Dr. Cristie Kedroski – Interim President
Dr. Cristie Kedroski serves as the Interim President at Northwest Florida State College. Since joining the College in 2010, she has provided leadership in the areas of fundraising, grants development, student success, strategic communications, and academic affairs.
Kedroski serves on the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital board, the One Okaloosa Economic Development Council, and the Walton County Economic Development Alliance. She is a former board member of the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, and a graduate of the Leadership Okaloosa program. She also served as a 2022-23 Hurlburt Field Honorary Commander and a sustaining member of the Junior League of the Emerald Coast.
During her management of the NWFSC Foundation, the organization’s total assets increased more than 70%, growing to more than $62 million. In addition, the College received more than $65 million in grant awards during the last four years.
Kedroski previously served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing for Florida’s Great Northwest, a regional economic development organization representing 16 counties in Northwest Florida. Preceding her tenure at Florida’s Great Northwest, she worked at Office Depot’s Corporate Headquarters in Delray Beach as the Marketing Manager.
Kedroski earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida, her Master of Business Administration from the University of West Florida, and her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida. Her husband, Art, is the enterprise test lead for mission planning at Eglin AFB and they have three daughters.
Dr. Jenna Sheffield – Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Jenna Pack Sheffield is an accomplished academic leader with over 9 years of experience in various higher education leadership roles and over 14 years of experience teaching professional and technical writing as a faculty member in higher education settings. Currently serving as the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northwest Florida State College, Dr. Sheffield oversees academic operations as well as institutional research. Sheffield has published extensively in reputable scholarly journals on topics spanning from digital media and writing program administration to composition pedagogy and theory. Sheffield previously worked as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Salem College in Winston Salem, NC. Dr. Sheffield specializes in innovative curriculum design, teacher training, data analysis, program assessment, and accreditation. One of her proudest accomplishments was founding the University of New Haven Center for Teaching Excellence in 2020 and serving as its director, where she also brought in a $240,000 grant to support faculty development around open educational resources. Dr. Sheffield resides in Niceville, FL with her husband, two children, and their dog, Coda.
Dr. Tanner McKnight – Vice President for Business Operations/Chief Financial Officer
Tanner McKnight has been the Vice President for Business Operations and Finance for Northwest Florida State College since January 2023. A native of Arkansas, McKnight earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance with an emphasis in banking and a minor in accounting, his Master of Business Administration degree, and his Doctor of Education in educational leadership from Arkansas State University.
McKnight serves as a member of the President’s Strategy Circle and oversees the college’s departments of finance and accounting, purchasing, risk management, facilities and physical plant management, information technology, copy services, Raider Café, and the Barnes and Noble bookstore. He is an active member of the Florida Council of Business Affairs, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, and Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society. McKnight was showcased in Arkansas Business publication as one of the state’s top ’20 In Their Twenties’ in 2021.
McKnight comes to NWFSC with experience in banking, auditing, and experience as the Chief Financial Officer of both a K-12 school district and a junior college in Arkansas. Throughout his career, McKnight has been an effective leader in positively restructuring institutional debt, overseeing capital projects and energy efficiency initiatives, expanding employee compensation and benefit plans, streamlining operations management processes, and positively managing institutional assets to maximize institutional returns on investment. Tanner and his wife Kassidy reside in Niceville with their six children.
Whitney Rutherford – Chief of Staff/Associate Vice President/General Counsel
Whitney Rutherford is General Counsel and Chief of Staff at Northwest Florida State College. Whitney also oversees Human Resources, Campus Safety, and Risk Management. She is responsible for legal matters related to the College, its collegiate high school, and foundation, as well as managing the College’s personnel and safety programs.
Whitney is a member of the President’s Circle and supports the President through advancing Collegewide initiatives. Since joining the College in 2021, she has led efforts to bring on-campus student housing to the College along with assisting in campus expansion and enhancement projects.
Prior to coming to Northwest Florida State College, Whitney worked in private law practice and as a federal law clerk. Whitney is a Walton County resident along with her family.
Jackie Bytell – Interim Associate Vice President for Information Technology/Chief Information Officer
Jackie Bytell currently serves as the Interim Associate Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Northwest Florida State College. In her role, she oversees the College’s IT infrastructure and digital strategy, ensuring alignment with institutional goals. Jackie is responsible for leading cybersecurity efforts, enhancing user experiences for students and faculty, and promoting innovative technology solutions that support academic success and operational efficiency.
Kevin Brown – Associate Vice President for Government Relations and Special Projects
Kevin Brown has nearly two decades worth of governmental and political experience in Florida and the Southeast.
Kevin attended the University of Southern Mississippi and entered politics as an intern for then-Congresswoman, now U.S. Senator, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. Kevin also worked with former U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee.
Kevin spent 12 years in both the Florida House and Senate, where he served as Chief of Staff to Florida Senator Doug Broxson. During his time in the legislature Brown worked on a number of policy issues, including the BP Oil Spill and recovery, insurance and business regulatory reform, education funding, local government issues, and military and veteran initiatives.
Since 2010, Kevin has managed numerous legislative campaigns and ballot initiatives in Florida. Additionally, he served as the North Florida Campaign Director for Attorney General Pam Bondi. Kevin is the former Treasurer, State Committeeman, and Chairman of the Escambia County Republican Party. As Chairman, he oversaw the successful GOP midterm elections of 2018 and was appointed Co-Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida’s Legislative Affairs Committee, as well as a member of the Chairman’s Caucus, and the Next Generation Republican Roundtable.
Kevin is formerly the Director of State and Local Policy for a Tallahassee-based advocacy firm, advising a variety of clients from FORTUNE 500 companies to local nonprofits on legislative strategy. Kevin has also served on the Board of Directors for the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce and was named an Honorary Submariner by the U.S. Submarine Veterans; Drum Base.
Travis Henson – Interim Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Travis Henson serves as the Interim Executive Director of Strategic Communications at Northwest Florida State College. In this role, he leads the development and execution of the College’s communications strategy, enhancing its brand and public profile. Henson oversees media relations, digital content, and community outreach, ensuring that the College’s programs, services, and initiatives are effectively communicated to both internal and external audiences.
Aimee Watts, Ed.D. – Interim Chief Student Success Officer & Senior Executive Director, Enrollment Services and Financial Aid
Aimee Watts is currently serving as the Interim Chief Student Success Officer in addition to being the Senior Executive Director of Enrollment Services and Financial Aid, a position she has held since January 2024. She serves as the lead for Student Affairs and oversees admissions, student records, financial aid, and veteran/military success.
Aimee has been with Northwest Florida State College since 1998. She previously served the college as Dean of Students, Director of Student Life, Adjunct Instructor, Academic Advisor, Financial Aid Specialist, Admissions Specialist, and as a part-time Staff Assistant in Athletics. She has enjoyed her many roles at the college and loves learning with students, faculty, and staff.
Aimee received her bachelor’s degree in business management from Troy University, a master’s degree in management with an emphasis in Leadership from Troy University, and both Educational Specialist and Doctorate degrees in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of West Florida. She is a member of the Niceville-Valparaiso Rotary Club where she serves asboth Foundation and Scholarship Chair.