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Student Spotlights

The College of Education spotlights current and former students with inspiring personal stories of leadership, innovation and academic achievement.

If you know an outstanding College of Education student or graduate who you would like to nominate to be featured in a future spotlight story, please contact Elizabeth Engasser at eengasser@usf.edu.

Student Spotlight Archives


Andres Rodriguez

Andres Rodriguez

Graduate, Exercise Science

Andres Rodriguez time at USF gave him experience training professional athletes. Now, as a recent graduate of the College of Education's Exercise Science program, he aspires to bring his knowledge of health and fitness into his community.

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Bretton Varga

Bretton Varga

Graduate Student, Social Science Education

Throughout his 18 years teaching, Bretton Varga noticed a lack of LGBTQ+ education in public schools. Because of this, he developed his own digitally interactive curriculum to introduce historic LBGTQ+ concepts into social studies curriculum, and has received national recognition for his efforts.

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Ashley White

Ashley White

Graduate Student, Special Education

From campus to country, College of Education doctoral candidate Ashley White is using her time at USF to help reform special education policy and make a lasting impact on the field.

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Ryan Blew

Ryan Blew

Elementary Education Major

As an Elementary Education major in the College of Education, Ryan Blew is not only an aspiring educator, but he is also someone his coworkers and peers describe as a standout leader in the numerous roles he plays outside of his classes. 

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Gary Yu Hin Lam

Gary Yu Hin Lam

Graduate Student, School Psychology

As a doctoral student in the College of Education’s School Psychology Program, Gary Yu Hin Lam took his passion for working with individuals with autism and applied it to a career path that will help him change the lives of many students.

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Dale Cusumano

Alumni Spotlight: Dale Cusumano, PhD

Graduate, School Psychology

After earning two degrees from the University of South Florida's School Psychology program, Dr. Cusumano went on to serve at the National Implementation Research Network and the State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices (SISEP) Center.

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