Seventh President of Lake-Sumter State College
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023
10 A.M.
Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center
Leesburg, Florida
Located in the heart of Florida, Lake-Sumter State College provides students with the opportunity to pursue their goals and join Florida’s dynamic workforce. We embrace our mission as a community college to increase access and opportunity for all learners in the communities we serve.
At Lake-Sumter State College, we are transforming lives and futures throughout our community.
Under the leadership of our 7th President, Dr. Heather Bigard, we are embarking on a bold journey to transform the ways in which we connect and educate our students while embracing our rich history of high-quality education and personalized student support services. We currently serve over 6,500 students each year and plan to grow to over 10,000 in the next several years.
Lake-Sumter State College proudly serves students from campus locations in Leesburg, Clermont, and Sumterville. New campus locations are opening in 2023 in the Four Corners area of South Lake County and North Eustis. The College’s Nursing and Allied Health programs have dedicated education units for teaching and hands-on experience at all three area hospitals.
Students have the opportunity to pursue associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, and certificates in over thirty areas of study that meet their career goals and align with employer demand.
The rapid growth in the Orlando metropolitan area, particularly in the service area of Lake and Sumter Counties, is driving growth, innovation, and workforce demand in an array of industries offering high-skill, high-wage positions. By rapidly adapting and responding to this demand, Lake-Sumter State College will
continue to be the premier workforce engine driving training and education opportunities in these counties.
Together, we will create a significant impact to meet the needs of today’s students and prepare for future generations.
Each of the 28 colleges in the Florida College System is operated under the local control of a District Board of Trustees composed of citizens who volunteer their time and are legally vested with decision-making authority in all matters of college policy, programs, facilities, budgets, and personnel.
The Governor appoints each member to the board. Five citizens from Lake County and four from Sumter County are appointed to four-year terms to form the District Board of Trustees of Lake-Sumter State College.
This group of dedicated individuals meets regularly to guide the development of LakeSumter State College and ensure that it continues to fulfill its mission.
Bret Jones, Chair
Jennifer Hooten, Vice Chair
Anita Geraci-Carver, Board Attorney
Bryn Blaise
David Hidalgo
Emily Lee
Tim Morris
Ivy Parks
Peter Wahl
Dr. Heather Bigard, President
Dr. Laura Byrd, Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Executive Director of the LSSC Foundation
Kristie Harris, Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer
Karen Hogans, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Nick Kemp, Vice President of Technology Innovation & Chief Information Officer
Thom Kieft, Vice President of Facilities Planning & Operations
Dr. Joseph Mews, Vice President of Enrollement & Student Affairs
Dr. Paul P. Williams, 1962 - 1980
Dr. Robert S. Palinchak, 1980 - 1986
Dr. Carl C. Andersen, 1986 - 1992
Dr. Robert W. Westrick, 1992 - 2002
Dr. Charles R. Mojock, 2002 - 2015
Dr. Stanley M. Sidor, 2015 - 2022
Dr. Heather L. Bigard, 2022 - Present
PRELUDE MUSIC
Brian McKinley ‘23, Student
PROCESSIONAL*
CALL TO ORDER
John Shea, Associate Professor of Math, Faculty Marshal
NATIONAL ANTHEM*
April Figueroa ‘24, Student INVOCATION*
Dr. Laura Byrd, Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement
WELCOME
Bret Jones, Chair, District Board of Trustee
GREETINGS
Amber Karlins, Assistant Professor of English, on behalf of the college faculty
Jordan Ackerman ’23, Student, on behalf of the student body
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Virginia DeFlaviis ‘25, Student, Performing Rise Up by Andra Day
GREETINGS
Lorena Markham, Enrollment Services Specialist, on behalf of the college staff
DeAnna Thomas, Executive Director, Lake Technical College
Heather Long, CEO of UF Health Central Florida, on behalf of the college alumni & community partners
Dr. Charles Mojock, Former President, Lake-Sumter State College
Kathleen Hedba, Chancellor, Florida College System
INTRODUCTION OF PRESIDENT
Bret Jones, Chair, District Board of Trustee
OATH OF OFFICE
Honorable Judge Jason Nimeth
INVESTITURE
Bret Jones, Chair, District Board of Trustee
Jennifer Hooten, Vice Chair, District Board of Trustee
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Dr. Heather Bigard, President, Lake-Sumter State College
BENEDICTION
John Shea, Associate Professor of Math, Faculty Marshal
*Audience, please stand.
You are invited to join us for a community reception in the Magnolia Room immediately following the ceremony. Please exit from the audience left side door of the venue.
Dr. Heather Bigard is the seventh president of Lake-Sumter State College, and the first female to hold the role. As president, Dr. Bigard is focused on improving student success outcomes and maximizing higher education opportunities for our community. She plans to build on the College’s past successes to create a new shared vision of the future of higher education locally that embraces the evolving needs of our communities.
Bigard brings over 25 years of experience from a wide portfolio of higher education leadership to this role. As a first-generation college student who worked on campus to help fund her undergraduate education, she understands first-hand the realities that students face when enrolling in college.
Dr. Bigard joined Lake-Sumter State College in 2016 and in her role as Executive Vice President oversaw the implementation of several significant projects including the expansion of academic programs, development of a five-year strategic plan, technology and service improvements, and a new resource allocation process. These changes paved the way for strategic
investments across the institution, including an updated salary and compensation model for faculty and staff, information technology enhancements, facilities and capital improvement, and student support services.
In 2021, Dr. Bigard was chosen to participate in the prestigious and highly selective Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship through the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. This fellowship prepares the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.
Dr. Bigard received her doctoral degree in higher education and organizational change and a master’s degree from Benedictine University and her bachelor’s degree from Lambuth University.
Dr. Bigard resides in the Clermont area with her husband, Phil, and has two children, Alexis & Dylan, who are both currently enrolled at the college.
Jordan Ackerman ‘23 received his associate degree from Lake-Sumter State College in 2022 and will receive his advanced certificate in business management from the BAS in Strategic Leadership program in 2023. Ackerman is originally from Daytona Beach, and was a pitcher on the Lakehawks baseball team. He is part of the LSSC Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Ackerman plans to pursue a personal training certification to train athletes and has a goal to work in marketing operations for a major sports franchise.
Virginia DeFlaviis ‘25 is an international student from the Abruzzo region of Italy. She is pursuing her associate of arts degree and plans to transfer to Stetson University to study linguistics. DeFlaviis speaks five languages: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. She also plans to pursue her passion in musical theater. She is actively involved in Student Government Association and the Latino Club.
April Figueroa ‘24 is pursuing her Associate of Science in Nursing at Lake-Sumter State College. She is originally from Mascotte and is a graduate of South Lake High School. She currently works as a full-time Certified Medical Assistant and has found her passion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her career goal is to become a Certified Nurse Midwife.
Kathy Hebda is the Chancellor of the Florida College System. Hebda has committed more than 30 years to improving education for students in Florida across all educational sectors. As Chancellor of the Florida College System’s 28 institutions, she continues to advocate for open access for all Floridians to a high-quality, affordable postsecondary education. Hebda came to the Florida Department of Education in 1992 and served in a number of roles before she was named Deputy Public Schools Chancellor for Educator Quality in 2008, providing leadership and support for school districts and higher education institutions to increase student success through continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Before being named Chancellor of the Florida College System, Hebda also served as Chief of Staff for the Department of Education for Florida’s previous Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart.
Amber Karlins is an Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator of the Honors Program at Lake-Sumter State College. She was the 2017 Florida Colleges Professor of the Year. In the Honors Program, Karlins oversees multiple cohorts of students, who engage in academically rigorous and stimulating courses of study. Karlins actively publishes work in academic publications on an array of subjects and is an award-winning screenwriter.
Heather Long joined the UF Health family in 2021 and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Central Florida division. Long is a dynamic leader with a passion for driving organizational performance while fostering a culture of excellence. She has cultivated quality
improvement and continues to expand service offerings at UF Health Leesburg Hospital and UF Health The Villages® Hospital to better meet the needs of residents in our vibrant and rapidly expanding region. Passionate about nursing, Long proudly holds an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Lake-Sumter State College and a Master of Science in Nursing from Nova Southeastern University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was a previous nominee for Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women in Healthcare Award.
Lorena Markham is a Bilingual Enrollment Specialist at Lake-Sumter State College. In her role, she helps prospective students take the first steps in pursuing their educational goals. Markham has a BAS in Supervision and Management from Daytona State College. Additionally, she was chosen to be an Olympic Torch Bearer in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics for her work with first-generation college students.
Dr. Charles Mojock is the fifth president of Lake-Sumter State College, serving from 2002 to 2015. Mojock retired with over 40 years of service in education, including 23 years at Daytona State College in a variety of faculty and administrative roles. During Dr. Mojock’s presidency, then Lake-Sumter Community College experienced rapid growth, including a 79 percent increase in student enrollment. Mojock was a leader dedicated to the student’s best interest and considers the presidency to be an honor and capstone to his career.
Judge Jason Nimeth is a Circuit Judge in Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit. Nimeth was appointed by Governor DeSantis and was previously appointed to serve as a Judge on the Lake County Court. He served as an Assistant State Attorney for eight years in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Nimeth received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Barry University. Nimeth fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge S. Sue Robbins.
DeAnna Thomas is the Executive Director of Lake Technical College. She is a native Floridian and has lived in Lake County since 1981. Thomas’ workforce development experience spans almost thirty years, and she is firmly committed to accomplishing Lake Tech’s mission to be an integral component of the economic growth and development in our communities. Thomas’ own education began in career and technical education (CTE) as a dual-enrolled high school student and her success today is a true testament to the opportunities CTE provides for everyone.
The inauguration of a leader in a higher education institution is a momentous occasion that heralds the start of a new chapter in the institution’s history. It symbolizes a fresh start, a renewed vision, and a commitment to the core values and mission of the college. This ceremonial event serves as a platform for students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders in the academic community to interact with the newly inaugurated leader and learn about their vision for the future. At Lake-Sumter State College, President Bigard’s Inauguration is marked by a formal ceremony and reception held on the Leesburg Campus, which brings together the community to celebrate the beginning of a new era for the institution.
The processional is a symbolic representation of the academic community coming together to celebrate a significant event, such as an inauguration, graduation, or a formal convocation ceremony. It represents the collective strength and unity of the college community, as well as its commitment to advancing knowledge and promoting learning.
College faculty and staff wear the regalia issued by their academic institution of study for their highest degree.
The college mace is a ceremonial staff that the faculty marshal carries during formal academic ceremonies. It symbolizes the institution’s authority and its commitment to upholding academic excellence and fulfillment of its mission At our institution, the mace features the seals of Lake-Sumter State College and the State of Florida, representing the college’s commitment to local and statewide academic pursuits.
Serving as the faculty marshal is an esteemed privilege for a member of the faculty. At Lake-Sumter State College, this role is held by the faculty member who has the most years of service to the institution. The faculty marshal serves an important symbolic role at ceremonial events including commencement, convocations, and inaugurations. This role leads the processional carrying the college mace as a representation of the faculty,
symbolizes the institution’s commitment to excellence, and sets the tone and decorum for the ceremony’s participants.
The tradition of the academic dress dates back nearly eight centuries. Scholars, both teachers and students, wore long gowns to keep warm in the damp and drafty halls of learning. Gradually, styles were adopted which were characteristic of the individual college and of the highest academic degree held by the wearer. In 1895, a commission was established to come up with a uniform code for academic costume. Today the gowns, hoods and mortarboards worn by the graduating students of most institutions, including Lake-Sumter State College, follow this code.
At Lake-Sumter State College, certificate and associate degree candidates wear black regalia and baccalaureate degree candidates wear green regalia. Candidates wear a matching square “mortarboard” cap that is traditional for all degrees – a tradition started at Oxford University.
LSSC faculty and staff wear caps, gowns, and hoods representing the institution and academic discipline of their highest earned degree.
The tassel is worn on the right side of the cap until the degree is conferred and moved to the left side as part of the Commencement ceremony.
Hoods are lined with the official colors of the institution conferring the degree. They are edged and bound with velvet of the color appropriate for the degree.
In regalia, academic disciplines are noted by color.
• Apricot — Nursing
• Blue (dark) — Philosophy (doctorate)
• Blue (light) — Education
• Blue (peacock) — Public Administration
• Blue (Rhodes) — Audiology
• Brown — Visual and Performing Arts
• Citron — Social Work, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
• Crimson — Advertising, Journalism and Mass Communications
• Copper — Economics
• Drab — Business
• Green (Kelly) — Medicine
• Green (olive) — Pharmacy
• Green (sage) — Political Science (master’s)
• Orange — Engineering
• Pink — Music
• Salmon — Public Health
• Scarlet — Religious Studies
• Science Gold — Anthropology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminology, Cybercrime, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Gerontology, Health Sciences, Information Technologies, Medical Science (master’s), Medical Technology, Mathematics, Marine Science, Physics, Speech Pathology, Statistics
• Silver — Speech Communications
• Teal — Physical Therapy
• Violet — Architecture
• White — Arts and Letters and Humanities, including African Studies, American Studies, Applied Linguistics, Art and Art History, Classics, English, Foreign Language, General Studies, History, Interdisciplinary Social Science, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s and Gender Studies
• Yellow (lemon) — Library Science
• Yellow (pineapple) — Hotel and Restaurant Management
LEESBURG // SOUTH LAKE // SUMTERVILLE
COMING SOON TO EUSTIS & FOUR CORNERS
