Tampa Bay Chamber Involvement

• Board of Directors – Executive Committee At-Large

Dr. Deborah Kish Stephan joined Hillsborough Community College as the Brandon Campus President in January 2021. Deborah, a seasoned higher education administrator and strategist, is a strong supporter of teaching and learning excellence, innovation, calculated growth, and fiscal sustainability. Her work is grounded in the principles of access and success for all students, investing in people, providing rigorous and relevant programming, and engaging in continuous quality improvement. Deborah earned her Bachelor of Science from Florida State University. She went on to earn her Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 1998. In 2016, she earned her Doctor of Education from The Roueche Graduate Center. Deborah has continued her education with a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of South Florida in 2021 and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Harvard Business School Online in 2022. 

Deborah has spent her career in higher education administration by taking on progressive responsibilities, growing campuses, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and engaging in complex projects. Previously, she served as a Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at two colleges and as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer tasked with launching “America’s Online Community College.” Deborah’s creativity and unique ability to innovate have been paramount in designing systems and processes to advance a learning-centered institution, a culture of excellence, advocating for modernization of operations and programs, and meeting the community’s needs. 

Deborah serves as a Board Member of the Tampa Bay Chamber, the Greater Brandon Chamber, HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, and the Brandon Community Advantage Center. Previously, she served on the HCC Foundation and the Angel Foundation boards. Finally, she is noted as an innovator and an empathetic leader who inspires her team with a tremendous passion for the success for all students.