Oral History interview with Deborah Heystek, Alumnus on the Botanical Garden

Authors

• Deborah Heystek, Florida Institute of Technology
• Gordon Patterson, Florida Institute of Technology

Document Type

Video

Abstract

In this interview conducted by Gordon Patterson on August 5, 2025, Florida Tech alumna Deborah Heystek recounts her experiences as a student in the 1970s and shares her deep connection to the university's botanical garden, then known as "the jungle." Ms. Heystek arrived at FIT in 1975, initially as a marine biology major before gravitating toward ecology. She describes a small, self-contained campus where student life revolved around the jungle, which served as a backyard, a social hub, and a place for recreation and mental respite from challenging coursework.

Publication Date

8-5-2025

Recommended Citation

Heystek, Deborah and Patterson, Gordon, "Oral History interview with Deborah Heystek, Alumnus on the Botanical Garden" (2025). Oral History Videos. 22.
https://repository.fit.edu/oh_videos/22