By Kellie Britch, College of Arts and Sciences
Castor served as the fifth president and first female president of USF from 1994-99. (Photo courtesy of Betty Castor)
As USF celebrates its 70th anniversary, the College of Arts and Sciences is reflecting
on the impact and legacy of its students, faculty and leadership. Betty Castor, a
former three-term Florida state senator and state commissioner of education who served
as USF鈥檚 first female president from 1994-99, is one such person who has become deeply
engrained in the university鈥檚 past identity and future momentum.
Appointed as the fifth USF president in 1994, Castor鈥檚 journey at USF began several decades before that.
鈥淎s the university was developing, I had a front row seat,鈥� Castor said. 鈥淗aving moved
to this area in the 鈥�70s, I became involved with public policy issues and local government.
The university and faculty were great sources of information and research on the issues
of the day including environmental and government policy issues. My connection with
the institution continued when I became the elected commissioner of education and
member of the Board of Regents.鈥�
After her tenure at USF, Castor became the executive director of the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards and worked closely with the College of Education.
She was later appointed by USF Provost Renu Khator to head the Patel Center for Global
Solutions. In each of these capacities, her relationships with the colleges and faculty
continued to grow.
鈥淢y specific interest in the College of Arts and Sciences stems from my own college
experience at Rowan University, where I majored in social studies education,鈥� said
Castor. 鈥淣aturally, social sciences were always important to me. I have been intensely
interested in international education because of my early experience teaching in Uganda
in the 鈥�60s. Governmental affairs and history are an integral part of my life and
interests.鈥�
Thirty years after her tenure as president, Castor has maintained her interest in
USF and the College of Arts and Sciences. She is an esteemed member of the college鈥檚
Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council, participates in the Institute for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies and regularly attends the Frontiers of Knowledge community lectures held by the college, which introduce faculty and important topics
to community leaders.
During her tenure at USF, Castor prioritized campus beautification and construction through new buildings, like the Sam and Marth Gibbons Alumni Center. (Photo courtesy of Betty Castor)
鈥淭he College of Arts and Sciences is a critical component of USF because it touches
all students,鈥� Castor said. 鈥淭he faculty is large, and the college is especially influential
within the university. How many of our students have learned to write their first
essay and had their eyes opened by that first religious studies or literature course?鈥�
With her continued commitment to both the university and college, Castor is part of
a legacy of leadership invested in USF鈥檚 past, present and future.
鈥淚n my new role on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council, I hope to continue to learn more,
contribute modestly and spread the word as much as I can throughout my own networks,鈥�
Castor said. 鈥淭here is no doubt in my mind that the trajectory of the university and
the college will continue to soar.鈥�