The Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees (DBOT) elected board leaders at its reorganization meeting, held at the college’s Instructional Performing Arts Center in Wesley Chapel on July 18. In unanimous decisions, Trustees Lee Maggard and Marilyn Pearson-Adams were elected to serve, respectively, as chair and vice chair of the board for year-long terms effective immediately.
Maggard, Vice President, Credit Officer for BankFlorida in Dade City, has been employed in the banking industry for 13 years. A lifelong resident of East Pasco county and a PHSC graduate, he has served on the board since 2018. Marilyn Pearson-Adams, owner and CEO of Century 21 Alliance Realty, Hernando County, was appointed to the DBOT in 2014 and served as board chair in 2020-2021.
The DBOT also welcomed newly appointed trustee and Dade City resident, Nicole Newlon, to the board. Newlon, partner in the Tampa law firm of Johnson, Newlon and DeCort and a former Dade City Commissioner, attended PHCC as a dual enrollment student in 1990-1991.
Gilberto Mattei-Fernandez was selected to serve as DBOT student representative, an advisory position, succeeding Celyse Dahdal, outgoing student representative.
The trustees recognized John Mitten for his leadership as 2022-2023 board chair and for his ongoing role as Chair of PHSC’s Presidential Search Committee. The Board also recognized Rhonda Dodge, who facilitated her final meeting as Executive Assistant to the President/DBOT prior to her retirement from PHSC, concluding 35+ years of service at PHSC in August.
“We are indeed fortunate to have exceptional trustees who believe in the College mission to provide high quality, educational and career training opportunities to the residents of Hernando and Pasco counties,” said Timothy L. Beard, PHSC President. “We are also fortunate to have outstanding administrators, staff and students – every role at PHSC ensures that our board is able to operate effectively and in the best interests of the entire college community.”