Sept. 5, 2025
By Molly Urnek
For Lynda James-Gilboe, it’s the “tragedy that keeps on giving” — a crescendo of ripple effects triggered by a sudden heartbreak. But in the space grief left behind, she planted something enduring: a tribute not just to memory, but to transformation.
Lynda’s sister, Kymberly “Kym” Harris, was working as a nursing home administrator while pursuing a master’s degree in gerontology at USF when she found out she was expecting twin girls. Already parents to two daughters, Kym and her husband were excited to welcome the new additions on Father’s Day, which was also her husband’s birthday that year.
The babies were just hours old, and Kym was in the recovery room when her blood pressure suddenly plummeted. She died a short time later. At just 37 years old, Kym’s death left a profound void — in her home, her family, the classroom and the nursing home — an absence that compelled Lynda to act.
“I knew I had to do something,” says Lynda. “I made a commitment to myself to have Kym's voice represented in the field for as long as her natural life would have been.”
Dedicated to keeping her sister’s memory alive, Lynda established the Kymberly J. Harris Scholarship in Long Term Care at USF in 2008 to support students planning to become nursing home administrators.
“I’ve encountered real shortages in the profession — institutions are filled with caring people, but there simply aren’t enough of them,” says Lynda. “It can be a thankless job at times, but it’s absolutely essential.”
Ensuring nursing home staffs are led by administrators who instill the need to respect and understand their residents is essential, says Lindsay Peterson, director of the health-care administration and aging sciences internship programs at USF. She teaches her students to make certain their employees are well-trained — and value the history and humanity of every person in their care.
“Nursing home leaders teach their staff the importance of seeing residents as individuals — people who need care but also respect, knowledge of their past and recognition that their lives still have value,” says Lindsay.
Throughout her career, Kym modeled that leadership style and was an advocate for the residents of Florida Presbyterian Homes, which earned two Gold Seals under her administration. For Lynda, establishing the scholarship was a way to empower students who would redefine caring for aging adults like her sister did.
“Since Kym couldn’t finish her degree, my husband and I wanted to make sure others could,” says Lynda. “There’s a lot of work to do in the profession, and I’m thrilled to see the younger generation connecting with older adults; they have so much to offer each other.”
Lynda has made annual contributions to the fund for nearly 20 consecutive years, making her an invaluable member of USF’s Loyalty Herd. The Loyalty Herd program celebrates individuals who have given to the university for three or more consecutive years, a milestone Lynda has far surpassed. The joy of seeing students like 2023 scholarship recipient Nicole Odom follow in her sister’s footsteps drives Lynda’s passion and fuels her inspiration to continue giving back each year.
“This recognition reassured me that I was on the right track and motivated me to do better every day,” says Nicole. “I hope to inspire a new generation to truly care about older adults and make some positive changes in the industry.”
Now, 18 names and photos of scholarship recipients cover the wall outside of Lynda’s home office. Each one is a celebration of lives changed, a memento of a tragedy redefined.
Each year, Lynda hangs a new photo on the wall, adding to the collection below a single, framed headshot. For Lynda, the top one is her favorite — and the reason for all others — her sister, Kym.