PHSC appoints trustee and reappoints two to DBOT

Pasco-Hernando State College announced the appointment of Toni Zetzsche, Ph.D., to its District Board of Trustees and the reappointments of Gino Collura, Ph.D., and Marilyn Pearson-Adams, all effective Dec. 12, 2025. The personnel actions, reported Jan. 15, 2026, reshape the board that oversees PHSC’s strategy for academic programs and workforce training across its campuses, including the Spring Hill site used by Hernando County students and employers.

Toni Zetzsche joins the board as a Pasco County representative. Gino Collura and Marilyn Pearson-Adams were retained through reappointment, preserving continuity among trustees. The current District Board of Trustees now includes Toni Zetzsche, Gino Collura, Marilyn Pearson-Adams and Hernando County representatives Nicole Newlon and John Allocco Jr., among others. That mix of appointees affects who will weigh in on program approvals, partnerships with local employers, and campus priorities that matter to Hernando residents.

Trustee composition carries practical consequences for classroom offerings and workforce development in this region. The DBOT sets the college’s direction on educational programming, approves budgets and policies, and influences how PHSC positions itself to meet local labor market needs. Decisions by the board touch the Spring Hill campus directly, shaping certificate programs, career-technical training, and transfer pathways relied on by Hernando students and local employers seeking skilled workers.

For Hernando voters and community leaders, the board changes are a governance moment: new appointments can shift emphasis toward certain program areas or partnerships, while reappointments maintain institutional memory that can smooth multi-year initiatives. Representation from both Pasco and Hernando counties on the DBOT also matters for equitable allocation of resources and responsiveness to local employer demands.

Transparency and engagement will determine how these trustee changes translate into concrete outcomes. Board meetings and agendas are the principal venues where program proposals and budget decisions are discussed. Residents, students and business leaders with a stake in workforce training should monitor the DBOT’s calendar and participate when issues affecting the Spring Hill site or county-specific programs arise.

This round of appointments and reappointments sets the stage for the next phase of PHSC’s planning. How the new and returning trustees prioritize campus investments and workforce partnerships will shape educational pathways and job pipelines for Hernando County residents in the months and years ahead.