The Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees (DBOT) selected Jesse Pisors, Ed.D., to serve as PHSC’s fifth president in the college’s 51-year history. The decision was made at a board meeting held today at the Spring Hill Campus, following trustee interviews with four finalists for the presidency. Pisors will succeed Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., whose tenure at PHSC spans nearly 17 years, including his service as president since 2015.
Pending contract negotiations, Pisors is expected to take office in early January during an approximate one-month transitionary period until Beard’s retirement on January 31, 2024. “We have full confidence that Dr. Pisors will continue to uphold the college’s core values and will lead PHSC to further success in all future endeavors,” said Lee Maggard, Chair, DBOT.
Pisors is a seasoned leader in the field of higher education with a deep commitment to facilitating transformation through education. With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, he has demonstrated an ability to drive positive growth, enhance student experiences and strengthen community ties. Pisors has served as vice president at two public universities: Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) and University of Houston-Victoria (UHV).
Following Beard’s retirement announcement in January 2023, PHSC launched an intensive, national search for a successor with the assistance of Myers McRae, an executive and consulting firm. Chaired by Trustee John Mitten, an 18-member Presidential Search Committee, comprised of business leaders, community representatives, and PHSC faculty and staff, reviewed hundreds of applicants and interviewed 13 candidates for the presidency.
“The DBOT is deeply grateful for the efforts of the Presidential Search Committee that provided the trustees with four exceptional finalists for consideration,” said Mitten. “We also appreciate each of the distinguished finalists for participating in the extensive presidential search process, including interviews at a Town Hall meeting and receptions hosted at PHSC’s six locations earlier this month.”
The other finalists for the PHSC presidency included:
- Gilbert Evans, J.D., Ph.D.
- Eric Hall, Ed.D.
- Saul Reyes, Ed.D.
For more information about the search process and the candidates, visit the Presidential Search page.