Dr. Peter Reyes Barbatis has been an educator for more than 35 years. Having served as a student affairs practitioner for colleges in New York, California, and Texas, he is currently the Vice President for Student Services/Enrollment Management at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Florida since 2012. His division encompasses the offices for student support services and initiatives that promote access, engagement, retention and completion. From 2018-2022, he served as the interim Provost of the Lake Worth Campus, where he functioned as the chief site administrator and coordinated academic, business, and student services activities. As of May 2025, he also serves as the chief site administrator for the Belle Glade Campus.

Dr. Barbatis has experience in the classroom having taught developmental mathematics and student success skills. He has a bachelor’s in History and a master’s in Counselor Education from the University of Florida, and a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Florida International University. His dissertation, entitled, Perceptions of Underprepared College Students Regarding their Academic Achievement was selected as the 2009 Dissertation of the Year by the National Council on Student Development.

He is a strong student advocate who says, “Education can open minds and hearts to think beyond current boundaries. It can force us to think and rethink, to create new visions, and free us to a new dimension otherwise not possible. For those of us called to work with students, it is our duty and obligation to make a difference and facilitate this transformation.”

Dr. Russell E. Kaufman has more than 20 years of experience in education technology leadership. He currently serves as Chief Information Officer at Palm Beach State College, where he provides strategic oversight for the College’s information technology operations, including enterprise systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data analytics, and client support services. In Fall 2025, Institutional Research was realigned under his leadership, further integrating data, analytics, and technology to support institutional effectiveness and student success. Throughout his career, Dr. Kaufman has led major institutional initiatives, including enterprise system implementations, cybersecurity program enhancements, and the development of data-informed decision-making practices. He has played a key role in advancing digital transformation efforts that improve access, engagement, and outcomes for students, while also modernizing the College’s technology environment to meet evolving workforce and educational needs.

Prior to joining Palm Beach State College, Dr. Kaufman held leadership roles at Miami Dade College, where he supported network services, media services, and campus IT operations. He is actively engaged in statewide and national conversations on the role of technology in higher education and regularly collaborates with peer institutions to advance innovation and best practices. Dr. Kaufman holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master of Science in Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is committed to leveraging technology to expand opportunity, improve student outcomes, and support the mission of public higher education.