Lois Gaston

President, Ybor Campus
Hillsborough Community College

Lois Gaston is a veteran community college educator. Since 1992, she has served as the President of the Ybor City Campus of Hillsborough Community College. Prior to joining the College, she served as a classroom teacher in Iowa and Illinois and as a teacher and student services administrator at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. During the span of her career, Gaston has focused on helping people of all ages to be successful in reaching their personal and career goals. She has also been an active member of the communities where she has resided.

During her tenure as President of the Ybor City Campus, Gaston has been instrumental in bringing many changes to the Campus. Two new buildings and a parking garage have been added. In addition, new program developments have helped to bring increased visibility to the Campus’s visual and performing arts programs and they have contributed to significant enrollment increases.

As a College representative in the Ybor City community and in Hillsborough County, Gaston serves as a member of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a member of the Ybor City Kiwanis Club, the Ybor City Development Corporation, and the Ybor City Ad Hoc Coalition. She formerly served as a board director of the Hillsborough River Basin Board, a member of the Children’s Board Advisory Committee, and a member of the Tampa Blue Ribbon Task Force on water conservation. She is an alumna of Leadership Tampa Class of 1995.

Gaston completed her undergraduate studies at Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa. She earned a master’s degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and a doctoral degree from Illinois State University.