USF Sarasota-Manatee’s CEO Stryker named to Who’s Who list of top 25 Tampa Bay area educators 

PALM HARBOR, FL (November 18, 2005) – Dr. Laurey Stryker, the campus CEO for the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, was honored here Thursday night as a member of the elite “Who’s Who in Education” in the Tampa Bay area. 

Stryker was honored at a reception at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort Tampa Bay with other nominees. Editors of the Tampa Bay Business Journal make the selections each year in a number of categories, including education. The magazine profiling all the nominees was distributed earlier this week. 

“It is especially rewarding to be seen by a business magazine as someone who makes a difference in the area,” Stryker said.  “This is a credit to educators everywhere, who have always known that quality education makes good business sense.” 

Stryker has been CEO of the regional campus of USF for the past five years.  During that time, enrollment has risen over 50% to 3,500 students annually and she has increased the number of academic programs from 19 to 39.  A new campus for USF Sarasota-Manatee is now under construction just north of the existing campus on North Tamiami Trail, across from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.  The new campus will open in the fall of 2006. 

Stryker is the former Assistant Commissioner of Education for the Florida Department of Education and Vice President of Finance and Technology for the USF.   Last year she chaired the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County and still serves on the Board of Directors. 

For more information about Stryker and USF Sarasota-Manatee, visit www.sarasota.usf.edu.