This Thursday, USF Sarasota-Manatee, Cumberland Advisors and the Global Interdependence Center will partner to host “Financial Markets and the Economy: Financial Literacy Day III,” a daylong economic and financial forum with renowned experts, including senior investigative reporter Gretchen Morgenson of The Wall Street Journal and Susan Harper, Canada’s consul general in Miami.
Gretchen Morgenson
The event is set for 8 a.m. at the Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. It’s open to the public and explores a broad range of financial topics.
They include:
- The outlook for U.S. stocks/global economic outlook
- Special session: Health, Hunger and Philanthropy
- Surveying the global economic/geopolitical landscape
- Keynote Speaker: Gretchen Morgenson, senior writer, Investigations Unit, The Wall Street Journal
- A conversation with Susan Harper, Canada’s consul general in Miami and former economic minister
David Kotok
David Kotok, chairman and chief investment officer of Sarasota-based Cumberland Advisors, and USFSM Regional Chancellor Dr. Karen Holbrook will offer introductory remarks starting at 8:30 a.m.
Among the other speakers are Matt McAleer, executive vice president and director of equity strategies, Cumberland Advisors; Richard Hoey, senior economic advisor, BNY Mellon Wealth Management; Judith Monroe, president and CEO, Centers for Disease Control Foundation; Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president, AARP Foundation; Leland Miller, CEO, China Beige Book International; and Paul O’Brien, deputy chief investment officer, Strategy and Planning Department, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Tickets are $50 (includes lunch). To register or for more information, visit sar.usfsm.edu/event/financial-markets-and-the-economy/.
Motivational speaker, renowned athlete, coming to USFSM
Charles Clark
If the thought of finals has you stressed, the Campus Activities Board has a solution.
Renowned speaker and former world-class athlete Charles Clark will deliver an inspiring message about motivation and success during an event Wednesday, April 17, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Selby Auditorium.
The event is free and open to USF Sarasota-Manatee students, faculty and staff.
Clark was a former track star once ranked the sixth-fastest man in the world, but he saw his career unravel after a leg injury. He focused his energy on helping others overcome obstacles and setbacks, and now speaks to audiences and consults for Fortune 500 companies.
The first 60 attendees will receive free food compliments of Chick-Fil-A.
Read more about Clark’s story here.
‘USF Giving Day at USFSM’ a success
The first-ever “USF Giving Day at USFSM” was a success as donors answered the call
to support student scholarships.
The daylong fundraiser last Thursday surpassed its goal of 100 gifts as part of a university-wide initiative that, as of Monday, stood at nearly 1,000 gifts totaling nearly $50,000.
Gifts to USFSM primarily benefitted two funds: the Stay the Course Scholarship and Veterans Supplemental Fund, although donors were free to give to any other fund on Giving Day.
The fundraiser included a party in honor of mascot Rocky D. Bull’s birthday in the Student Commons. The event ran from noon to 3 p.m.
Dozens of students exhibit research at Showcase
The Student Showcase winners are all smiles.
The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee recognized the outstanding work of students on Friday during the annual Student Showcase for Projects, Innovation and Research at Selby Auditorium.
More than two dozen students shared their work through poster and oral presentations during the daylong event, capped by a late afternoon awards ceremony.
Students discuss their research.
“We are incredibly proud of these students for going above and beyond the course of their ordinary studies to pursue exciting new ideas in a wide variety of disciplines, with projects ranging from the science of fish hatcheries to an examination of the poetry of the First World War,” said Assistant Professor of English Tim Turner, PhD, who co-chaired the event along with Communications Sciences and Disorders Instructor Jenna Luque, PhD.
“The Showcase is an excellent opportunity for students to develop and practice skills they will continue to use long after they graduate, whether in further academic study or in their chosen professions,” Turner said. “It also testifies to the strong tradition of research at USFSM as well as the commitment of our excellent faculty to extending the horizons of knowledge and instilling in these students a sense of the importance of discovery and contributing to the community at large. We thank them for sharing their projects with us, and are grateful to the administrators, faculty, staff members, and student volunteers who make this event possible every year.”
Oral presentation award winners by category:
- Graduate, Liberal Arts: 1st place – Molly Nevius, “Swings of the Pendulum: Why Lee Krasner Matters.”
- Graduate, Social Sciences: 1st place – Alexandra M. Fleck, “The Benefits of Long-Term Treatment for Sex-Trafficking Victims.”
- Undergraduate, Health Sciences: 1st place – Tiffany Pitre-Zampol, “Smartphone Usage and Perceived Social Communication Competence.”
- Undergraduate, Liberal Arts: 1st place – Madison Touchton, “He’s Lost His Colour Very Far from Here: Comparing Portraits of Great War Soldiers in the Poetry of Brooke, Sassoon and Owen.”
- Undergraduate, Natural Sciences: 1st place – Ron Hans, “The Effect of Salinity on the Cannibalistic Behavior of Juvenile Common Snook, Centropomus undecimalis.”
- Undergraduate, Social Sciences: 1st place – Sofia A. Paschero, “Conflicts with Inner and Outer Identities: Of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients;” 2nd place – Anya Louise Staton Pardy, “Building Safer Harbors in Florida: Survivor Conversations of Shelter and Aftercare for Female Foster Sex Trafficked Youth;” 3rd place – Daniel Hinkle and Ron Hans, “A Study of Climate Change Perception and Political Resistance to Climate Action among Sarasota Residents after Experiencing Hurricane Irma.”
Poster presentation award winners by category:
- Behavioral Sciences: 1st place – Alana L. Fleischer, Lea DeWeerd and Kathleen O’Grady, “Age and Sex Defendant Bias;” 2ndplace – Brittiny M. Haralson, “Impact of Race and Class on Attitudes Toward Gun Control and Police Force;” 3rd place – Carolyn Herrera, “Conservatism, Religiosity and the Investment Model.”
- Creative Works: 1st place – Liz Fowler, “The Patroness of Sarasota.”
- Education Research: 1st place – Camye Dudovitz, “Arts Integration in Manatee County Schools;” 2nd place – Brittany Lynn Pacifico, “The Impact of Arts Integration on the Gifted and Talented Student.”
- Natural Sciences: 1st place – Jovana Hoti, “Increased Growth Rate and Replicative Lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae when Exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Bacteria;” 2nd place – Madison Koch, “Comparative Analyses of Mitogenomes from Various Ligia Isopod Species;” 3rd place – Leena Bouhamid, Courtney Gostkowski and Isabella Hetherington, “Effects of Larval Nutritional Ecology on Selected Life History Traits of West Nile Virus Vector Culex quinquefasciatus.”
USFSM Regional Chancellor Karen A. Holbrook, PhD, delivered the keynote address, congratulating students on their outstanding work.
“We are so proud of our students and the research that is represented here,” Dr. Holbrook said. “Whether this is research conducted by undergraduate students or by graduate students, it is still research and it requires the same discipline and attention to detail as research conducted by a faculty member. We are very proud of the work of all of our students.”
Click here for more information and to view the Student Showcase program, which includes abstracts and other information about participating students and their faculty mentors.
USFSM, Manatee Chamber partner on ‘Shadow Day’
Students and their mentors at “Shadow a CEO Day.”
Sophomore Josh Ghansiam learned about the business side of being a physician, while across town senior Skylar Daily heard about marketing programs at department store chain Bealls.
The two were among nine students on Friday who participated in “Shadow a CEO Day,” which paired the students with business leaders in Manatee County.
Initiated last year by USFSM and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the program was expanded this year to include the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. It pairs students who are discerning a career with executives in order to offer the students a glimpse into the working lives of local professionals.
The students spent two hours “shadowing” the executives, attending meetings, touring various businesses and learning about the executives’ day-to-day responsibilities. Later, the groups met at the chamber’s offices in Lakewood Ranch for lunch and to share their experiences.
“I think it’s important to meet with students to show them the different kinds of careers that can be available to them,” said Robert Vazquez, director of operations at Manatee Physician Alliance, which operates 14 health care locations in Manatee County.
Vazquez was paired with biology student Ghansiam, who wants to pursue medical school. He showed Ghansiam the company’s offices, answered questions and invited him to a business meeting. Ghansiam said he was impressed by the company’s size and complexity.
“Often, when we think about health care we think about doctors and nurses and we don’t think there’s this whole other side to it,” he said. “It was really interesting to see the business side of health care and to see how everything is tied together.”
Across town, Kimberly Highland, senior manager of marketing promotions and production at Bealls Inc., the department store chain, showed marketing student Daily around Bealls’ corporate offices, introducing her to the commerce and promotional side of the business.
“When I was in college I always appreciated when someone reached out to me, and I’ve always said that if I’m ever in a position to do the same, I would do that,” Highland said. “I think it’s important. I think it should be mandatory. It gives students a real-life perspective.”
The executives represented a cross-section of professions, from retail to medical to government, and were paired with students based on their majors.
In addition to Bealls and Manatee Physician Alliance, also participating were Raymond James & Associates; Port Manatee; Parenting Matters; Manatee Memorial Hospital; the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office; and Bank OZK.
“The most important asset to any business is their people, their workforce,” said Jacki Dezelski, President and CEO of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to connect students with local employers to build relationships, increase awareness of fantastic job opportunities with local businesses, and keep more USFSM students here in our region after graduation. It’s truly a win-win scenario and the Manatee Chamber is excited to be a partner in expanding these types of experiences.”
‘PechaKucha’ faculty research event a success
Dr. Jessica Grosholz discusses her work at a prison.
USFSM’s second-annual PechaKucha was a success. More than 40 students, members of the public and faculty from USFSM and New College of Florida filled a second-floor classroom for the unique, faculty research session last Thursday.
The event was organized by USFSM Research Administration Faculty Fellows Melissa Sloan, PhD, and Murat Haner, PhD.
“PechaKucha” refers to a presentation style in which speakers present 20 slides for 20 seconds each with each presentation lasting no more than 6 minutes, 40 seconds. The format compels speakers to focus on essential elements to create concise, fast-paced presentations.
Six presentations were scheduled:
- Embodying Traditions: Black Performance and the Long Struggle for Cultural Equity in Urban America, Queen Meccasia Zabriskie, PhD, sociology, New College of Florida
- Acting Your Age: Fighting Ageism through Drama, Valerie Lipscomb, PhD, English, USFSM
- Fair Trial v. Free Press: Pre-Trial Publicity’s Influence on Jurors’ Verdicts, Impressions & Emotions, Chris Ruva, PhD, psychology, USFSM
- Think Pink: How Mary Kay Built an Empire on Lipstick and Applause, Cassandra Yacovazzi, PhD, history, USFSM
- Economics as Mythology, Mike Snipes, PhD, economics, USFSM
- The Transformative Nature of Entrepreneurial Education in Prison, Jess Grosholz, PhD, criminology, USFSM
Presenters quickly summarized their analyses as a PowerPoint flashed photographs, illustrations and charts onto a screen. The researchers practiced their presentations in the weeks leading up to the session. Snipes’ talk explored how a company’s public image can differ from reality.
“I really liked the session, and it’s good to see what your colleagues are doing, to keep up with them,” he said. “I think I did all right. It was the first time I’d presented my ideas, so it may have been a little choppy, but it’s more fleshed out in paper, so I’m OK.”
USFSM to host victims’ rights webinar
USF Sarasota-Manatee will host a victims’ rights webinar, “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future,” today at 6:30 p.m., at the Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
The event is free and open to the public. The Sarasota County Victim Advisory Council will lead the discussion.
Sponsored by the USFSM Criminology Club and other organizations, including law enforcement groups, speakers will explore the topic of rape culture.
Participants will present the latest research on rape culture, including neuroscience and case studies, to better understand sex offenders from a criminal justice viewpoint. They’ll delve into how offenders manipulate not only victims, but also coworkers, friends, relatives and neighbors, and how police are catching these criminals.
The discussion comes at the start of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. It’s presented by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA).
To learn more, contact the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance Unit at (941) 861-4942.
Orientation set for summer transfer students
Transfer students now have two ways to learn about USF Sarasota-Manatee: at an on-campus orientation or online.
An on-campus orientation for Summer 2019 transfer students is set for Tuesday, April 16, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the USFSM campus, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Students can learn about class registration, extracurricular activities, financial aid, and other topics in addition to meeting with fellow students.
For students who cannot attend the on-campus orientation, the campus will hold an online orientation session from April 15 to May 10.
To learn more, visit usfsm.edu/admissions/admitted-students/orientation/transfer-orientation/.
‘Gopher Tortoise Day’ coming to USFSM
One of the many gopher tortoises that call USFSM home.
USF Sarasota-Manatee students are invited to learn about the campus’ gopher tortoises during Gopher Tortoise Day on Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. in the Information Commons.
Students can view a video, “The Queen of Red Hill,” about conservation efforts at the Archbold Biological Station in Highlands County, enjoy refreshments and learn about USFSM’s own gopher tortoise population.
The reptiles are considered threatened in Florida, and when the campus was constructed more than a decade ago, six acres were set aside as a tortoise conservation area.
Thanks to a grant last year from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, a group of USFSM students led by organic chemistry instructor Edie Banner, PhD, are working to improve the tortoises’ habitat, remove nuisance plants and add vegetation for foraging.
During the session, Banner and her “Tortoise Team” of student volunteers will be on hand to discuss their work and answer questions about gopher tortoises.
Visitors can view research posters about the animals and watch “The Queen of Red Hill,” which tells the story of a gopher tortoise estimated at more than 60 years old, and efforts to protect the species. Also, Banner will meet with students interested in joining the Tortoise Team.
Two Bulls Bistro sessions remain for spring semester
The Bulls Bistro is set Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Only two Bulls Bistro sessions remain for the Spring Semester, on April 11 and April 24.
A unique and popular event, Bulls Bistro takes diners on a worldwide culinary tour as faculty and students collaborate to create an exciting and wide-ranging menu at USFSM’s Culinary Innovation Lab, 8130 Lakewood Ranch Main St.
Each $25 ticket entitles bistro diners to three hors d’oeuvres and either two glasses of wine or two glasses of craft-brewed beer. The sessions are held on select Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at usfsm.edu/cil.
Campus Ministry to host Easter Egg Hunt
Campus Ministry will host its first Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday, April 17, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., near the pond in the courtyard.
Eggs will be hidden on campus. Find a mystery egg and win a prize. Participants can win Easter basket-filled prizes.
Food recovery summit coming to USF St. Petersburg
USF students, faculty and staff are invited to the Food Recovery Summit on Saturday, April 20, at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
The student Food Recovery Club at USF St. Pete is hosting the summit.
Attendees can visit from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss how to reduce food waste at home, business and school. A volunteer opportunity will occur afterward at the WunderFarms organic community garden in St. Petersburg.
The Food Recovery Club is part of the Food Recovery Network, a non-profit organization that hosts programs at more than 230 colleges and universities across the United States. The network’s mission is to collect surplus food from dining halls and restaurants to deliver to local shelters.
The summit will be held at the University Student Center at USFSP, 200 6th Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Register at cognitoforms.com/FoodRecoveryNetwork1/tampabayregionalfoodrecoverysummit2019.
Microsoft training set for April 26
The Microsoft Store at UTC is offering an interactive “Microsoft Teams” training session on Friday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in room A205 at the USFSM campus.
Faculty and staff are invited to bring a laptop/tablet to learn more. Microsoft Teams is a new workspace platform that brings together chat, document collaboration, people and tools in one secure location.
Microsoft Teams can help you, and the people you work with, to:
- Chat in small groups or entire Teams, reducing your dependency on email and making communication faster.
- Schedule meetings directly in Teams with integrated calendaring.
- Voice and video chat with your coworkers, reducing the need for in-person meetings.
- Integrate with your favorite apps like Trello, Box, Google Drive, and Microsoft suite for a complete experience.
- Store and collaborate on files, instead of spending time emailing a document back and forth.
- Customize your team and create an experience that works for you.
To register or for more about the training session, visit USFSM’s Professional Development page.
In addition, the Microsoft Store at UTC will provide educational discount cards for use at its store. Faculty and staff can also visit the digital device bar to sample the latest gadgets.
Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing John Dudley contributed to this report.