Mulberry City Clerk: Polk State bachelor’s degree gives “a little more clout”

For six years, Jenn Denson-Garcia has been serving municipalities in Polk County as a clerk. As a wife and mother to two daughters, her decision to enroll at Polk State College in her late-40s was much about finally having the opportunity to serve herself.

Approaching two years as the City Clerk for the City of Mulberry, Denson-Garcia will graduate on Wednesday, Dec. 4 as part of the College’s 131st Commencement Ceremony with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management with a concentration in Public Administration. After decades away, Denson-Garcia returned to college in the summer of 2021.

“I never got to walk across the stage before,” Denson-Garcia explained. “This was for myself, but this was also for my children. It shows them their mom can do it.”

Denson-Garcia dealt with illness late in high school but earned her general education degree (GED). She initially attended Southeastern University, but did not finish. As her two daughters got older, Denson-Garcia saw it as an opportune time. Then the Town Clerk for Dundee, she was encouraged to return to college by Town Manager Tandra Davis and her own husband Guadalupe.

“Going back to school is a lot easier when people aren’t as dependent on you,” she insisted. “Tandra just kept pushing me. My husband was very supportive through it all.”

With her daughters now in 11th grade and college at Palm Beach Atlantic University, respectively, Denson-Garcia has felt support from all angles. As her Town Manager did during her four years in Dundee, Mulberry City Manager Rick Johnson has also been a vocal supporter of Denson-Garcia continuing her education.

“My current city manager was an older student himself when he went back,” she said. “He’s encouraging me to get a master’s now. My goal was to finish my bachelor’s degree by the time I was 50. I turned 50 in September, so I’ve reached my goal.”

Denson-Garcia chose Polk State because it was the local, affordable option. She also appreciated the flexibility.

“I love being a clerk and want to stay in the field and Polk State had a bachelor’s program,” she noted. “The program allowed me to complete a lot of it online. I was able to work on my classes around my schedule. It’s a very cost-efficient program. It’s easy to get a degree without a lot of debt.”

Denson-Garcia achieved her Polk State Associate in Science in Supervision and Management last year, but wanted to wait until she earned her bachelor’s to walk across the stage. She has no plans of leaving her position as a city clerk, but the degree gives Denson-Garcia the opportunity to advance should she ever choose to.

“I don’t know if I want to be a city manager, but if I ever decide that’s what I want to do, I can now,” she said. “Being a clerk fits me, and I fit it. I love organizing things. I love overseeing the public records, which tell the city’s story – its history. Everything has to be transparent. Having a degree gives me a little more clout in my job.”

In addition to her family, bosses, and colleagues, Denson-Garcia also found support from Polk State’s faculty and staff. Senior Student Success Advisor Felicia Zimmerman, and Professors of Business Herbert Nold, and Rachelle Selser were among those she mentioned. As she graduates with honors and a 3.6 grade-point average, Denson-Garcia said she’s been encouraging others to go back to college.

“I’m very appreciative of my time at Polk State,” she concluded. “I’m pushing people to go back in the spring. You’re never too old to go back and chase your dream. If you’re in public administration, I would absolutely recommend Polk State.”