About
About Momentum
Momentum Magazine showcases the energy driving the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus forward, highlighting innovative faculty and student research, community partnerships and key campus growth initiatives.
2025-2026 EDITORIAL
Editor: Tressa Presley-McLeod
Assistant Editor: Andrea Knies
Design Editor: Kim McDonald
Project Manager: Kat Castro
Contributing Writers: Daphne Almodóvar, Andrea Knies, Jan Melnik, and Brandon McLeod
Contributing Photographers: Khalil Garcia and Kim McDonald
Student Contributors: Yadyra Guzman and Gwen Herndon
Momentum Magazine
Momentum Magazine began in 2019 as Research Magazine, created to highlight the growing research culture on the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus. Inspired by the vision of Sandra Justice in the Office of Research and developed in partnership with University Communications and Marketing, the publication celebrated the discoveries, innovation, and faculty and student achievements shaping the close-knit campus.
In 2023, the name Momentum was adopted to reflect the energy, creativity and forward motion of the community it represents. Today, Momentum is produced by University Communications and Marketing on the Sarasota-Manatee campus and continues to showcase the research, creativity and partnerships that define the campus’ growing impact.
The University of South Florida also introduced a universitywide research publication, in 2025, Bold Research. Real Impact., which highlights research stories from the Sarasota-Manatee, St. Petersburg and Tampa campuses, as well as USF Health. Be the first to know about USF’s latest research projects and milestones by subscribing to the LinkedIn newsletter.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately
50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee
and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest
overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh
consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities
in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as
the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member
of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the
top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research
funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF
uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates
an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division
I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.