Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Veteran educator is new VP at PHCC

She leaves a job in Atlanta to take charge of overseeing student development and enrollment.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published October 12, 2005

Pasco-Hernando Community College has chosen a Florida community college veteran to fill one of its top posts.

Michelle Releford, 50, formerly of Edison College in Fort Myers, on Tuesday assumed the school's vice presidential post that oversees student development and enrollment management.

She replaces Sherry Thomas-Dertke, who retired from the college more than a year ago. Releford's responsibilities will be somewhat expanded compared to Thomas-Dertke's former job description.

Before her appointment, Releford was vice president of student services at Atlanta Technical College. But from 1998 to 2004, she served as district vice president of student services at Edison in Florida. She spent another eight years prior to that at Livingstone College in North Carolina.

"All in all, I think it definitely is the right fit for her skill set and we have very high hopes having her join our team," PHCC president Katherine Johnson said Tuesday.

Releford holds a doctorate in educational administration and supervision from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, as well as a master's in instructional technology from Jackson State University and a bachelor's degree in English from Albany State University.

Releford said Johnson had a lot to do with her decision to join PHCC. "She has a proven track record in higher education," Releford said. The new vice president said she relocated to Pasco County, within four minutes of the school's New Port Richey campus.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 00:19:18]