At the Simmons Center, you don't have to leave any part of yourself at the door. Whether you're a student of color navigating a predominantly white institution, a first-generation college student figuring out how to make it all work, or a student who simply wants to connect with others across cultures, this is your place.
Some places you have to experience to understand. The Simmons Center is one of them.
Visit Us
925 Johnson Ave., Lakeland, FL 33803
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Step inside and you'll find a full-size kitchen where students cook meals from home, a flexible meeting room for student organizations, and outdoor space to gather and unwind.
Tucked upstairs, the loft is a quiet spot to study, read, or catch your breath between classes.
The downstairs seating area is the place to catch up with friends, take a break, and make yourself at home.
The Simmons Center is a welcoming space for every FSC student—a place to connect, build community, learn from one another, and celebrate the experiences and cultures that enrich our campus. Explore some of the student organizations and communities connected through the Simmons Center.
The MSC is the student leadership body and event arm of the Simmons Center. It brings together representatives from FSC's cultural organizations to plan cultural awareness programming, build leadership skills, and foster a global learning environment.
For students building community around who they are, and working to make this campus better for everyone who comes next.
Find the students who share your background, and the ones curious about it.
Something is always happening here. Come as you are and leave knowing a little more about the world — and the people in it.
Throughout the year, the Simmons Center hosts and partners on programs that celebrate, uplift, and educate. These range from Black History Month lectures and heritage month celebrations to World Tour, Kindness Week, and Friendsgiving: A Faith and Culture Potluck.
In partnership with Student Life and the Hollis Wellness Center, Discover Florida offers free and discounted trips across Central Florida, from theme parks and cultural events to day trips and more, so cost and logistics never keep a student from exploring the region.
Being part of a community means showing up. Mocs Serve connects students with local nonprofits across Lakeland and Polk County, working on causes including food insecurity, homelessness, animal welfare, children and families, and senior care. Join a one-time project for an afternoon, or become part of an ongoing partnership that local organizations count on.
The Simmons Center supports FSC faculty, staff, and students through inclusive excellence activities, including help completing discrimination reports and partnerships with campus departments on belonging initiatives.
The Evett L. Simmons Center for Multicultural Appreciation and Belonging was established in 2013 and named in honor of alumna and trustee Evett L. Simmons '79. A Port St. Lucie attorney and chair of FSC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, Simmons has been a longtime advocate for FSC's minority students.
In 2021, Brenda's Place was dedicated inside the center in honor of Brenda Lewis, who helped found both the Simmons Center and the Multicultural Student Council. Her legacy lives on in every student who walks through these doors.
Have a question, an idea for a program, or just want to stop by and say hello? We'd love to meet you.
Visit Us
925 Johnson Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Director of the Simmons Center for Multicultural Appreciation and Belonging