Dr. Georgia Lorenz's Biography
Dr. Georgia Lorenz became the third president of Seminole State College of Florida on Aug. 1, 2018, ushering in a new era. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education she has continued to build on Seminole State’s incredible legacy.
Under her leadership, Seminole State was named among the top 10 community and state colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute in 2025 and has become eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement among America’s community colleges.
Dr. Lorenz serves as chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents, and her transformative leadership has earned numerous accolades. She is a Florida Trend Florida 500 honoree hailed as one of the state’s most influential executives in education. She has been honored as one of Orlando Magazine's 2025 Women of the Year and 50 Most Powerful People in Education. She also was named one of Orlando Business Journal's 2023 Women Who Mean Business, which recognizes female leaders for their contributions to business success, workforce development and community advancement in Central Florida. She received the Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction and the Golden Eagle Award for Seminole County from the Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
In 2021, Dr. Lorenz was selected as one of 25 community college presidents for the 2021-22 class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship, which supports new presidents in the early years of their tenure as they aim to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success. She also was recognized by Orlando Business Journal as a 2021 CEO of the Year for her leadership in the College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; in launching a then-new strategic plan for the College; and for Seminole State’s Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award from the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Siemens Foundation.
Aligning with Seminole State’s purpose, “Your Learning Partner for Career Success,” Dr. Lorenz is leading the College forward under a new strategic plan, Impact 2030, with three overarching goals:
- For our students: Be the best choice for learners throughout their career
- For our employees: Cultivate a collaborative and innovative environment where employees are a priority
- For our region: Drive regional progress through strategic partnerships and community engagement
Prior to joining Seminole State, Dr. Lorenz served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santa Monica College (SMC) in California. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration at USC, where she received the Delta Epsilon Dissertation Award of Merit. She holds a Master of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University.
Dr. Lorenz is an alumna of Leadership Seminole and contributes her time and talent serving on the boards of multiple organizations, including Heart of Florida United Way, AdventHealth Central Florida Division, Association of Florida Colleges, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, and Orlando Economic Partnership, among others. Supporting a cause near to her heart, she has participated in community service to benefit foster youth and help them transition to successful, self-sustaining adulthood. She also is past chair and serves on the board of IMPOWER, which includes The Village program. The program offers safe, affordable housing combined with comprehensive wraparound supports for homeless and former foster youth ages 18-24. In addition to serving their community, Dr. Lorenz and her husband, Mike, enjoy engaging with the Central Florida community and experiencing all Florida has to offer.
