COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACT: USF ACCEPTED INTO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES The University of South Florida reached a historic milestone this year by accepting an invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious group of the 71 leading research institutions in the United States and Canada. USF is the first public university in Florida to be invited into the AAU in nearly 40 years and now joins the University of Florida as one of two institutions from the State University System of Florida to serve as an AAU member. There are a variety of benefits that flow from becoming an AAU member, from expanding the university’s research profile to recruiting world-class faculty, staff and students to driving economic development by encouraging businesses and start-ups. Community members from around the region reacted to the news with excitement and enthusiasm. Here’s a sampling of the responses:
Mayor Ken Welch, city of St. Petersburg: “As a proud ‘Bull,’ I’m thrilled that my alma mater is joining the ranks of such esteemed research universities across North America. As mayor, I’m even more excited about what this means for the future of USF and its role in the city of St. Petersburg.”
Former Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls: “The University of South Florida’s invitation to join the AAU demonstrates the university’s commitment to excellence and its meteoric rise over the past few years. Go Bulls!”
Alison Barlow, executive director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District: “Achieving AAU status creates a waterfall effect for USF. Increasing the research portfolio attracts top-caliber faculty and labels existing faculty as experts in their fields. That creates exciting new opportunities for high-performing students, which builds our workforce pipeline. It’s a huge win for everyone in our area.”
USF ST. PETERSBURG
Melissa Seixas, chair of the USF St. Petersburg Campus Board and member of the USF Board of Trustees: “As a proud alumna, I am thrilled that USF has been invited to join AAU. This is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire USF community. AAU membership opens up so many exciting possibilities for our entire region and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”
Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership: “This is a huge point of pride for our entire community. We already know that USF is a leading research institution. Being invited to be part of this respected academic group sends a powerful message to entrepreneurs who want to grow their business in St. Pete or the larger region.”
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