The Association of Florida Colleges awarded Lana Gaspari, The College of the Florida Keys’ Director of Marine Science and Technology, with the 2020 Career and Professional Employee of the Year award. Gaspari was selected from dozens of nominated employees from the 28 state colleges in Florida. 

Hired by CFK in 2012, Gaspari first served as an instructor in the Diving Business and Technology program for four years. In her current position, as the Director of Marine Science and Technology, she assists the dean with the operational oversight of five academic programs in the division of Marine Science and Technology. She collaborates with full-time faculty and supervises adjunct faculty, dive facilities management, boat crews, and student lab assistants. She is also responsible for CFK’s fleet of vessels and the administration of their operation. Additionally, she has played a key role in the establishment and growth of CFK’s Summer Adventure Camps program, which serves almost 300 children each summer. 

“Lana is incredibly student-centric. She routinely searches for ways to meet student needs and finds opportunities for student success,” said Jack Seubert, CFK Dean of Marine Science and Technology. “She frequently meets with students to help them make their academic plans and find ways to save time and money. Lana also seeks grant and donation funding to support industry certificate exams, especially for underrepresented student populations.” 

Gaspari holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology and a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education. She is a Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Course Director and Specialty Instructor Trainer, a Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) Diving Emergency Management Provider Instructor Trainer, and an Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor Trainer. 

“I believe that individuals are only as good as the team they work with,” said Gaspari. “I am fortunate to work with a team of hard-working, student-centric, dedicated, and passionate people. We are a team, at a small school, that accomplishes such big things.”