Our staff
Dr. James M Burkett, FTC
President
Dr. James Michael Burkett has an extensive background in higher education and a life-long commitment to public service. He is a Marine Corps Veteran and former Police Lieutenant. He has more than a decade of experience in higher education as an instructor, Program Director, Dean of Academics, and Campus President before being named President of Florida Technical College and the DAVE School in December of 2016. During his tenure Florida Technical College has added blended learning options, Spanish only programs, expanded trades and hospitality program offerings, and achieved MSCHE accreditation as an academic unit of NUC University, among other innovations in academic offerings.
Dr. Burkett himself was a non-traditional student and began college after his service in the Marine Corps and while working full time and raising his son as a single parent. He graduated with high honors with an Associate’s degree in General Studies from Daytona Beach Community College, and then graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Burkett continued his education by earning a Master’s of Business Administration from the New England College of Business and Finance, a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Central Florida and a Masters in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. He completed his academic journey by earning a PhD from Capella University.
Gina Rhodes
Executive Director
Gina Rhodes is a veteran in both creating and managing productions to build relationships for organizations and individuals. Her Industry career began over 20 years ago with the creation of Wahi Media, Inc., a SIM based interactive and development platform used with Fortune 500 executives for training and educational purposes. She also launched a crowd sourced app used for distributing short films called Red Movie House, which led to her appointment at the FSU Film School, Dean’s office. She served as a Producer and Managing Director for FRAME | A Production Company, and has won several awards including a National Webby, A Regional Emmy, and has been a key advising member for numerous student productions receiving Student Emmys at the Academy Awards. Gina holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Communication and Leadership. She is a co-author of “The Conflict Lens,” and “A Closer Look at Conflict” and has worked with high-performing teams all over the globe. Gina is currently the Executive Director of the DAVE school and is dedicated to building its legacy of excellence in the VFX and Gaming arenas.
Gina was born in Winter Park, FL but moved shortly after and has since lived all over the world, including: Tallahassee, FL, Colorado, New York, California, London and Oxford, England. She just recently returned to the Orlando area when she became Executive Director of The DAVE School. She carries her trusty GPS with her wherever she goes.
Amy Rasmussen
Student Services Coordinator
Amy is a seasoned professional with a rich history in “guest-facing” industries. She has amassed an impressive track record through her work at renowned organizations such as Disney, Indiana University, and AAA. Originally from Connecticut, she followed her passion for Disney, Marvel, and Harry Potter, eventually relocating to Florida after participating in the Walt Disney World College Program. Amy now proudly serves as the Student Services Coordinator at DAVE School. Her role is defined by an unyielding dedication to comprehending and assisting all students and graduates, rendering her an indispensable cornerstone of the DAVE School community.
Michael Keith
Director of Career Services
Michael is a Visual Effects Society Member and VFX community member since 2008. He has worked as a VFX compositor, a production coordinator, an editor, a recruiter, and his primary role at DAVE School is as our Director of Career Services.
Michael was born in Santa Maria, California but he has been living in Orlando since 1976. He is an avid motorcycle enthusiast and can often be found cruising around Central Florida or the Great Smoky Mountains on his Harley Davidson!
Russell Norris
Director of Admissions
Russell Norris brings over a decade of leadership experience in educational admissions and customer service to his role as Director of Admissions at The DAVE School. With expertise in both Title IV and non-Title IV programs, Russell has a deep understanding of diverse student populations and enrollment strategies.
Before joining The DAVE School, Russell led multi-campus admissions teams across 12 universities at ThriveDX, where he also developed training programs for national admissions staff. His experience also includes admissions leadership roles at MyComputerCareer and Knox Theological Seminary.
Russell holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with minors in Business and Sociology from Southeastern University and a Graduate Certificate from Knox Theological Seminary.
A proud Army National Guard veteran with eight years of service, Russell combines his leadership skills with a strong commitment to student success.
Tereza Reed
Director of International Admissions
Tereza Reed is an executive, consultant, and educator with 28 years of experience building, training, and managing teams in international corporate and educational settings.
In her home country of Brazil, she developed a long career in human capital and financial corporate consulting, expanding to business brokerage and real estate upon relocating to Orlando, FL.
In the US Higher Education sphere, she developed and managed ELS programs, ran faculty development training, and led international admissions and enrollment services teams. She holds a degree in Actuary and a Master’s in Business. She is fully proficient in English, Portuguese, and Spanish and she has studied Italian, French, Russian & German. Tereza has traveled extensively around the globe, and is truly passionate about learning about other cultures and developing global outreach strategies.
Stephanie Diaz
Content and Social Media Specialist
Stephanie, originally from Miami, comes from a background in esports and gaming. She has commented on popular games like Mortal Kombat and Guilty Gear Strive on world stages and official professional competition events. She’s been featured on PlayStation and EVO for her work in uplifting women inside the competitive scene for gaming, along with her content creation work. When she’s not working as a talent, she’s leading grassroots initiatives and building the local scene by working at conventions centered around popular media and gaming. Stephanie now works as an Admissions Representative at DAVE School and has taken a step back from the fast-paced world of productions and competition to support new and future students in their first step toward their dreams.
Monica Vazquez
Admissions Representative
Monica was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and been lived in Florida since she was young. She graduated from The University of Central Florida with a degree in Anthropology and a background in Digital Marketing and Demographic Research.
She volunteered with Med Life, doing a short Ethnographic study on medical necessities in Peru before joining the Universal Orlando Resort family in the Market Field Research department, where she became Senior Coordinator of Field Research.
During her free time, Monica runs a small, custom cupcake experience and bakery called Mokina’s Munchies, where she travels to various farmer’s markets and festivals and has an interactive “Build Your Own Cupcake” experience.