Saint Leo University Announces New Board Leadership

ST. LEO, FL – The Saint Leo University Board of Trustees announced the appointment of three Tampa Bay area leaders to its executive team effective July 1. Former Florida legislator Edwin Narain, vice president of external and legislative affairs for AT&T Florida, will serve as chair; Noel Boeke, partner with Holland & Knight, will serve as vice chair; and Iskra Sbraccia, Citi compliance sanctions director and global head of CitiScreening content management, will serve as secretary. 

“I look forward to serving the university alongside such dedicated professionals,” said Dr. Ed Dadez, president of Saint Leo University. “Our board leadership team not only holds a strong appreciation for the unique learning experience that Saint Leo offers, but they are true models of what it means to live the university’s core values.”

Edwin Narain Elected Board Chair

Formerly serving as board secretary, Narain’s appointment makes him the youngest and first African American person to serve as Saint Leo University’s board chair. 

Narain, 46, is an alumnus of the university, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in business administration. He also holds a Juris Doctorate degree.

“I’ve always admired Saint Leo University’s commitment to making higher education accessible. I’m proud of our track record of producing graduates who possess the competence and courage to solve the world’s problems,” Narain said. “I look forward to working with my alma mater to deliver upon its life-changing mission in new and greater ways.”

Outside of his work with the university, Narain has served as an active business and civic leader in the Tampa Bay community for almost 30 years. 

His work with AT&T Florida has earned him three top performance manager of the year awards and two AT&T Summit Awards for being among the company’s top achievers.

Narain gives back to the community through his leadership service with many organizations. He serves as treasurer of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Executive Board and is the past chair of its policy council. He is the incoming chair for the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay and serves as the vice chair of the Lions World Vision Institute corporate board.

Narain is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives. His service earned him several prestigious awards from the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and in 2016 was named the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists Legislator of the Year.

Noel Boeke Elected Board Vice Chair

Noel Boeke joins the Saint Leo University Board of Trustees Executive Team after serving as a board member for nine years.

“I look forward to continuing to help Saint Leo University grow and provide opportunities for more people to receive a quality education from a private nonprofit university,” Boeke said. “Saint Leo has reputation for serving people from all walks of life — from working adults to military servicemembers — and providing them with a learning experience that fits their lives.”

As a partner at the law firm Holland & Knight, Boeke brings a wealth of legal experience in the financial industry to the university. Through his work, he support clients in the areas of litigation, bankruptcy, asset sales and purchases, negotiation of loan workouts, and documentation of debtor-in-possession financing. 

Boeke is a past president of the Florida Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, and the Bankruptcy Law Educational Series Foundation. He is a graduate of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce leadership program and was recognized by TAMPA Magazine as a top lawyer in 2022.

Prior to entering private law practice, Boeke served in the U.S. Navy for more than seven years.

Iskra Sbraccia Elected Board Secretary

Saint Leo University alumna Iskra Sbraccia joins the university’s executive team as secretary after serving on the board since 2021 and as the president of the Saint Leo University Alumni Association.

“Saint Leo University provides students with a learning experience grounded in core values, which is needed in our world today,” Sbraccia said. “I look forward to working with the board and university leadership on ways we can help more students access a Benedictine Catholic education. We need more leaders with a mission-driven mindset working in our nation’s businesses and organizations.”

Outside of her involvement with the university, Sbraccia is the compliance sanctions director and global head of CitiScreening content management at Citi. She has held many progressively responsible roles with Citi since joining the organization in 2009 and offers expertise in economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, screening technology and architecture, policy and standards, business intelligence, risk management, and strategy and negotiations.

Sbraccia earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University.