Our Trustees
Founded in 1968, Hillsborough Community College is one of 28 member institutions in the Florida College System. HCC is governed by a five-member, local District Board of Trustees. The governor of Florida appoints local citizens representing diverse backgrounds and industry to volunteer their service on the Board. Florida statutes provide the Board of Trustees (BOT) with the authority to adopt rules and procedures on issues related to the fulfillment of the college’s mission, including, but not limited to, governance, curriculum and instruction, programs, building, budget and finance, and personnel. The president of the college reports directly to the Board of Trustees.
The BOT meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Allmeetings arecurrentlyheld at the Dr. Gwendolyn W. Stephenson District Administration Center'sBoard Room.
Agendas for future board meetings areposted here as they become available.
Nancy Watkins – Chair
Term: 12/23/2020 – 5/31/2023
Nancy Watkins, of Tampa is a certified public accountant with the accounting firm Robert Watkins & Company. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Public Accountants and was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and Phi Theta Kappa. Watkins is also a current member of the University of South Florida Board of Trustees and a past member of the Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees. She is a graduate of Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida.
Gregory Celestan - Vice Chair
Term: 10/27/2022 – 5/31/2026
Gregory Celestan, of Tampa, is the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Celestar Corporation. He has served as Chairman of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Director of The Bank of Tampa and Chairman of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation. Celestan received an Honorable Discharge after 20 years of service in the United States Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering and Russian studies from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his master’s degree in international affairs from the University of Washington.
Arthur "Chip" Diehl III
Term: 10/27/22 – 5/31/2025
Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl,Ret. is the Managing Director at Diehl & Associates. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the United States Air Force Academy and his Master's Degree from the University of Southern California.
Brian Lametto
Term: 10/27/2022 – 5/31/2026
Brian Lametto, of Valrico, is Corporate Vice President of Marketing at New York Life. Previously, he was Corporate Vice President of Strategy Development and Corporate Vice President and Chief Retention Officer with New York Life. Lametto has also held leadership positions with Progress Telecom, GTE and Philip Morris International. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Alabama.
Aakash M. Patel
TERM: 6/18/21 - 5/31/2025
Mr. Patel is Founder and President of Elevate Inc. Previously, he was Director of Business Development for Chamber.com. Patel is Chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, a member of the Tampa Bay Chamber Board of Directors and served on the Super Bowl LV Host Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Florida State University.
Matthew Valentin – Student Trustee
Term: July 2023 – June 2024
Mr. Matthew Valentin is a HOPE scholar at the HCC Dale Mabry Campus pursuing an education inpolitical science with a dream to work inforeign relations and global security.Matthew has demonstrated exceptional leadership by servingas an HCC Honors Ambassador, as an intern for U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, and fightingfood insecurity through AmeriCorps VISTA. He will represent HCC as one of only threenon-voting student trusteesin the Florida College System.
More Information
Schedule and Agendas
The Board generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month beginning at 4:00 p.m. Meetings are held at the Dr. Gwendolyn W. Stephenson District Administration Center'sBoard Room, 4115 N. Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614.
All members of the public are invited to attend virtually, with an access link provided each month under the Notice of Board meeting. A copy of the agenda will also be available under Schedule and Agendas each month.
Members of the public may send questions or comments to trustees@hccfl.edu. The HCC agenda provides students, staff and the community with the opportunity to address the Board of Trustees. You must be in person to address the Board. Please complete and email this form to trustees@hccfl.edu.
Board Meeting Schedule and Agendas 2023-2024
| Date | Event | Time | Location or Meeting Invite | Supporting Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/23/2023 | Board Meeting | 4:00 p.m. | District Administration Center | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 09/27/2023 | Board Meeting | 4:00 p.m. | Dale Mabry Campus | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
10/25/2023 | Board Meeting | 1:00 p.m. | District Administration Center | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 12/06/2023 | Board Meeting | 4:00 p.m. | Brandon Campus | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 02/28/2024 | Board Meeting | 4:00 p.m. | Plant City Campus | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 03/27/2024 | Board Meeting | 4:00 p.m. | Ybor City Campus | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 04/24/2024 | Board Workshop – Budget Discussion I | 3:00 p.m. | District Administration Center | Notice of Meeting Workshop Agenda |
| 04/24/2024 | Board Meeting | 4:00p.m. | District Administration Center | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 05/22/2024 | Board Meeting | 4:00 p.m. | SouthShore Campus | Notice of Meeting Agenda |
| 06/26/2024 | BoardWorkshop – Budget Discussion II | 3:00p.m. | District Administration Center | Notice of Meeting |
| 06/26/2024 | BoardMeeting | 4:00p.m. | District Administration Center | Notice of Meeting |
2023 – 2024 Minutes
- April 24, 2024
- March 27, 2024
- February 28, 2024
- December 6, 2023
- October 25, 2023
- September 27, 2023
- August 23, 2023
2022 – 2023 Minutes
- June 28, 2023
- May 24, 2023
- April 26, 2023
- March 23, 2023
- February 22, 2023
- January 18, 2023
- December 7, 2022
- October 26, 2022
- October 6, 2022
2021 - 2022 Minutes
- October 26, 2022
- October 6, 2022
- June 22, 2022
- May 25, 2022
- April 27, 2022
- March 22, 2022
- February 23, 2022
- January 26, 2022
- December 8, 2021
- October 27, 2021
- September 21, 2021
- August 25, 2021
2020 - 2021 Minutes
- June 23, 2021
- June 23, 2021 [Workshop]
- May 26, 2021
- April 28, 2021 [Workshop]
- April 28, 2021
- March 31, 2021 [Special Meeting]
- March 24, 2021
- February 24, 2021
- February 24, 2021 [Workshop]
- January 26, 2021
- December 9, 2020
- December 9, 2020 [Workshop]
- November 9, 2020 [Workshop]
- October 28, 2020
- September 23, 2020
- August 12, 2020
2019 – 2020 Minutes
- August 28, 2019
- September 25, 2019
- December 4, 2019
- January 22, 2020
- January 22, 2020 [Workshop]
- February 26, 2020
- February 22 [Workshop]
- March 13, 2020 [Retreat]
- April 22, 2020
- May 27, 2020
- June 5, 2020 [Special Meeting]
- June 23, 2020 Board Workshop
- June 24, 2020 Board Workshop [Budget Workshop II]
- June 24, 2020
2018 – 2019 Minutes
- August 22, 2018 [Special Meeting]
- August 22, 2018
- September 12, 2018 [Workshop]
- September 26, 2018 [Workshop]
- September 26, 2018
- October 17, 2018 [HCC/HCCF Joint Board Meeting]
- October 17, 2018
- November 11, 2018 [Special Meeting]
- December 5, 2018
- January 23, 2019
- February 27, 2019
- March 27, 2019
- April 24, 2019 [Workshop]
- April 24, 2019
- May 22, 2019
- June 26, 2019 [Workshop]
- June 26, 2019
