The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
November 18, 2019
Mitzie Sowell, the recently-appointed department head of Pensacola State College’s Allied Health Department on the Warrington campus, has used her own numerous academic achievements (“a lot of student debt,” she said) to help educate others, even though that was the opposite of what she originally intended. “It’s funny because my undergraduate degree was in P.E. Non-Teaching,” said Sowell, who started as an adjunct instructor at Pensacola State in 2003. “I was never going to teach – not ever.” But she soon found herself teaching patient education as a result of her studies. “I was helping people learn to be healthier,” she said. “I found I had a knack for dealing with people.” Troy Moon talks with Sowell, and learns why she wasn't allowed to eat carrots as a child.

While in many cases, the Pensacola State marketing motto “Go Here, Get There” refers to going to another college after finishing the College’s two-year program, in the Allied Health Department it means “Go Here, Then Go to Work.” “Some are degree-seeking programs, some are certificate programs," said Mitzie Sowell, Allied Health Department head. “But they’re all programs where when students finish, they can move directly into the workforce. There’s a lot going on over here.” Take a tour, watch the video and learn more about Allied Health at PSC.

The students of PSC's veterinary technology program eagerly welcomed the public into the environment of their chosen vocation during an open house on Nov. 13 in Building 3200 of the Warrington campus. If the open house reminded visitors of their local veterinarian, well, that's the point. The facility is designed to resemble an operational veterinary hospital, so it has all the machines, tools and technologies that most modern hospitals have. It also has the animals, both live and artificial. We stopped by the open house and spoke with the staff and students and even petted a fake horse's head.

Pensacola State College has been named one of Military Times’ 2020 Best for Vets Schools. The college was 100th among 134 ranked four-year universities and colleges in the recently-released list. More than 600 postsecondary institutions submitted data to Military Times for the rankings, which are the result of a comprehensive survey of veteran and military student services. Academic achievement rates and other factors that make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, veterans and their families also are considered in the list.

Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary recently spoke to a group of seventh- and eighth-grade students at Dixon School of the Arts on the subject of colorism, or intraracial discrimination. "If we are saturated as a society with the public perception that lighter is better and darker is not, if you're not strong enough, or if you don't have that knowledge or education or self-confidence, you might actually buy into that, and that's what we are trying to prevent. That's something that we don't want to happen," Leary said. Learn about her talk with the Dixon students, as well as the upcoming presentation on colorism at PSC.

The Pensacola State College Planetarium and Space Theater will be offering several shows during the month of December. While the public may purchase admission for these shows, PSC students, faculty and staff can attend these shows at no cost; just show a current college ID at door. Admission must be purchased for guests. The ticket-purchasing links will include a description for each show as well as admission purchase information. Admission can also be purchased through the ticket office in building 8, the Ashmore Auditorium, or by calling 484-1847. More information about the planetarium can be found here .
Schedule
  • Great Planet Adventures, 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22
  • Dark Side of the Moon, 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2
  • Let it Snow, 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2
  • Dark Side of the Moon, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 
  • Let it Snow, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3
  • Let it Snow, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4
  • Dark Side of the Moon, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4
  • Let it Snow, 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5
  • Dark Side of the Moon, 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5
  • Let it Snow, 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 
  • Season of Light, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11
  • Let it Snow, 12 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12
  • Season of Light, 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13
  • Season of Light, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17
P SC Bookstore cutting the ribbon for its grand reopening on Nov. 19
The entire PSC campus community is invited to check out the newly remodeled PSC Bookstore on the Pensacola campus. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring President Ed Meadows, will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 and will include cake and beverages, as well as a special 25-percent discount throughout the day on PSC clothing and gifts. (This discount extended to Milton and Warrington campus bookstores in honor of the event.) The PSC Bookstore is located in Building 5, the Student Center, on the Pensacola campus.
Teresa Jackson is there to help, anytime
From natural disasters to college exams, PSC admin is ready to assist
Teresa Jackson would like to help.

It doesn't matter who needs the help, it doesn't matter what their situation is, she would like to lend a helping hand if one is needed.

Jackson, an administrative assistant in the PSC math and computer science department, as well as an adjunct instructor for the business department, is a person who has no problem spending every spare moment of her time helping others in need.

For instance, when natural disasters strike, such as earthquakes or hurricanes, she gathers supplies and provisions.

"We used to have our regular girls' nights," Jackson said. "But instead of having everyone bring a potluck dish, I'd have them bring supplies for Haiti." One of the rooms in her home, in fact, became known as the "Haiti Room," filled as it was with bags of supplies that eventually found their way to the oft-beleaguered country.

Jackson, who's worked at PSC for 16 years, used to work at Sam's Club, where she was community involvement coordinator, a volunteer position that had her fundraising at the store on weekends. The money she raised, matched by the Walton Family Foundation, allowed her to donate thousands of dollars to area agencies and nonprofits.

The Selma, Ala., native, who has a master's degree in business administration and management, said, "I've always had an altruistic spirit." But she believes her drive to help others began when her son -- she also has two daughters -- was 7.

"He had meningitis and was in the hospital for a couple of months. The doctors told me he wasn't going to make it. I had to take a leave of absence from my job to stay with him at the hospital. Over that time, bills started piling up. I didn't go out and look for people to help me, but a social worker at the hospital had people paying my bills and stuff that I didn't even know about until later. That meant so much to me. I don't think I'll ever be able to pay it back, but I feel that what I'm doing is what I need to do to show appreciation for the people who did all those things for me."

Currently she spends her spare time providing free tutoring for third-to-12th-graders, as well as college and career prep for high school juniors and seniors. (She has a Facebook page, "Miss Teresa's Academic Services.")

For four years she tutored members of an all-boys organization.

"I helped with scholarships, college applications, anything they needed for college," Jackson said. "I had about 50, 55 boys who graduated over those years, and with only two exceptions, every one of them was accepted to the college of their choice." Of those two exceptions, one chose to enter the military while the other chose to enter trade school.

She'll provide tutoring on just about any subject the student requires, but she admits that she'd much rather steer clear of math, thank you very much.

"I have no love for math at all," she said. "I'm more of a social sciences person."

She teaches her students that success is a product of hard work and detemination.

"I tell them that Michael Jordan didn't just go out and become Michael Jordan. LeBron James didn't just go out and become LeBron James. They had to work hard and practice. That's the same with success on the ACTs and SATs," Jackson said.

She makes herself available to students regardless of the day or time. One time a student called her up early on a Saturday morning. He was at PSC, preparing to take his ACTs, but forgot his calculator at home. Without hesitating, Jackson got out of bed and brought the student a calculator.

"I'm doing it because I know it's something people need," she said. "I just like doing it. It gives me a lot of pleasure. I don't want to be famous, I want to serve."

-- Mike Suchcicki
Pensacola State College building construction program students toured the new STEM facility under construction on the Pensacola campus to get a better understanding of what it takes to build a multi-million-dollar project. Wearing hardhats all, the dozen-plus students moved within the framework of the Phase I east wing building as a small platoon of workers moved about the construction site to complete a variety of tasks.The new facility replaces the 60-year-old Mary Ellison Baars building, which was demolished before construction began on the new facility in January. Phase I construction should be completed in May 2020. The first classes will move into the new facility when the Fall 2020 term begins in August. Troy Moon joined the tour and brought back interviews and video.

There's never an idle moment at Pensacola State College, whether you're into art, athletics, drama, music, science, technology, engineering, dance, movies, books or just plain socializing. Make plans to make plans with our online Calendar .

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