Lake Sumter State College welcomes its first female president: Heather Bigard

On Tuesday morning, Lake-Sumter State College held the inauguration ceremony for its seventh president, Heather Bigard, who is the first woman to hold this role.

As a first-generation college student, she brings over 25 years of experience in higher education to the campus and has big goals for the future.

“It’s an honor to represent this institution and the interests of our local community,” Bigard said in her inaugural address. “It’s an honor to be a first-generation student who overcame barriers to access, affordability, and social acceptance to enter and pursue a professional career in the field of academia. It's also an honor to be the first female president and serve among the 25 percent of women who lead our colleges and universities.”

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The ceremony was filled with nothing but praise for what Bigard has already accomplished in her first year as president. Amber Karlins, an assistant professor of English, recalled one of the first days she met Bigard and how she immediately knew she was the right person to lead the college. Having worked in the faculty office building, there were basic necessities that were not being met, like a printer and Wi-Fi.

“Dr. Bigard came to see me as part of her quest to better understand the college employees and their challenges,” Karlins said. "At the end of our 45-minute conversation, she asked me a fantastic question. She said, 'Tell me one thing that would make your job easier.' So I told her about the Wi-Fi and the printer, which I fully acknowledge are two things, but I saw an opportunity and I took it.

"I am so glad that I did because within 48 hours, I had Wi-Fi and a printer," Karlins said. "I had spent four years without the basic things that I needed to do my job. And she fixed it in two days, and it felt like actual magic. I came back to that story over and over because that was the moment that she cemented herself to me as a leader who gets things done.”

Multiple educators and board members stood alongside former president Charles Mojock and Florida College System Chancellor Kathleen Hedba, welcoming Bigard and expressing their gratitude for all she has done and will continue to do for this college, along with recognizing the college’s 60th anniversary.

Mojock spoke of how the school began in 1962 with 137 day students and 225 evening students, who paid a mere $8 per credit hour.

“From these humble beginnings, Lake-Sumter has continuously evolved, but the mission has always been the same,” Mojock said. "That brings us to why we are here today. To recognize and celebrate leadership, we gather to mark the beginning of Dr. Bigard’s tenure in office, to commend her hard work, dedication, and determination, which demonstrated her ability to overcome obstacles."

Following her oath of office and her acceptance of the presidential medallion, Bigard expressed that she had big plans for the college’s future.

“We are growing our campus footprint and our student body population,” Bigard said. “The students of Lake and Sumter counties need us more than ever as we all feel the full weight of the learning gaps that were only exacerbated by the pandemic. We must create a learning environment that is caring, engaging, nurturing, inclusive, and inspiring for all of our students. We must prepare our students not only for their careers but for a fulfilling life of meaningful relationships and continuous learning.”

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Heather Bigard is Lake-Sumter State College's first woman president