Saint Leo University President Shares Six-Month Update, Growth Strategy

Six months into his presidency, Dr. Jim Burkee is charting a bold course for Saint Leo University. Addressing more than 100 regional business leaders at the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Circle of Influence event on February 27, he outlined a growth strategy focused on artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, experiential learning, and stronger community partnerships.

“We have had to take a hard look at ourselves, and I think that’s healthy,” Burkee said. “The institutions that will succeed in this next generation are not the ones that deny change, they are the ones who are going to embrace it, and they’re going to do it with discipline.”

As higher education faces shifting demographics, workforce demands, and financial challenges, Saint Leo is seizing this moment of change to refine its strategy and strengthen its long-term outlook. “Saint Leo is positioning itself to be the most workforce-oriented university in the region,” Burkee said.

Digital fluency

Through a comprehensive partnership with IBM, the university is launching a new initiative to integrate digital fluency and AI-oriented skills across every major. Beginning in fall 2026, all students will build a digital portfolio that demonstrates competency in areas including data analytics, cybersecurity, AI fundamentals, digital collaboration, and emerging technologies within their specific disciplines.

“We’re going to make every single Saint Leo graduate digitally fluent, future-ready, and ready to connect to industries in Tampa,” Burkee said.

The university plans for students to put these digital skills into practice in real-world settings, not just study them in theory.

Experiential learning

As the Tampa Bay region grows in technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, and other key industries, opportunities for hands-on learning are expanding too. Saint Leo’s goal is for every student to have an internship built into their academic pathway.

“We are working now to embed internships, micro-internships, apprenticeships, and corporate-sponsored projects across programs,” Burkee told the audience at the event. “But here is the reality: We cannot do that without you.”

Saint Leo is actively pursuing memorandums of understanding with regional companies to create new internship programs, co-design curriculum, expand project-based learning, sponsor capstone experiences, and provide meaningful feedback loops to better align academic preparation with workforce needs.

Core values

Alongside its emphasis on experiential learning and workforce readiness, Saint Leo University remains committed to mission-driven, values-centered education. “In a world that seems increasingly transactional, we think it matters that we're producing graduates who stand for something,” Burkee said.

As the only Catholic university in the Tampa Bay area and the oldest in the state of Florida, Saint Leo’s academic programs are rooted in Benedictine tradition, which emphasizes ethical leadership, service, and community.

“We focus on creating graduates who work in teams and communicate across differences, and understand that business success and community go hand in hand,” he said. “That’s what makes Saint Leo special. That’s what those Catholic values mean.”

Commitment to the military 

Burkee also reaffirmed Saint Leo University’s longstanding commitment to military members and their families, noting that the institution will continue to prioritize flexible pathways, career-aligned programs, and dedicated support services for those who serve.

“Serving the military is in our DNA,” he said.

He added that Saint Leo is exploring emerging technologies, including drone applications, to better prepare graduates for the evolving needs of the armed forces and defense industries.

Moving towards the future

Burkee closed his remarks with an invitation for the business community to participate in the university’s next chapter, ensuring that industry and academia move forward in alignment as strategic partners.

“We are rebuilding Saint Leo with clarity and discipline. We are integrating artificial intelligence preparedness into every single aspect of our curriculum. We are embedding experiential learning into every pathway. We are modernizing governance and data systems to ensure that internally we are operating with accountability and discipline,” he said. “But none of that fulfills its promise unless we’re connected to you.”

Read more about Burkee’s plans for Saint Leo in the Tampa Bay Business Journal.