Troy Moon, Pensacola State College
Retired Pensacola neurosurgeon Dr. Troy Tippett always appreciated Pensacola State College. After all, many of the nurses he worked with in his decades-long career were graduates of the College’s Nursing Program.
Tippett admitted that he didn’t fully appreciate the far-reaching impact PSC has on student lives and the Northwest Florida community until he was appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees just over a year ago.
“It’s as if my eyes were opened,” he said. “I had no idea what a crown jewel PSC is in our community.”
Now Tippett has decided to make an impact of his own.
He has established the Tippett Family Endowed Chair in Science, Technology and Mathematics at the College. It is Pensacola State’s 13th Endowed Chair.
Endowed chairs are prestigious academic appointments that are crucial to the recruitment of world-class faculty members to lead, mentor and instruct PSC students. The awards supplement faculty members’ salaries while financially supporting their research, professional development, service activities and/or academic programs.
Endowed chairs are established with a single payment or through pledge payments to reach a minimum principal of $100,000. Investment earnings are used to provide awards.
“The endowment is much needed and the Tippett family’s generosity is deeply appreciated,” said PSC President Ed Meadows. “Keeping our faculty current in their respective fields of study through this endowed gift will greatly enhance the learning environment of our students. I know our science, technology and mathematics faculty are grateful for the opportunity this endowment provides for professional development at Pensacola State College.”
Tippett said he and his wife, Diane, want to reward “the excellent teachers we have at PSC.”
“I know how important educators are,” he added. “My mother was a teacher and they have a special place in my heart. Diane and I wanted to do something to reward and promote teaching excellence at PSC. That’s why we decided to establish this endowed chair.”
Tippett was medical director of the Neurosurgical Group of Pensacola and has served as president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Florida Medical Association, the Neurosurgical Society of America, the Florida Neurological Society, the Escambia County Medical Society and the Neurosurgical Research and Education Foundation.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and completed medical school and neurosurgery residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.
“I was a beneficiary of PSC because so many of the nurses I worked with and, who helped me came from the PSC nursing program,” Tippett said. “They were always great nurses. But now I’ve learned so much more about what PSC does and I’m amazed. PSC is just an excellent college with a talented faculty that needs to be recognized for their dedication and success.”
Tippett also has received civic and community awards, including the PACE Award for Professional Leadership from the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Fiesta of Five
Flags’ Bobby DePew Award for Volunteer of the Year. He also serves on the WSRE-TV Foundation Board of Directors.
He and his wife have two adult daughters and three grandchildren.
PHOTO: Dr. Troy Tippett and his wife, Diane, at the 2021 Garde Manger event at PSC.