David Armstrong
President Emeritus
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL
J. David Armstrong, Jr. brings more than 32 years of experience as a state and national leader in higher education and economic development. In July 2007, he was appointed the sixth president of Broward College, and now oversees one of the largest and most diverse institutions in America, with more than 63,000 students across 12 campuses and centers in South Florida. Under President Armstrong’s leadership, Broward College has consistently been recognized among the top community colleges in the country. The college has been named one of the top ten community colleges in the nation by the Washington D.C.-based Aspen Institute twice, having first been given the recognition in 2012 and again in 2016. Broward College also ranks as one of the top ten associate degree producers in the country by Community College Week, this year ranking second in the nation. Under his leadership, the College has conferred nearly 475,000 bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, certificates and industry certifications. With a strong commitment to the community, and a true understanding of the ever-evolving workforce landscape and the changing role of higher education, President Armstrong has guided the College toward better addressing the persistent skills gap concern, providing career opportunities to students, and contributing skilled workers to local industry and business. The annual economic impact of Broward College is $1 billion – representing 1.5% of the total regional economy or roughly 23,340 average-wage jobs. In 2016, Broward College was named the “Economic Development Partner of the Year” by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance for initiatives such as aligning its curriculum with skills needed by targeted industry companies, including aviation and technology.
Under his leadership, Broward College has supported the thriving and vibrant student community by expanding access to higher education with several new locations, including the Coral Springs Academic Center, the Miramar West Center, the Health Sciences Simulation Center and the Academic and Laboratory Science Building at Central Campus, and Broward College’s fourth campus – Broward College Online. In addition, the College has continued to form international educational partnerships with other centers and affiliates located in Sri Lanka, Spain, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and several locations in China.
President Armstrong serves in a variety of positions with non-profit, workforce and educational organizations. He is a past Chair of Leadership Florida and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and currently serves as the Alliance’s co-chair for the Six Pillars Economic Program. President Armstrong also serves on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Florida’s Future, Broward Workshop and Broward College Foundation.
He has also been recognized for his influential work and service in the business community, receiving several awards, including the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Southern Region CEO/President of the Year, Symphony of the Americas “Style and Substance” award, the Leadership Broward “Profiles in Leadership” award, the Seafarer’s House “South Florida Business Leader of the Year” award, Leaders in Florida South Florida Business Journal “Diamond Award,” South Florida Business and Wealth “Apogee Award,” Urban League of Broward County’s Margaret Roach Humanitarian Award and recognitions such as South Florida Business Journal’s Power Leader and Gold Coast Magazine “50 Most Powerful People in Broward County.”
President Armstrong was previously the Chancellor of the Florida Community College System, where he oversaw the 28 college systems and the State Board of Community Colleges. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, as well as an alumnus of the Leadership Florida Class of 1999-2000.
Armstrong received his master's degree from Troy State University in management and graduated with his bachelor's degree in social science from the University of Montevallo in his home state of Alabama. In his spare time he enjoys watching his son play soccer, reading, developing business outside the college, hiking in the mountains and listening to country music on his tractor at his small family farm in Alabama.