This year, the News Service of Florida (NSFL) honored 5 Alumni from FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) in their annual “50 Over 50” article, which was released on April 20.
The publication recognizes 50 individuals over 50 years of age who have used their leadership, achievements, and strong dedication to improve Florida’s wellbeing across energy, government, healthcare and higher education domains.
Of the 50 individuals distinguished in the article, 5 were COSSPP Alumni: Charles C. Hart IV; Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp; James Murdaugh, Ph.D.; Cari Roth, J.D.; and Jamie Wilson, DBA. Recognized for their outstanding contributions to the state, they were featured in the publication and invited to the News Service of Florida 50 Over 50 Reception held on April 22.
Charles C Hart IV earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University in 1991 and is the CEO of Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers and CiviTek. While in this position, a new child-support payment system called PayKidz was launched, allowing easier access to case information and faster payments.
“The role allows me to apply innovative solutions to long-standing challenges while strengthening trust in the institutions that serve Floridians every day,” Hart said.
Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from FSU in 1984. Kottkamp served previously as Lieutenant Governor before taking on his current role, where under his leadership, his organization achieved a longtime goal when Florida eliminated the business rent tax in 2025.
“Our goal is to promote impactful public policy that improves the lives of Florida’s taxpayers,” Lt. Gov. Kottkamp said.
James Murdaugh, Ph.D., a three-time FSU alumnus, earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology in 1974, his master’s degree in criminology in 1976, and his doctorate in Public Administration in 2005. As president of Tallahassee State College, he oversaw the launch of a learning center focused on artificial intelligence in education. Earlier in his career, he developed a dual-enrollment program that helped a student earn a corrections officer certification, enabling her to purchase a home and reunite with her siblings in foster care.
“I saw first-hand the power of what we as a college do,” Dr. Murdaugh said.
Cari Roth, J.D., earned her bachelor’s degree in political science in 1979 and her law degree in 1983, both from FSU. She is currently the vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs at Lykes Bros., where she helps agricultural companies navigate government regulations, drawing on her extensive knowledge of environmental and land-use policies. In addition, she supports small farms in the Big Bend area by volunteering with the Red Hills Small Farm Alliance, which connects farmers with local consumers.
“I love how the legal and policy areas that I enjoy the most come together in this job,” Roth said.
Jamie Wilson, DBA, earned his master’s in Applied American Politics and Policy from FSU in 2003, and is now the Vice President of Government Relations with Moffitt Cancer Center. During his 2 decades at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Wilson has helped fund new cancer treatments in patients by increasing investment in research. Under his leadership, the Center’s workforce has grown by over 7,000 healthcare workers, and now serves over 100,000 patients each year
“I’m surrounded every day by brilliant people dedicated to our mission to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer,” Dr. Wilson said.
COSSPP is proud to recognize these outstanding alumni and their longstanding dedication to improving the lives of Florida residents across multiple domains statewide.
For more information on the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, visit cosspp.fsu.edu.
To read the “2026 News Service of Florida 50 Over 50” article, visit newsserviceflorida.com/recognition_lists/2026-news-service-of-florida-50-over-50/article_1098cac4-fbd8-45dd-85fd-0e99cfd8a18e.html