A Legacy of Greatness: Alumna Sandy Shultz
One of the most generous supporters of Anne's College, Schultz has transformed the college's future with a generous gift that will endow the deanship, providing support to multiple faculty positions.
Dr. Sandra ‘Sandy’ Schultz (Ph.D. Physical Education/Movement Science, ‘85) is a modern-day Renaissance woman, a leader in the world of collegiate softball and volleyball, an avid world traveler, and an accomplished writer. Get to know her more, and you will discover her passion and talent extend even deeper into a variety of interests. In fact, plenty of people know Schultz as an accomplished horticulturist, an avid horse show judge, or an animal rescuer.
At Florida State University, however, she is known for her generosity above all else. One of the most generous supporters of the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Schultz has transformed the future of the college with a generous gift that will endow the college’s deanship, providing support to multiple faculty positions. In addition, Schultz recently pledged generous support to FSU’s Unconquered Scholars Program, which provides services to students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or other hardships. So, while there are many ways to have met Schultz, there are a few constants regardless of context: passion and talent for whatever she does, and her generosity.
FSU Women Helping Women
Schultz chose Florida State University for her doctoral studies after meeting two Anne’s College faculty members who were already legends in FSU women’s sports: Drs. Janet Wells and Billie Jo Jones. Schultz recalls meeting them at a conference, and the exchange was so positive that she knew FSU was the right place for her.
As a student, she loved FSU Football and studying at Strozier Library. More than anything, though, she loved her professors. “I had the best professors,” Schultz said. “They were all just incredibly good, every single one of them. I loved going to class.”
Wells and Jones would go on to play a role in Schultz’s doctoral studies, as well. Jones served as her major professor on her doctoral committee, and Wells was both a committee member and proofreader for her dissertation. “There were no errors,” Schultz said proudly. “None. Not one single typo in 200 and something pages, and Janet had an eagle eye.”
Beyond their role as mentors and educators, Wells and Jones also generously opened their home to Schultz to help her finish her dissertation. “One time, I had to come back for a semester and work on my dissertation, because living in Miami and trying to teach at Miami Dade College, I could not get it done,” Schultz recalled. “I said, ‘Okay, I’m going to take a semester off at Miami Dade and go up there,’ and they let me stay in their house for a whole semester in their spare room. It was so incredibly nice. They were just wonderful.”
Making a Name in Miami
As she wrapped up her dissertation, Schultz was making a name for herself in a different way: as an up-and-coming softball and volleyball coach at Miami Dade College. Her time as coach actually began shortly after the first year of her doctoral studies. When the former Miami Dade College softball coach left for UCLA, Schultz saw an opportunity.
She interviewed, and, given her background playing volleyball and softball, she was offered the position and decided to talk to Jones. “I said, ‘Do you think I should come back, or should I take the job at Miami Dade?’ She says, ‘Take the job. Don’t blow that.’” That encouragement turned into 34 years as a successful coach and professor at Miami Dade College.
Schultz’s time at Miami Dade College was marked by major changes at the institution. For starters, it became a four-year degree-granting college. Under her leadership, the softball and volleyball teams became highly competitive and would often travel to play some of the best teams in the country, including Florida State, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina, and more. During her time, Schultz also wrote five textbooks that explored concepts of fitness and wellness.
Despite these tremendous successes, Schultz is also fondly remembered for smaller accomplishments and personalized attention. Arlene Colson was a softball pitcher at Miami Dade College under Schultz. Colson recalls the transformative impact Schultz had on her life. “I played softball all my life, and she, by far, was my favorite coach,” said Colson. “She was just so kind and caring. She was a big part of my life, so much so that she went to my wedding when I got married.”
Colson was amazed at Schultz’s understanding of softball. “She knew her sport,” she said. “She taught it well—she taught us a lot, taught me a lot, and I thought I knew softball by the time I got there, but she definitely taught me some skills.”
She also recalls Schultz going above and beyond routinely for her players and students, but one memory stands out particularly. Colson, covering third base, broke her thumb when an opposing player slid into the base. Schultz personally took Colson to nearby Shands Hospital. After treating the break, the doctor instructed Colson to keep her hand raised above her heart, her hand splinted in a gesture that looked like waving hello. Schultz took Colson from the hospital to team dinner, and when they arrived, Schultz had the entire team raise their hands in the same gesture in solidarity.
Video feature
Learn more about the journey and impact of Sandy Shultz in our video feature.
Best of the Best
Schultz made an impact at Miami Dade College, and as testament to her incredible talent, she was named the 2009 Florida Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The award recognized faculty members for their teaching prowess, scholarly contributions, institutional impact, and peer references. Schultz undoubtedly set a high standard in each of those categories during her time at Miami Dade College.
Jenny Krugman, longtime friend and former vice president for the southern region at The College Board, believes that the award was well deserved. “She was recognized by Miami Dade College and received an endowed teaching chair award from the college four times. That doesn’t happen, not in my experience,” Krugman said. “But she’s not an elitist, and she felt the mission of [Miami Dade College] was worthy of a lifetime of work, and so she gave the college that lifetime of work.”
Even after 25 years of friendship, Krugman says she still learns new things about Schultz that amaze her. She reflects on Schultz rescuing an abandoned dog in the middle of the Florida Turnpike. The dog, named Mickey because it resembled a mouse, is deaf and blind, but Krugman says Schultz will walk it every morning, first thing. “Her three adopted cats walk with them, too. I think that’s a testimony to the kind of person she is.”
Florida State Legacy
Beyond her myriad talents and accomplishments, her generosity and love for FSU puts her in a league of her own. To Schultz, supporting Anne’s College just makes sense. “When I finished my tenure at Miami Dade College, I did work with the Dade County Public Schools as a consultant, and so I did see in Dade and Broward Counties a lot of graduates from Florida State College of Education, and there was not one of them that was bad,” said Schultz. “Every one of them was just incredible. So basically, my gift, I hope, will help attract more good administrators and good professors in our college.”
Assistant Dean for Development at Anne’s College Kevin Derryberry said, “Sandy has long been a leader in giving at Florida State University, serving two terms on the FSU Foundation board during the FSU Connect campaign that wrapped in 2006.
“She was one of the very first donors to record a $1 million estate commitment to Anne’s College. As her estate has grown in value, she has revisited her conversations with Florida State University Foundation and Anne’s College to include additional programs such as a generous faculty support fund, an endowment that represents the first named deanship commitment at FSU, and, most recently, a generous $1 million commitment to support the Unconquered Scholars Program. Sandy‘s total estate commitment to Florida State University is now more than $6 million.”
“Sandy’s gift is historic, not just for Anne’s College but for the entire university,” said Anne’s College Dean, Damon Andrew. “Her support for FSU is unwavering, and knowing that a woman as amazing and accomplished as Sandy believes in us is an indescribable feeling. This is the kind of transformational gift that will make an impact for generations to come.”
Reflecting on her lifetime of achievements, Schultz added about her gift, “I was rewarded, and others should be rewarded, too. I hope the gift helps the college be excellent—even more excellent. I think that there’s no question, it’s the best, and one of the best in the United States, in my opinion. I want to keep it the best. That’s my legacy.”