Twenty-seven students receive Undergraduate Research Scholarships | CBCS celebrated another record-breaking milestone, with 27 students selected as recipients of the college's Undergraduate Research Scholarship. The scholarship is funded by the Moms Project and the Florida High Tech Corridor. | |  | CBCS students honored at the USF Celebration of Leadership Awards | Two CBCS students were selected to receive USF's Golden Bull Award and were honored at the university's 2026 Celebration of Leadership Awards. Another student was recognized for exemplary advocacy for students with disabilities within the USF community. | | | |
CBCS researchers collaborate on national study supporting Korean American dementia caregivers
Nan Sook Park, PhD, MSW, professor in the School of Social Work, and William E. Haley, PhD, distinguished university professor in the School of Aging Studies, are partnering with colleagues at the University of Southern California on a National Institute on Aging–funded study evaluating K‑Savvy, a culturally tailored caregiver education program. Read more.
| | | |
Graduate scholars present research at adolescent behavioral health conference
The Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Substance Use hosted its 13th annual conference April 8–10, bringing together community partners, peer and academic mentors, a new cohort of students and graduating scholars. Read more.
| | |
School of Aging Studies doctoral student awarded the Genshaft Family Doctoral Fellowship
The USF Office of Graduate Studies has named Sridevi Nair, a doctoral student in the School of Aging Studies, a recipient of the Genshaft Family Doctoral Fellowship, one of the university’s most competitive awards. Read more.
| | | |
St. Petersburg Criminology celebrates excellence at awards banquet
The Department of Criminology on the USF St. Petersburg campus recently celebrated achievement, leadership, service and scholarship at its second annual awards banquet. The event brought together students, faculty, alumni and community members. Read more.
During the banquet, USF St. Petersburg also welcomed new members into the Sigma Chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma criminal justice honor society. Read more.
| | |
Gerald Imaezue delivers clinical training at OhioHealth
Gerald C. Imaezue, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and director of the Brain and Aphasia Recovery Lab, recently delivered an invited clinical training at OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio, one of the nation's leading nonprofit health systems. Read more.
| | | |
ASL Interpreting program hosts Faces of the Future networking event
The ASL Interpreting program in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, in partnership with Hands-On USF (HOUSF), hosted its annual Faces of the Future community networking event, connecting soon-to-be graduates with hiring organizations across the Tampa Bay area. Read more.
| | |
Jerome Galea presents on the importance of mental health in Illinois
Jerome Galea, PhD, LCSW, associate professor in the School of Social Work and chair of the online MSW program, delivered a compelling talk titled "There Is No Health Without Mental Health: What Is It, and Why Does It Matter?" at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 29th annual Daniel S. Sanders Peace and Social Justice Memorial Lecture. Read more.
| | | |
Research at USF to prevent Alzheimer’s receives $2.8 million in funding
WMNF-FM
"The University of South Florida has received a $2.8 million grant from the National Institute of Health. It will go for the Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT) study."
| | | Bjerregaard, B., Weber, C., Smith, M. D., Cochran, J. K., & Fogel, S. J. (2026). An Empirical Analysis of the Heinous, Atrocious, and Cruel (HAC) Aggravating Circumstance: A Focal Concerns Approach. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-026-09906-2 | | Masapollo, M., Stewart, A., Ludwig, A., Maxfield, N., & Nittrouer, S. (2026). Temporal coordination of articulatory movements across speech segments: Fixed onsets with flexible kinematic trajectories. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 159(4), 3241-3256. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0043331 | | |
Alison Salloum, PhD, LCSW (School of Social Work)
Increasing treatment accuracy in trauma exposed children: Developing an adapted Step One Intervention
Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center
9/1/2025-8/31/2027
Award Amount: $28,908
Leslie Taylor, PhD (PI), with the University of Texas Health Science Center will be conducting a pilot study to modify Stepping Together for Children after Trauma (Stepping Together-CT) for Latino families. The overarching goal of this study is to develop and test a personalized modification of Stepping Together-CT, delivered within a stepped care intervention, for Latino families, with the promise of meeting the needs of large number of children in Texas and beyond. Alison Salloum, PhD (Co-I), is the developer of Stepping Together-CT and will be providing training and consultation on the implementation of the modified Stepping Together-CT intervention.
| | Upcoming Events & Deadlines | | |
BRIDGE Clinic Spring Donation Drive
March 30 - April 29 | Donation box in the School of Social Work suite, MHC 1400
The BRIDGE Clinic is a student-run free clinic. Based on direct feedback from patients and families, there is a strong need for essential items such as food, hygiene products and school supplies. More info here. If you have any questions, contact Christopher Feliciano or Brooke Anderson.
| | |
Live Tampa Bay trainings
Motivational Interviewing Training
April 21 | 1:30- 4 p.m. | Sun City Center
This Motivational Interviewing training is designed to strengthen cross-agency collaboration, enhance communication, and improve outcomes for individuals experiencing substance use and addiction.
Motivational Interviewing Training
April 22 - 23 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | St. Petersburg
This two-day Motivational Interviewing training gives you practical tools to partner more effectively with seniors — so interactions feel more collaborative, respectful and productive.
QPR Training
April 28 | 9 a.m. - noon | Virtual
Question. Persuade. Refer. These steps can help save the lives of those who may be considering suicide. You’ll learn how to identify warning signs, how to interrupt the crisis and how to direct that person to proper care.
QPR Training
April 28 | 3 - 4:30 p.m.| Virtual
Question. Persuade. Refer. These steps can help save the lives of those who may be considering suicide. You’ll learn how to identify warning signs, how to interrupt the crisis and how to direct that person to proper care.
| | |
Seeds to Systems: Cultivating the Behavioral Health Workforce
Friday, April 24 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Children's Board | Registration closed
Join the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute's annual colloquium as national and state leaders shine light on opportunities for cultivating a system-sustaining behavioral health workforce.
| | |
CBCS Faculty and Staff Open Forum
Wednesday, April 29 | 3-3:30 p.m. | MHC Atrium
RSVP to Patty Cleveland at clevelan@usf.edu.
This is a great opportunity to meet President Limayem and support his efforts to learn more about our college. This is a separate event from the president’s university-wide town hall meetings. RSVPs are required for the open forum as space is limited in the atrium.
| | |
CJMHSA TAC Subject Matter Expert: Request for Information
Submission deadline: April 30
The Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center (CJMHSA TAC) is pleased to announce the issuance of a Request for Information to expand our network of subject matter experts.
We are seeking experienced USF faculty and staff, community-based leaders and national experts with demonstrated expertise in criminal justice and behavioral health systems to join our multidisciplinary technical assistance network. Apply here.
| | |
Call for Papers
Submission deadline: July 1
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, in partnership with the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce, invites submissions for a special issue focused on Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce: Research, Innovation and Policy. Learn more.
| | |
From Research to Action: The Florida Behavioral Health Workforce Summit
Sept. 10-11 | Marshall Student Center | Register
Join the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce for our inaugural summit aimed at translating research into action to grow, retain and innovate Florida’s workforce. From researchers and service providers to policymakers, educators, students and more, this summit brings every voice in the continuum together. Continuing education credits available.
| |
Adding News, Events, and Publications to the CBCS Website and Newsletter
If you have news/events or recent/upcoming publications you would like posted on the CBCS website and/or in the Communique newsletter, send the details and any attachments to CBCS Marketing (CBCSMarketing@usf.edu). Please send all newsletter submissions no later than Thursday for inclusion in the following week's newsletter.
Be sure to include all pertinent information (title, date, times, location, event description, and contact information) in editable digital text format. Articles included in the CBCS Communiqué may be disseminated to USF Media outlets and/or beyond.
| | | | | |
