Dr. Jim Olliver 

James Oliver moved to Seminole in 1989 from North Carolina in order to work for St. Petersburg College. When he asked of family, friends, and co-workers where in Pinellas County he should look to move, all suggested Seminole as a great community with first-rate schools and he has been here ever since.

James Oliver fell in love with the Seminole community from the moment he first moved his family here. Jim quickly came to appreciate the quality of living in the community. In his role as VP for Institutional and Program Planning at SPC, he was asked to research potential enrollment scenarios, including potential use of the property at 113th Street and 102nd Avenue purchased by the College and left undeveloped (into the 1990s).

As he studied the Seminole community (knowing a great deal about it from living here for many years), it was clear that there was both a keen community interest and need for SPC to open a branch campus in Seminole. Planning was completed and the College made a decision to open the Campus in the early 1990s and in 1995 James Oliver was chosen to be the first head (Provost) of the Campus. This new post with SPC brought James into sustained contact with both governmental (especially the Seminole City Council) and business leaders who supported the SPC Seminole initiative.

The first SPC Seminole campus building was completed and opened in the fall of 1998 with around 500 students. Almost immediately the college saw the need to expand, planning got underway for a very large three-story classroom and administrative building, and the college partnered with the City on a nearly five-year quest to discuss, reach consensus and plan the first of SPC's joint-use libraries. The library, opened in 2003, has been a great success, supporting both the college students and community residents, many of whom, of course, are the same people!

As Provost James Oliver became fully engaged in the Seminole community and participated in many forums, events and activities, many supported by either the schools or the Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce. Through participation in the Chamber, James was selected to be on the Board, serving as Chamber Treasurer for many years. (He currently serves as Chamber President and Chairman of the Board.)

Since moving to unincorporated Seminole in 1989, James has moved twice more, both times to another location in Seminole, the final time into the City itself. At each location, the family has remained engaged with the community, principally through the College, but also with active participation in the Chamber and groups like the Seminole Tuesday Club community leadership organization.