As it enters its second year, the Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society is building on its early momentum under new leadership. Dhalia Bumbaca ('18) and Katelynn Paciorek ('26) have stepped into the roles of chair and vice chair, respectively, with plans to expand alumni engagement through virtual town halls, additional Homecoming programming, and in-person events for St. Petersburg alumni this spring.
Both leaders have longstanding connections to the Honors College. Bumbaca serves as an affiliate faculty member and has previously contributed as a guest lecturer and study abroad program assistant. Paciorek, a recent graduate, concluded her term as Tampa Honors Student Council president in May and transitioned into her Alumni Society leadership role shortly after graduation.
Dhalia Bumbaca greeted members of the USF community at the Judy Genshaft Honors College booth at the 2026 Homecoming Welcome Party.
For Bumbaca, the Honors College helped introduce her to public health, a field she hadn't expected to pursue when she entered the University of South Florida as an international business major. That experience inspired her to establish Well-Fed Community, a food education curriculum provider that uses revenue to support free community programming, including food distribution and community gardening. She also draws on her experience leading the nonprofit in her teaching, guiding students in sustainable cooking and growing their own food.
Now, Bumbaca hopes to help fellow Honors alumni maintain the connections they built as students and find new ways to support the college and its community.
“Having a way to continue to stay engaged with your college is especially important when that college did so much to support you and make you feel like you had a support system while you were a student,” she said.
After serving as co-chair of the society last year alongside former chair Grace Beck, Bumbaca plans to build on their work by doubling the number of events offered and cultivating a membership that stays connected beyond individual events.
“I’d like to see more committed members that want to help shape the society in its early stages,” she said. “I’d also love to see more members that are local to Tampa Bay get involved, so that we can have a real presence. And we saw that at the Homecoming tailgate and welcome party.”
The society's growing presence was on display at the USF Welcome Home Party and Homecoming Tailgate. Alumni Society volunteers and Honors staff members welcomed hundreds of visitors to their booth, where guests learned about the Honors College, reconnected with the community, and won Honors merchandise through prize wheel spins. Alumni also exchanged contact information to stay in touch, and 30 alumni and staff members gathered after the tailgate to watch the USF vs. Kent State Homecoming football game together.
Leading as New Alumni
Katelynn Paciorek spoke at the 2025 Tampa Honors College Convocation ceremony as the Student Council President.
For Paciorek, joining the Alumni Society has provided a way to maintain the sense of belonging she found as a student, even after stepping away from her leadership role in the Tampa Student Council. Now a USF master's student in geology, she sees the society as an opportunity to stay connected to the Honors College's close-knit community.
“Being JGHC Student Council President was the involvement that filled my cup the most during my time as an Honors student,” Paciorek said. “Leaving that role, I was sad to think that I was leaving the community that supported me through some of the most formative times of my life. Now, being appointed vice chair of the Alumni Society just three months after graduation, I can confidently say that worry was for nothing, and I feel so grateful to contribute to my Honors community in a new way.”
Paciorek hopes her involvement will encourage other recent graduates to stay connected, build relationships with alumni across generations, and mentor the next generation of Honors graduates.
“I encourage all recent alumni to get involved and stay engaged with Honors. I could not have imagined a smoother transition from Honors student to Honors alumna than joining and now leading the society,” she said. “The community is just as great on the other side!”
Creating Opportunities
Honors alumni passed out merchandise at the 2026 Homecoming Tailgate event.
The Alumni Society is already planning opportunities for alumni and current students to connect. On Nov. 19, the society will host a Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom 10-Year Anniversary Celebration, a virtual reunion for alumni of the study abroad program and current students. The event will bring participants together with trip leaders, Honors staff, and Dr. Reginald Kerolle of the Kerolle Initiative, the mobile health clinic Honors students have volunteered alongside for almost a decade.
The society is also encouraging members to participate in virtual town halls and service events, creating additional opportunities to connect with fellow alumni and contribute to the Honors community. Alumni can also reconnect through Beyond the Postcard: Switzerland and Milan, a new eight-day study abroad experience planned for summer 2027. Led by Honors alumna and Swiss tour guide Laura Badertscher, the trip will give alumni an opportunity to explore Switzerland and Milan while traveling with fellow members of the Honors community.
Bumbaca also sees opportunities for alumni to support current students through existing college initiatives, including the Judy Genshaft Honors College Mentorship Program.
"The more that alumni engage with the college, the better the student experiences. If you enjoyed your Honors College experience, it's a good way to give back, to ensure that same success for the future generations,” she said.
Visit the Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society webpage to learn more about upcoming events.