AUGUST Member Spotlight

Mrs. Cynthia “Cindy” F. O’Connell serves as the inaugural Director of the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, where her visionary leadership has driven the expansion of the Foundation’s donor base, ensuring countless aspiring students are given the opportunity to build a brighter future. Under her stewardship, the Foundation launched a groundbreaking partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation, culminating in a $20 million dollar scholarship initiative designed to help break the generational cycle of poverty in Florida. The Path to Prosperity Scholarship Program provides college scholarships to students in the most underserved communities across the state.

Prior to joining the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Mrs. O’Connell served as the Secretary of the Florida Lottery, where her tenure was marked by technological innovation and substantial revenue growth. Her service extends to numerous boards and organizations, including current positions on the Volunteer Florida Board and the University of Florida Foundation. She is a former chairperson of Florida House Board on Capitol Hill, served as Chair of the Economics Club of Florida and served a 10-year term on the UF Board of Trustees 2001 – 2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida State University, obtained a Graduate Studies certificate in financial marketing from Louisiana State University and was named in 2000 as an honorary member of the University of Florida Alumni Association.