PirateQ 
After nearly a decade and three college transfers, Donte Sheppard knew he needed to buckle down if he was going to obtain his college degree. He was discouraged but not defeated so he came back to where it all started – Pensacola State College.
Sheppard, now a part of Pensacola State’s first fully staffed college recruiting team, describes the college as his starting point and savior.
“My foundation at PSC prepared me for my future endeavors,” he said. “It took me four schools and 10 years to graduate but that’s OK because I didn’t quit. And that’s what I want to show students: that you don’t have to take a traditional path to be successful.”
Sheppard is one of four new recruiters that recently joined Pensacola State’s staff alongside two Contact Center advisors, each bringing a wealth of experience and passion to help propel students forward in their education.
Kathy Dutremble, Dean of Student Services, is especially excited about the new up-and-coming Contact Center, which will provide a platform for advisors to work with current, returning and prospective students on their academic careers.
“Our Contact Center will be taking a more tech-savvy approach to helping our current and prospective students,” she said. “We’ll be working with them via email, phone and even chat messaging apps to support the many types of students we have.”
Dutremble said because of this new tech approach in using multiples platforms to accommodate various types of students, advisors won’t be bound by time and will be able to provide assistance after typical business hours.
“This will allow for a more streamlined admissions process,” she said.
Pensacola State’s new recruiters include Scott Bemiss, Vee Ho, Rickell Irvin and Donte Sheppard. Contact Center advisors are Tashiki Coben and Summer Kreiser.
Samantha Hill, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership, said the new recruiters and Contact Center advisors are exactly what Pensacola State represents.
“They bring a new life into the college and the community,” Hill said. “They’re well-liked by their peers and will be well-liked by the rest of the community.”
Pensacola State’s new additions all come from different walks of life but have the same desire to support students in their path to success. Irvin, who majored in public relations, said she’s eager to educate people on ways to further their education and provide a better future for themselves.
Ho, who has a background in management, lives by the mantra: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow!”
Bemiss, who has a master’s in business administration, is eager to share his experience with those students who aren’t sure of what path to take.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he said. “And I want students to know that that’s OK! I want them to know that they can come to us if they’re feeling lost and we’ll help them figure it out. That’s what we’re here for.”