MOMENTUM
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE
USF
SARASOTA-MANATEE
8 NOW ARRIVING
USF is building its place in the new Bradenton-area aviation ecosystem
12 AI AND CYBERSECURITY
Faculty engaged in research in fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing
16 STUDENT RESEARCH
From Malawi to virtual reality, facultyled research opportunities prepare students for success beyond USF
22 THE ATALA BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Campus visitor inspires name choice for first-ever residence hall at Sarasota-Manatee campus
26 ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES
Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook reflects on USF’s first year in the AAU
36 LEADERSHIP TRAINING
USF College of Education works to change the teaching culture at two Bradenton schools
Momentum is published by USF Research and Innovation and the Office of University Communications and Marketing on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.
EDITORIAL
Assistant Director for USF Research and Innovation
Ross DuBose
Director for USF Research Development Institute
Sandra Justice
Director of Communications and Marketing
Tressa Presley-McLeod
Editor
Tressa Presley-McLeod
Content Editors
Georgia Jackson and Marc R. Masferrer
Design Editor
Kim McDonald
Contributing Writers
Ross DuBose Yadyra Guzman
William Hampton Georgia Jackson
Marc R. Masferrer Miranda Mattingly
Brandon McLeod
USF SARASOTA-MANATEE LEADERSHIP
Karen A. Holbrook
Regional Chancellor
Eddie Beauchamp
Regional Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs
Darren Gambrell
Director of Student Success
Kristi Hoskinson
Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
Sandra Justice
Director for USF Research Development Institute
Brett Kemker
Regional Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost, Academic Affairs and Student Success
Tressa Presley-McLeod
Director for Communications and Marketing
Marrie Neumer
Associate Vice President of Advancement
Greg Smogard
Assistant Vice President of Innovation and Business Development
Casey Welch
Assistant Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations
CAMPUS BOARD
Frederick Piccolo, Chair Lisa Carlton
Anila Jain Bill Mariotti
Diana Michel Ernie Withers
The University of South Florida, a member of the Association of American Universities, is a high-impact research university with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee.
COVER
On
Photo: Kim McDonald,
FROM THE REGIONAL CHANCELLOR
MOMENTUM. Few words better capture the vibrant spirit of our campus. Anyone who studies, works or visits can attest that the University of South Florida SarasotaManatee never stops boldly moving forward.
I will miss that enthusiasm, that eagerness for teaching, learning and serving our community, when I retire as regional chancellor in December. It is what made my tenure at USF Sarasota-Manatee a highlight of my career.
In this edition of Momentum Magazine, you'll discover that this past year was marked by significant milestones for USF Sarasota-Manatee:
• We opened the doors to the Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall in August. We are no longer “just for commuters,” but a campus where our students can now build a full university experience.
• The College of Education saw unprecedented community support as faculty worked with the Manatee and Sarasota school districts to equip teachers to better address the needs of their students and communities.
• USF celebrated the one-year anniversary of being admitted to the prestigious Association of American Universities, which helped draw new
faculty in business, hospitality, social work and other fields to our campus.
• USF announced it would be among the first universities to start a college dedicated to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing.
Several Sarasota-Manatee faculty members from the Muma College of Business and the College of Behavioral Sciences and Community Services are already doing groundbreaking work in the field.
In the following pages, you’ll find these and many other examples of how the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee never stops innovating, discovering and growing to be as essential as ever for our students, our community and beyond.
I invite you to enjoy the many stories we have to tell about the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.
Karen A. Holbrook Regional Chancellor, USF Sarasota-Manatee
BRETT E. KEMKER, Regional Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Success and Vice Provost
At the heart of our mission at USF
Sarasota-Manatee is a profound commitment to supporting our students throughout their academic journey — from the moment they arrive on campus to the day they graduate and beyond. Our focus on student success extends beyond the classroom to include community outreach, study abroad and everything in between, providing our students with opportunities to grow, connect and excel.
This issue of Momentum Magazine highlights the many transformative experiences that underscore our dedication to this mission. Take a visual tour of the Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall, which marked the transformation of our campus into a full-service environment where students can connect, collaborate and thrive outside the classroom. Hear from students who studied abroad this year. Or read about their forays into the world of academic research. Thank you for being part of our journey and for supporting our mission to empower our students. Every member of our university community plays a role in supporting student success. Faculty, staff, alumni and community partners work together to ensure that every student is given the opportunity to achieve their goals and make a lasting impact in their chosen fields. Together, we continue to make a difference in their lives and, as a result, the broader community.
LETTERS FROM LEADERSHIP
SANDRA JUSTICE, Director, USF Research Development Institute
In the seven years I led the Office of Research at USF Sarasota-Manatee, I have witnessed an unwavering commitment to academic research. Our faculty support ambitious projects that advance immersive technology in education, health care, cybersecurity and other fields and provide our students with exciting opportunities to gain research experience and prepare to solve the problems of the future.
As I transition into my new role as director of the USF Research Development Institute, I am thrilled to introduce Ross DuBose as he steps into a leadership role for USF Sarasota-Manatee research. I am confident that his collaborative approach will further enhance the research enterprise, and I anticipate bold new initiatives that will strengthen our culture of collaboration and expand our impact.
We are committed to advancing the bold vision for USF that has seen us become a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and break new records in research funding. The work we are doing today will lay the foundation for even greater achievements tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued dedication to making USF Sarasota-Manatee a vibrant hub for research and innovation.
ROSS DUBOSE, Assistant Director of USF Research and Innovation
It’s an exciting time to join this dynamic campus, especially as USF continues its bold journey as a leading research institution. I am eager to bring my experience helping academic researchers overcome the challenges of publication and securing funding to USF Sarasota-Manatee and support the incredible work being done by our faculty.
I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Sandy Justice, who has been instrumental in building the research culture at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Sandy’s leadership has created a strong foundation, and her new role as director of the USF Research Development Institute will undoubtedly elevate our research enterprise to even greater heights. I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to expand our research efforts, both on this campus and across One USF.
I have already had the privilege of meeting many of our esteemed faculty as well as members of the community, including our friends at Easterseals, the Science and Technology Society, the Brain Health Initiative, Chiles Hospitality, the Florida Department of Health and so many more. Everyone has been so welcoming, and I truly feel at home.
I’m excited to continue getting to know our faculty, learning about their research and working together to unlock new possibilities. USF’s invitation to join the prestigious Association of American Universities and its record-breaking research funding achievements are testaments to our potential. As we strive toward even greater goals – including the ambitious target of $1 billion in research awards by 2030 – I am committed to helping our faculty seize every opportunity to contribute to this incredible trajectory.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE celebrated the opening of the new Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall, in August, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and, a few days later, the first-ever move-in day.
USF Sarasota-Manatee is no longer just a “commuter campus,” but a home where students can, for the first time, build and enjoy a full university experience on the campus. Their excitement continues to fill all six floors of the new building, which boasts a new dining facility and views of Sarasota Bay.
NOW ARRIVING AN
AEROSPACE ECOSYSTEM POWERED BY EDUCATION
BY WILLIAM HAMPTON
USF Sarasota-Manatee campus students moving into the new Atala residence hall this fall were greeted with sweeping views of Sarasota Bay and a birdseye view of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). And there is plenty of activity to observe, as it’s no secret that the airport has seen unprecedented growth in recent years.
In 2023, SRQ served 4.3 million passengers, up 12.3% from the previous year and a 215% increase since 2018 now home to 11 airlines serving 61 destinations. Add to that, two fixed-base operators serving general and private aviation (with a third on the way) and booming flight training operations. There is always an aircraft in view from the windows of Atala Residence Hall with flight operations totaling more than 160,000 annually. But look a little closer, and there is so much more happening on the doorstep of the Sarasota-Manatee campus, and USF seeks to play a major role in educating the highly skilled workforce that a burgeoning aerospace economy in our region demands. For students and the community alike, “the sky’s the limit.” Florida, the birthplace of commercial aviation and the premier gateway to space, is an undisputed hub for the Americas, and a major center for flight training, aircraft
maintenance and components manufacturing. Few states can match the broad range of industry expertise available in Florida. With more than 16,000 aerospace-related companies, it ranks #2 in the U.S. for the number of aerospace establishments employing over 130,000 people and contributing more than $19 billion in revenues to Florida’s economy.
In the Tampa Bay region alone, there is a robust aviation and aerospace presence with more than 300 direct aerospace and defense employers and more than 100 call the Sarasota-Manatee area home. This impressive and diverse base of local companies joined with the agility and vision of SRQ and a spectrum of educational providers in creating an aviation ecosystem like no other.
The airport along with the Bradenton Area EDC, the University of South Florida, K-12 schools and Manatee Technical College are laying the foundation to realize the vision for an aviation ecosystem. SRQ will become the only airport in the nation with a “campus” that includes: an A-rated Team Success, industry-specific charter school; an airframe and powerplant (A&P) training program being developed by the Manatee County School District in partnership with Manatee Technical College; and aerospace engineering undergraduate and
graduate programs offered in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of South Florida. Opportunities abound for business development and career and workforce training for all types of students in this unique, comprehensive plan that puts education at the center of success for the airport and local job opportunities. According to the latest Florida Aviation Economic Impact Study, SRQ supported 23,009 direct and indirect jobs with a payroll totaling $1 billion and overall economic impact of $3.2 billion in 2022. With more than a dozen entities involved in the ecosystem to date and continued major announcements at the airport like the arrival of world-renowned Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus, and French company Elixir Aircraft it is safe to say our region is taking flight in new ways fueled by one of the most exciting industries on the planet.
Florida is no stranger to incredible successes in the realm of aviation and aerospace. The 12 square miles of land NASA purchased in 1961 in Brevard County known as the Kennedy Space Center have launched missions to the moon and beyond, and more importantly still stand as the world center for space exploration. And make no mistake, that as the era of Advanced Air Mobility takes
“Our area is currently home to more than 100 aviation/aerospace related companies, and we have a wealth of opportunities from expansive land options to a diverse talent pool to attract more. USF programs of all types will play an integral role in educating the highly skilled workforce needed for these companies to succeed.
Sharon Hillstrom
-
President
and CEO, Bradenton Area EDC
”off, Florida will play a key role in its flight path to success. Through collaborations between institutions, industry and community, our aerospace ecosystem, with SRQ and education at its heart, will leave its mark and create opportunity locally and beyond for generations to come.
We saw an opportunity that matched well with our state, region, faculty expertise, research areas and opportunities for students. Aerospace Engineering at USF will open up tremendous potential for our institution to be involved on the forefront of technological developments across a range of disciplines and applications.
- Rajiv Dubey, Professor and Mechanical Engineering Department Chair
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AT USF DRIVING RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
“ ”
The University of South Florida through the Department of Mechanical Engineering is establishing a world-class Aerospace Engineering program to meet the challenges and opportunities of the evolving aerospace sector.
Employment is growing at 6%, larger than the average for all occupations according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only a handful of schools in Florida offer degree programs in aerospace engineering, and the University of South Florida is actively working to meet workforce demands in this vital field.
In addition to growth, the industry is on the brink of transformative changes driven by new technologies. From the integration of AI and machine learning that will optimize operations and enhance safety, to the implementation of VR/AR into pilot training and Advanced Air Mobility “the third major revolution in aerospace.”
Aerospace Engineering coursework began last fall with
solid enrollment and positive student feedback. This fall, a minor in aerospace engineering was launched with plans to add abachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering. The graduates of these programs will contribute to the continued advancement of the aerospace ecosystem regionally and beyond.
The department has been busy securing equipment and onboarding an impressive slate of faculty that will lead and shape the new program. They come to USF eager to apply their experience and expertise across several areas including network control systems, bioinspired aerodynamics, aero acoustics, experimental fluid mechanics, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, and even designing and building wind tunnels.
And the faculty already boasts a solid portfolio of research approaching around $5M annually. Primarily through NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense in the areas of acoustics and noise control, aerodynamics, space exploration, urban air mobility, flight control, propulsion, hypersonic flows and advanced materials and manufaturing.
USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook meets with USF Aerospace Engineering faculty, aviation business leaders and members of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp.
USF LEADING THE CHARGE IN ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY (AAM)
“With a full range of USF programs and expertise, we stand ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the aerospace sector, not just with Aerospace Engineering degrees, but through our new College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing and so many other disciplines that will impact this industry with outstanding talent and research.
- Karen A. Holbrook, Regional Chancellor, USF Sarasota-Manatee
The first revolution in aviation began with the Wright brothers' successful powered flight, forever extending the reach of humanity. The second revolution came with jet propulsion, transforming global mobility by allowing people to travel across the world at unprecedented speeds. Now, we are witnessing the third major revolution in aerospace: one that promises to reshape urban mobility, disaster response and product delivery through rapid and efficient air travel across short distances. This third revolution, driven by the development of electric aircraft collectively referred to as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), is set to redefine personal aerial travel. Concepts like “flying cars,” air taxis and other emerging innovations are no longer the realm of science fiction but are becoming a tangible reality.
At the forefront of this transformation is the University of South Florida, led by Associate Professor Tansel Yucelen, who is also the Director of the Laboratory for Autonomy, Control, Information and Systems (LACIS). USF is pioneering AAM research and development with the acquisition of the Lift Hexa, making it the first public university to possess a full-scale manned VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicle. This milestone positions USF as a leader in advanced aerospace research, with a particular focus on autonomous control systems, urban air mobility and safety.
Professor Yucelen explains that the Hexa is designed for two main purposes: transporting a single passenger via vertical takeoff and landing from rooftops or remote areas, and cargo delivery. Looking ahead, he envisions that within the next 10 to 20 years, these “flying cars” will move beyond novelty and become an integral part of daily life.
Tansel Yucelen
USF SARASOTA-MANATEE MAKING ITS MARK IN AI AND CYBERSECURITY
BY MARC R. MASFERRER
In May, the University of South Florida became the first university in Florida — and among the first in the nation — to announce plans to create a college dedicated to AI, cybersecurity and computing. The goal of the college, which could open as soon as fall 2025, is to position USF, the Tampa Bay region and the state as leaders in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and cybersecurity.
“As AI and cybersecurity quickly evolve, the demand for professionals skilled in these areas continues to grow, along with the need for more research to better understand how to utilize powerful new technologies in ways that improve our society,” USF President Rhea Law said. “Through the expertise of our faculty and our strong partnerships with the business community, the University of South Florida is strategically positioned to be a global leader in these fields.”
USF Sarasota-Manatee will play a major role in the new college, with several members of the campus’s faculty from the Muma College of Business and the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences already conducting research in AI, cybersecurity and other computing-related fields.
The work being done by many faculty members highlights the interdisciplinary nature of much of the
work that might come under the new college. For instance, criminologist Roberta O’Malley said her research on online sextortion and other cybercrime has led to collaborations with experts in psychology, cybersecurity and AI.
“Studying cybercrime is an opportunity for overlapping research in so many areas,” said O’Malley, an assistant professor in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.
USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor
Karen Holbrook said the new college will create new opportunities for the Sarasota-Manatee campus to respond to and meet the workforce, research and other needs in the region.
“USF, including our campus and faculty already carrying out groundbreaking interdisciplinary research, is committed to being at the forefront of rapidly emerging developments in AI and cybersecurity,” Holbrook said.
“The focus the new college will bring will make USF a leader in the field in Sarasota-Manatee and beyond.”
Questions about artificial intelligence are increasingly becoming part of myriad academic disciplines, ranging from marketing and cybersecurity to education and health care, opening new opportunities for
Researchers at USF Sarasota-Manatee are already conducting research involving humanoid robots and other aspects of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The focus the new college will bring will make USF a leader in the field in Sarasota-Manatee and beyond.
- Karen Holbrook, Regional Chancellor
“ ”
interdisciplinary research. Professors Giti Javidi and Ehsan Sheybani from the Muma College of Business highlight their Applied Research Collaborative (ARC) lab at USF Sarasota-Manatee as a perfect venue for such endeavors. The lab is equipped with computers, as well as virtual reality gear, a humanoid robot named “Neo,” and an “e-nose,” among other AI tools. The lab provides an ideal space for researchers from across the university to incorporate these devices to address possible gaps in their research. “AI is inherently an interdisciplinary field, making it an excellent area for scholars from various disciplines to collaborate and tackle challenging research areas together,” said Javidi, who is also part of the planning committee for the new college of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and computing at USF. The ARC lab has been supported by the generous support of industry partners such as Sylint Inc., a Sarasota-based cybersecurity firm. Sylint's support of the lab enabled the hiring of a research associate who joined the team to explore how organizations can better respond to cybersecurity threats. This work is being published in a highly reputable business journal. Additionally, a subsequent gift from Sylint is allowing a doctoral student to join the ARC lab, further advancing the lab’s research capabilities.
Roberta O’Malley’s research on sextortion — a digital brand of cyberfraud where an offender threatens to distribute intimate
videos, images or information unless the victim complies with financial or other demands — has taken her to some of the darkest places of the internet and human nature, as she studied the motivations of offenders and the reluctance of many victims to tell their stories to law enforcement. As an example of her findings, O’Malley said half of the 215 men she surveyed reported thoughts of death or suicide, after they were compromised by material they had provided offenders they had met via dating and other social media apps. O’Malley, who previously studied how pedophiles used the internet to exploit children, said her research has provided guidance for law enforcement as they try to understand what is a relatively new type of crime made more challenging to investigate by advances in technology.
Roberta O’Malley
“It’s been validating for them to see empirical research on something they are dealing with,” O’Malley said. And kicking off in 2025, O'Malley and George Burruss will be co-directors of a new cybercrime research lab, which will be on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.
Assistant Professor Triparna de Vreede of the School of Information Systems and Management at USF SarasotaManatee says her training in psychology, information systems and business helps guide her research in behavioral artificial intelligence (BAI), which examines how people interact with artificial intelligence, the consequences of those interactions and how to build AI systems that are effective, efficient and trustworthy. In the various projects she is working on in the Muma College of Business’s BAI lab in Tampa, de Vreede says she and her team are researching how to use BAI to address real world questions. In one project, de Vreede is studying what type of AI-based chatbot system would best suit a technology employment agency that matches computer programmers with potential employers. In another
project, she is examining how AI might help students set goals. “We wouldn’t think to ask any question that doesn’t have real world applications,” de Vreede said.
Criminologist Fawn Ngo of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at USF Sarasota-Manatee was the lead author of “Cyber Hygiene and Cyber Victimization Among Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Internet Users: A Mixed-Method Study,” which was published in the journal Victims & Offenders. The study showed that many well-intentioned LEP users engage in risky online behaviors such as using unsecured networks and sharing passwords and are reluctant to report when they are victimized online. Ngo is developing a website that will include cybersecurity information and resources in different languages and a link to report victimization. “Security systems are only as strong as the people who use them,” Ngo said. “If we want to secure our digital borders, we must ensure that every member in society, regardless of their language skills, is well-informed about the risks inherent in the cyber world.”
Professor Giti Javidi speaks to high school students during the Cybersecurity and AI Day in the Selby Auditorium in October 2024.
USF SARASOTA-MANATEE'S BLOOMBERG LAB GETS AN UPGRADE
A second lab opens on Tampa campus
BY MARC R. MASFERRER
USF Sarasota-Manatee's pioneering Bloomberg Lab, which has given finance students an invaluable edge as they prepare to enter the workforce, received a major makeover this summer, complete with 12 new Bloomberg terminals, a new stock ticker and other enhancements.
In the Bloomberg Lab, as well as an identical lab that opened on the Tampa campus this fall, faculty members incorporate myriad financial and other data available via the Bloomberg Terminals into courses on finance and investing.
Among other uses, the machines are helping students prepare for investment competitions against classmates and counterparts at other universities that measure their ability to analyze financial conditions and provide investment advice — training that prepares them for careers on Wall Street and elsewhere in the financial services industry. Many have been able to use the lab at USF Sarasota-Manatee since it opened in March 2017 to earn a Bloomberg certification that helps them stand out against other job candidates.
director of the Kate Tiedemann School of Finance and Business and the USF St. Petersburg campus dean for the Muma College of Business.
“We show them how to do stock analysis and how to form a portfolio, skills they will need if they choose finance as a career,” said Assistant Professor Vikas Soni, who oversees the Bloomberg Lab and the investment competitions, as well as teaches courses on the Principles of Finance and the Principles of Investments.
The Bloomberg Lab has been the centerpiece of the annual “Wall Street Trading with Bloomberg Day,” when USF Sarasota-Manatee brings local high school students to campus to learn more about how USF can help prepare them for careers in finance. During the event, faculty have demonstrated the power of the Bloomberg Terminals and the edge they give users.
“USF Sarasota-Manatee has been at the vanguard of this in providing products, equipment and a learning platform for our students,” said Gary Patterson, the
Patterson and Joni Jones, the Sarasota-Manatee campus dean for the Muma College of Business, said opening a lab in Tampa would not have been possible without the success of the existing lab at SarasotaManatee.
“We are at a point where the Bloomberg Lab facilities are ready to explode as far as competitions, outreach to community and the combined efforts of our campuses,” Jones said. “That will make our students stand out from other students who are graduating with finance degrees.”
Having two Bloomberg Labs at USF “will create a synergy,” she added.
The overhaul at Sarasota-Manatee was funded by the original gift from David Kotok and Cumberland Advisers that was used to create the lab.
“To be a small campus and have such a resource for our finance students and our finance faculty, thanks to the support of our donors and supporters, is groundbreaking,” Jones said.
Vikas Soni
TWO ‘TRAILBLAZERS’ SHARE THEIR RESEARCH
From Malawi to virtual reality, faculty-led research opportunities prepare students for success beyond USF
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
The tight-knit Sarasota-Manatee campus may very well be one of the best places for students to gain research experience. With a low studentto-faculty ratio, the campus provides students ample opportunities to interact with their professors and contribute to new and ongoing research. From education and hospitality to healthcare and the sciences, there are a number of fields in which students can get involved.
Each year, USF celebrates student research with a university-wide conference that serves as a platform for students on each campus to present their research and engage in discussion with peers and mentors. The annual event highlights USF’s unique effort to offer an abundance of research opportunity to students.
“The research conference is a chance for students to boost their public speaking
and networking skills, which are essential for navigating today's competitive job market,” said Hawa Allarakhia, a doctoral candidate in the College of Education and graduate assistant in the Office of Research, who played a pivotal role in organizing the conference on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.
The student research conference at USF Sarasota-Manatee kicked off on April 10 with a welcome message from Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook and an interactive presentation by Blair Bloomston, founder of Leaders Uplifted, who led the room through multiple rounds of “rock, paper, scissors, unite,” and encouraged the student researchers to connect with one another through the spirit of play.
Held in the Selby Auditorium, the conference featured 10 oral presentations and more than 30 poster presentations.
Leah Burger presents at the 2024 Student Research Conference.
LEAH BURGER
Utilizing Virtual Reality Games to Enhance Youth Literacy
What does it mean to be literate?
This is the question at the heart of Leah Burger’s doctoral research. The former Hillsborough County public school teacher hopes to answer the question — and challenge assumptions other educators may have about the concept — before she begins work on her dissertation in the spring.
The question is a complicated one, Burger explained, because literacy is both personal and cultural.
“Literacy is more than decoding printed words into spoken language,” she said. “It includes dancing, playing, creating, gesturing — all the ways we represent meaning in our society.”
Burger is interested in how writing and digital literacy can enhance children’s creative potential. Lately, she has invested her energy into expanding literacy and access to STEM knowledge among youths through engagement with virtual reality games.
“VR games — and games in general — require students to be curious, move and collaborate,” said
Burger, a recipient of the Trailblazers Research Scholarship. “Students progress through games by learning via mistakes and in-depth problem solving. And there are so many connections to be made here: industry, design, coding and writing.”
Students in a “gamers club” Burger organized and launched in collaboration with Lindsay Persohn and Jenifer Schneider of the USF College of Education learned to develop their very own virtual reality games. Burger worked closely with the students to examine their languages, literacies, thought processes and cultural motivations as they created various digital texts. According to Burger, the experience enhanced their literacy skills — as well as their ability to solve problems, think critically and collaborate with their peers.
“Leah is an exceptional doctoral student,” Schneider said. “The goal of her research is to transform youth's experiences with computer science through after-school programs that incorporate core computational thinking concepts using generative AI tools and disciplinary literacy techniques.”
Burger and Schneider recently applied for a Spencer Racial Equity Grant to further support the research.
Burger and Persohn also have plans to work with a team of USF faculty and staff to refine a prototype VR environment.
Blair Bloomston, founder of Leaders Uplifted, taught attendees to play “rock, paper, scissors, unite,” and encouraged the student researchers to connect with one another through the spirit of play. Here she demonstrates with Greg Smogard, assistant vice president of innovation and business development at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
MADISON DOWDY
Providing Audiologic Outreach Services in Remote Areas of Malawi
Before graduating from the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences with her doctorate in audiology, Madison Dowdy spent 14 days providing audiologic outreach services in Malawi with USF alumna Jenna Vallario, a professor and audiologist at ABC Malawi Hearing Clinic and Treatment Center.
In just four days, the team — three audiologists, two physicians and 10 students — saw 278 patients, more than half of whom were suffering from issues with their ears, nose or throat.
With a population of more than 20 million people — 70% of whom lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2019 — Malawi faces many challenges. By venturing beyond Lilongwe, where ABC Malawi is located, the team was able to make their services more accessible to rural populations.
“This research has had such a tremendous impact on me,” Dowdy said. “I am honored to have been able to contribute a little bit of my knowledge and time to a country that lacks the necessary resources while still managing to provide patients with the best possible care.”
While in Malawi, the team performed hearing tests, cleaned and treated patients with active ear infections, referred individuals to be fitted for hearing aids and offered other ENT related services performed by Dr. Julia Toman of USF Health. By the end of the trip, they had successfully identified and referred 32 individuals to be fitted with hearing aids.
“If it wasn't for these outreach efforts, many of these individuals would have never been identified with a hearing loss, let alone fit with amplification,” Dowdy said. “These outcomes will have a lasting effect on many lives in areas including language development, cognition, quality of life, education and employment. As an audiologist, every person with a hearing loss identified and effectively treated is a small victory.”
At USF, Dowdy received mentorship from Michelle Arnold, an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders.
“This project provided an incredible opportunity for Dr. Dowdy to apply her skills in a real-world setting, and to make a tangible difference in the lives of so many,” Arnold said. “The experience gained through such outreach is invaluable and truly shapes the future of hearing healthcare.”
Dowdy, a recipient of the Trailblazers Research Scholarship, plans to implement global hearing healthcare practices into her career and continue to contribute her expertise on outreach trips around the world.
Madison Dowdy (second row, third from right) spent 14 days in Malawi providing audiologic outreach services.
CLYDE G. NIXON STUDY ABROAD ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP MAKES STUDENT’S FIRST TRIP ABROAD POSSIBLE
Kalia Early spent four weeks in Salamanca learning the language and embracing the culture
BY BRANDON MCLEOD
When Kalia Early, a psychology major at USF Sarasota-Manatee, accepted the Clyde G. Nixon Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship and set off for Salamanca, Spain, on July 5, she had no idea how profound an impact the experience would have on her.
“It was a culture shock,” said Early, who had long aspired to learn a second language. “Being in another country and being forced to actually pick up a language really motivated me to reach my goal.”
O ver the course of the next four weeks, Early and 25 other students participated in various workshops on subjects ranging from flamenco dancing and cooking to art and cyanotype photography. They explored Salamanca and its surroundings, including visits to churches, museums, palaces and universities. On weekends, they had the opportunity to travel to nearby cities such as Zamora, Segovia, Ávila, Madrid and Aveiro, Portugal.
The language barrier was challenging at first but over time, Early learned to communicate with her host family and others in the community.
When she returned home, she experienced another shock.
“I realized just how much energy Americans use and how many things we waste all the time,” said Early, who misses the ability to get around without a car.
The trip was
facilitated by Margarita Altuna, an assistant professor of instruction, who cherishes the opportunity to witness the impact study abroad experiences have on USF students.
“When the students go to the country and experience the culture for themselves, they get immersed and start seeing the world in a different way,” she said. “These crucial experiences get them thinking about their future in a way that goes beyond the scope of just learning and using Spanish.”
For Early, a dance instructor and the president of Somos Toros, the USF Spanish Club, the trip has inspired her to host a flamenco dancer on campus. She also expects the cultural awareness and language skills she developed will enhance her future work as a therapist — especially since she intends to work in an area with a large Spanish-speaking population.
Early’s experience is one of 42 made possible by the generosity of Clyde G. Nixon Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship. Since 2007, the scholarship has provided almost $150,000 to USF students studying abroad.
“Without them, it would have been a lot more challenging to be part of this program,” Early said. “I am so thankful.”
1 2 3 8 9 10 11
BEYOND THE BAY
STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM USF SARASOTA-MANATEE traveled beyond the bay to explore corners of the Caribbean, Europe and beyond. Each trip took a different shape, depending on course material and destination. Some students spent 10 days in the Dominican Republic, where they lived with local families and volunteered at mobile medical clinics. Other students voyaged to Greece and Serbia to learn more about the local cuisine. All gained course credit while expanding their horizons.
1. USF Quebec Corporate Mentor Program (Spring Break 2024)
Quebec City, Canada
Students: Edwin Martinez-Baxcajay and Fummy Nguyen
2. USF Honors Bahamas (Summer 2024)
The Bahamas
Student: Saleha Salek
3. USF Honors Dominican Republic (Summer 2024)
Dominican Republic
Student: Bethsagesna Thalon
4. USF London Cross-Cultural Communication (Summer 2024)
London, England
Sudents: Craig Kerneklian, Danielle McCourt and Hannah Gotwalt
5. USF in Florence Science (Summer 2024)
Florence, Italy
Student: Lindsay Page
6. USF Greece and Serbia Food and Culture (Summer 2024)
Greece and Serbia
Student: Vanesa Viera
7. USF Salamanca - Spanish Language and Culture (Summer 2024)
Salamanca, Spain
Students: Kalia Early and Niky Roblero Morales
USF Virtual Global Exchange (VGE)
8. College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, Wisconsin
9. Universidad Marista de Mérida in Mérida, Mexico
10. Universidad del Norte Colombia in Barranquilla, Colombia
11. São Paulo State University in São Paulo, Brazil
THE ATALA BUTTERFLY
EFFECT COMES TO USF SARASOTA-MANATEE
THE NEW SIX-STORY,
100,000-SQUARE-FOOT
BUILDING MARKS THE FIRST MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS SINCE IT MOVED TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION IN 2006
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
The story of the new Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall begins with a butterfly.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
When Paul Kirchman, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at USF Sarasota-Manatee and former field biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, read about local efforts to restore the Atala butterfly population he decided to ask campus Vice Chancellor Brett Kemker if he could plant verbena and sweet almond on the grounds in the hope the fragrant plants might attract the imperiled butterflies to campus.
Elsewhere on campus, construction of an approximately $43 million student center and residence hall was just heating up.
Over the next several months, two things happened. The six-story, 100,000-square-foot building began to take shape and, to Kirchman’s delight, students, faculty and staff began reporting sightings of small butterflies with
bright red bodies and inky black wings with iridescent blue spots.
“They're pretty striking,” Kirchman said of the butterflies, which can live up to three months under ideal conditions and whose wingspan can measure a little over five centimeters.
While Kirchman isn’t sure the fragrant plants were responsible for bringing the Atala butterflies to the Sarasota-Manatee campus, their presence certainly made an impression on the 300 students, faculty and staff, who voted to name the new residence hall after the winged insect.
“The Atalas symbolize transformation, resilience and the importance of harmony with the natural world,” Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook said. “Like these butterflies, our unique students come here for a short while, to live, learn and grow. They then fly away to their next adventure and fly back as alumni to enjoy the campus year after year. Now both our students and the butterflies have a dedicated place to call home.”
INSIDE THE CAMPUS STUDENT CENTER AND ATALA RESIDENCE HALL
It’s difficult to overstate just how significant the addition of the new Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall is for the tight-knit Sarasota-Manatee campus community. Situated on U.S. 41, between Sarasota Bay and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, USF’s youngest campus previously consisted of a single, threestory, 134,540 square-foot building.
When the new building opened its doors on Aug. 19, for a ribbon cutting, hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members flooded into the sunny atrium, buzzing with anticipation.
“Seeing this project advance from a vision to a reality is especially meaningful for me,” President Rhea Law said. “I served as the chair of the Board of Trustees when USF Sarasota-Manatee welcomed its first class of students in 2006, and I remember attending the groundbreaking ceremony for this beautiful bayfront campus and thinking about the limitless possibilities for its future.”
In addition to the atrium, the first floor of the Campus Student Center is also home to a ballroom, a dining room, a bookstore, a game room and USF World — a strategic decision by Holbrook, who served as the first senior vice
president of USF World and believes strongly in the value of study abroad as a catalyst for personal growth.
The second floor boasts additional office space for student organizations, study lounges, conference rooms available for community use and an expansive terrace for campus and community events.
“Student support is quite literally the foundation on which our students now live, learn and grow,” said Kemker, also the regional vice chancellor of academic affairs and student success at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
When campus leadership welcomed the first students to Atala Residence Hall, which sits on the top four floors of the building on Aug. 23, volunteers sporting green “Atala Haul” shirts ferried carts with pillows, microwaves, miniature refrigerators and other domestic items from the trunks of cars to suites and apartments on the top four floors of the new building.
“Everything looks amazing,” said Isabelle Sorensen, a student and campus tour guide who kept up with the building’s construction, which started in March 2023. “I am ready to be here all the time.”
Residents like Sorensen, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment on the sixth-floor of Atala Hall, enjoy suiteand apartment-style housing in one of four configurations
that accommodate groups of one, two or four students. In addition to suite-style bathrooms, apartments also include a kitchenette and a living room. Each room boasts views of the campus courtyard — where the titular Atala butterflies nest among the sprawling coontie — Sarasota Bradenton International Airport or, in Sorensen’s case, Sarasota Bay and the downtown Sarasota skyline.
On the fourth floor, a cohort of more than 40 students from the Muma College of Business, the College of Education and the Judy Genshaft Honors College make up the campus’s first living learning community, which provides an array of programs and experiences — such as special events and opportunities for internships — designed to complement and expand the students’ academic interests.
A ‘THIRD PLACE’ DEDICATED TO STUDENTS
Ask Sarasota-Manatee students what they like best about the new building and they’ll talk about the many ways it has transformed campus life. Prior to the fall 2024 semester, USF Sarasota-Manatee was a commuter campus — a temporary destination students traveled to for class before commuting, sometimes long distances, home. Now, it is a full-service campus with the capacity
to serve a wider student audience.
“We opened the door for a new profile of students,” said student governor Spence Gerber. “High school students from anywhere in the state — and country, for that matter — can now add USF Sarasota-Manatee to their wish list.”
Gerber is the fifth in his family to attend USF after his mother, attorney Maria Gerber, and his three older brothers.
“My family members are a little jealous,” he said.
“For years, our students have thrived academically without a place they could truly call their own, but now, for the first time, they have a community space and a home,” said Kemker. “This comprehensive facility ensures our students have everything they need to succeed both academically and socially.”
Former student body vice president Evan Fruehauf attributed the thriving student culture to the addition of what he calls “third places,” or places between the apartments and classrooms, like the atrium, the dining hall and the collaboration lounge.
“People will forge lifelong friendships, experience brand-new ideas, and hopefully leave their mark on the campus,” he said.
Top (left to right): Student center atrium, campus bookstore, Atala Residence Hall community kitchen and lounge. Bottom: Dining hall, student center flexible spaces, Atala Residence Hall apartment, Rocky showing off the view from the sixth floor lounge.
SARASOTA-MANATEE REGIONAL CHANCELLOR KAREN HOLBROOK REFLECTS ON USF’S FIRST YEAR IN THE AAU
BY MARC R. MASFERRER
USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook knows the Association of American Universities well.
Very well.
Five members of the prestigious AAU, whose members include the top 3 percent of research universities in the U.S. and Canada, hold prominent spots on her curriculum vitae: the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Washington School of Medicine, the University of Florida, The Ohio State University, and, as of June 2023, the University of South Florida.
“We are in incredible company, and USF joining the AAU made our university even more impressive,” Holbrook said. “These are outstanding universities with faculty doing groundbreaking research in various fields with commitments to serving the local, national and global communities, and graduates who have gone on to make a real difference in the world.”
“USF belongs in the AAU,” Holbrook said. “We have arrived.”
Throughout the past year and a half, USF’s membership in the Association of American Universities has become a springboard to an array of benefits for the USF community, Tampa Bay region and state of Florida.
From the successful recruitment and retention of world-class faculty and students to more corporations and community organizations inquiring and establishing new partnerships with the university — AAU membership is fueling USF’s momentum in significant ways.
“Receiving an invitation to join the AAU is one of the most significant milestones in the University of South Florida’s history. It signals that our peers recognize that USF has established itself as one of the nation’s leading research universities by achieving benchmarks focused on the success of our students and faculty and the continued growth of our robust research enterprise,” USF President Rhea Law said. “Just one year after joining the AAU, our community is already seeing the impact of this achievement as it is helping to further elevate the outstanding work of our world-class students, faculty and staff. At USF, we continue to be bold in our pursuit of excellence and we are focusing on maximizing the impact of our university for generations to come.”
One of the AAU’s primary missions is to advocate for federal resources and policy issues pertaining to higher education, science and innovation. As a member, USF leaders have a voice in the conversation as AAU seeks
AAU membership affirms our hard work and USF’s commitment to research. It is a powerful validation.
- Karen Holbrook, Regional Chancellor
support for investments in student financial aid, faculty scholarship and research that is vital to the nation’s economic competitiveness.
“ ”
“As one of America’s leading research universities, the University of South Florida in its first year in AAU has proven to be a strong partner in our efforts to promote the government-university research partnership, which produces discoveries that improve the lives and health of Americans, expand our economy and make us safer and stronger,” AAU President Barbara Snyder said. “President Law and USF have jumped in with both feet, continuing to make scientific advances while advocating for science and the importance of research. We are thrilled to have them on our AAU team.”
Holbrook, who is retiring as regional chancellor at the end of 2024 after a total of 14 years at the university, said AAU recognition is not just USF's honor.
“It also belongs to the communities we serve, including here in Sarasota-Manatee where we are the only higher education institution with the resources and ability to bring from all three campuses so much knowledge and experience in myriad fields to address the most pressing challenges, like economic and workforce development, cybersecurity, childhood literacy, health care, risk management and insurance and teacher shortages in the public schools,” Holbrook said.
AAU BOOSTS FACULTY RECRUITMENT AT SARASOTA-MANATEE CAMPUS
At USF Sarasota-Manatee, Holbrook said AAU membership is helping recruit new faculty who appreciate what being at a recognized academic and research powerhouse like USF could mean for their careers.
Tingting Zhang said USF being invited to the AAU was a “significant factor” in her decision to join the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at USF SarasotaManatee as a tenured associate professor.
“As a faculty member, this affiliation means that research and grant efforts are significantly valued and supported,” said Zhang, who previously worked for eight years at the University of Central Florida. “It aligns
perfectly with my career goals, allowing me to further develop my skills and focus on innovative research.”
Dane Minnick, who holds the Evelyn Duvall Endowed Chair for Family Development in the School of Social Work at the Sarasota-Manatee campus, said AAU membership “made USF a priority university to explore during my job search.”
“Membership in the AAU demonstrates that USF has a high-achieving academic community where innovative research and teaching are strongly valued,” said Minnick who came to USF this fall from Ball State University in Indiana, where he was director of the Center for Substance Use Research and Community Initiatives. “This environment aligns perfectly with my professional aspirations and my commitment to making meaningful contributions to the fields of social work and substance use research.”
Laura Curran moved to the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy at the Sarasota-Manatee campus this fall, after studying as a postdoctoral fellow at Tulane University. Curran, who earned her master’s degree in counselor education at USF and her Ph.D. in social work at New York University, said she was impressed by the faculty’s pride in USF becoming part of the AAU.
“Since I knew that such a passionate and visionary research community is not something you see every day, I wanted to be a part of it,” Curran said.
Holbrook said AAU’s imprimatur did not make USF a better place to teach or conduct research than it was before it joined the organization. Rather, it is best viewed as recognition for all USF and its leadership accomplished during a relentless 20-year pursuit of academic and excellence and innovation through investments, hard work and bold risk-taking
Having “AAU since 2023” on its resume does, among other things, highlight the school’s position as a top-tier higher education institution and the advantages the community and the region have over other communities that don’t include a renowned research university like USF.
“AAU membership affirms our hard work and USF’s commitment to research,” Holbrook said. “It is a powerful validation.”
NEW RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AIMS TO UPLIFT RESEARCH ACROSS ONE USF
BY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
What began nearly 20 years ago as a commitment to producing groundbreaking research and a bold vision to receive an invitation to the Association of American Universities (AAU), has produced yet another milestone in the creation of the Research Development Institute (RDI).
Not only is USF now among the 71 leading research universities to join the AAU, research funding awarded to USF reached an all-time high of $692 million in fiscal year 2023, representing an increase of nearly 27% from the previous year and further elevating USF’s stature as one of the nation’s most research-intensive universities.
Under the leadership of inaugural director Sandy Justice, the Research Development Institute is expanding on this success, setting the stage for USF’s continued trajectory toward ambitious goals, like the creation of a college dedicated to AI and cybersecurity and the move toward $1 billion in research awards by 2030.
Justice, a 25-year veteran of USF Research and Innovation, has been working with senior leadership throughout her career to improve the research enterprise at USF. Never one to wait for the future to come to her, she is empowering interdisciplinary research teams to pursue large-scale, center-level grant funding and
elevate those submissions to be successful in a highly competitive environment.
“The funding environment for research is extremely competitive, with institutions across the nation contending for limited, large-scale support,” said Miranda Mattingly, associate director of the RDI. “Large-scale research proposals, often totaling over $5 million, typically focus on ‘grand’ challenges with significant societal or global impact, or pave the way for a new technology, field or industry to emerge. They, consequently, require long-term planning with teams ready to articulate a bold, strategic and scalable vision, inclusive of novel innovation, societal impact and public engagement.”
The RDI aims to be an all-inclusive guide for teams looking to navigate the complex landscape of large-scale funding.
“We work closely with faculty throughout the entirety of this ‘research development’ process — from 'bold idea' generation to post-submission support — as well as across their careers to prepare and pursue these transformative, large-scale grant opportunities,” said Mattingly. “Our aim is to maximize research productivity, offering a concierge service for grant seekers including grant writing, editing, and graphic support, and assist in
The creation of USF's new Research Development Institute is designed to help the university meet several ambition goals, including obtaining $1 billion a year in research awards by 2030.
We recognize expertise is all around us, and the only way to solve these grand challenges is together.
- Miranda Mattingly, Associate Director, Research Development Institute “
”
communicating the significant and compelling impact of faculty research.”
“The RDI is an incredibly useful resource for SarasotaManatee faculty and across One USF, especially if you are looking to expand the scope of your research and grow your grant funding,” said Ross DuBose, assistant director in the Office of Research at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
“The RDI adds a layer of support to the important administrative services offered through our research office here on campus, where we have the opportunity to work individually with principal investigators. The RDI helps to bring faculty together from across USF and beyond to pursue solutions to global challenges through interdisciplinary research, while providing much-needed resources to boost teams’ competitiveness for funding.”
The RDI is also designed to elevate the USF research enterprise — creating diverse pathways for the emergence of transformative knowledge through think tanks, research collaboratives and the university’s thriving innovation ecosystem. For instance, RDI worked with the provost’s office to award four CREATE prizes worth $1 million each over three years to mobilize multidisciplinary teams for large, collaborative efforts targeting transformative research that will lead to societal impact.
Think tanks, a featured initiative of the RDI, serve as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation, mobilizing interdisciplinary teams around pressing societal challenges and accelerating their pathways to breakthrough discoveries.
“Think tanks offer faculty a space to discuss promising areas of transdisciplinary research emerging in response to evolving technologies and quickly changing environments, and form immediate connections for new research collaborations,” Mattingly said. “They also provide an entry point for those within the community and in industry that are seeking to collaborate with USF
researchers. We recognize expertise is all around us, and the only way to solve these grand challenges is together.”
Six think tanks are planned — Health + Technology, Future of Food, AI + Cybersecurity, Oceans of Data, Future of Education and Social Determinants of Health — with more anticipated to launch throughout the academic year.
“We have think tanks being hosted on each USF campus, and all convenings have a remote option to participate,” Mattingly said.
The RDI is ready to bring ideas for transformative research to life. By investing in open networks of collaboration, the RDI will advance USF’s bold trajectory of excellence and relentless pursuit of innovation.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
BY ROSS DUBOSE
JAMES ANDREWS
James E. Andrews has been named the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s first William W. & Judith A. Gaunt Professor in Library and Information Science. The endowed professorship was made possible by a generous gift from the Gaunt family of Bradenton.
Andrews, who has a PhD from the University of Missouri – Columbia, has been part of the School of Information (at USF for 20 years, including 12 years as director. This endowed professorship enables him to be the first faculty member from the School of Information to engage in a cross-campus collaboration with USF SarasotaManatee that will support the school’s mission and increase research and educational opportunities.
Andrews, whose research focuses on information behaviors in the context of cancer and health clinical informatics, said his appointment is “a manifestation of the spirit of One USF.”
“A goal of mine is to use the position to continue building a stronger School of Information presence at USF SarasotaManatee,” he said. “Our school has served many students from this region in all our programs, and this endowed professorship allows me to develop more direct interactions with our colleagues and students there, as well as potential partners in the Sarasota-Manatee area.”
TINGTING ZHANG
Tingting Zhang joined the USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty this fall in the Muma College of Business School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She came to USF from the University of Central Florida and brings a wealth of experience in the field of hospitality and tourism.
“I am eager to collaborate with and learn from the talented researchers and scientists at USF whose expertise and innovative approaches are invaluable. I believe that working together will not only enhance the impact of these projects, but also foster new interdisciplinary opportunities that can further advance our understanding and application of technology in business and hospitality.”
Zhang has over 10 years of teaching experience, including courses on digital marketing and big data management for hospitality professionals, and AI and robotics in hospitality and tourism services. She is also an accomplished researcher, with an h-index of 38 and over 6,400 citations of her publications.
Zhang's research interests focus on the intersection of technology and business, with a particular emphasis on enhancing business success through innovative technological applications while promoting sustainability and human wellbeing.
Zhang has received research funding totaling over $9 million from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Justice.
LAURA CURRAN
Laura Curran, a distinguished scholar and advocate in the field of mental health law and policy, joined the faculty this fall as an assistant professor after completing a postdoctoral research fellowship at Tulane University School of Social Work.
Curran is no stranger to USF. She earned a master's degree in counselor education in 2013. She is also a licensed mental health counselor with experience working as a substance use counselor and family therapist in the Tampa area.
“I knew I wanted to pursue a career as faculty at USF because of its reputation as an excellent research university,” Curran said. “I wanted to work for a university that was striving for excellence and prestigious standing in the research world.”
Curran has actively engaged with policymakers, stakeholders and community organizations. Her efforts have contributed to meaningful policy reforms that prioritize maternal mental health and treatment access, equity and justice. As an author and researcher, Curran has published extensively on topics such as treatment for opioid use disorder, prenatal substance use policy and access to behavioral healthcare services. She has a particular interest in innovative technology-based interventions for substance use and mental health.
Curran’s dedication to advancing mental health law and policy promises to elevate the academic community at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
GAMMA IOTA SIGMA IS THE FASTEST GROWING STUDENT ORGANIZATION AT USF
The organization had its beginnings on the Sarasota-Manatee campus
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
When Madison Siefert founded Gamma Iota Sigma, a student organization that strengthens the insurance industry’s student talent pipeline by connecting USF students with faculty and industry professionals through corporate partnerships and community events, members could fit around a single table.
Two years after its inception,Gamma Iota Sigma is the fastest growing student organization at USF thanks, in part, to its unfailing ability to connect students with internships and full-time positions and a new rule, which requires all undergraduates enrolled in the Muma College of Business to take a course on the principles of risk management.
Unlike those for whom the required course is an introduction to the industry, Siefert knew by high school she wanted to study risk management and insurance.
“Every time a disaster hits, you kind of want to be out there and you want to be helping,” said Seifert, who was inspired by her mother, a medical billing professional, to enter the field.
Her commitment and dedication to the program at USF and her desire to build a community post-pandemic allowed her to hit the ground running when Steven Miller, former director for The Baldwin Group School of Risk Management and Insurance, suggested she found the organization.
partner with Feeding Tampa Bay, take a behind-thescenes tours of local businesses and build houses with Habitat for Humanity Sarasota. On more than one occasion, group members have come away from these events with a part-time or full-time employment opportunities.
“Madison’s leadership is second to none,” said Kristi Hoskinson, assistant vice president for strategic initiatives at USF Sarasota-Manatee and advisor to Gamma Iota Sigma. “Thanks to her, we are more than a student organization; we are a community.”
When Siefert graduated from USF and accepted a full-time position with Shepherd Insurance, she was confident Gamma Iota Sigma would remain a source of “endless” opportunity for USF students under new president Evan Fueyo, who, according to Siefert, is already taking the group to “new heights” with plans to establish a fundraising committee and to develop bylaws.
“We’ve grown a lot, and we will continue to grow,” said Fueyo, who is double majoring in finance and risk management and insurance. “My role is to set a strong foundation and make it easy for future presidents to continue our growth, continue member engagement and bring new ideas.”
“I was like, ‘Absolutely. Sign me up right away,’” said Seifert.
To scroll through the group’s LinkedIn page is to take a tour of the organization's impressive community engagement efforts. Students attend professional conferences — including the Risk Management Society’s RISKWORLD and the Florida Association of Insurance Agents Workforce Summit and Annual Convention —
To thank Siefert for all the work she did getting the fraternity up and running, Fueyo and other Gamma Iota Sigma members — there are now more than 80 in total — sent her a collection of videos and photos of awards the chapter won at a recent conference.
“To see all of our hard work pay off and be recognized and awarded was one of the most special moments of my life,” Siefert said. “It felt like the best way to close my chapter of being president of the student organization.”
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE STRENGTHENS
COMMUNITY
HUBS, EQUIPS EDUCATORS
WITH NEW TOOLS
Teachers are using the arts to help their students understand American history, government, civics and geography through artistic expression.
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
Agroundbreaking professional development initiative funded by a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and launched by Denise Davis-Cotton, director for the Florida Center for Partnerships in Arts Integrated Teaching (PAInT), is already enhancing social studies education for elementary and middle school teachers in lowsocioeconomic communities.
By engaging 24 teachers from Illinois, California, and Washington D.C. — along with 12 teaching artists and 24 community members from 11 nonprofit public charter schools, each of which is connected to a larger community hub for civic engagement — the “Bill of Writes Storytellers,” or BOWS, initiative is promoting arts-integrated teaching methods and fostering student involvement through project-based learning.
“It’s about creating a community of stakeholders,” Davis-Cotton said. “BOWS explores essential historical concepts within American history and civic discourse, offering teachers and students opportunities to delve into original documents like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as lesser-known historical narratives.”
The professional development initiative is helping teachers at Distinctive Schools, Inc., The School of Arts and Enterprise and Caesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy gain proficiency in various artistic disciplines — including the performing, visual and literary arts — which will empower them to help students understand American history, government, civics and geography through artistic expression.
“BOWS acknowledges the potential of the arts to drive social change, promote social justice and contribute to a
Educators at a charter school in Washington, D.C. learn new ways to incorporate the arts into their classrooms.
well-informed democratic society by engaging teachers and teaching artists in professional development,” DavisCotton said.
The cohort is engaged in hands-on classroom residency experiences that prepare them to develop in-depth arts integrated curricula and integrate civics into arts classrooms and communities. The group attended their first annual five-day Intensive Learning Lab this summer, where they received mentorship and training from the Smithsonian, Florida Council of History Teachers and Creative Generation.
The initiative — which is supported by a team of experts from the University of South Florida, including Marie Byrd,
It's about creating a community of stakeholders. “
”
Scott Perry and Sandra Stone, as well as collaborators Kenneth Wong of Brown University and Gloria Brown Marshall of the City University of New York — builds on Davis-Cotton's previous success advancing arts integration and student engagement, including an $8.5 million grant in 2021.
“Just as an archer assembles a skilled set of arrows, the Florida Center for PAInT is gathering a team of talented individuals poised to make a meaningful impact,” said Davis-Cotton, who aims to work with the Smithsonian Learning Lab to create a digital platform of lessons and resource that are accessible to educators across the country.
Denise Davis-Cotton
Students at charter schools in Chicago, Il. (left) and Pomona, Calif. (right) learn about American history, government, civics and geography through artistic expression.
- Denise Davis-Cotton
CORE CONSTRUCTION’S SUPPORT LAUNCHES USF SARASOTA-MANATEE'S TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
BY MARC R. MASFERRER
When CORE Construction, the construction manager for the new Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall that opened at USF SarasotaManatee this fall, let university officials know it was looking for ways to philanthropically support local public schools, Cheryl Ellerbrock, campus dean for the College of Education, immediately knew how the company could help.
CORE, Ellerbrock proposed, could make a long-term investment in the School District of Manatee County by funding a Grow Your Own Teacher Leader (GYOTL) Academy. Through the program, which started this fall, teachers at five Manatee County public schools are taking classes on leadership, professional development, coaching and teacher research to develop the knowledge and skills to be become mentors for other teachers and leaders at their schools and to foster improved student performance. They also have the chance to address challenges their campuses might be facing through class projects.
The goal, Ellerbrock said, “is to empower them to be teacher-leaders.”
Ellerbrock and other USF officials applauded CORE
Construction for its partnership and support, saying the company’s generosity and vision will make a difference for teachers, elementary students, fellow educators and families in Manatee County.
CORE, whose local office is in University Park in Manatee County, sees GYOTL as a chance to give back to the community by going “beyond building.”
“It’s easy to be asked to help, maybe to write a check or maybe to show up and lend a hand for something. But what we wanted to do was to leave even a greater impact by helping USF grow the number of highly qualified teachers in the School District of Manatee County,” said Scott Olthoff, Florida president for CORE Construction. “We are confident that USF Sarasota-Manatee and the College of Education will help us do that.”
CORE agreed to provide $42,000, which will cover the full tuition for the first two semesters for the entire 15-student cohort. The company also hosted a benefit golf tournament for the GYOTL program in September that raised an additional $56,000, meaning the program will be largely funded in its inaugural year.
Ellerbrock said the company has been a wonderful collaborator.
Jason Mitchell, vice president for client services (left), and Scott Olthoff, Florida president, CORE Construction (right)
“CORE listened to what we needed and paved the way. They are really a responsive partner,” Ellerbrock said. “They see the long-term picture. They see the benefit of keeping great teachers in our schools.”
The GYOTL Academy is designed to do just that.
Jennifer Jacobs, the director of clinical education in the College of Education, said teacher leadership is about influencing and supporting students, teachers and families, in and out of the classroom. Training teachers to become better leaders “often leads to teacher empowerment, vital for retaining talented educators,” she said.
“A principal cannot manage everything alone, and teacher leaders play a crucial role in school improvement through distributed leadership,” Jacobs said. “Teachers want to have a voice and agency within their profession and school.”
Teachers in the GYOTL program can apply the four-semester, 12-credit-hour graduate certificate they earn toward a master’s degree from the College of Education.
The School District of Manatee is grateful for the “incredible partnership” with the College of Education and with CORE Construction, said Kevin Chapman, chief of staff for the school district.
invested into a program like this.”
Brett Kemker, vice provost and regional vice chancellor of academic affairs and student success at USF SarasotaManatee, said the university is pleased the relationship it has forged with CORE Construction has gone well beyond the new student center and residence hall and into the larger community.
“CORE is setting an outstanding example for other potential partnerships between businesses and USF that will bring value to both teaching and learning in local school districts,” Kemker said. “CORE is proving to be instrumental in helping the College of Education accomplish a key part of its mission.”
“
Our employees live here, our kids go to school here, and we want to make sure that they're getting the best education from the most qualified teachers and leadership.
- Jason Mitchell, CORE
”
“The College of Education at USF Sarasota-Manatee, led by Dr. Ellerbrock and her team, is producing the best teachers for our students, and with the help of CORE and the GYOTL program, now we can retain these great teachers in Manatee County by providing first class leadership, professional development and coaching locally for them,” Chapman said.
CORE’s support of public education dovetails with the company’s specialty in building and renovating school facilities.
Jason Mitchell, CORE’s vice president for client services, said the company appreciates the challenges caused by chronic shortages of qualified teachers. CORE faces similar hurdles in trying to find enough workers for its construction sites, he said.
“With our office being right here on the SarasotaManatee county line, we're invested in this community,” Mitchell said. “Our employees live here, our kids go to school here, and we want to make sure that they're getting the best education from the most qualified teachers and leadership. And so that's why we're
Another local supporter of the GYOTL program is the Manatee Community Foundation, which donated $7,500 through its Francis E. and Gaile A. McCracken Education Scholarship Fund, which supports those who want to become educators.
“Manatee Community Foundation is excited to invest in the future of our community through the GYTOL program our friends at USF so thoughtfully crafted in partnership with the Manatee County School District,” said Chief Executive Officer Veronica Thames.
Supporting the GYOTL program builds on CORE Construction’s prior relationships with USF. Mitchell sits on the executive advisory council for the Muma College of Business at USF Sarasota-Manatee; the company is a sponsor of the annual HospitaBull fundraising dinner for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management; and Olthoff is co-chair and sponsor of Brunch on the Bay, which supports student scholarships and campus initiatives, on March 2.
CORE also donated $200,000 to USF to name the “CORE Construction Ballroom Lobby” in the new student center after the company. It was the first naming gift for the building.
“CORE has a been a wonderful partner for USF and for our campus,” said USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook. “The new building is beautiful but just as impressive is how they are helping the College of Education address a pressing need in our community with their generous support of the GYOTL program. Their leadership is truly inspiring.”
A CULTURE SHIFT
USF SarasotaManatee works to change the teaching culture at two Bradenton schools
BY MARC R. MASFERRER
Sydney Melvin, a USF SarasotaManatee alum who spent her senior year working full-time as a teaching intern at Daughtrey Elementary School in Bradenton, said her experience at the economically disadvantaged school reinforced the importance of acknowledging and responding to not only the educational, but also the emotional and social needs of students.
The stakes are too high, Melvin said, to not spend time building relationships with students to understand where their needs are to ensure students succeed in the face of outside challenges, like poor health, unsafe neighborhoods and an unstable home life.
“I have to understand how they feel about certain things,” Melvin said. “I have to speak so they understand.”
Internships like Melvin’s, which paid her $15 an hour, are one way the College of Education at USF Sarasota-Manatee is contributing to a community-wide effort to give students at Daughtrey Elementary and Manatee Elementary, also in Bradenton, the much-needed support and guidance they deserve, according to Cheryl Ellerbrock, campus dean for the College of Education at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
The Community Partnership Schools program recognizes that the two schools, where many students receive free or reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches and score below average on standardized tests, face particular challenges that can affect academic performance. Many students and their families have inadequate access to health and social services — or don’t know what’s available to them; and the schools may have difficulty recruiting and retaining teachers equipped to properly serve students facing so many challenges.
The program, which has been at Manatee Elementary since 2020 and at Daughtrey Elementary since fall 2023, has brought, among other services, community health clinics to the two campuses, a food pantry to Manatee Elementary and, from USF, student interns, faculty support and graduatelevel teacher leadership academies that support teachers at the two schools to develop the knowledge and skills to serve as campus-level teacher leaders.
“Dr. Ellerbrock and her team have done an outstanding job in working with the Manatee School District and other partners to address the needs of children and their families at Manatee and
USF Sarasota-Manatee intern Sydney Melvin leads a math lesson for fourth graders at Daughtrey Elementary School in Bradenton, one of two Manatee County schools where USF is a partner in the Communities In School program.
Daughtrey elementary schools,” said Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook. “I am also delighted about the inroads the program and the work of our faculty and students have given us into communities that we have not always been able to reach.”
USF’s role in the partnership is to work hand-in-hand to transform how teachers teach at Manatee Elementary and Daughtrey Elementary and instill expertise and stability in the teaching ranks at the schools, Ellerbrock said. Both schools were successful in retaining teachers for the 2024-25 school year.
The training through the Teacher Leadership Academy, which teachers can apply toward earning a graduate degree from USF, is designed to equip them with skills that will help them become collaborative leaders and proactive mentors to support fellow teachers and the larger community. The courses prepare teachers to meet challenges they might face, engage in opportunities to support student success and help with teacher retention because they nurture a sense of professional fulfillment.
“We’re taking a multi-tiered approach to supporting teaching,” Ellerbrock said.
Melissa McCullough, the principal at Daughtrey Elementary, said USF’s help has been well received.
“The partnership has led to staff pursuing advanced studies in leadership, as well as participating in professional learning opportunities with core partners,” McCullough said.
O ther partners in the Community Partnership Schools program include MCR Health, which is operating health clinics serving the students, as well as residents of the surrounding neighborhoods; the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County; the Children’s Home Society of Florida; and the School District of Manatee County.
The program is an example of the many ways faculty and students in the College of Education on the SarasotaManatee campus are engaging with, and for the betterment of, the community, said program co-founder Brett Kemker, Sarasota-Manatee regional vice chancellor and vice provost of academic affairs and student success.
“A bonus is the many opportunities, like internships and other hands-on training that our participation has created for USF students preparing to the enter the teaching profession in Manatee or elsewhere, especially at schools with the greatest needs,” Kemker said.
Landing an internship at one of the partnership schools is an opportunity for USF’s student interns to break any pre-conceived notions they might have about working at a school like Manatee Elementary or Daughtrey Elementary
after they graduate, said Associate Professor Jenn Jacobs, the College of Education’s director of clinical education.
“People make assumptions about what these schools are. And when they actually work with the students and the teachers there, they realize, ‘No, this is an environment where I want to teach,’” Jacobs said.
Fourth-grade teacher Nicole Swanson, Melvin’s mentor, and other teachers provided expert guidance in areas including academics, behavior management and resiliency so that the USF students could complete their internships with knowledge and confidence to create their own classrooms that will meet the needs of students, said USF Assistant Professor Tammy Sommers.
Melvin, who was the teaching intern in a fourth-grade classroom at Daughtrey, is now a fifth-grade teacher at Palmetto Elementary School, also in the Manatee School District. She said the elementary education program at USF Sarasota-Manatee prepared her to lead her own classroom.
The Community Partnership Schools program has given USF Sarasota-Manatee and the College of Education a gateway into communities that may not be familiar with the university. Sommers frequently represents USF at school and community events like fall festivals, kindergarten roundups and family literacy nights, all opportunities to work together creatively to meet the needs of students.
“The collaborative partnerships between USF SarasotaManatee and Daughtrey and Manatee elementary schools promotes thriving environments for all to be successful,” Sommers said. “The future is truly bright.”
Sydney Melvin
HOSPITABULL INSPIRES STUDENT SUCCESS AT USF AND BEYOND
The elegant dining experience is prepared and served by students
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
Rachael Pisano never expected to find herself at the front of a large room, microphone in hand, addressing leaders from the hospitality industry — let alone serving them dinner. But that’s exactly what happened in 2023 and 2024 when Pisano became involved with HospitaBull, the elegant dining experience prepared and served by students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
“The event plays a crucial role in empowering students by providing financial resources and ensuring they are equipped with the tools needed to excel in their careers,” said Cihan Cobanoglu, McKibbon Endowed chair and dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.”
The annual event regularly raises over $100,000, which supports students, like Pisano, enrolled in the school.
“Being in a room with some of the top hospitality professionals was a little overwhelming for my first event as a new graduate student,” Pisano said. “But after interacting with them throughout the evening, I felt more inspired than ever.”
Pisano went to school to become a high school language arts teacher. As a young college student in Ohio, she took a job at a local restaurant to support herself. To Pisano’s surprise, she not only excelled in the industry, but she also loved the work. She found herself wondering how to combine her love of teaching with her newfound passion for hospitality.
“I ended up growing through multiple different positions into leadership roles over a five-year time period,” Pisano said. “I found myself filled with this new passion for hospitality, but still having this lingering desire to educate others — including myself.”
When a USF alumnus and family friend suggested Pisano look into the University of South Florida, Pisano decided to head south to earn a master of science in hospitality management from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, where students learn to play a vital role in addressing the challenges faced by the dynamic hospitality industry through coursework and hands-on experience during annual hospitality events like
Bulls Bistro, HospitaBull and Brunch on the Bay.
A call from Cobanoglu sealed the deal for Pisano, who felt as though she was being welcomed into a family.
“USF prepared me for success in more ways than I could have imagined,” said Pisano, who credits the university for expanding her industry knowledge and building her confidence. “USF supported and cared about me and my growth within the hospitality industry.”
It was at USF that Pisano connected with leadership from McKibbon Hospitality, who invited Pisano to join the team as an intern so that she could receive cross training and get a sense of the different career paths available to her.
S oon, Pisano was accepting an offer to join McKibbon’s learning and development team, where she still works as a learning and development manager. For Pisano, whose job it is to ensure associates receive training and educational opportunities to excel and grow in their roles, it’s the best of both worlds.
On stage during HospitaBull 2024, Pisano had the opportunity to express her thanks.
“I am full of gratitude,” Pisano told the crowd. “Gratitude for the opportunities I've been afforded, gratitude for the relationships I've forged, and gratitude for unwavering support of those who have walked alongside me every step of the way.”
USF OFFICE OF VETERAN SUCCESS SUPPORTS MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS
Returning to civilian life can be overwhelming. Carlos Moreira and Ashlie Cruz are here to help.
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
Odds are, you know Carlos Moreira, director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs, and his newest hire Ashlie Cruz. That’s because Moreira and Cruz are everywhere. Together, they make up the Office of Veteran Success at USF Sarasota-Manatee, where they provide militaryconnected students with the support they need to excel academically and professionally.
“The Office of Veteran Success strives to make sure our military-connected students are successful during their academic journey and with the next chapter of their lives, whether that is continuing education or employment,” said Moreira, a veteran of the U.S. Marines.
While their mission may be simple, it’s no easy feat. At 1,400 students, USF is home to one of the largest student veteran populations in the state. An additional 5,300 students are dependents of a veteran or someone in the military, bringing USF’s overall military-connected population to 6,725 individuals. On the SarasotaManatee campus, some 10% of the students are militaryconnected — meaning they are either a veteran, on active
duty, in the reserves or National Guard or their parents or other family member served.
To ensure the success of this student population, Moreira and Cruz create authentic relationships and growth opportunities by recreating the camaraderie veterans experience during service. They attend job fairs, host community outreach events and organize an annual ceremony remembering victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and paying tribute to survivors, first responders, members of the military and their families.
It doesn’t hurt that Moreira is also deeply embedded in the local alumni network.
“Carlos knows everyone,” Cruz said. “That’s a big part of the reason we’re able to connect our student veterans with the right opportunities.”
Cruz, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, draws on her own experience transitioning out of the military when helping military connected students at USF Sarasota-Manatee navigate academic life and apply for benefits, including the GI Bill.
For Cruz, who is working on a second bachelor’s degree and plans to attend medical school in the near future, the connections she has made will enable her to make a greater impact when she enters the medical field as a trauma surgeon.
“It offers me the chance to work with a community I want to help in the future and to understand the issues we all seem to face,” Cruz said.
USF earned the Collegiate Purple Star Campus designation for its continued commitment to supporting military families in March. To learn more about the Office of Veterans Success at USF Sarasota-Manatee, email sm-veteransuccess@usf.edu.
CENTER FOR CAREER & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONNECTS LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH USF STUDENTS
More than 300 students visit the CCPD each semester to connect with employers and internship opportunities
BY GEORGIA JACKSON
When Yadyra Guzman transferred from State College of Florida to USF Sarasota-Manatee, she knew that in addition to excelling academically she would also need to gain professional experience in her field to prepare for life beyond USF.
“I knew I wanted to work in sports marketing, but I had no idea how to get started,” Guzman said. “How would I craft a strong resume and cover letter without any work experience? How would I start to build a network?”
Guzman wasn’t alone. During orientation, she spoke with other incoming students, many of whom expressed similar concerns.
Thankfully, they were in the right place.
Career Coach Antonia Ripo introduced the new Bulls to the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), where she supports students at every stage of their professional development by assessing their interests, hobbies and strengths and connecting them with career opportunities.
“We work alongside students to develop a vision for their future, identify their distinguishing talents and make the connection that will help them achieve their career goals, whether it is jobs, internships or graduate school,” Ripo said.
Ripo also works with local employers and members of the community who wish to host training programs — such as the professional development conference sponsored by Enterprise or the leadership series sponsored by Northwestern Mutual — and recruit USF students.
“We help employers understand the criteria for quality internship programs that will create a pipeline of students
to their organization,” Ripo said. “Our community members have been exceptional in giving back to USF Sarasota-Manatee students.”
With Ripo’s guidance, Guzman successfully landed a job in the Office of University Communications and Marketing. Coincidentally, her first assignment included supporting a marketing campaign to promote the great work the CCPD does to connect students with professional development opportunities and jobs.
Ripo meets with over 300 students each semester who come to the CCPD seeking assistance drafting their resumes and cover letters, enhancing their skills and connecting with employers and internship opportunities. The CCPD also hosts Coffee and Career Chats — informal sessions held in the rotunda that provide students with an opportunity to meet and engage with professionals from different industries over coffee — and the triannual Career Shadow Day.
To partner with the CCPD at USF Sarasota-Manatee, email SAR-careers@usf.edu.
CHAPTERS & SOCIETIES
No matter where you live, you’ll always be a Bull!
The USF Alumni Association’s chapters and societies connect Bulls with one another – across the country and around the world. Through social events, professional networking, fundraising and community service, among other activities, alumni groups help USF grads and friends support one another, our university and current students. They play an important part in the Alumni Association’s mission to provide meaningful ways for Bulls to make an impact; protect USF through advocacy; share pride in our great university; and stick together. It’s easy to get involved! Just email the contact person of the group you’d like to visit. For alumni group events, visit usfalumni.org/events.
INTEREST-BASED
GROUPS
Black Alumni
Tina James LaShante Keys blackalumnisociety@usfalumnigroup.org
Bulls of the Last Decade
William Dailey wdailey@usf.edu
Dance Alumni Society
Sadie Lehmker slehmker@usf.edu
DBA Alumni Network
Andy Hafer USFDBAAlumni@gmail.com
Education Alumni
Jennifer Warren usfedusociety@gmail.com
Engineering Alumni
Carissa Gudenkauf usfeaschair@gmail.com
Entrepreneur Alumni
Katie Davis katiedavis@usf.edu
Geology Alumni
Gregory O’Neal usfgas@gmail.com
Kosove Scholarship Alumni
Justin Geisler justingeisler@hotmail.com
Latino Alumni
Delia Jourde latinoalumni@usfalumnigroup.org
LGBTQ+ Alumni
Robert Wallace
Dr. Ron Kennedy LGBTQalumni@usfalumnigroup.org
Medicine Alumni
Valerie Riddle valerie25@usf.edu
Music Alumni
Arupa Gopal
Tanya Bruce usfmusicalumni@gmail.com
Patel College of Global Sustainability Arnel Garcesa patelnetwork@usfalumnigroup.org
Psychology Alumni Katie Davis katiedavis@usf.edu
Public Health Alumni Liz Bannon COPHalumni@usf.edu
Rugby Alumni
James Callihan Sean Masse usfbullsrugbyalumni@gmail.com
Veteran Alumni Todd Post Veteran@usfalumnigroup.org
FLORIDA GROUPS
Jacksonville-St. Augustine
Jodi Dodge Jadodge.usf@gmail.com
Orlando Brenda Cardenas usfbullsorlando@gmail.com
Palm Beach County Jeamson Simeus jeamson.simeus@nm.com Andrea Hurtado ahurtado@primetimepbc.org
Pasco County Andy Taylor AndyTaylor6@gmail.com
Pinellas County Pam Haber pinellas@usfalumnigroup.org
Polk County
Ashley C. Troutman ashleytroutman@hotmail.com
Sarasota-Manatee
Josh Baker
Kristen Truong sarasotamanatee@usfalumnigroup.org
Tallahassee Derick Tabertshofer dericktabertshofer@gmail.com
Tampa (Greater Tampa) Lauren Pickel usftampaalumni@gmail.com
Recent alumni events included a tour of the Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall and USF Sarasota-Manatee Night at the Marauders.
HELP US GROW
Your philanthropic support can bring this vision to life, making growth possible for the new Nursing/STEM building without increasing student tuition or fees.
Contact University Advancement at 941-359-4603 or visit sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/future to learn more.
1 of 2 Florida AAU public institutions, top 3% of all U.S. universities
Awarded $692 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2023
Home to 13 top-50 ranked graduate programs
Top 10 producer of U.S. Fulbright Scholars No. 14 patent producer among U.S. public research universities
Our new academic and research building will allow us to expand our nursing, engineering and other academic programs, transform our campus and elevate the higher education profile of our region, addressing a heightened demand for more nurses, business leaders, scientists, engineers and other professionals.”
Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook
Student governors, Campus Activity Board members and student organization leaders in front of the north entrance to the new Campus Student Center and Atala Residence Hall. Front row (left to right): Tessa Mazon, Jenna Al Rawi, Niky Roblero Morales and Alexandra Lopez. Back row: Spence Gerber, Maegan Durinzi and Andre Aquino.