Dr. Timothy Beard currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Restoration Church of Christ and has dedicated nearly four decades to Christian ministries. He has studied at the Christian International Educational Institute in Northwest Florida. For nearly 45 years, he has served in multiple roles (teacher, evangelist, pastor, overseer) and in multiple cities in the Southeastern United States, including the Florida cities of Port St. Joe, Tallahassee, and St. Petersburg, FL., as well as in Mobile, AL. 

Dr. Beard holds undergraduate degrees from both FAMU and Florida State University, and in 1998, he earned his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling with a focus on Higher Education Administration from FSU. His career in education and community service spans four decades, beginning in 1984 with Leon County Schools and including significant roles in both FAMU and FSU, where he contributed to student success in various capacities.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Beard has been recognized as a trailblazer, mentor, and advocate for educational excellence. In 1999, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor and Director of Student Affairs at FAMU’s School of Allied Health Sciences, where he was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2001. His influence extended beyond FAMU when he became the first African American senior administrator at the University of South Alabama in Mobile in 2003, and later, as the Vice-President of Student Development and Enrollment Management at Pasco-Hernando Community College, where he significantly increased enrollment and elevated the institution’s reputation.

Dr. Beard’s journey reached its pinnacle in 2015 when he was appointed as the fourth president of Pasco-Hernando State College, a role he fulfilled with distinction until his retirement in January 2024. Today, he holds the esteemed title of President Emeritus.

On August 5, 2024, Dr. Beard was named Interim President at FAMU. He will receive the 2025 Diamond Award for Lifetime Achievement in Higher Education Leadership on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the 10th Annual Academy of the Diamond Awards.

Dr. Beard a dedicated family man, married to Sister  Wendy Gavin Beard since 1986. They are the proud parents of two accomplished daughters, both FAMU graduates: Dr. Briana Beard Belle (Jeffrey), a Doctor of Pharmacy, and Sierra Beard, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management and a Master of Public Health.