FSI Stakeholder Advisory Board Update – May 2026
The Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI) is thrilled to announce the appointment of new members to our Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB), a vital group guiding FSI’s mission to position Florida as a global leader in semiconductor innovation, workforce development, and economic growth. As we continue to leverage over $1 billion in federal, state, and private investments, the SAB’s expertise ensures FSI’s initiatives align with the needs of Florida’s semiconductor ecosystem and national priorities.
New Board Members
- Brent Ferns, Sr., Ph.D. – Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for Career and Technical Education, Santa Fe College
- Dr. Ferns will serve in the State College seat, bringing experience in IT, workforce development, and academic leadership across Florida’s higher education system.
- Lesley Cheema – Advanced Packaging Program Manager, Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Center, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
- Lesley leads advanced packaging technology efforts and has overseen semiconductor wafer bumping operations in Apopka, Florida since 2020. She brings 30 years of experience across semiconductor design and manufacturing, including roles at Lucent Technologies Bell Labs, Sawtek, TriQuint, and Qorvo, and is a UCF Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.
- Sylvia Thomas, Ph.D. – Professor and former Vice President of Research & Innovation, University of South Florida
- Dr. Thomas is a Fellow of AIMBE, NAI, and AAAS. She leads USF’s AMBIR lab and brings more than 30 years of global experience, with over 200 publications and patents, and collaborations including Bell Labs, IBM, and Procter & Gamble.
Thank you to the Outgoing Members
To ensure broad and inclusive stakeholder engagement across the state’s semiconductor ecosystem, we have planned a board rotation process. We want to recognize and express our sincere gratitude to the following individuals for their valuable service and contributions to the board:
- Frank Margiotta – Dean of Workforce Programs, Eastern Florida State College
- Reza Abdolvand, Ph.D. – Department Chair and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Central Florida
- Scott Rauscher, Ph.D. – Technology Lead, L3Harris Technologies
Their support has helped lay the groundwork for our nationally recognized initiative in semiconductor research, education, and economic development.
Information about the full 12-member Stakeholder Advisory Board can be found at https://fsi.institute.ufl.edu/fsi-team/