Betty Castor, an avid supporter of the USF College of Public Health, received the Community Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award at USF’s 11^th annual Women in Leadership and Philanthropy (WLP) Fall Symposium, held Oct. 6 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown.

Since the WLP program at USF was formed in 2005, it has distributed $700,000 in scholarships and awards supporting women and women’s initiatives through the USF System and community.

Castor, a former Florida senator and Florida commissioner of education, was part of the WLP’s original formation.

“I was fortunate to be a part of that initial core group along with about two dozen other women who made commitments to set up endowments and make initial contributions. To see it expand and become so successful is really dramatic and a lot of fun,” Castor said.

The WLP held the symposium to honor women who they found to be transformational leaders through their volunteer, professional and philanthropic contributions.

Castor and her husband, Sam Bell, who as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, pushed legislation to create the state’s first accredited public health college in 1984, have been devoted supporters of the COPH.

A former president of USF, Castor started her career as a teacher in east Africa. Her love of global education has expanded into opportunities for COPH students.

Both she and Bell have established support for the master’s in global health program, supporting travel for students to study abroad in the village of Papoli in Uganda.

“Every year we are excited to see students travel to Papoli and carry out their studies. The students  develop projects in the village. That makes it pretty special and personal for us,” she said.

Castor was appointed by President Barack Obama to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. The board awards Fulbright scholarships to students across the country.

In this capacity, Castor oversees the international exchange program, a program that allows students and faculty to travel the world in order to conduct research, study and teach.

She said she appreciates the support the COPH provides to Fulbright scholars.

“I’m proud of the fact that the College of Public Health hosts Fulbright students. There are four students who are currently studying here. Last year there were eight. That’s a significant number for one college within a university. The COPH has been a leader in this regard,” she said.

Castor hopes to continue her legacy of support to the causes of public health and of the WLP.

“I think that the important thing is to stay involved in areas that are really meaningful in our public lives. There is nothing more meaningful than public health and the personal safety of our population,” she said. “One of the ideas in the WLP is that we should not only participate, but we should also give back. Even if the monetary contributions are small initially, it’s important to instill the concept of philanthropy,” she said.

Castor also emphasized that she’s excited to see the COPH continue growing, especially under the leadership of Dean Donna Petersen.

“Dean Petersen and her predecessor, Dr. Charles Mahan, have built an unparalleled program and enhanced the reputation of the COPH,” she said. “The USF COPH rocks because it’s local, national, global and relevant!”

Dean Petersen added that Castor has been a role model for so many, including those who are both established in their careers and those just starting out.

“Not only is she an accomplished professional and a woman who has had many ‘firsts,’ but she always conducts herself with grace and humility,” she said. “Unless someone gets in her way, then she is a mighty force to be reckoned with!  If we haven’t learned the lessons of how to be successful in a manner that bring others along, we haven’t paid enough attention to how Betty has conducted herself throughout her life. She is a true inspirational leader.”

 

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health