About Us

Meet Our Staff

 

Peter Trakas- Center Director

Email: PTrakas@usf.edu
Dr. Peter Trakas joined the Gus A. Stavros Center in May 2022 as Director of the Center. He has more than 25 years of experience in higher education administration, with a career focused primarily on institutional advancement.

Peter earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida and BA and MBA degrees from Stetson University. His scholarship explores online giving, university advancement strategies, and the ways higher education institutions engage private and corporate stakeholders to support student success.

At the Stavros Center, Dr. Trakas is committed to expanding professional development opportunities for educators and supporting innovative programs that strengthen the teaching of the global literacies such as economics, Sustainability and financial literacy across Florida’s classrooms.

Carrie Frump- Center Assistant Director

Email: cfrump@usf.edu

Carrie Frump is a veteran educator with more than 24 years of experience in K–12 classrooms and higher education. She has taught Reading, Language Arts, ESOL, Exceptional Student Education, and Critical Thinking in Hillsborough and Pasco County Schools, where she implemented research-based, standards-aligned instruction to support diverse learners and improve student achievement.

Carrie also served as an adjunct professor at Saint Leo University, preparing pre-service teachers through courses in Reading in the Content Area, Adolescent Literacy, and Reading Assessment and Differentiation. Her experience in both classroom instruction and teacher preparation informs her work designing meaningful professional development for educators.

She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Northern Kentucky University. Her teaching excellence has been recognized through multiple Teacher of the Year honors and a Florida Department of Education Letter of Recognition for being among the state’s highest-impact teachers.

Emily Jones Mendez '05- Administrative Specialist

Email: ejmendez1@usf.edu 

Ms. Emily Mendez earned her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from the University of South Florida in 2005. Following graduation, she spent nearly 20 years in the retail industry, serving in a variety of roles including more than a decade in management.

Emily joined the Gus A. Stavros Center in 2022 as Administrative Specialist. In this role, she manages workshop logistics, payroll processes, and website maintenance for the Center. She also brings valuable marketing and organizational experience that helps promote the Center’s programs and mission to educators throughout the region. Emily is known for her enthusiasm for the Center’s work and her dedication to supporting its outreach efforts.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys hosting family gatherings and spending time outdoors.

Dick J. Puglisi: Director Emeritus

Email: dpuglisi@usf.edu 
Dr. Dick Puglisi is Professor, Professor Emeritus in the College of Education and Director Emeritus for the Stavros Center.  Dick served on faculty since 1969, and served as Director of the center from 1980 until 2022.  He is a recipient of the coveted Freedoms Foundation Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education.

Brittany Krieg- Stavros Center Master Teacher Mentor

Email:brittanykrieg@usf.edu

Brittany Krieg is an educator with more than 20 years of experience specializing in economics and financial literacy. After many years with Polk County Public Schools, she now teaches at Port Charlotte High School in Charlotte County. She began her career teaching middle school Social Science and Exceptional Student Education and has a strong passion for curriculum development in economics education. Since 2016, she has worked with the Stavros Center as a curriculum writer and has served as the center’s Polk County Liaison. Her honors include Florida’s Charles C. Harper Economic Educator of the Year (2019) and multiple REEL Educator Awards.

Christine "Angel" Danger '02 M. Ed.- Stavros Center Master Teacher Mentor

Email: cdanger@usf.edu

Christine “Angel” Danger is a National Board-Certified educator with more than 20 years of experience in Hillsborough County Public Schools as a teacher, science coach, trainer, and STEM Coordinator. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Leo University. Angel has developed curriculum and professional development programs for HCPS, UF’s CPALMS initiative, the University of Florida, and USF’s Stavros Center. Her honors include Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year (2013), National Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year (2015), and National Earth Science Teachers Association Teacher of the Year (2015). 

Kara Windish '06- Stavros Center Master Teacher

Email: kbetourn@usf.edu

Kara Windish is a dedicated educator with 18 years of classroom experience and a passion for entrepreneurship education. She is known for creating engaging Shark Tank–style lessons that encourage students to develop creative business ideas and real-world skills. In 2024, she led the first Shark Tank Camp at the University of South Florida, where students developed and pitched their own ventures. Kara also serves as a Master Teacher at the Stavros Center, leading professional development workshops for educators. In addition, she manages the center’s social media presence, capturing and sharing the energy of workshops through photography and video.

Beverly Ledbetter "74 M. Ed. -Stavros Center Master Teacher

Email: bledbetter@usf.edu

Beverly Ledbetter taught Social Studies for 36 years in the Pasco County School District. She earned a B.A. in Social Studies Education and History from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. Since retiring in 2011, she has served as an adjunct professor in the College of Education at Saint Leo University. Beverly has received numerous honors, including Florida Economic Educator of the Year (2003) and the Florida Global Studies Teacher of the Year (2007). In 2022, she received the American Federation of Teachers Living Legacy Award for her lifelong contributions to education. She is a member of the USF’s Golden Guard (class of 1974).

Lisa Lawson MBA- Stavros Center Master Teacher

Email: lisalawson@usf.edu

Lisa Lawson has been an educator with Hillsborough County Public Schools since 2006, specializing in STEM, sustainability, and financial literacy. She serves as a Master Teacher Cadre member at the University of South Florida’s Stavros Center, where she develops and delivers professional development workshops for educators. Her honors include Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year (2018), the Regional Economic Educator & Leadership (REEL) Award (2020, 2023), and a U.S. Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition (2024). Lisa holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems and an MBA from Southern Illinois University and maintains multiple educational certifications.

Brian Wassmuth '04, '07 MAT- Stacros Center Master Teacher

Email: wassmuth@usf.edu

Brian Wassmuth is a high school educator with 18 years of experience teaching AP Economics and Personal Finance at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa. A graduate of the University of South Florida, he has been a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar to China and Taiwan and participated in the Probasco Chair Symposium on Environmental Economics in Costa Rica. Brian focuses on creating interactive, real-world learning experiences and helping educators integrate generative AI into their classrooms. He has received the REEL Educator Award (2019, 2023) and Florida’s Charles C. Harper Economic Educator of the Year Award (2020).

Andrew Tillman MA- Stavros Center Master Teacher

Email: watillman@usf.edu

Andrew Tillman teaches AP Economics at Freedom High School in Tampa, Florida, where he has served since 2009 and also sponsors the senior class. He holds a B.S. in Education from Baylor University with majors in History, Business Administration, and Secondary Education, and an M.A. in History from the University of Mississippi. Earlier in his career, he served as Social Studies Lead Teacher at Batesville Junior High School in Mississippi and taught at A.J. Moore Academy in Texas. A published author and award-winning educator, he has twice been named Freedom High School Teacher of the Year.