Student Trustee’s Success Follows Decades of Challenges

Addicts often struggle for years to free themselves from substance abuse. There are three common outcomes for addicts: Recovery, incarceration or death: We work toward recovery, but incarceration is not the worstcase scenario.

-Professor Eddie Williams, Ph.D.

Zachary Kleisley is among many students whose path to Pasco-Hernando State College has been anything but traditional. One day, his father, a retired law enforcement officer who relocated to the area, drove by the College’s Spring Hill Campus digital entryway sign. On a whim, he pulled into the campus for a closer look. Impressed, he encouraged his son, a recovering addict and an assembly worker at a Tennessee factory, to apply to PHSC and move to Florida for a fresh start.

Now the picture of health, Zach is a bright, selfassured prospective graduate of the Bachelor of Applied Science program with a specialization in finance. The 31-year-old is also the first student to serve on PHSC’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT). While the position is honorary, Zach,

Student Trustee’s Success Follows Decades of Challenges

In Frankfurt with Pasco County Commission Chair Kathryn Starkey. Zach studied Germany’s economy and dual education system with a coalition of Pasco County officials in October 2021. Photo submitted by Zach Kleisley.

at first wearing his only suit and tie to every meeting, is a respected board member whose perspective is highly valued by fellow trustees and administrators.

As a DBOT representative, Zach recently traveled to San Diego, joining PHSC President Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., and college trustees at a national convention. Zach also recently traveled to Munich, where he and local officials studied Germany’s economy and dual education system for ideas to incorporate at home. Traveling and interacting with educators in California and officials overseas were opportunities unimaginable to Zach a few short years ago. Indeed, Zach is not far removed from his decadeslong struggle with debilitating depression and anxiety that surfaced in his early teenage years. “My panic attacks came on frequently, without warning, and were so severe that I literally thought I was dying,” Zach said. Desperate for a solution, Zach self-medicated to alleviate his symptoms that instead led to a 12-year battle with substance abuse. “Addiction destroys the lives of addicts and their families,” said Zach, “It robs people of self-respect, decency and potential. Today, there is a better understanding that drug and alcohol dependency is a disease of mind and body. Still, society is understandably unsympathetic to addicts—blaming them for weakness and bad decisions that hurt themselves and others. Addicts also feel a sense of shame so deep and destructive that many don’t survive.” Professor Eddie Williams, Ed.D., director of the College’s popular social and human services program, has dedicated his career to fighting the stigma associated with addiction, now recognized by the American Medical Association as a mental illness. Honored twice as a NAMI (National Association of Mental Illness) Pasco “Hero of Hope,” Williams teaches full time at PHSC, serves as the President of the Florida Organization for Human Services and maintains a private therapy practice. He is also pursuing a second doctoral degree in social work, with a concentration in addiction and substance abuse. An advocate for exercise as a path to mental and physical wellness, Williams has worked with hundreds of addicts over the years, including those in prison and recovery centers. “Addicts often struggle for years to free themselves from substance abuse,” said Williams. “There are three common outcomes for addicts: Recovery, incarceration or death: We work toward recovery but incarceration is not the worstcase scenario.” For Zach, a turning point was a promise to his biological mother after she was diagnosed

Student Trustee’s Success with kidney cancer. Vowing to live a clean life, he Follows Decades of Challenges turned himself into authorities on outstanding warrants and was incarcerated for six months. “Jail provided me with an opportunity to

Zach takes a few minutes to relax after completing fall 2021 exams. Associate Professor Eddie Williams, Ed.D., works to reduce the stigma of addiction and helps people recover from substance abuse.

get clean and reflect on what I wanted in life. I was uncertain about my future but I wanted to live sober, to do more with my life.”

Zach’s mother survived cancer and he kept his commitment to live a healthy lifestyle and, later, to pursuing his bachelor’s degree at PHSC. Yet the turnaround was not

Zach, a quiet grade schooler, a made for TV Hollywood spent a lot of time alone. By moment. Zach experienced age 13, he began experiencing panic attacks. his share of painful mistakes Around that time, a on his academic journey as classmate introduced him to a “fun” but dangerous crowd he adjusted to college life that abused drugs and after a long absence from the alcohol. classroom. He failed a course and contemplated quitting when he confided in John Fey, assistant director of life and leadership.

“It is heartbreaking when students think that academic setbacks define them as failures,” said John Fey, assistant director of student life and leadership. “Communicating with faculty and staff about difficulties and modifying study habits put academic success within reach for most students. Fortunately, Zach expressed his concerns and was willing to take advice. We look forward to celebrating with him next year when he graduates with his bachelor’s degree.”

Zach, far right, with his siblings, and father, far left, then a law enforcement officer. Despite the happy moment captured on camera, Zach was already struggling with substance abuse.

Over time, Zach learned to quell panic attacks—a skill that he believes is the result of the mind-over-body selfcontrol required by athletes. He credits his good health and sobriety to his commitment to physical fitness. Like Professor Williams, a marathon runner, Zach believes that endorphins released through exercise are valuable to everyone, especially those in recovery and students trying to manage depression and anxiety. “Exercise is a healthy addiction that replaces bad habits and benefits students mentally and physically,” said Zach. “At first, we may have to push ourselves to work out regularly, but fresh air and exercise reap many long-term rewards.”

Exercise can replace bad habits and benefit students mentally and physically. At first, we may have to push ourselves to work out regularly, but fresh air and exercise reap many longterm rewards.

- Zach

PHSC President Tim Beard, a former athlete who maintains a rigorous exercise regimen, has personally supported PHSC’s athletic programs and consistently supports the College’s many collegewide physical fitness initiatives. He is among those impressed by Zach’s story.

“Zach is refreshingly candid about his journey to health, fitness and academic success,” said Beard. “He is living proof that, regardless of circumstances, students can move their lives forward. I don’t think Zach is fully aware of the positive influence he has on others. He has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to us all.”