The USF College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) welcomed 26 new members to the Dean’s Student Leadership Society (DSLS).
DSLS students are chosen for their superior leadership skills, often serving as volunteer coordinators, executive board members, or critical points of contact on behalf of CAS. DSLS also provides students with mentorship opportunities, professional development workshops, and year-round networking.
Nicole Nagib, graduating senior and DSLS president, shared words of welcome and advice at this year’s induction ceremony held April 5 at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center.
“Induction ceremonies like this one are not merely rituals, they are a heartbeat of DSLS,” Nagib said. “They represent the passing of the torch from one generation of leaders to the next, ensuring that our treasured legacy continues to thrive and evolve. Inducting a new class of DSLS members is more than just adding a list of names to a roster. It’s about welcoming individuals who embody the values of leadership, service, and excellence.”
“Today, as we welcome our new members into the DSLS family, we embrace the responsibility and privilege that comes with leadership,” she added. “We pledge to support, empower, and inspire one another as we embark on this journey together and reaffirm our dedication to upholding the principles of integrity, inclusivity, innovation that define DSLS. So let us come together with open hearts and minds ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
DSLS Senior Nicole Nagib, majoring in biomedical sciences, shared opening remarks and words of advice for the incoming DSLS students. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
USF CAS alumna Lisa Mifflin shared the keynote address with the incoming DSLS members. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
The 2024 inductees are:
- Alena Babkin, Information Science
- Alyssa Capel, Biomedical Sciences
- Amari Graham, Psychology
- Amruta Bollineni, English
- Andrew Levesque, Biomedical Sciences
- Asia Thompson, Communication and English
- Bhargav Kadiyala, Biology
- Caitlin Coyle, Environnemental Science and Policy
- Cameran Isler, Political Science and Philosophy
- Carol Agaiby, Biomedical Sciences
- Dejanaye (Deja) Hicks, Political Science
- Divyani Tangudu, Biomedical Sciences and Information Science
- Gabrielle (Gabi) Whyte, Humanities and Cultural Studies
- Jhanavi Sabharwal, Biology
- Lana Almukhtar, Biomedical Sciences
- Lana Klein-Couzzi, Biology
- Lillie (May) Birch, International Studies
- Nichola (Nico) Lavaud, Political Science and Economics
- Olivia Pinilla, Biology
- Roma Patel, Economics
- Roy Chen, Biomedical Sciences and Psychology
- Samantha (Sam) Carrera, Economics
- Sameera Beharry, Biomedical Sciences
- Sierra Boodhoo, International Studies
- Tiffany Hoang, Biomedical Sciences
- Victoria (Bia) Doh, Biomedical Sciences
The induction ceremony also included a keynote address from USF alumna Lisa Mifflin.
Mifflin is a double alumna of USF, earning a bachelor of science in finance (’91) and master of public administration (’08). In her current role with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department, she provides technical assistance and resources to bankers, community stakeholders and agency staff in her assigned markets of Florida and Oklahoma.
She’s also a member of the CAS Dean’s Advisory Council and USF Master of Public Administration Ambassador program, serves on the executive committee of the USF Black Alumni Society, and is a member of the diversity committee of the USF Alumni Association.
Her message to the incoming DSLS students was to be leaders who “lead with passion.”
“As you’re navigating your pathways, there are going to be some stops and starts,” she said. “It's okay to go off into that rest stop and navigate and take care of yourself. Always make sure you know where you are going. I want to leave you with one quote that I found in doing some of my research from a leader church leader in Oklahoma, Craig Groeschel, ‘The path to your greatest potential is often straight through your greatest fear.’”
Rocky the Bull paid a special farewell visit to this year’s graduating DSLS members. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
In addition to welcoming new members this spring, the DSLS also bid farewell to 12 graduating seniors this year, all of whom played important roles in more than 45 CAS events throughout this academic year, such as Trail Blazers and Frontier Forum.
“To those of you graduating, it’s been a pleasure working with you. We know that you will do wonderful things and we look forward to hearing from you in the future,” said CAS Interim Dean Magali Michael in her closing remarks.