By Yadyra Guzman, University Communications and Marketing
For Alison Frate, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee has been more than just a place of learning— it’s been a springboard for advancement.
Alison Frate, USF Sarasota-Manatee campus graduate
As a first-generation college student, she arrived with ambition, but it was the opportunities she found, pursued and created at USF Sarasota-Manatee that helped her thrive. Now graduating magna cum laude from the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Frate leaves with a strong academic record, rich professional experiences and a deepened sense of purpose—all of which have laid the foundation for her next chapter: law school, complete with support from USF President Rhea Law.
Frate’s time at USF Sarasota-Manatee was defined by a dedication to her academics in the Honors College.
“The Honors College pushes us to think outside the box and approach problems creatively,” she said.
Her coursework in the Honors College sharpened her critical thinking and analytical skills, including a research project using visual learning techniques to aid Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, and a consulting project with an NGO in the Philippines, which resulted in a 55-page report and presentation on natural disaster resilience.
Frate is ready to begin the next chapter as a New York Law School student.
“Whether it’s international law or any legal field, I know I’ll be working with clients across the world,” she said.
USF President Rhea Law and graduate Alison Frate
But it wasn’t just in the classroom where Frate grew. Through philanthropic groups and events, she found mentorship and leadership opportunities which “helped shape how I see myself.”
Among those mentors was Cayla Lanier, assistant dean of the Judy Genshaft Honors College at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
“Dr. Lanier believed in me before I fully believed in myself,” Frate said.
That kind of support, Frate says, was foundational throughout her journey — reaching even the highest levels of leadership. Taking initiative, she emailed President Law. She recalls asking, “You’re a Stetson alum. Can we talk? I want some advice about law school.’” To her surprise, President Law not only responded, but invited her to the Tampa campus for a one-on-one meeting.
“She let me ask her as many questions as I wanted.” The conversation, which covered everything from the realities of law school to how to handle rejection, left a lasting impression.
“She told me, ‘Wherever you go to law school, I know you’ll be successful,’” Frate recalled. “She really did advise me on my path.”
The experience instilled in her a lasting lesson: to never treat the first ‘no’ as final.
You should always make sure that a door is completely shut before you put it as shut.
Alison Frate
It was through these connections that Frate became a Legal Scribe intern, which gave her a firsthand look at what she hopes to do as a future lawyer. “I was drawn to the strategy behind legal work in this role, and I realized I wanted to advocate for others,” she said.
Frate’s advice to students is to prioritize engagement. “Do not be scared... take that jump and really advocate for yourself and what you want out of your education, because the university wants that for us.”
Frate is excited about expanding her network and immersing herself in a fast-paced legal environment. The decision reflects her drive to seek out new challenges, embrace bold opportunities, and position herself in a place where she can continue to grow—just as she did at USF Sarasota-Manatee.
“This place gave me everything I needed to succeed,” Frate said. “As a first-generation student, I didn’t always know the path. But USF gave me the chance to find it—and the people who helped me believe I could walk it”.
Alison Frate speaking at the 2025 Brunch on the Bay.