Congratulations Graduates!

Chris B. Williams is a positive energy coach, motivational speaker, best-selling co-author and ESPN analyst. A former Manhattan University basketball star and Hall of Fame inductee, he inspires individuals and organizations through engaging workshops, mentoring programs and keynote speeches. As a voice of Manhattan Jaspers Basketball, Chris captivates audiences with his charisma and passion for personal growth. He co-founded the Williams & Bullock Basketball Academy and leads initiatives like Journey to Manhood, helping young men develop confidence and leadership skills. His mission? To challenge and uplift others through positivity and self-evaluation.

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.

Nicole Newlon, Esq., appointed by Gov. Desantis to the District Board of Trustees of Pasco-Hernando State College in July 2023, is a partner in the Tampa law firm of Johnson, Newlon & DeCort, P.A.  Newlon is a Dade City resident and graduate of Pasco high school. She was a dual enrollment student at PHSC in 1990-1991; followed by a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Florida, and her juris doctorate from Stetson University. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Federal Litigation Section of the Federal Bar Association and a former Dade City Commissioner.

David Secrest is an Air Force Veteran, the Student Representative on the PHSC District Board of Trustees and a math tutor for the Academic Success Center (ASC). Since transferring to the PHSC West Campus in Fall 2025, David has been active on campus by connecting with other student veterans and attending Veteran Services' bi-monthly Vet's Cup events, all while staying in contact with Shelly, Coordinator of Veteran Services. In Spring 2025, James was awarded the Corporal Timothy J. Read Veteran Student Exemplary Leadership Award during the 36th Annual Distinguished Alumni and Student Life and Leadership Awards Recognition.