Explore the February edition of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus Insider to discover exciting university news, research and stories of impact featuring faculty, staff and students from our campus.
January saw the inauguration of USF President Rhea Law and the appointment of Prasant Mohapatra as USF’s new provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. This month, the university celebrates Black Heritage Month with a series of events across all three campuses. Read on to discover more news from the Sarasota-Manatee campus, including upcoming campus events and engagement opportunities.
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Sarasota-Manatee campus celebrates inauguration of USF President Rhea Law
The Sarasota-Manatee campus celebrated the investiture of University of South Florida President Rhea Law with a reception that highlighted the campus’s students and their well wishes for USF’s leader.
Black Heritage Month
The mission of Black Heritage Month is to educate both the USF and Tampa Bay community on the importance of the history and significance of the Black culture. Celebrated February 1st - March 1st, Black Heritage Month provides an educational atmosphere for students, staff, faculty, and alumni to celebrate and commemorate the contributions that the Black community has made to society.
Boundless Bull: Freeman Talla
Freeman Talla enrolled at USF as an international student from Cameroon, Africa, with big goals. He’s determined to expand his home country’s solar power sector. Talla is based on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus and is a dual-major graduate student in the Muma College of Business and the College of Engineering.
USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to host ‘Ukraine: One Year Later’ lecture series
The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus is co-hosting a four-part virtual speaker series, "Ukraine: One Year Later,” featuring leading experts from a variety of fields who will share insights on the geopolitical, economic and other impacts of the war in Ukraine. The series is a follow-up to last year’s series, “Ukraine: What’s Next?”
USF awarded its largest grant to prepare students for cybersecurity careers
The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of South Florida the largest grant it has ever received for its cybersecurity program – helping prepare students for in-demand, high-paying jobs in the federal government and other public institutions.
University of South Florida names new provost
University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced the appointment of Prasant Mohapatra as USF’s new provost and executive vice president of academic affairs.
Mohapatra comes to USF from the University of California, Davis.
USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus will host Florida Climate Conference
The Climate Adaptation Center’s 2023 Annual Climate Conference, featuring experts who will address the various ways climate change is affecting life in Florida, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Selby Auditorium on the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus.
Open House — The Sarasota-Manatee campus will host two open houses in the coming months. The first, held on Feb. 4, invites students and their families to learn more about the Biology program by giving them the chance to participate in a demonstration and hear from faculty, students and alumni about the program. The second event, held on March 9, is intended for transfer students who are interested in applying or who have already applied to USF. RSVP today.
Ukraine: One Year Later — The first part in a four-part series titled, "Ukraine: One Year Later," will take place in the Selby Auditorium on the Sarasota-Manatee campus on Feb. 16 and 17. The first day will feature keynote speaker Loretta Mester, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, and panel sessions on the effects of the war on monetary policy, investing and the U.S. defense budget. The second day will feature retired Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, former supreme allied commander for Europe, who will provide an update on the military situation in Ukraine. Panel discussions on the roles of the financial system and central banks during wartime will follow. Register now.
Crosley Dinner Series — Support student scholarships and programs in USF’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Sarasota-Manatee campus by enjoying an elegant night out at the Powel Crosley Estate on Feb. 21. Individual tickets and sponsorships are available now.
2023 Women's Summit — Join Gulfside Wealth and USF Sarasota-Manatee campus in the Selby Auditorium on March 8 for International Women's Day and the second annual Women's Summit. The event will feature a slate of female speakers, panelists and guests, including Olympic Gold Medalist Brooke Bennett. Register today.
HospitaBull — Mark your calendar! The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management's premier event will be held at the one-of-a-kind boutique Sarasota hotel Art Ovation on March 28. Tickets will be available soon.
Inside USF: The Podcast — 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.
USF Alumni Awards: Call for Nominations — Nominate an extraordinary Bull to receive the university's highest alumni honors at the 2023 USF Alumni Awards. The USF Alumni Awards recognize outstanding alumni and community leaders, including one non-alum, who have made a significant contribution to the university and community. Submit nominations by March 17.