Establishment of Leadership Program Statewide
The Educational Leadership Enhancement Program was founded in 1993 by Betty Castor, a former Florida Commissioner of Education (1987-1994), Florida State Senator (1977-1979, 1983-1987), President of the University of South Florida (1994-1999) and President of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (1999-2002).
Betty's professional achievements are significant to the advancement of women in positions of leadership in both the areas of education and public service. She was the first women to ever be elected President Pro Tempore of the Florida Senate, the first woman to be elected to the Florida State Cabinet as the Commissioner of Education, and the first woman to hold the position of President at the University of South Florida.
It was during her tenure as the Florida Commissioner of Education that Betty advocated for the development of a program that would address the scarcity of women and minorities in administrative positions in higher education. She made her case to the State Legislature and was granted $200,000 to initiate the Educational Leadership Enhancement Program. A statewide advisory board was formed and Dr. Marie McDemmond, the Vice President for Finance and Chief Operating Officer of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) at the time, was elected as the first chair of the Board. All of the state universities responded, as well as many of the then 28 community colleges.
The Program was funded by the State for seven years until it was cut from the State budget in 2000. However, many colleges and universities recognized the need for the program and continued to support it with institutional funding. Over the last few years, as institutional budgets have become more restrictive, several schools have ended their participation in the program.
FIU's senior administrators, however, continue to be committed to the professional development of women and minorities and continues to fund the program.
History of the Leadership Program at Florida International University
FIU’s Educational Leadership Enhancement Program was founded by Barbara Bader in 1993. After teaching in the School of Education at Hofstra University for eight years, Barbara came to FIU in January 1974 as a faculty member in the College of Education. In 1987, she assumed the position of Director of Academic Programs, with primary responsibility for the University's Broward Programs, a position she held for 14 years. Barbara then returned to the Modesto Maidique Campus with administrative responsibilities in the area of Academic Affairs.
An active member of the Florida Association for Women in Education (FAWE) for 17 years, the organization acknowledged Barbara's dedication to mentoring and the role she has played in fostering professional relationships by awarding her FAWE's Mentor of the Year Award. In 2004 she was recognized for her leadership and continuous outreach to colleagues and was the recipient of FAWE's Presidential Award.
Barbara stepped down as Director of ELEP in 2016 after 23 years overseeing the program.
Elizabeth M. Bejar takes the helm
Dr. Elizabeth M. Bejar was appointed Director of ELEP in August of 2016. Elizabeth currently serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at FIU. She serves as advisor and provides direct support to the Executive Vice President and Provost in her primary responsibility for educational policy and academic programs. Much of her recent work is dedicated to mobilizing and working with teams of education professionals to research, pilot, develop and implement 21st century student success initiatives.
In addition to working with her colleagues at FIU, Elizabeth works closely with her counterparts throughout the state of Florida. Currently, partners in the Program are Palm Beach State, Hillsborough Community College, Pasco Hernando Community College, Polk State College, Lake Sumter Community College and Central Florida College. Now in its 24th year, one of the reasons the program continues to flourish is because of the strong networking among the more than 180 FIU alumni and colleagues statewide.