CAS Chronicles
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Hot off the press: Add these new books by CAS faculty and alumni to your summer reading list
From reverent poetry and epic novels to thought-provoking nonfiction, faculty and alumni alike have contributed compelling titles that deserve a spot on your summer reading list. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, traveling, or simply enjoying a quiet afternoon, these books offer a chance to explore new ideas while celebrating the creative and scholarly impact of the USF community.
May 7, 2026Research
New DeBartolo chair will advance medieval Spanish research and Florida history
The College of Arts and Sciences named David Arbesú the 2026-2028 Edward DeBartolo Endowed Chair, recognizing the tenured professor of medieval and golden age Spanish for his active scholarship and engaged teaching.
April 6, 2026Research
Preserving a century: USF partnership brings Tampa Theatre history to centennial exhibition
In collaboration with USF Libraries and the Tampa Theatre, the Institute for Digital Exploration has completed the 3D digitization of the theater’s surviving original furniture and decorative pieces. These newly captured digital assets will be on display at a special exhibition at the Tampa Bay History Center celebrating the theater’s 100th anniversary.
April 6, 2026Community Engagement, Research
Five USF faculty named 2025 fellows of American Association for the Advancement of Science
Charles Stanish is among five USF faculty members elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science 2025 class of Fellows.
March 31, 2026Research
USF awarded Meta research funding to advance motor learning through muscle-based human–computer interfaces
The award supports a new interdisciplinary research effort led by Kyle Reed, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, in collaboration with Michael Morris, a philosopher of technology and associate professor in the Department of Philosophy.
March 27, 2026Research
Largest clinical trial using brain training to reduce dementia receives $2.8 million in federal funding
An expansive clinical trial led by USF researchers and aimed at delaying the onset of dementia continues to receive major federal support for addressing a public health crisis.
March 25, 2026Research
Discovery of first St. Patrick’s Day leads to museum exhibition on the Irish in Florida
In 2018, USF St. Petersburg historian J. Michael Francis discovered the first celebration of St. Patrick took place not in New York City or Boston or even Ireland but in St. Augustine, Fla. Now, that discovery has led to a new museum exhibition that highlights the Irish diaspora in east Florida.
March 25, 2026Research
Unraveling the web of brown recluse myths in Florida
USF alum Louis Coticchio and Associate Professor Deby Cassill show the brown recluse spider shouldn’t be portrayed as a villain. Their newly published findings aim to change the narrative by debunking common myths.
March 9, 2026Research
USF helping to restore Tampa Bay’s oyster populations by 3D-printing habitats
Along the seawall of Bayboro Harbor, a group of USF students and professors recently installed 3D-printed habitats they hope will soon house oysters that can filter thousands of gallons of water per day and improve both water quality and ecosystem health.
March 9, 2026Research
USF ranks among top 20 public universities for new patents in 2025
Denis Karaiskaj, a professor in the Department of Physics, has created a silicon-based, solid-state, miniaturized atomic clock that is a smaller, cheaper and more energy efficient alternative to the chip-size atomic clock that is currently used in electronic navigation devices. Awarded a Foundation Bull Ring Ring Accelerator Grant in 2025, the device has applications for oil and gas exploration, space navigation, military GPS and high-end automotive and watch manufacturing.
February 25, 2026Research
Digitizing the past for the future: CAS collaboration helps protect the legacy of Black cemeteries
USF’s IDEx and the Black Cemetery Network are working with local leaders to map, digitize and protect Lake Maude Cemetery, ensuring long‑overlooked histories are accessible to descendants and researchers.
February 25, 2026Community Engagement, Featured, Research
Hurricanes thin Tampa's canopy, spurring interest in replanting
A new post-storm canopy assessment, led by College of Arts and Sciences researchers Shawn Landry and Rebecca Zarger, reveals that Tampa’s citywide tree canopy fell to 29.9% in 2025, down from 31.4% in 2024. The loss represents a 4.8% decline driven largely by storm damage, wiping out canopy gains achieved since 2021.
February 23, 2026Research