Thesla Berne-Anderson, Ed.D.
Founder of SSTRIDE & USSTRIDE Executive Director of Outreach
Job Description
Dr. Anderson is responsible for directing and managing the day-to-day operations of the College of Medicine’s undergraduate outreach 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 and the Multicultural Association of Premedical Students (MAPS).
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 Outreach 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
Faculty Adviser, Minority Association of Premedical Students, 2000-present
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
Insight Into Diversity, Inspiring Programs In STEM Leadership Award, 2017
Multicultural Association of Premedical Students, Esteemed Faculty Advisor and Leadership Award, 2010
Florida State University Chapter of National Council of Negro Women, INC, Spotlight Women of the Month, 2009
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
Faculty Advisor to Minority Association of Pre-Health Students
FSU South Side Steering Committee (K-12 Initiatives)
The National Association of Advisors for Health Professions
Rural Medical Scholars Advisory Committee
Sisters of the Academy (SOTA)
American Association of Blacks In Higher Education (AABHE)
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 first-generation, rural, and economically disadvantaged undergraduate 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. These indicators have been determined to bridge gaps and catalyze meaningful change.
Publications
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Hurt, Myra, Livingston, Helen, Foster, Elizabeth, Wang Aihua. “Student’s perspective of success in a post-baccalaureate program”. Med Education Online, 2014.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Campbell, Kendall, Rodriquez, Jose. “From Underrepresented minority high school student to medical school faculty member: how an outreach program changed my life”. Journal of Health Care Poor Underserved, 2014.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Campbell, Kendall, Dormeus, Guy, Rodriquez, Jose, Wang, Aihua. “USSTRIDE Program is associated with competitive Black and Latino student applicants to medical school”. Journal of National Medical Association, 2011.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Eubanks, Penny and Moss, Jimmy L., 2007, “Rural SSTRIDE, Toward Increasing Diversity in Florida. AHEC Network Annual Report.
Berne-Anderson, T., Manusov, E., Livingston, H. The Bridge to Success: The FSU COM Experience.
Additional Information
FSUCOM Diversity Overview on Educational Pipeline Programs: From Ideas to Outcomes. Virtual Presentation To The Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Steering Committee, June 1st, 2021
An Overview of The Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Outreach Program. Virtual Presentation To Florida A & M University Undergraduate Student Success Class, October 13, 2020.
Improving Minority Students’ Acceptance To Medical School: USSTRIDE vs. Non-USSTRIDE. Poster Presentation AAMC Physician Workforce Conference, Alexandria, VA, 2013
The Bridge to Success: The FSU COM Experience. Poster Presentation AAMC SGEA, Oklahoma City, OK, 2010
The Medical School Application Process, Presentation Florida Agricultural, and Mechanical University Graduate Recruitment Fair, Tallahassee, FL, Annually 2005-Present
The Bridge to Success: The FSU COM Experience. Poster Presentation National Rural Health Association, Multicultural and Multiracial Health, Memphis, TN, 2009
The Medical School Application Process: Florida State University Multicultural Association of Premedical Students, Tallahassee, FL 2008
How to Start A High School Medical Program From (Almost) Nothing. Presentation To The Florida Summit On Health Sciences Education, Orlando, FL, April 2008
Dr. Anderson is responsible for directing and managing the day-to-day operations of the College of Medicine’s undergraduate outreach 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 and the Multicultural Association of Premedical Students (MAPS).
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 Outreach 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
Faculty Adviser, Minority Association of Premedical Students, 2000-present
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
Insight Into Diversity, Inspiring Programs In STEM Leadership Award, 2017
Multicultural Association of Premedical Students, Esteemed Faculty Advisor and Leadership Award, 2010
Florida State University Chapter of National Council of Negro Women, INC, Spotlight Women of the Month, 2009
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
Faculty Advisor to Minority Association of Pre-Health Students
FSU South Side Steering Committee (K-12 Initiatives)
The National Association of Advisors for Health Professions
Rural Medical Scholars Advisory Committee
Sisters of the Academy (SOTA)
American Association of Blacks In Higher Education (AABHE)
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 first-generation, rural, and economically disadvantaged undergraduate 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. These indicators have been determined to bridge gaps and catalyze meaningful change.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Hurt, Myra, Livingston, Helen, Foster, Elizabeth, Wang Aihua. “Student’s perspective of success in a post-baccalaureate program”. Med Education Online, 2014.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Campbell, Kendall, Rodriquez, Jose. “From Underrepresented minority high school student to medical school faculty member: how an outreach program changed my life”. Journal of Health Care Poor Underserved, 2014.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Campbell, Kendall, Dormeus, Guy, Rodriquez, Jose, Wang, Aihua. “USSTRIDE Program is associated with competitive Black and Latino student applicants to medical school”. Journal of National Medical Association, 2011.
Berne-Anderson, Thesla, Eubanks, Penny and Moss, Jimmy L., 2007, “Rural SSTRIDE, Toward Increasing Diversity in Florida. AHEC Network Annual Report.
Berne-Anderson, T., Manusov, E., Livingston, H. The Bridge to Success: The FSU COM Experience.
FSUCOM Diversity Overview on Educational Pipeline Programs: From Ideas to Outcomes. Virtual Presentation To The Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Steering Committee, June 1st, 2021
An Overview of The Undergraduate SSTRIDE (USSTRIDE) Outreach Program. Virtual Presentation To Florida A & M University Undergraduate Student Success Class, October 13, 2020.
Improving Minority Students’ Acceptance To Medical School: USSTRIDE vs. Non-USSTRIDE. Poster Presentation AAMC Physician Workforce Conference, Alexandria, VA, 2013
The Bridge to Success: The FSU COM Experience. Poster Presentation AAMC SGEA, Oklahoma City, OK, 2010
The Medical School Application Process, Presentation Florida Agricultural, and Mechanical University Graduate Recruitment Fair, Tallahassee, FL, Annually 2005-Present
The Bridge to Success: The FSU COM Experience. Poster Presentation National Rural Health Association, Multicultural and Multiracial Health, Memphis, TN, 2009
The Medical School Application Process: Florida State University Multicultural Association of Premedical Students, Tallahassee, FL 2008
How to Start A High School Medical Program From (Almost) Nothing. Presentation To The Florida Summit On Health Sciences Education, Orlando, FL, April 2008