Congratulations Graduates!

Chris B. Williams, a nationally recognized positive energy coach, motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur whose uplifting message has inspired audiences across the nation. A member of the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame, ESPN analyst and the voice of Manhattan’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, Williams is known for his charisma, purpose and contagious energy.

A Philadelphia native and former All-State basketball standout, he earned a full scholarship to Manhattan College, where he led his team to the 1993 MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament. Through his company, Williams Unlimited Inc., he delivers impactful programs on leadership, mindset and professional excellence to organizations such as the Disney Dreamers Academy, Rutgers University and the Miami Heat. Dedicated to empowering youth, Williams co founded the Williams & Bullock Basketball Academy and leads Journey to Manhood, a mentoring program for young men.

Eric Hall, Ed.D., was raised in Pasco County, Florida and has more than two decades of experience serving in executive leadership, with extensive expertise in the fields of education, public safety and public policy. He currently serves as the sixth president of Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC). Appointed by the PHSC District Board of Trustees, Hall assumed the office on a permanent basis in mid-June 2025. A proud alumnus of the college, he is notably the first to lead his alma mater.

Prior to his appointment at PHSC, he served as the secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where he was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in November 2021. Hall was also the state’s first senior chancellor at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), where he oversaw multiple divisions, including the Florida College System. Before joining FDOE, he served as deputy state superintendent at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he successfully led multiple divisions and initiatives within North Carolina’s education system. 

Throughout his career, Hall has built strong partnerships and impactful relationships with state and local leaders in both the public and private sectors. He is a lifelong educator and holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary science education, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of South Florida. He serves on several boards and councils including the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, CareerSource Florida Board of Directors, Special Olympics Florida and the Pasco County Economic Development Council, among others. He is the son of two public school teachers. His wife is a school social worker and together they have two children.