Castor named to Tampa Bay History Center trustees’ board

Former USF president Betty Castor will renew her relationship with the university community. This week, the Tampa Bay History Center named Castor as the newest member of its Board of Trustees.

The history center works in conjunction with the Florida Studies Center at the USF Tampa campus library to provide information to the community about Tampa’s history. In addition to USF, the center provides local schools with access to research tools to help instructors educate students about Florida history.

Kimberly Finn, special projects and director of community relations for the center, said the trustees are responsible for setting policy and standards that will enhance the center’s goal to provide educational resources to USF and the community.

“Outreach in education is one of our primary goals,” Finn said.

Castor, who served as USF’s president for six years from 1994 – 2000, was named to the board Monday to assist the center in distance learning projects. Between 1986 -94 Castor was Florida’s Commissioner of Education for public education, grades K – 12.

“The board is thrilled to have her. She is well respected in education,” Finn said.

Finn said a sub-committee nominated Castor to join the 27 trustees on the board.

The Tampa Bay History Center, located in downtown Tampa, was established in 1989 to educate the community about the Bay Area’s history. Research documents, artifacts and exhibits are kept on site about various time periods ranging from the Seminole Wars to the citrus and cigar industries.

Finn said the history center is partnered with the USF Florida Studies Center to add educational resources to USF’s collection. The Florida Studies Center has been dedicated to providing information about Florida’s history.

This year, Finn said the Tampa Bay History Center will bring a lecture series to USF titled “Florida Conversations.” Five lectures will be held throughout the semester as part of the series on various topics, politics, archaeology and literature that are related to Florida.