Katen Amin, Business

Katen Amin graduated with an MBA from the University of Tampa with a concentration in Marketing. Since then, he has owned three businesses, worked in corporate America, and been a full-time business faculty member at HCC since 2006. He teaches many disciplines, including business, marketing, management, international business, and entrepreneurship. During his time at HCC, Amin has served and led many committees, including Cluster 10 (Chair for seven years), CAC/IAC Chair and Co-Chair, HCC Olympics committee, and the Ybor CARE committee, to name a few. Amin has been recognized as the “Outstanding Faculty of the Year” twice during his time at the college. One of Amin’s major initiatives is a study abroad program, whereby he leads HCC students to England for a ten day trip. During this trip students gain academic and cultural experience and knowledge. Amin has represented HCC on numerous occasions through interviews with local news stations, community events, and various college marketing efforts.

Dr. Keith Berry, History

Bruce Bondurant, Chemistry

Dr. Vincent Centonze, Veterinary Technology

Dr. Vincent Centonze is director of the Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Veterinary Technology Program in Plant City, FL. Dr. Centonze earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Air Force Academy and was a career officer in the Air Force. After retirement, he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He has practiced veterinary medicine in the Tampa, FL, area as an associate veterinarian and owner of his own house call practice prior to directing the veterinary technician program at HCC. Dr. Centonze has also performed relief veterinary services throughout the Tampa area, at many local private practices, spay and neuter clinics, humane organizations, military facilities, and vaccination clinics. He frequently volunteers his veterinary services at Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center.

Dr. June Fishbourne, Psychology

Debarati Ghosh, Biology

Professor Debarati Ghosh is a full time faculty member and the Program Manager for Associate of Science in Biotechnology at Hillsborough Community College. She earned her Master’s Degree in Medical Sciences from the College of Medicine at USF in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Professor Ghosh also has a previous Master’s degree in Biology. Her present professional memberships include the National Science Teacher Association, The American Society for Microbiology and Society for College Science Teachers. HCC is invested in workforce training for productive careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education. As program manager for a program such as biotechnology, Professor Ghosh is a facilitator to bridge academic knowledge to the application of that knowledge in the workforce. It is in our mission to empower the life sciences industry of the Tampa Bay Area by transforming our education strategies into a robust collaborative environment with our dynamic business partners, life science companies, and academic institutions. Professor Ghosh volunteers as a Million Women Mentor which supports the engagement of girls in STEM and increase the interest and confidence of women to persist and succeed in STEM programs and careers.

Dr. Andy Gold, Entrepreneurship / Finance / Business

Professor Andy Gold is the co-founder of the HCC Center for Entrepreneurship and Operation Startup. Professor Gold developed and implemented an AA transfer track degree in Entrepreneurship, an AS for Business Administration and an Entrepreneurship Specialization Degree, in addition to the creation of four new courses related to entrepreneurship. Professor Gold also serves as the committee chair for the Veterans Entrepreneurship Training Symposium (VETS), now in its 4th year. Before joining the HCC faculty, Professor Gold worked as a Wall Street market strategist and founder of a private hedge fund. He also started and ran two entrepreneurial firms. He received his BA. in Psychology from State University of New York; his M.S. in International Business from Manhattanville College and his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Northcentral University. Professor Gold is the 2016 recipient of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Impact Award.

Topics include: Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Leadership, and International Business.

Dr. Craig Hardesty, Mathematics

Originally from the coalfields of West Virginia, Craig Hardesty was the first person in his family to obtain a college degree. He received his B.A. and M.S. in mathematics as well as an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Marshall University. Hardesty has taught mathematics at the two-year college level for over 20 years in West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Florida. He has been a member of the HCC family since 2006. Originally at the Plant City Campus, Hardesty transferred to the SouthShore Center to become the first tenure-track faculty member at that location in 2008. He has served as Program Manager, Interim Dean (2009), and Dean of Academic Affairs since February 2013. He is a NISOD Award winner (2010) and a recipient of the Blackboard Catalyst Award in Exemplary Course Design (2011) for his online College Algebra course.

Todd Joseph, Psychology

Mustapha Lahrach, Science

I am Sciences Program Manager, Hope Scholars Mentor, and STEM Faculty Adviser. I teach biological sciences courses, such as Microbiology & Human Diseases, Biology, Human Reproductive and Inheritance, and Nutrition and Drugs at the SouthShore Campus. I chair and serve on many college committees that reflect the college’s values, such as safety, sustainability, diversity, tenure, etc.

I am the president and founder of a non-profit organization Atlas Children Outreach, aimed at helping children in the Atlas Mountains to achieve their basic needs of education, food, and clothing. I also volunteer helping children at Life Connection Mission in Haiti.

I completed my graduate level education in Medical Sciences, with a concentration in Molecular Medicine. I have interests in immunological research and infectious diseases.

I enjoy teaching, traveling, reading, playing soccer, and spending time with my two year old daughter. My wife is an English instructor, also at the SouthShore Campus.

Travis Meek, Visual Arts / Humanities

Mario Mirabal, Automotive

Of Puerto Rican descent, Mario Mirabal began his career in mechanics with the US Navy as a nuclear machinist. In 2001, Mario began working in the automotive industry and has accumulated over 13 years of experience in the industry. He is a Master Technician, certified in all areas of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and is also part owner of a local shop in the Tampa Bay area. Certifications include but are not limited to: Snap-On diagnostic certified trainer and Toyota certified master diagnostic technician.

Jeff Pelzer, Cybersecurity

Jeff J. Pelzer is currently a full-time member of HCC’s Department of Computer Science on the Dale Mabry campus where he is the lead Network Security and Digital Forensics Faculty member. This includes topics relating to ethical hacking, penetration testing, risk management, and data recovery. Prior to coming to HCC Mr. Pelzer spent 15 years with Hillsborough County Public Schools where he taught Computer Science and Business Technology in addition to providing technical support, network administration, and incident response.

His current areas of focus, and the topics of his recent guest lectures are the Internet of Things (IoT), Hacking the Smart Home, and the Threat of Ransomware on our lives because of vulnerabilities in transportation and medical devices.

Paul Rabaut, Biology / Sustainability

They say that if you find a job you love then you never work a day in your life. Let’s just say I stopped working in the fall of 2014 when I became a full time biology instructor at the HCC Ybor campus. I view teaching as a privilege. It is never lost on me the power that a teacher has over our thoughts and world view. Some of my favorite teachers and mentors launched my life on an entirely different trajectory and I try to have the same impact in my classes and our community. The hippie in me tends to bend my teaching more toward the sustainability perspective in the classroom, as well as in my outside life. I am a member of several sustainability committees, as well as the faculty advisor for a student club focused on the environment (SFE). In the community, I try to teach methods of sustainable living, gardening, waste reduction, and the value of composting. I have a small urban farm full of chickens, fish, composting maggots, broccoli, and my garden cat Henry. I received my B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Florida and my graduate degree in Molecular Biology from the University of South Florida. So, in the few hours when I am not teaching, you can find me wandering through the veggie garden chatting with my wife and daughter.

Anthony Sardone, Sociology

Anthony Sardone currently teaches Sociology and an IDS connections class at Hillsborough Community College’s SouthShore Campus. The son of Italian immigrants was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. Prior to joining the faculty at HCC, Sardone spent 17 years working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County as a caseworker and a casework supervisor. He also has experience in teaching middle school English and science as well as high school history, sociology and psychology. Sardone received both his B.A. in Social Work and his M.A. in Sociology from Arkansas State University. He lives in Clearwater, Florida with his wife and son.