Dr. Larissa Ruiz Baía brings over 20 years of higher education experience to her work as Campus President of Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) Ybor City Campus. Prior to her position at HCC, Dr. Baía served as President of Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) in Laconia, NH, one of the seven colleges of the Community College System of NH. She began working at LRCC in 2012 as Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management. She has worked in higher education administration at both private and public institutions. Dr. Baía has also been an adjunct instructor in Comparative Politics and International Relations, writing and collaborating on various articles and book chapters.
Since moving to the area, Dr. Baía has joined the boards of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce and the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County. She is enjoying getting to know the community and meeting so many people who are passionate about HCC and Ybor City. Some of her professional interests are in the areas of student success, equity and inclusion, workforce pathways, adult learners and immigrant and refugee advocacy.
Dr. Baía received a Bachelors in Economics with a minor in Latin American Studies from Brandeis University, a Masters in Latin American Studies and doctorate in Political Science from the University of Florida. She was a first-generation college student, born on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands to Dominican parents. She is the proud mom of two young adults, Tatiana and Jonas and lives in Temple Terrace.