Meet Sybil Alfred: From Undergraduate Assistant to Executive Education Director

Sybil Alfred is the first female director of Florida Atlantic University College of Business' Executive Education in its over 50 year history. Her inspiring story is truly one of a journey of 1,000 steps—of being a Haitian immigrant coming to the U.S. to study who has gone from a shy undergraduate assistant filing paperwork to a graduate student earning her MBA while unboxing books as a program coordinator, then on to assistant director to her current director position. Sybil’s in-depth and comprehensive knowledge comes from decades of serving at almost every level in the College of Business.

Executive Education, one of the fastest growing units of the University,  annually serves over 2000 working professional students in both undergraduate programs (our #27 ranked Online Bachelor of Business Administration) and graduate programs (e.g. Master in Business Administration and Executive and Online Master of Healthcare Administration), making a direct impact on our South Florida business and health communities.

In overseeing the operation of Executive Education, Sybil works with over 100 faculty and manages a diverse, multi-generational team of over 50 members with both female (51.5%) and male (48.5%) staff across every level—from graduate assistant to coordinators, managers and assistant directors. FAU’s designation as one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the U.S. is reflective of our students, and as Sybil ensures, of our staff as well—evident in the racial and ethnic spectrum the Executive Education team represents with over 12 nationalities (Bahamas, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turkey). Diversity in her staff provides a level of understanding and relatability to the students we serve—across age, differing levels of physical abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities, cultures, religions and backgrounds.

Sybil is a well-respected leader across many of the colleges in the university and widely-acknowledged for her tenacity, work ethic, kindness and empathy: traits she credits as learning from her mother while growing up in Haiti. She is also an authentic role model for the men and women she leads, sharing her strategic vision, maintaining close communications with her teams, and rolling up her sleeves alongside them to make it happen. Each staff member across every level knows the valuable roles they play in the success of the programs. 

According to Assistant Dean & Executive Director, Vegar Wiik, “Her insight and ability to lead and inspire is widely recognized as integral to the close-knit Executive Education family and the well-known ‘secret’ to our success. Her efforts here at FAU are making a long-lasting and positive impact on the University, its staff, and most importantly, on the students we serve.”

#27 - Best Online Bachelor's in Business Administration Programs by U.S. News & World Report (2021)

FAU designated as Hispanic-Serving Institution by the United States Department of Education 

FAU listed as one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report 

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