Pasco-Hernando State College Volume XIV, Issue II Fall 2020 | Page 24

COLLEGE
UPDATE
EMPOWERED WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
The first ever PHSC Empowered Women in
Education Conference: Ignite the Trail, held at
the West Campus in March was a huge success.
More than 150 attendees participated in the
conference and
were empowered
through various
workshops and
presentations.
From left: Melissa Harts, Ed.D., Senior
Vice President of Technology and Distance
Education/Chief Information Officer and
Empowered Conference Committee Chair;
Tonjua Williams; and Timothy Beard.
“We take this time
to commemorate
the spirit and
courage of
history’s heroes
in remembrance
of this year’s 100 th
Anniversary of the
Women’s Suffrage
Movement,” said
Timothy L. Beard,
Ph.D., PHSC
President. “They,
similar to women
educators today,
held firm to the
belief that women
needed to be heard and deservedly have the same
rights as men. Their courage and fortitude
paved the way for women of diverse ages and
backgrounds to be included and taken seriously in
all areas including the boardrooms, courtrooms
and classrooms.”
Tonjua Williams, Ph.D., President, St. Petersburg
College, provided an inspirational keynote address,
which was followed by workshops, a Trailblazer
Award luncheon, and a panel discussion from
women champions who have supported education.
The Trailblazers in Education Awards were
presented to several women whose work impacted
education development in the Pasco-Hernando
and Tampa Bay region. The honorees were Susan
Duval, Heather Fiorentino, Katherine Johnson,
Ed.D., Carol Morsani, Madeline Pumariega and
Tonjua Williams.
Susan Duval is the board chair of the Hernando
County School Board. Heather Fiorentino is the
former superintendent of Pasco County Schools.
Katherine Johnson is president emerita of Pasco-
Hernando State College. Carol Morsani is the
director of the Frank and Carol Morsani Foundation,
Inc., and a philanthropist and community leader
in the Tampa Bay area. Madeline Pumariega is the
executive vice president and provost of Tallahassee
Community College and former chancellor of the
Florida College System. Tonjua Williams is the
president of St. Petersburg College.
The Empowered conference offered attendees
striving to make a difference in education with
an opportunity to be appreciated, inspired and
re-energized.
PHSC STUDENTS NAMED TO ALL-FLORIDA
ACADEMIC TEAM
From left: Empowered panelists and trailblazers in education with
PHSC president: Heather Fiorentino, Katherine Johnson, Madeline
Pumariega, Timothy L. Beard, Carol Morsani, Tonjua Williams, and
Jennifer Wells China, Ph.D., South Campus president, Hillsborough
Community College. Not pictured: Carol Duval, board chair, Hernando
County School Board.
Ten PHSC students were named to the 2020 Phi
Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Florida Academic Team,
which recognizes outstanding students for their
academic achievement, leadership and service to
the community.
PHSC’s student honorees were Keyel Jones
from East Campus; Hannah Caldi and Stephanie
22 PHSC