Palm Beach State College history

Youngblood and Watkins (the first dean of the College) founded and nurtured the fledgling institution until John I. Leonard became its first president in 1936.

During this period, Palm Beach Junior College was known as "the little orphan college." In 1955, the Palm Beach County Commission gave the college 114 acres (46 ha) in Lake Worth, and the state legislature passed a bill providing over $1,000,000 for construction at this site.

Harold C. Manor, Ph.D., became president in 1958 directing extraordinary growth in enrollment, services and offerings, including many technical and vocational programs.

Merged with Roosevelt Junior College in 1965

In 1978, the college opened its Belle Glade campus.

The Palm Beach Gardens campus opened in 1982.

In 1983, the college opened a campus adjacent to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Changed name from Palm Beach Junior College to Palm Beach Community College in 1988

Dennis P. Gallon, Ph.D., served as president for 18 years, beginning in 1997.

In 2008, the College received State Board of Education approval to offer its first baccalaureate degree, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management.

Began offering its first bachelor's degree in fall 2009

12, 2010 to reflect new bachelor's degree offerings Governed by a five-member District Board of Trustees appointed by the governor Fourth largest of the 28 colleges comprising the Florida College System Average class size of 25

Today it is an economic engine, pumping $1.1 billion into the Palm Beach County economy each year, according to a 2013 study by Economic Modeling Specialists International.