The History Department Advisory Board
Anthony Anderson
Anthony “Tony” Anderson, a distinguished alumnus from Florida Atlantic University’s Class of 1979, has dedicated his life to education and public service. A member of Martin County’s celebrated Anderson family, Tony came by his calling naturally – his father, the late Reverend Jesse H Anderson, Sr., was instrumental in improving community relations and bringing racial integration to Martin County; while his brother, Dr. David L. Anderson, holds the record of being Florida’s longest-serving school board member.
As he followed in his family’s footsteps of public service, Tony made a concerted effort to diversify his influence. He enjoyed a 14-year career with Grumman Aerospace Corporation before ultimately deciding to dedicate his time to making an impact on the future generation as an educator. Tony has served as a Chairman of the Anderson Family Foundation since 2000, on the Board of Trustees for Cleveland Clinic Martin and on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County. He has also served in a leadership /advisory capacity for the United Way of Martin County, American Red Cross of Martin County, Martin County’s LEADERship Martin Class 9, the Martin County Zoning Adjustment Board and the Martin County Local Planning Agency (LPA). Tony’s belief in the need for all students to be effectively educated and adequately prepared to pursue their interests, talents and dreams led him to run for and serve on the Martin County School Board, a position he held proudly from 2018-2022.
In 2017, Tony earned Florida Atlantic University’s College of Arts & Letters’ Distinguished Alumni Award. Along with his wife, Delphina, he gifted $25,000 to Florida Atlantic University that created an endowment to support various needs of the university’s History Department in perpetuity.
Tony retired in June 2023 after serving as an educator and mentor to students in Martin and Palm Beach counties for 30 years. While he will no longer have a full-time career, he plans to remain active in the Martin County and Pahokee/Glades communities, pursuing the many causes related to education, equity and civic service that have been generational passions and guiding forces for his family.
Mary Csar
Charlene Farrington
Charlene Farrington manages and oversees the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, Inc., (Spady Museum) a non-profit organization established to preserve and share black history. The Spady Museum is located in the West Settlers’ Historic District of Delray Beach, Florida and its mission is to preserve and share the rich cultural experience of Black Communities.
Under her leadership since 2012, the museum has implemented a consistently high-quality exhibition schedule, strengthened relationships with stakeholders in the government and private sectors, increased revenue and redefined its cultural programs and events.
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is a non-profit organization established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1925. Dr. Woodson is considered the father of Black History Month. The Spady Museum is a charter member of the local branch of ASALH South Florida and through museum exhibitions and programming, the Spady Museum is leading the way in charting a course to realize this mission of both the Spady Museum and ASALH South Florida with Charlene as current president of the local branch.
As a result of her passion for her work that she pours into the operation of the museum, in 2014 the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum was awarded the prestigious Muse Award: Chair’s Choice, presented by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and the Florida Preservation Award for the “preservation of Florida’s rich history” presented by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
Charlene believes in continuing education and is constantly seeking opportunities to increase her capacity as an organization leader. Charlene earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Mercer University in Georgia in 1985. She continued her education in museum and non-profit management with the following courses:
- 2002 Measuring Program Outcomes from the Non-Profit Resource Institute
- 2005 Collections Management Training from the American Association of Museums
- 2010 Museum Management from the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network
- 2010 Care of Manuscript Collections from the Society of American Archivists
- 2011 Museum Education 101 from the American Association for State and Local History
- 2018 Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
- 2021 21st Century Innovative Leader Certification from Carolina Christian College
Charlene currently represents the Spady Museum in the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network (FAAHPN) and is president of the Delray Beach chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Awards and Recognitions:
- 2019 Women of Excellence Award for the Arts, Delta Foundation
- 2020 Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award, Palm Beach County Historical Society
Charlene has two adult sons and is the daughter of Vera Farrington, former Palm Beach County educator and founder of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.
Jeffrey Fine
Fernelize Henry
Sallie Middleton
Sallie Middleton (MA 1988, FAU, Ph.D., 2001, FIU) works for Palm Beach State College as Professor III, History, Department of Social Science, Lake Worth Campus. Dr. Middleton has served both students and community at PBSC for the past sixteen years. She also serves as faculty advisor of the History Club of Palm Beach State College, which she started, and loves her work with these interested students. Along with her husband of 48 years, Steve, she still lives in Jupiter Farms and volunteers at local non-profit Our Sister’s Place every Saturday. You may contact Dr. Middleton by email middlets@palmbeachstate.edu
Eric Salzman
Kemp Stickney