From the President
Dear Friends :
Happy 50th Anniversary , PHSC ! Established in 1972 , PHSC is the newest and final link in the renowned Florida College System , also known as the “ Great 28 .” Loyal to the community college mission , PHSC has provided quality , affordable education and workforce training to the residents of Hernando and Pasco counties for five decades . This special anniversary edition of Perspective reviews the College ’ s first 50 years of extraordinary growth and outlines anniversary celebrations and activities .
PHSC ’ s road to success has been paved with challenges and opportunities . Founding College President Milton O . Jones , Ph . D ., worked alongside volunteers to build , literally , temporary classroom space for the College ’ s first students . The new president and a small brigade of employees remained undeterred by a lack of funds , instructors or classroom space . In fall 1972 , the College opened in temporary quarters before a single brick was laid for its first campus in Dade City . Students were surprised to learn that an elective on “ Creative Leadership ” was taught by the College president .
PHSC was called the “ College without Walls ” until campuses were established in Dade City , New Port Richey and Brooksville . PHSC continued to thrive under the capable leadership of Robert W . Judson , Jr ., Ed . D ., and Katherine M . Johnson , Ed . D ., the College ’ s second and third presidents , respectively . Currently , PHSC students can take courses in person at six convenient locations or opt to study online .
PHSC now employs 600 plus faculty and staff who serve more than 10,000 students annually . In five short decades , PHSC has conferred nearly 60,000 degrees and certificates to graduates employed in virtually every field — education , public service , construction , healthcare , aviation , information technology and others . PHSC contributes an estimated $ 450 million to the regional economy , supporting the health , wealth and stability of our service area .
An institution is not defined by bricks and mortar alone . PHSC ’ s success can be attributed to the creative leadership , ambition and service of dedicated people . No doubt , PHSC has been blessed with the contributions of many loyal trustees , donors , administrators , faculty , staff and alumni .
PHSC is indeed Gold ! Sincerely ,
Timothy L . Beard , Ph . D . PHSC President
September 2022
ABOUT THE COVER How sweet the sound . . . and the memories PHSC founding President Dr . Milton O . Jones and Shirley Cherry , the College ’ s first enrolled student # 0001 , met recently to share memories . At their reunion , the duo belted out an impromptu and impressive version of Amazing Grace .
PASCO-HERNANDO STATE COLLEGE
President Timothy L . Beard , Ph . D .
PHSC District Board of Trustees Chair John Mitten Vice Chair Lee Maggard Members Marilyn Pearson-Adams Robin Schneider Jeffrey Harrington , Ph . D . David Garcia , Th . D . Rebecca Schulkowski , Pharm . D . Alvaro Hernandez Celyse Dahdal , Student Trustee
PHSC Foundation Board Members
EXECUTIVE BOARD Chair Ronald J . May Vice Chair R . Seth Mann Secretary Brian Horn Treasurer Skip Miller Past Chair Greg Lenners District Board of Trustees Representative Lee Maggard Member at Large The Honorable Barbara-Jo Bell
BOARD MEMBERS Jimmy Adcock Kenneth R . Burdzinski Rogerick Green Steven D . Hickman Kerra Kuzmick David Lambert Monica Mills Charles Spinner Seth Weightman Shonda Wilson
HONORARY MEMBERS Robert A . Barnett Andrew Barnes Edward C . Blommel Marc W . Bowman The Honorable Wayne Cobb Wayne R . Coulter Joel H . Goldberg , D . M . D . James H . Kimbrough Sr . Niles H . Kinnunen Jr ., D . D . S . Ronald G . Thornton Donald K . Vierling , M . D . * Richard C . Williams Jr .
* deceased
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT Lisa Richardson , Ed . D .
2 PHSC