About Dr. Roland Nuñez
Dr. Roland Nuñez serves as the Executive Director of Early College Programs at Lake-Sumter State College. He has over a decade of higher education leadership experience, including student development, academic advising, business development, recruitment and outreach, and TRIO support programs.
He obtained his PhD in Educational Leadership at Oklahoma State University and teaches collegiate level statistics and research courses. His research emphasis and prior publications include online student engagement, educational entertainment and innovation, first-generation student development, and Hispanic identity development.
Dr. Nuñez has an extensive publication history on edutainment, student engagement, and first-generation students. His current research involves new approaches to college readiness. He is developing a college readiness framework that maps out specific competencies and mastery levels to aid in the creation of new college preparation programs.
Outside of higher education, he is a licensed pilot, a published novelist, and former owner of an award-winning family recreation center. Guided by his experience as a first-generation student, Dr. Nuñez is passionate about increasing college access to underserved students and removing institutional barriers to support.