Dr. Jermaine Ford

President of Florence-Darlington Technical College
Class of 1994
Dr. Jermaine Ford serves as the president of Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, South Carolina.

Ford enrolled at Moraine Valley after high school, unsure about his plans for the future. He had a great experience at the college and believes receiving his associate degree was the catalyst to his continued pursuit
of higher education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from DePaul University in 1997 and later earned his Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Education degree in organizational leadership with an emphasis on higher education.

After completing his undergraduate degree, he worked in a corporate setting for a few years before starting his own business, Global Ink & Accessories, Inc., in 2003.

To enhance his marketing, sales and accounting skills, he participated in a small business bootcamp at Moraine Valley. He successfully ran the business, which sold office supplies and office furniture and provided IT support and office equipment repair, for eight years.

After Ford closed his business, he returned to Moraine Valley as an employee in the Corporate, Community and Continuing Education Department, where he worked on various workforce development initiatives.

In addition, he served as an adjunct instructor at Moraine Valley and Robert Morris University.

Ford and his family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, in 2015, where Ford held several positions at South Louisiana Community College, eventually becoming the vice president of Workforce and Economic Development.
He accepted the position of president of Florence-Darlington Technical College in 2021 and has impacted the institution significantly. With a strong background in higher education and business, he is influential in
building partnerships with companies in the region.

Under his leadership, enrollment has grown each year, and several new programs were added to provide more educational opportunities for students.

Ford is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Xometry Excellence in Manufacturing Award, Aspen Institute President Fellowship and American Association of Community Colleges’ Future
Presidents Institute. He serves on the National Association for Community Colleges Entrepreneurship, Higher Education Research and Development Institute, American Association of Community Colleges: Commission on Structured Pathways and Florence County Economic
Development Partnership boards. Over the years, he has volunteered for myriad organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana, National Council for Continuing Education and Training, and Learning Resources Network Executive Council.

Ford is passionate about the value of two-year institutions and credits his time spent as a student and employee at Moraine Valley with helping him become a successful student, businessperson and higher education administrator.

He and his wife, Khalilah, who is also a Moraine Valley alumna, have two daughters, Kailynn and Kaci.