CAS Chronicles
Stories
From classroom to command: USF student helping shape the future of national security
For May Birch, national security isn’t just a field of study—it’s a calling rooted in family, shaped by mentors and propelled by student leadership.
June 9, 2025Accomplishments
MediMirror, silicon atomic clock and early stroke detection device awarded BRAG grants for further development
The University of South Florida Foundation and the USF Research Foundation have awarded Foundation Bull Ring Accelerator Grants to three early-stage start-ups affiliated with the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator.
June 9, 2025Research
2025 USF Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipient Dr. Bailee Olliff Practices Medicine With Purpose
From pre-med student at USF's Judy Genshaft Honors College to trauma medical director, 2025 USF Outstanding Young Alumni recipient Dr. Bailee Olliff has built a career grounded in purpose — making an impact through mentorship, community service, and a strong support system.
June 5, 2025Accomplishments, Alumni
How social media is shifting the spread of hurricane information
It wasn’t long ago that people relied on news broadcasts for hurricane updates. Today, they can easily swipe through social media platforms for the latest information. A USF expert and local influencers weigh in on how that’s reshaping public safety and what you should watch out for this hurricane season.
June 5, 2025Research
Hurricane oral history project to preserve stories of loss, transformation and hope
The Hurricane Histories project will feature the experiences of those impacted by the 2024 historic hurricane season, providing a rich account of the natural disasters.
June 2, 2025Community Engagement, Research
'What do you mean you hate jazz?’ This associate professor of humanities and cultural studies would like to know
When it comes to hating jazz, Andrew Berish, who teaches courses on jazz and civil rights, has heard it all. Chaotic. Boring. Formless. Difficult to dance to. Not melodic. Aimless. Self-indulgent. Too serious. Like eating spinach. In his new book, Berish explores the complex and often polarizing emotions the music evokes.
May 29, 2025Research
$1M grant will fund research to improve disaster resilience and preparedness among migrant farmworkers
The three-year, collaborative grant will expand on disaster resilience research by Robin Ersing, director of the School of Public Affairs, and Christa Remington, an assistant professor in the same school. Ersing and Remington will work with Miranda Dally of the University of Colorado to collect data in Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Miami-Dade and Sumter counties on the mental health impacts of climate change.
May 29, 2025Research
Enhancing mental health services in low-resource settings: A USF anthropologist’s impact
Elena Lesley, an anthropology professor at USF, is researching how digital mental health care—especially telehealth—is transforming access to treatment in Cambodia. Her work explores how digital tools can bridge gaps in mental health services, offering new possibilities for care in post-conflict communities. Through her research, she aims to highlight innovative strategies that could improve mental health care in low-resource settings worldwide.
May 29, 2025Community Engagement, Research
Distinguished professor of psychology earns national recognition
Distinguished Professor Tammy Allen of the Department of Psychology has been recognized for her career-long work advancing the science of industrial-organizational psychology—the study of human behavior in workplaces and organizations.
May 28, 2025Accomplishments, Research
School of Interdisciplinary Global Sciences professor recognized for exceptional teaching and mentorship
Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, an associate professor of instruction in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, was awarded this year’s CAS Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Award.
May 28, 2025Accomplishments
350 poison dart frogs walk into a lab
Stepping into Yang Lab is like stepping into a sauna, thanks to the many temperature-controlled terrariums that line the walls. Inside, frogs glitter like gemstones — ruby, emerald, sapphire — on mossy beds. The frogs' vibrant and diverse colors are what drew Yang to study them in the first place.
Power in partnership: School of Public Affairs presents Gladfelter Award to local nonprofit, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida
Every year, the School of Public Affairs presents the Gladfelter Award to an organization that addresses quality of life issues for the direct benefit of those who live, work and play in greater Tampa Bay.
May 27, 2025Community Engagement