Polk State District Board of Trustees selects 2025-2026 leadership

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

The Polk State College District Board of Trustees selected Ann Barnhart as Chair and Greg Littleton as Vice Chair for the 2025-2026 Academic Year during its August 25 meeting.

Cindy Hartley Ross concluded her service as Chair for 2024-2025, during which Barnhart served as Vice Chair. The DBOT also includes members Ashley Bell Barnett, Steve Lester, Teresa Martinez and Ashley Troutman.

Ann Barnhart is Vice President of Strategy and Growth for AdventHealth West Florida Division. An experienced healthcare and business professional, she has worked in the Central Florida community for more than three decades, including as a nursing instructor and consultant for what was then Polk Community College. Prior to her current role as Vice President of Strategy and Growth, she served as the Chief Business Development Officer for AdventHealth Polk Market.

With more than 40 years of experience in healthcare, Barnhart began her career at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and joined Health Management Associates in Florida, where she held the position of Senior Vice President/Division President.

Barnhart holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern Connecticut State University. She serves on the Winter Haven Economic Development Council and is a Board member of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, GiveWell Foundation and the Polk County Citizens Oversight Committee.

Littleton, a Polk State Distinguished Alumnus, is Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust. He graduated from Polk State in 1987 and went on to attend Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee, graduating in 1989 cum laude. He has served Citizens Bank & Trust since 1997 and became president in 2001. In 2022, he was named Banker of the Year by the Florida Bankers Association.

Littleton serves on the board of the Lake Wales Arts Council, Florida School of Preaching, Florida Bank Pac, Government Relations Council for the Florida Bankers Association, Polk State College’s Workforce Education Council, the Executive Board of the Polk Vision Steering Committee and is Chair of the Economic Development Foundation. He is the past president of the following: Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce, East Polk Committee of 100, and Central Florida Development Committee.

The District Board of Trustees is made up of members who are vested with oversight of all College policies, including matters related to programs, buildings, finances and personnel. Florida’s governor appoints the members who serve without compensation.

All appointments are subject to Florida Senate confirmation.