Inside USF: The Podcast (University Communications & Marketing | USF)

That’s the motto of USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering. To get a sense of the institute’s capabilities, think about the sandwich you had for lunch the other day. Now, imagine that sandwich is actually a communications satellite. That is, in fact, what the IAE created: Three small satellites, each the size of a sandwich, that have been orbiting the Earth since January. Robert Bishop, dean of USF’s College of Engineering, is the president and CEO of the institute, which was created in 2018. Intentionally located off-campus so engineering is “on display” for the public to see, the IAE searches for solutions “on a time scale that’s not common in some other traditional engineering research institutions,” Bishop says, adding, “Our focus is on applied engineering rather than basic research.” Its customers include U.S. Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. The institute is in the second year of a five-year, $85 million contract that paves the way for researchers and students to collaborate with the command to help solve significant challenges facing the nation.

Before construction was even completed, the new home of the Judy Genshaft Honors College was having a transformative effect on student applications. As students, faculty and staff move into the building this summer, Dean Charles Adams expects interest to continue to grow. In this episode, he discusses some of the building’s key features and his personal and professional journey – much of it built on his experiences growing up overseas. Adams, who admits he “was not a good high school student,” became dean of USF’s honors college in 2014. His career has included serving as a Fulbright Professor of American Studies in Germany as well as leading numerous study abroad programs, including to Japan, Italy and Africa.

Principles of Community 

Strategic Plan

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives 

USF achieved a historic milestone over the summer: An invitation to stand alongside Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, the University of Florida and other elite research institutions as a member of the Association of American Universities. In this special episode, USF President Rhea Law talks with Barbara Snyder, president of the 71-member AAU, about why USF was selected for membership, its significance for the university community and Tampa Bay region, and the central role of faculty in propelling USF to this achievement.

Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman, a fourth-generation West Tampa native, serves as USF’s interim vice president for institutional equity, senior advisor to the president and provost for diversity and inclusion, and associate professor of sociology. In this episode, she shares updates on some of the key equity, diversity and anti-racism initiatives that USF has implemented over the past year. Among them is the effort to re-imagine the Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Opportunity, which has included multiple virtual town halls that attracted hundreds of participants. Elizabeth also has worked with the Office of Decision Support to create the Diversity, Anti-Racism & Equity Dashboards, and she explains the importance of the metrics as well as more nuanced aspects that go beyond the data. She also discusses efforts to encourage more high-achieving students of color to enroll at USF, and outreach to the Tampa Bay community.

Dean Anthony Rolle expects enrollment in the College of Education to be up this fall, a positive sign as the state of Florida faces a shortage of 40,000 teachers. In addition to efforts to grow the talent pipeline, he discusses a number of other priorities for the college, including diversity, equity and inclusion and enhancing relationships with Tampa Bay school district superintendents.

From the largest recurring single-year increase in operating funds that any Florida public university has ever received, to major investments in such critical programs as nursing and cybersecurity, faculty, staff and students across USF will benefit from the new state budget that takes effect July 1. Mark Walsh, assistant vice president for government relations, shares details about this historic budget.

From the invitation to join the prestigious Association of American Universities to a new state budget that represents the largest operational funding increase in our university’s history, this has been an eventful summer for USF. In this episode, President Rhea Law shares her perspective on USF’s many successes and how they will impact faculty, staff and students.

Helpful links:

USF Football

USF Athletics 

A film screening, panel discussions and a diversity and inclusion conference are among the many highlights of Black Heritage Month, which runs throughout February. Neudy Nuñez, director of USF’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, shares details about some of the activities and discusses the goals of this annual observance.

 

USF’s Office of Multicultural Affairs

New USF President - Rhea Law

From chronicling dinosaur footprints in Spain to the African American Experience in Florida, the USF Libraries offer a wealth of ever-growing digital collections, along with traditional resources, to inform and intrigue members of the USF community and beyond. Dean Todd Chavez discusses the library of today and what the future holds.

 

USF Libraries

While Homecoming – scheduled this year for Oct. 9-15 – may be its most visible event, the USF Alumni Association sponsors more than 250 events annually to provide alumni with relevant, meaningful experiences. Bill McCausland, vice president and executive director of the association, discusses the extensive planning that goes into the Homecoming celebration, coordinated by a 30-member committee representing all three campuses. He also shares details on some of the many other ways USF’s 385,000 living alumni – which includes nearly 3,900 members of our faculty and staff – can stay connected to, and help support, students and the university.

USF opens the 2024-25 academic year with two new deans: David Blackwell, the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business, and Elizabeth Spiller, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In this episode, we learn about their backgrounds (spoiler alert: Blackwell struggled in his initial attempt at college as a first-generation student, Spiller wanted to be a corporate tax attorney), what attracted them to USF and their priorities for their colleges.

Monica Wooden Center for Supply Chain Management & Sustainability

Central Human Resources is in the midst of implementing several significant changes, including Embedded Services and Project Drive. In this episode, Angie Sklenka, senior vice president and chief human resources and administrative officer, details what they will mean for USF faculty and staff. The initiatives include the creation of an Employee Experience Team, and Alexis Mootoo, recently named associate vice president for employee experience, discusses the role the team will play in enhancing workplace culture.

After a distinguished 42-year career in the Marine Corps, which included three years as the head of U.S. Central Command, retired Gen. Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie has valuable perspectives to share about threats to global and U.S. security. He also discusses the important work of USF’s Global and National Security Institute as well as Cyber Florida, two organizations he now leads.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, two USF students, Christian Marquez and Katrina Paschke, talk openly about their mental health challenges and how the stigma attached to seeking help affected them. Kristin Kosyluk, assistant professor in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, also shares her insights – professional and personal – about the mental health crisis in our country.

Additional Resources:

Updated COVID-19 Guidance

The Future of Work at USF

Looking Ahead to Our Safe Return

Vaccine Availability and Distribution

COVID-19 Updates, FAQs

Human Resources

After more than two years of preparation, women’s lacrosse – the first new women’s athletics program at USF since women’s soccer began play in 1995 – launches its inaugural season on Feb. 7 at Corbett Stadium. In this episode, Coach Mindy McCord discusses some of the keys to developing a program from scratch, including recruiting student-athletes, the culture she has established within the team and what fans can expect from this fast-paced sport. A first-generation college graduate, McCord stresses the importance of academics to her players (the team’s fall semester GPA was 3.75), noting that “mentoring has always been at the heart of what I do” as she helps them prepare for successful and meaningful careers following graduation.

Enhancing internal communications and increasing USF’s reputation locally, nationally and internationally are priorities for University Communications and Marketing. Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Kim Hill shares insights about some of the projects that highlight USF’s compelling story, such as a non-traditional national marketing campaign, and plans for an extensive brand research project that will include focus groups and surveys.

Additional resources:

Skyway 20/21: A Contemporary Collaboration

USF Contemporary Art Museum

Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Tampa Museum of Art

The USF Board of Trustees has named the eighth president of the university, subject to Florida Board of Governors’ approval later this month. In this episode, President-elect Rhea F. Law, the first alum appointed to the position, shares her priorities for the university, including which critical workforce need for our state should be addressed immediately.

Additional Resources:

Kya Conner

Kuumba Dancers and Drummers

USF Department of Mental Health Law & Policy

On the job since March 1, USF’s new chief academic officer, Prasant Mohapatra, brings extensive experience as a faculty member, researcher and administrator to his role as provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. In this episode, he discusses what attracted him to USF and offers his perspective on a variety of significant issues facing higher education nationally and in Florida. He also shares details about growing up in India, his family and his passions outside of work. Those include traveling, and he has enjoyed some unusual experiences – such as taking a ride on an ostrich.

USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus is on the eve of an exciting new era. Ground will soon be broken for a housing and student center complex and planning is under way for a nursing/STEM facility. Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook discusses the need for the facilities and the benefits they will offer to students, faculty and the community. We also learn about her career in higher education and life outside the university, including her passion for seabirds.

Christian Hardigree brings a wealth of experiences, including more than two decades in higher education, to her new role as regional chancellor. She’s also waited tables, worked in a pool hall, couch-surfed as a homeless student and served as a senior litigation attorney.

Worried about their families and friends back home, Ukrainian students attending USF are also facing uncertainty about housing and financial support as they remain in Tampa Bay for the summer. Kiki Caruson, interim vice president of USF World, discusses what the university is doing to help.

USF’s Office of Supplier Diversity

Dr. Kathy Black

Florida Department of Elder Affairs

AARP

Dr. Sten Vermund brings decades of infectious disease epidemiology and prevention experience to the USF Health College of Public Health, which he will lead beginning in January. He also is the president of the Global Virus Network, which recently relocated its international headquarters to USF. In this episode, Vermund shares his perspective on a variety of topics, including what attracted him to public health and to USF, his plans to continue building the college’s reputation, opportunities to grow the college’s partnerships throughout the Tampa Bay region, public health issues that keep him awake at night, and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

genetic counseling graduate program

Amir Abdur-Rahim has been the competitive sort since an early age – that was a necessity growing up in a family with 13 children. He brings that competitive fire, and a commitment to building a men’s basketball program that will be “tough, together and connected,” as he begins his inaugural season this month as the Bulls’ head coach. In this episode, Abdur-Rahim discusses what attracted him to USF, what he expects from his team as both students and athletes, and the priority he places on having what he calls “a service heart.”

We make it easy to get to know the talented faculty and staff at the University of South Florida. You’ll hear about the valuable work they are doing on and off our three campuses, and we’ll share some fun facts about them along the way … such as the story of the faculty member who has a part in a major film released earlier this year.

Known to many at USF as the long-time dean of our largest college, the College of Arts and Sciences, there’s much you may not know about Eric Eisenberg. First-generation college student, musician (he plays guitar and other instruments), poet and huge fan of basketball, Eric is passionate about helping faculty, staff and students succeed. Now the interim provost and executive vice president, he discusses his priorities in his new role and his perspective on the state of higher education, all while sharing anecdotes about his personal journey, including his family of Bulls.

Joseph Dituri, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at USF, who also is known as “Dr. Deep Sea,” is on a mission. Living in a 100-square-foot habitat at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo since March 1, Dituri has captured worldwide media attention as he attempts to break the current record of 73 days living underwater. While his goal is to remain 30 feet beneath the surface for 100 days, Dituri’s priorities are getting children interested in STEM – he’s talked to classes in Spain, Australia and Vietnam, among others – and conducting research that will benefit NASA astronauts on a mission to Mars. While still underwater during USF’s Maymester, Dituri will teach a course on hyperbaric engineering.

Positive trends across the country suggest we have entered a new phase in the pandemic. Donna Petersen, dean of the College of Public Health and chair of USF’s COVID-19 Task Force, shares her perspective on where we stand two years after COVID-19 swept across the region, the state, the nation and the world.

Mark Sharpe, chief potential officer for the Tampa Innovation Partnership, which includes USF as a founding member, discusses ongoing efforts to transform “Uptown”, including the redevelopment of the former University Mall into Rithm at Uptown and a partnership with Florida Blue designed to provide better health, housing, employment and other opportunities in the area.

 

Tampa Innovation Partnership

Next month’s ribbon-cutting for the new, state-of-the-art building in the USF Research Park is yet another sign of the growth of USF’s research enterprise. Sylvia Wilson Thomas, interim vice president for research and innovation, discusses the significance of the new facility, the efforts of faculty to address local and global challenges, and her longstanding advocacy for bringing more diversity to the STEM fields.

With extensive experience as a USF faculty member and administrator, Eric Eisenberg knows the university’s many resources can help elevate the Tampa Bay region. He also recognizes that potential partners may not know how to find help at USF – whether it’s hiring interns and new graduates, enhancing neighborhoods, exploring joint research projects or addressing other needs. In this episode, Eisenberg, senior vice president of university community partnerships, discusses efforts to make that process as seamless as possible and how faculty can get involved with his office.

USF St. Petersburg campus Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock and College of Marine Science Dean Tom Frazer discuss how the state of Florida and coastal communities nationwide will benefit from the research being conducted at USF.

 

USF to launch new Center of Excellence in Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences on the St. Petersburg campus

 

 

Compared to 19 other metropolitan regions across Florida and the U.S., there’s encouraging news and not-so-encouraging news regarding the Tampa Bay region’s economic competitiveness. Moez Limayem, dean of the Muma College of Business, shares key insights from research conducted by the college as part of the Tampa Bay Partnership’s State of the Region initiative.

USF Presidential Search Committee

USF’s College of Nursing is in the early stages of an all-out effort to expand undergraduate education to help address the shortage of nurses – projected to reach 59,000 in Florida by 2035. Usha Menon, dean of the college and senior vice president of USF Health, discusses the reasons for the nursing shortage crisis, plans to expand the college’s physical footprint and enrollment, and its extensive community outreach efforts. (Note: The College of Nursing is highlighted in the winter issue of USF Magazine, which will be published in mid-December. It will be available online here.)

In this special episode, Rhea Law shares her vision for the university in the address she delivered during her inauguration as USF’s eighth president on Jan. 19, 2023. A full transcript of the address is available here.

With a recommended site now identified, the co-chairs of the Campus Stadium Planning Committee share their perspectives on the significant impact a stadium will have across the university. Michael Kelly, vice president of athletics, and Jay Stroman, CEO of the USF Foundation, also discuss potential multiple uses for a stadium, the Foundation’s focus on balancing multiple fundraising priorities, and next steps in the planning process.

Whether it’s gas, groceries or just about anything else, we’re all feeling the impacts of a very volatile economy. Michael Snipes, a member of USF’s economics faculty on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, shares his perspectives on the national economy as well as Tampa Bay’s – which he believes is in better shape to weather an economic downturn than other parts of the country.

A new USF task force is exploring ways to recruit, enroll and graduate more Latino students and forge stronger connections with Tampa Bay’s Hispanic community. In this episode, task force co-chairs Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman and Paul Dosal discuss what will be ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive approach that focuses not only on success in the classroom but also enhances students’ sense of belonging to the USF community. They also discuss other diversity, inclusivity and equity initiatives, including the expansion of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

 

USF Task Force

NEWgenerator

With hurricane season just underway, Jennifer Collins, a professor in USF’s School of Geosciences, discusses the weather conditions she’s keeping an eye on, what they could mean over the next six months, and preparations we should be making now – regardless of predictions about the number of storms that may form.

President Rhea Law’s fall address celebrated many of USF’s recent accomplishments – including student success, record research funding and a growing national reputation – that are advancing the university into a bold new era. She also shared priorities for this year that are designed to position USF for the future. Following the address, she sat down to discuss those priorities – including enhancing and expanding community partnerships and opportunities to grow the research enterprise -- in greater detail. (The conversation begins at the 1:05 mark in the recording.)