Dr. Ken Atwater became the seventh president of Hillsborough Community College (HCC) on July 1, 2010. Founded in 1968, HCC is currently the fourth largest state college (FTE) in the Florida College System, serving more than 45,000 students each year at its five campuses and three centers. HCC offers more than 200 academic options, has an annual budget of over $290 million and employs more than 2,200. Over 84 percent of HCC graduates stay in the local community, and, together, HCC and its former students contribute more than $1.3 billion in added income and economic impact to Hillsborough County.
Dr. Atwater is the former Chair of the Association of Community Colleges, Chair of the Foundation of the Tampa-Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and serves on the Board of Directors of Zoo Tampa, Jameis Winston Dream Forever Foundation, Elevate Tampa Bay and Brad’s Beyond Ball Foundation.
Dr. Atwater earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, and Master and Bachelor of Science degrees from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.