to offer a RNFA program.

“The level of effort and detail she puts into making a difference almost seems effortless,” said Pranam Parsanlal, Senior Instructional Designer and the RNFA program designer. “Her pride in faculty development and joy in developing meaningful programs and her seeing how it helps people, makes you want to do the same.”

The program officially launched in February 2022 and is accepting national enrollment Fall 2022. Joyce is also working on a Clinical Trials Management Certificate that is set to launch Summer 2022.

Story by Cassidy Delamarter