FSCJ administration, faculty, staff and students were joined by government representatives, community leaders and the family of Dr. Lois D. Gibson at the memorable dedication ceremony of the Allied Health Building on FSCJ North Campus. FSCJ recognized Dr. Gibson’s dedication to the nursing profession and her commitment to its future by naming Building A, which houses both traditional classrooms and educational laboratories for students in allied health and various other programs, in her honor.

FSCJ President Dr. Cynthia Bioteau spoke on the exceptional contributions Dr. Gibson made to FSCJ and helping to develop our nursing program into what it is today. Dr. Bioteau was joined by FSCJ Foundation Board Chair Jeff Edwards as they unveiled the ceremonial plaque and building name in honor of Dr. Gibson.

Senator Audrey Gibson, daughter of Dr. Lois Gibson, and her father accepted the dedication on behalf of Dr. Gibson.

Dr. Gibson dedicated more than 40 years of her life to providing compassionate nursing care. She began her career as a staff and operating room nurse at Duval Medical Center in Jacksonville and then served as a charge nurse at John A. Andrew Hospital while studying at Tuskegee Institute. Upon returning to Jacksonville in 1955, she began teaching at Brewster School of Nursing and Stanton Vocational High School.

In 1968, Dr. Gibson joined Florida Junior College (now known as FSCJ) as a nursing instructor and coordinator and was named Director of Nursing in 1976. She later served as the Dean of Health Services from 1986 until her retirement three years later. Among her many contributions, she led the processes resulting in accreditation of our associate in nursing degree by the National League for Nursing and a $3 million grant to construct Building C to house the nursing program, a 300-seat auditorium, 12 classrooms, four nursing skills labs, labs for microbiology, anatomy and physiology, as well as administrative offices.

Prior to her passing in 2015, she established the Dr. Lois Gibson Book Scholarship fund, which is awarded annually to an African-American student in the associate in nursing program with demonstrated financial need and the drive to succeed in their future in nursing.