Thesla Berne-Anderson, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Precollege and College Programs
Job Description
Dr. Anderson is responsible for directing and managing the day-to-day operations of the College of Medicine’s undergraduate programs and overseeing the department’s pre-college program. These responsibilities include new program development, implementation, administration, evaluation, and assessment. She is involved in post-baccalaureate advisement and success coaching. She is also the faculty advisor to the Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Program.
Biosketch
Dr. Anderson joined the College of Medicine (formerly Program In Medical Sciences) in June 1993 after teaching science in Leon and Gadsden Counties for four years. She is the Executive Director of Precollege and College Programs for FSU College of Medicine. She graduated from Florida A & M University in 1986, receiving her bachelor's in secondary education, and in 2004, her master's from Florida State University in Higher Education/Student affairs. She recently completed her educational doctorate in Higher Education and Leadership Change in December of 2023 from St. Edwards University.
Dr. Thesla Berne-Anderson's contributions to higher education are significant. She is the visionary behind the first Florida educational pipeline program, Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity & Excellence (SSTRIDE), the SSTRIDE Connect transitional program for premedical college freshmen, and the Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Program for premedical students during their sophomore through senior years. As the former director of Outreach and Advising at FSU College of Medicine, she created FSU College of Medicine's Summer Mini Medical School Residential Camp, a transformative experience for rising 11th and 12th graders from Florida and throughout the United States.
With 31 years of experience in higher education leadership, program development, and management, Dr. Thesla Berne-Anderson's impact is undeniable. She has served on FSUCOM's admissions committee for over 20 years, shaping the future of medical education. Her dedication and service have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the FSU University Academic Advising Award, Inspiring Programs in STEM Leadership Award, Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award, the National Role Model Recruiter Award, and the Florida State University College of Medicine Guardian of the Mission Service Award. These accolades are a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, empowerment, student advocacy, and service.
Education
B.S., Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.
M.S., Higher Education/Student Affairs, Florida State University, 2004
Ed.D., Higher Education/Leadership Change, St. Edwards University, 2023
Service
Member, College of Medicine Dean Search Committee, 2008
Member, Florida Physician Workforce Advisory Council, 2015-2019
Member, Honors Medical Scholars Admission Committee, 2008-present
Member, Bridge Program Admission Committee, 2006-present
Member, Medical Student Admission Committee, 2007-present
Liaison Committee on Medical Education Self Study, Subcommittee, 2002-present
Faculty Co-Adviser, Student National Medical Association, 2001-2008
Honors/Awards
Florida State University College of Medicine, Guardian of the Mission and Service Award, 2021
Florida State University, Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award Winner, 2019
St. Edwards University Educational Doctoral Program Deans List, 2020-present
Inspiring Programs In STEM Leadership Award, 2017
Esteemed Faculty Advisor and Leadership Award, 2010
Florida State University, W.E. Duboise Society Honorary Member, 2007
Florida State University Leadership Awards Night, Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award, 2005
Florida State University Academic Advising Award, 2004-2005
Memberships
Faculty Advisor to Student National Medical Association
FSU South Side Steering Committee (K-12 Initiatives)
The National Association of Advisors for Health Professions
Rural Medical Scholars Advisory Committee
College of Informed Advisors
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
Research Focus
My research examined the significance of the USSTRIDE Community of Practice (CoP) mentorship program offered at Florida State University College of Medicine and its profound impact on student learners navigating a premedical track and beyond. Using Lave and Wenger’s (1991) Community of Practice model and Lev Vygotsky's (1978) Sociocultural theory, the USSTRIDE Mentorship CoP program employed qualitative and quantitative analyses in mix-study research exploring holistic student development across social, academic, leadership, professional, and experiential domains. Key indicators of the success of a community of practice (CoP) include increased academic performance, mentoring at multiple levels, heightened social engagement with like-minded students, leadership and professional skill development, enhanced critical thinking and reasoning skills, and higher admission rates into medical and graduate-level programs.
Publications
Additional Information
Dr. Anderson is responsible for directing and managing the day-to-day operations of the College of Medicine’s undergraduate programs and overseeing the department’s pre-college program. These responsibilities include new program development, implementation, administration, evaluation, and assessment. She is involved in post-baccalaureate advisement and success coaching. She is also the faculty advisor to the Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Program.
Dr. Anderson joined the College of Medicine (formerly Program In Medical Sciences) in June 1993 after teaching science in Leon and Gadsden Counties for four years. She is the Executive Director of Precollege and College Programs for FSU College of Medicine. She graduated from Florida A & M University in 1986, receiving her bachelor's in secondary education, and in 2004, her master's from Florida State University in Higher Education/Student affairs. She recently completed her educational doctorate in Higher Education and Leadership Change in December of 2023 from St. Edwards University.
Dr. Thesla Berne-Anderson's contributions to higher education are significant. She is the visionary behind the first Florida educational pipeline program, Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity & Excellence (SSTRIDE), the SSTRIDE Connect transitional program for premedical college freshmen, and the Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Program for premedical students during their sophomore through senior years. As the former director of Outreach and Advising at FSU College of Medicine, she created FSU College of Medicine's Summer Mini Medical School Residential Camp, a transformative experience for rising 11th and 12th graders from Florida and throughout the United States.
With 31 years of experience in higher education leadership, program development, and management, Dr. Thesla Berne-Anderson's impact is undeniable. She has served on FSUCOM's admissions committee for over 20 years, shaping the future of medical education. Her dedication and service have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the FSU University Academic Advising Award, Inspiring Programs in STEM Leadership Award, Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award, the National Role Model Recruiter Award, and the Florida State University College of Medicine Guardian of the Mission Service Award. These accolades are a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, empowerment, student advocacy, and service.
B.S., Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.
M.S., Higher Education/Student Affairs, Florida State University, 2004
Ed.D., Higher Education/Leadership Change, St. Edwards University, 2023
Member, College of Medicine Dean Search Committee, 2008
Member, Florida Physician Workforce Advisory Council, 2015-2019
Member, Honors Medical Scholars Admission Committee, 2008-present
Member, Bridge Program Admission Committee, 2006-present
Member, Medical Student Admission Committee, 2007-present
Liaison Committee on Medical Education Self Study, Subcommittee, 2002-present
Faculty Co-Adviser, Student National Medical Association, 2001-2008
Florida State University College of Medicine, Guardian of the Mission and Service Award, 2021
Florida State University, Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award Winner, 2019
St. Edwards University Educational Doctoral Program Deans List, 2020-present
Inspiring Programs In STEM Leadership Award, 2017
Esteemed Faculty Advisor and Leadership Award, 2010
Florida State University, W.E. Duboise Society Honorary Member, 2007
Florida State University Leadership Awards Night, Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award, 2005
Florida State University Academic Advising Award, 2004-2005
Faculty Advisor to Student National Medical Association
FSU South Side Steering Committee (K-12 Initiatives)
The National Association of Advisors for Health Professions
Rural Medical Scholars Advisory Committee
College of Informed Advisors
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
My research examined the significance of the USSTRIDE Community of Practice (CoP) mentorship program offered at Florida State University College of Medicine and its profound impact on student learners navigating a premedical track and beyond. Using Lave and Wenger’s (1991) Community of Practice model and Lev Vygotsky's (1978) Sociocultural theory, the USSTRIDE Mentorship CoP program employed qualitative and quantitative analyses in mix-study research exploring holistic student development across social, academic, leadership, professional, and experiential domains. Key indicators of the success of a community of practice (CoP) include increased academic performance, mentoring at multiple levels, heightened social engagement with like-minded students, leadership and professional skill development, enhanced critical thinking and reasoning skills, and higher admission rates into medical and graduate-level programs.