Introducing
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President Jesse Pisors , Ed . D ., Fifth PHSC President
by Carmine J . Bell , Ph . D ., PHSC Professor Emerita
The fifth president of Pasco-Hernando State College , Jesse Pisors , Ed . D ., officially took office on February 1 , 2024 , the day after Timothy L . Beard , Ph . D ., retired after eight years as president and 17 years at PHSC . During a brief transitional period , beginning on January 8 , when both the retiring and incoming presidents served side-by-side , Pisors ’ schedule quickly filled with meetings . “ My first priority is to listen and understand ,” he said . “ It ’ s been wonderful getting to know the College through the perspective of PHSC trustees , staff , faculty , students and other College stakeholders .”
In this special introduction of Dr . Pisors , the new president thoughtfully answered questions about his personal and professional history – revealing a multifaceted educator with a broad world view , strong leadership skills , and a deep appreciation for the value of education .
Where were you born , raised , and educated ?
I was born in Woodstock , IL , northwest of Chicago , near where my parents , Frank and Holly Pisors , were born and raised . Seeking a quieter , country environment in which to raise their children , my parents purchased an older home on 40 acres of land in Central Wisconsin , once a dairy farm , when I was less than a year old . My parents still live in the farmhouse , built in the late 1800s , where they raised five children , four boys and one girl , of whom I am the second oldest . Now 85 years old , my father has spent most of his life masterfully maintaining that old and much-loved Pisors ’ family home .
My siblings and I attended private Christian schools until I reached the seventh grade , when my mother began homeschooling all of us at a time when homeschooling , especially in rural Wisconsin , was uncommon . I have tremendous respect and admiration for my mother as a teacher . She scheduled our time and classes carefully ; Mom spent long hours in the summer refreshing her own knowledge of algebra , geometry and other subjects . To her credit , my siblings and I all performed well above average on our ACT / SAT tests and went on to graduate from college , most of us with multiple degrees . My mother modeled a passion for learning that inspired my interest in education .
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