New President Of Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City Campus Named

TAMPA, FL — Hillsborough Community College has named a new president for its Ybor City campus.

Dr. Larissa Baia of Lakes Region Community College has joined Hillsborough Community College as the Ybor City campus president.

Baia brings more than two decades of experience in higher education to HCC, having served in a variety of executive-level positions in higher education, including her most recent position as president of Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, New Hampshire.

She succeeds Dr. Ginger Clark who retired in fall 2021 and Dustin Lemke who served in an interim capacity while the nationwide search for the new campus president was conducted.

“I am humbled to have been selected as HCC's Ybor City campus president," Baia said. "I look forward to working with the community to build upon the campus' successes and develop innovative strategies to continue producing the educated citizens and skilled workforce that are engines of economic prosperity to the communities we serve.”

“Along with the overwhelmingly positive campus feedback and her impeccable references, Dr. Baia impressed me with her appreciation for the rich history of the Ybor City campus and for her vision to propel the campus forward,” said Dr. Kenneth Atwater. “I am excited for the enthusiasm and steadfast leadership that she will bring to the College and am confident that she will further build upon the positive trajectory of the campus for the benefit of the students, faculty and staff of the campus.”

With two decades in combined higher education administration, Dr. Baia’s extensive professional background includes a progression of leadership positions such as director of graduate and evening admissions at Lynn University, associate vice president of enrollment management at Manchester Community College and president of Lakes Region Community College.

She is a graduate of Brandeis University and the University of Florida, receiving her MA in Latin American Studies and Ph.D. in political science from the latter.

Dr. Baia will assume her position at HCC on Aug. 15.

Hillsborough Community College serves more than 42,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay.