When Liana Fernandez Fox enrolled in 1964 at the newly founded University of South Florida, it wasn't because it had always been her dream school. It was the opportunity she was given.
Growing up in a traditional Cuban and Sicilian family, Fox's younger brothers left home o attend college, but as the family's only daughter, she was expected to stay close to home.
"I wasn't allowed to go away to college because I was a girl," Fox recalled. "Fortunately, I had a brand new university right here at home."
That launched a remarkable career spanning more than four decades in mathematics education. Fox earned her master's degree in mathematics education from USF in 1980 before returning to complete her doctoral degree 18 years later.
Throughout her career, she taught countless students, mentored future educators and helped shape mathematics education across Hillsborough County. One of those students, Pam Allison, first met Fox as a 14-year-old algebra student in 1973. Years later, Allison followed in her teacher's footsteps, becoming a mathematics educator herself.
"I was confused all the time," Allison laughed. "She used me as her barometer. If she looked up and saw I was confused, she'd go over everything again."
Even in retirement, Fox continues to invest in the profession she loves. Each month, she now gathers with fellow retired mathematics educators from across Hillsborough County for breakfast—a tradition that began more than 20 years ago. Many of the educators first crossed paths through classrooms, professional organizations like Mu Alpha Theta or graduate studies at USF where professors like Dr. Fred Zerla and Drs. Don and Betty Lichtenberg made lasting impacts on their teacher training,
Reflecting on her time at USF, one phrase still stands out: "Accent on Learning." It was the motto coined by USF’s first President John Allen. Decades later, Fox believes those words continue to capture the spirit of the university that transformed her life and the countless lives of the students and educators she has inspired in return