“College is the best four years of your life,” the saying goes — and for students
in the Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida, it’s not hard
to see why. From community-building events led by the Honors Student Councils and
the Honors Living Learning Communities to personalized support from dedicated faculty
and advisors, the Honors undergraduate experience offers students every opportunity
to thrive academically and personally.
Now, that experience doesn’t have to end at graduation.
The newly launched Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society is creating a path for alumni to remain connected to the college — and to each other.
The society offers networking opportunities, mentoring for current students, and continued
involvement in Honors events and initiatives. It aims to serve a growing community
of nearly 10,000 Honors alumni.
As the Honors Alumni Society gears up to host its kickoff party on Thursday, Aug.
14 to celebrate its official launch, newly minted society Chair Grace Beck looks forward
to welcoming past Honors friends and mentors back to the Tampa campus to explore the
Honors building and reconnect with the college community.
Leading the Charge
Grace Beck, a 2016 graduate of the Honors College, is the inaugural chair of the society
— a role that reflects her longstanding passion for USF and the Honors community.
Her Honors journey began in 2012, when she followed her older sister to the Honors
LLC. As a student, Beck took full advantage of her time at USF: studying abroad in
Germany and Peru, serving as an orientation mentor, and leveraging Honors advising
connections to land an internship — and eventually a full-time job — at USF.
Through her internship with University Communications and Marketing (UCM), she collaborated
with major organizations like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Coca-Cola, setting the stage
for a career in communications at the university. Her passion for the college led
her to pursue a master’s degree in marketing at USF and work as a marketing graduate
assistant for the Honors College — and she even served as the Honors College’s first-ever
admissions director before moving into her current role as content strategy manager
for UCM.
“I love working here now because as a student, I felt like I got opportunities that
wouldn't have been available to me at larger institutions,” said Beck. “Now, I want
to give back.”
So, when the demand for an alumni society began to swell, Beck was a natural choice
to lead.
“When they needed someone to step up and be chair, I was hesitant to accept the role
at first,” she said. “But I realized I probably care about this college more than
most people, and now I am enjoying the challenge of leading — it’s something I really
enjoy dedicating my time to.”
Judy Genshaft Honors College Endowed Dean Charles Adams is excited to witness the
growth of the alumni society under Beck’s leadership.
“Having Grace lead the Judy Genshaft Honors Alumni Society is the perfect fit,” said
Adams. “Her enthusiasm for the Honors College and Bull Pride are infectious, and we
are excited to see how the society will positively transform the Honors alumni experience.”
Building a Vision
For Beck, the desire to make something special is important.
“I want to make this the best alumni society not only at USF, but in the country,”
she said.
Although designed to connect alumni, the society will also support current students
— and even prospective ones — by strengthening the college’s professional and mentorship
networks.
“I want this to be mutually beneficial,” Beck said. “Not only for alumni connecting
with each other, but also for those giving back to students and helping attract future
students to the Honors College.”
The Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society is committed to offering meaningful
opportunities for alumni — from networking events and career workshops to student
mentorship and community service. Whether you’re a working professional seeking to
grow in your field or looking for ways to give back, there’s something for everyone.
“I want to make this the best alumni society not only at USF, but in the country." — Grace Beck
Beck sees the initiative as a way to make a great thing even better, extending the
reach of the Honors College across the globe.
"The JGHC is already the best honors college, in my opinion,” said Beck. “My vision
is to build out this alumni society so that, regardless of where you live in the world,
we have a network of Honors alumni society members we can connect recent grads to.”
For Honors alumni and students alike, the time to get involved is now.
Beck and other leaders — Vice Chair Dhalia Bumbaca (‘18) and volunteers Candace Braun
Davison (‘10) , Michael Calzadilla (‘15), Kyle Castello (‘12), Kristen Corpion (‘10),
Jeremy Davis (‘00), Brian Fender (‘96) and William Halaby (‘12) — are looking to
continue to grow their team.
“We’d love to have young grads help shape what this society looks like,” said Beck.
“For example, we’re looking for someone to lead our social media marketing strategy
and get current students excited about being involved.”
“Whatever your skills, whatever your interests — we can utilize and build them into
a network here so that you can be a part of creating meaningful connections and new
opportunities for the entire Honors community.”
Excited to join the Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society? Fill out their interest form to stay connected and get involved.