President
PRESIDENT
PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE
Pensacola State College, in Northwest Florida, seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as President. The President serves as the institution’s chief executive officer and corporate secretary to the Board of Trustees, providing visionary, mission-driven leadership. The President guides strategic planning and institutional effectiveness while fostering a culture of student success and academic excellence.
For more information, please see the full profile at the link below:
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Founded in 1948 as Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola State College (PSC) is the oldest and largest college in the Panhandle of Florida. Pensacola State College is widely recognized as a premier, student friendly college that competes with the best—offering more than 100 programs, state-of-the-art resources, and an excellent faculty. Nationally ranked in the top one percent in affordable tuition, PSC offers associate and bachelor’s degrees along with vocational certifications. With more than 170 individual programs, PSC focuses on career advancement and technical training.
During its first year, 136 students enrolled at the college. Current enrollment is about 26,000 students. With six convenient locations, PSC has campuses in Pensacola, Milton, and Warrington as well as centers in Century and South Santa Rosa County.
The B.A.S. and B.S.N. programs open doors for career advancement and retraining for those who have completed associate degrees. Students earning A.A. degrees have a guaranteed transfer to Florida’s 12 state universities. For students earning A.S. degrees and career-oriented certificates, job placement is nearly 100 percent in many technical areas. The A.S. degree also transfers to Florida universities. Pensacola State also offers exceptional opportunities via Dual Enrollment, and Continuing Education programs.
PSC Mission
Pensacola State College is committed to providing quality, affordable, and accessible educational opportunities. The College, a member of the Florida College System, offers baccalaureate and associate degrees, workforce certificates, business and industry training, non-credit continuing education, and community outreach.
PSC Vision
Pensacola State College’s innovative and supportive educational environment fosters students to become engaged, self-supporting, and self-governing citizens.
PSC Foundation
Making a difference together, the foundation of PSC accepts gifts, donations, and naming opportunities to support its mission and give scholarships to deserving students. To commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, PSC is asking 250 supporters to give $250 each to fund a permanent “250 Years Proud” endowed scholarship at Pensacola State College. The Foundation is the 501(c)(3) Direct Support Organization of the College.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The President serves as the institution’s chief executive officer and corporate secretary to the board of trustees, providing visionary, mission-driven leadership. The President guides strategic planning and institutional effectiveness while fostering a culture of student success, access, and academic excellence.
Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, trustees, and community partners, the President oversees financial stewardship, resource development, academic programs, enrollment management, and campus operations.
The role carries responsibility for policy implementation, regulatory compliance, and accountability to state performance goals. As the institution’s principal ambassador, the President cultivates partnerships, advances workforce and transfer pathways, and ensures responsible governance aligned with state law and Board priorities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Pensacola State College is an indispensable and valued community partner, highly responsive to local educational and workforce needs. The Pensacola State President reports directly to the District Board of Trustees and is a visible, active member of the College community and must display technical and principled leadership in all matters.
To achieve this, the President must be an accomplished, energetic leader capable of the following:
- Providing visionary leadership, ensuring compliance with state and federal law, the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and College policies and procedures, while aligning institutional priorities with state and community needs to advance student success and academic excellence;
- Articulating and advancing a compelling, mission-centered vision in partnership with the Board, guiding strategic planning and institutional priorities, and take calculated, transformational risks to position the College for success in a rapidly changing educational environment;
- Demonstrating institutional leadership, including a working knowledge of accreditation standards, articulation agreements, and workforce alignment, ensuring academic programs meet evolving student and community needs;
- Promoting collaboration, transparency, and respect among students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders, and advancing the “one college” concept across multiple campuses and centers;
- Serving as the College’s chief executive and public representative, strengthening relationships with legislators, community leaders, industry partners, and donors, and partnering with the College’s direct-support organization and Board to advance advocacy, resource development, and philanthropic support consistent with Florida law;
- Providing strategic, transparent, and ethical fiscal stewardship, aligning resources with institutional goals, promoting affordability, diversifying funding streams, and ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and audit requirements;
- Championing academic excellence and student success, advancing high-quality instruction, innovation, comprehensive student-centered services, and seamless systems, using data-informed strategies to improve enrollment, retention, completion, and institutional effectiveness;
- Leading long-range planning for capital assets, facilities, and technology, integrating innovation and digital transformation to enhance learning, operational efficiency, and institutional growth;
- Cultivating and sustaining a high performing workforce while supporting professional development, leadership growth, a positive organizational culture, and strategic talent management;
- Demonstrating competence in crisis management, safety planning, and institutional resilience, ensuring preparedness and effective response to emergencies; and
- Maintaining a strong, transparent, and collaborative partnership with the Board, providing timely, data-informed counsel, executing Board policies faithfully, and ensuring clear communication and thorough preparation to support effective governance.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Ph.D. or other doctoral degree, or equivalent work experience
- Executive leadership experience in higher-ed or business, or equivalent experience in the military or state/federal government
- Experience with state education policy
- Experience with state budgetary processes
NORTHWEST FLORIDA
Located on Florida’s northwest coast, Pensacola is the county seat and only city in Escambia County, which has a population of more than 500,000. A seaport on Pensacola Bay, the city is protected by Santa Rosa Island, a barrier island to the Gulf of America. The city 59 miles east of Mobile, Alabama, and 196 miles west of Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. Pensacola is also home to the Naval Air Station Pensacola, one of the oldest and largest naval air stations in the United States, as well as the Blue Angels flight-demonstration team and the National Naval Aviation Museum.
The largest companies in the area include the Navy Federal Credit Union, Baptist Health Care, Sacred Heart Health Systems, Florida Power and Light, West Florida Healthcare, and Santa Rosa Medical Center.
There are multiple performance venues in the Pensacola area, including the Pensacola Bay and the Saenger Theater. Other theatres used for live performances, plays, and musicals include the Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola State College, University of West Florida, Vinyl Music Hall, and Loblolly Theatre.
Pensacola is also home to the Pensacola Opera, Pensacola Children’s Chorus, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Civic Band, Pensacola Bay Concert Band, and the Choral Society of Pensacola,
as well as Ballet Pensacola and the Palafox Place entertainment district.
Parks and museums as well as beaches are numerous in Northwest Florida. Museums include Historic Pensacola’s Museum of Commerce, Museum of Industry, National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola MESS Hall, and the Pensacola Museum of Art. Sports boast the Pensacola Ice Flyers (ice hockey), Gulf Coast Riptide (football), Pensacola Blue Wahoos (baseball), Pensacola Christian Eagles (basketball, soccer, and volleyball), Pensacola FC (soccer), West Florida Argonauts (baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball), and West Florida Roller Derby.
The Five Flags Speedway is a half-mile paved racetrack that opened in 1953. Northwest Florida is also known for the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Big Lagoon State Park, Perdido Key State Park, Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park, Pensacola Bayfront Stadium—a multi-use park in Pensacola—Plaza Ferdinand VII, Bayview Park, Miraflores Park, and an abundance of beautiful seashores known for their emerald-green water and white sugar-sand beaches.
APPLICATION & NOMINATION PROCESS
Confidential inquiries are welcomed, and nominations are invited.
Applications
1) All application packets must include the following:
a) A letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications of the position
b) A current résumé
c) At least three references with full contact information including e-mail (References will not be contacted without consent from applicant.)
A background and criminal report will be conducted on the final group of applicants selected for the Campus Visit.
2) Submit application materials online, preferably as PDFs. Additional information is requested with the submission of materials. Review of applications begins immediately. Deadline for applications is July 31, 2026.
Nominations
Submit nominations with complete contact and e-mail information for the individual being nominated.
Consultant
Pensacola State College has retained Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting to assist the Search Committee in its identification and review of the President. Kenny Daugherty, Consultant of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting, is the lead consultant for this search. Request a conversation regarding this search at [email protected].
Pensacola State College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution compliant with all applicable state and federal antidiscrimination laws, including Title IX. Pensacola State College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities, including employment, as required by Title IX. Inquiries may be directed to: Dr. Lynsey Listau, Title IX Coordinator, [email protected], (850) 484-1759.
