Dean's Advisory Council
Betty Castor
Fifth ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø President, 1994-1999
A former three-term Florida state senator and state commissioner of education, Betty Castor was ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s first woman president. During her tenure, the Office of Undergraduate Research was established, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø St. Petersburg began accepting freshmen for the first time in 30 years and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø fielded its inaugural football team. Construction and campus beautification were also on Castor’s list of priorities. New buildings included the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center, student housing facilities, the fine arts gallery, the bookstore and the recreation center, as well as renovations to the Sun Dome (now called the Yuengling Center). Castor also helped launch the interdisciplinary Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute. The Herd of Thunder marching band debuted at Castor’s farewell party in September 1999.