Kendall Campus Appoints New Miami GEAR UP Director

Lisa DeCastro was selected as the new director of the Miami Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program at Kendall Campus on Jan. 3. 

DeCastro will oversee and promote the grant program, which prepares local middle school students to attend college by offering one-on-one mentorship and informational sessions that provide advisement on financial aid and academics. 

“I recognize that a lot of our students come unprepared for college,” DeCastro said. “This program is a great way for me to be able to implement a lot of interventions that will work for our students.”

Prior to her current role, DeCastro served stints as a STEM grant director at Kendall and North Campus. Before 2019, she also served as a STEM grant coordinator at Wolfson, North and the Eduardo J. Padrón campuses. 

During the past six years, she has taught student success courses at Kendall Campus.  

The 43-year-old earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Florida State University in 2002. Four years later, she obtained a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from St. Thomas University. In 2021, she completed her doctorate degree in educational leadership and administration from Capella University.