As his inaugural season as coach of the USF men’s basketball team gets underway, Bryan Hodgson shares how fans can expect a high-energy, NBA-style brand of basketball this season. In this episode, Hodgson also discusses what attracted him to USF, how his experiences in the foster care system helped shape who he is today and what he and the team are doing to honor the legacy of late men’s basketball Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim.

Levi Thompson is a chemical engineer who brings extensive teaching, research and administrative experience to USF. In this episode, he discusses his passion for learning and mentoring and some of his goals for the college, which include expanding interdisciplinary collaborations, creating more experiential learning opportunities for students and growing the research enterprise.

One of the greatest highlights of the 2024-25 academic year was the record-shattering $40 million gift from alums Arnie and Lauren Bellini to establish the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. In this episode, Provost Prasant Mohapatra describes the extensive efforts underway as the college gears up to welcome its first students next fall. He also reveals plans for a high-profile AI-cybersecurity conference and dives into several other transformational initiatives, including new degree programs in aerospace-aeronautical engineering and design and construction management.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.)

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.

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.