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Week of June 14, 2023

Our excitement about USF's invitation to join the Association of American Universities has had a ripple effect across our region and state, and many business and community leaders have extended congratulations to our university for achieving this historic milestone. 

This is one of the most exciting developments in our university’s history, and I've greatly enjoyed sharing this news far and wide. As you'll see in this video, our Bulls community is overjoyed, and we look forward to joining our fellow AAU member institutions to make an even greater impact on American society.

To officially be recognized by our peers as one of the nation’s leading research universities is a monumental achievement. In fact, USF is the first public university in Florida to be invited to join the AAU in nearly 40 years and is one of only two institutions from the State University System, along with the University of Florida, to serve as an AAU member. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only, and its 71 member universities comprise only 3% of all four-year universities in the U.S.

None of what we have accomplished would be possible without you, our world-class faculty, staff and administrative employees. Your tenacity, talent and continued pursuit of excellence have paved the way for our university's success, and it's because of you that I am honored to be a part of this remarkable community.

Updates

• I am pleased to share that on Tuesday morning, the Board of Trustees voted to approve the financing plan for USF's future on-campus stadium, a project that will have a transformational impact on our university and the Tampa Bay community. This is an important step forward in the planning process, which you can read more about here. Thank you to everyone in our Bulls community for your continued enthusiasm and support of this long-awaited project.

• Last week, USF announced a $10 million gift made by James "Jay" Nault to the Muma College of Business, which will name its nationally ranked, interdisciplinary entrepreneurship center the USF Nault Center for Entrepreneurship. This investment will have a direct impact on preparing our students to become tomorrow’s business leaders and will further strengthen USF as a hub of innovation on the world stage. We are incredibly grateful to Jay for his generosity and support.

• USF Associate Professor Joseph Dituri, also known as Dr. Deep Sea, completed his 100-day mission last Friday and resurfaced from his 100-square-foot underwater habitat in Key Largo. Throughout his journey, he reached uncharted territory for science and set a new world record for consecutive days living underwater. The USF community has been inspired by Dr. Dituri's tenacity and passion for educating future generations, and I congratulate him on this extraordinary achievement.

• USF is proud to join others in celebrating Pride Month and to support the LBGTQ+ community year-round through an active network of organizations that host events and provide resources and support.

• Also this month, USF celebrates Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and gives us a chance to reflect on the historical events that have shaped our nation. The Institute on Black Life has compiled a list of community events, and I encourage you to spend some time learning about Juneteenth’s past and present significance, which you can read about here. As a reminder, all USF campuses will be closed on Monday, June 19, in honor of this important holiday.

• With the month of June also comes the start of hurricane season, and I encourage you to review USF's Hurricane Guide and have your own plan of action in the event of tropical weather impacting the Tampa Bay region. As we saw last year with the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, these storms can intensify and change course quickly, and it's best to make a plan and gather supplies well in advance to ensure you and your loved ones are prepared.

“Campus Bee Guy” brings new opportunities to the Judy Genshaft Honors College

His passion for bees was inspired by honey – a remedy that’s helped treat his severe allergies. Kobe Phillips has turned that experience into teaching USF students about beekeeping, sustainability and urban ecology.

Boundless Bulls is a collection of stories about what truly makes USF great – the people. It is a focus on our community footprint, our impact and the trajectory of where we can go together.

Inside Higher Ed quoted USF Associate Professor Sanghoon Park in a story about his work using a virtual chatbot that offers motivational strategies to support student success.

The New Yorker quoted USF Professor Meredeth Rowe in a story exploring strategies for locating individuals with dementia who have gone missing, and the challenges involved in these searches.

The Guardian featured a USF research team in a story about the increasing amount of sargassum seaweed in Florida and its potential connection to the growth of flesh-eating bacteria. 

If you're interested in printmaking and mixed media, USF's Graphicstudio is a great place to explore. The studio was founded in 1968 as an experiment in art and education, and over the years their team has invited more than 100 emerging and established contemporary artists from around the world. Among those artists is Rico Gatson, a multimedia visual artist who created the commemorative print for President Rhea Law's inauguration earlier this year. 

Inside USF: The Newsletter is published every other week.

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