Laura D. Babooram Gainer

Ms. Laura Babooram Gainer has worked in K-12 and post-secondary education for over 15 years.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Management with a Minor in Race & Ethnic Relations, a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership and is presently pursuing her doctorate in Adult and Community Education Leadership at Florida Atlantic University.  She is an Academic and Student Services Manager for the Bachelor’s Degree Programs at Palm Beach State College.  She has served in her managerial position for the past five years where she was promoted from Academic Coordinator.  She also served for a time as Interim Associate Dean, for the Bachelor’s Degree Programs.

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Her current position is a unique crossover position with responsibilities in both student services and academic affairs.  In her student services capacity, she oversees a staff consisting of Student Development Advisors and Program Admissions Advisor for the Bachelor of Applied Science and RN-BSN programs who serve a diverse student body of over 2,400 students in all programs combined. For academic affairs, she collaborates with the program’s associate dean and department chairs in setting the annual course schedule, strategic planning, laying out curriculum changes, and reviewing course enrollment data.  The student services and academic affairs responsibilities makes it possible to strengthen collaboration with faculty, staff and administrators across the institution. She finds her roles equal parts fulfilling, challenging and exciting.  It is not work if you are doing what you love to do with purpose. 

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Ms. Babooram Gainer has been involved with many activities and committees at Palm Beach State College.  Most recently, Institutional Representative-Elect (Palm Beach State College) for the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network of Florida; the Bachelor’s Scholars Scholarship Award and Scholars Club; Chair of the Annual Bachelor’s Bash, a celebratory event for new and graduating bachelor’s students, to name a few.

 

She credits volunteerism as the spark that lit the flame to pursue a career in education. First starting out as a PBC Library Adult Literacy Reading Tutor, this eventually led to teaching ABE/GED-ESOL at the Adult Education Center for several years.  Today, she is most grateful for the time she contributes to volunteering at the Women’s Circle, Inc., a non-profit organization located in Boynton Beach. The organization supports women of immigrant status offering career development tools, education classes such as Adult Literacy, Sewing, and Life Skills. She credits the women she has met and tutored and the many students she has advised and taught as being an important asset to her personal and professional growth as a compassionate and transformative education leader.