From left: Michael Hagerty, Michelle Hagerty, Florida Atlantic University First Lady Jillian Hasner and Florida Atlantic University President Adam Hasner

Florida Atlantic University hosted the annual Talon Leadership and Service Awards ceremony as part of Homecoming 2025, honoring outstanding alumni, students, faculty and community members. The awards are designed to highlight exceptional leadership and service to FAU.

“We are proud to celebrate those who lead and serve our community boldly,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “Through mentorship, academic excellence, philanthropy and community engagement, this year’s Talon Leadership Award recipients have made a lasting impact that continues to shape the future of Florida Atlantic while inspiring others to do the same.”

The President’s Talon Award was awarded to philanthropists Michelle and Michael Hagerty, who are passionate champions of Florida Atlantic and have made a transformational impact on the university’s athletic programs through their generous commitment of time and philanthropy. Long-time benefactors to Florida Atlantic, the Hagerty’s initial gift to athletics occurred in August 2021 to name the head football coach position, now known as the Hagerty Family Head Football Coach. In 2022, they made a generous donation, creating the Hagerty Family Athletics Village, and later made an additional gift to further enhance the facilities and impact Olympic sport student-athletes.

Susan Skemp ’81 received the Richard L. Schmidt Alumni Talon Award. Skemp previously served as the executive director of the Florida Atlantic-based Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center from 2008-15, overseeing the multi-disciplinary research and development program to advance and commercialize ocean energy technologies. Additionally, she served on the Florida Atlantic Alumni Association Board and the Florida Atlantic Foundation Board. Skemp has also made a tremendous impact on students through mentoring and charitable giving to scholarship funds.

The Faculty Talon Award was presented to Deborah Floyd, Ed.D., who has served Florida Atlantic for more than 25 years as a faculty member specializing in higher education leadership. Since joining Florida Atlantic, she has guided the next generation of higher education leaders through her teaching, mentorship and scholarship, supervising more than 50 dissertations and leading the university’s Higher Education Leadership Ph.D. program in the College of Education. Additionally, she established the Floyd Scholars Fund in 2023 with a personal endowed gift to ensure sustainable support for research and mentoring, with 11 Floyd Scholars receiving funding from 2024-26.

The Student Talon Award was awarded to Shania Grant ’24, a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. She has served in several leadership positions across the university, including as a peer mentor for the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, managing editor of the Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Law Journal, and secretary of the League of Women Voters. Grant also serves as the student member of Palm Beach County’s Criminal Justice Commission, becoming the youngest to ever serve on the board.

“These honorees stand as powerful examples of leadership and service, each forging new paths and setting high standards for our entire community,” said Katie G. Burke, Ph.D., ’08, ’10, ’15, ’17, assistant vice president of alumni and community engagement. “I am deeply proud to recognize this remarkable group of honorees as they have made an indelible impact on our university, driving progress and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps."

For more information on the Talon Leadership and Service Awards, or alumni and community engagement, visit faualumni.org.

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