USF TIP Lab helps train nearly 13,000 Pasco County school district staff on human trafficking

The USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Lab is pleased to announce the completion of a major community partnership with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking. Together, the two organizations developed and delivered a comprehensive human trafficking awareness training to nearly 13,000 school district staff, reaching district employees, charter school staff, and bus drivers across Pasco County.

TIP Lab researchers Dr. Sarah Lockwood and Dr. Caralin Branscum led the Lab's involvement in the project, providing expertise, guidance, and research support throughout the collaboration. The TIP Lab is credited as a project partner in the official training presentation.

The partnership reflects the TIP Lab's commitment to translating academic research into real-world community impact. Moving forward, Dr. Lockwood and Dr. Branscum will conduct research evaluating the effectiveness of the training materials. Their findings will help strengthen future anti-trafficking initiatives developed by the Commission.

The presentation can be accessed here. You can play it by going to Present and then selecting Autoplay. It will play as a recorded video.

USF BRIGHT Project Formalizes Partnership with Homeland Security Investigations

The Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Risk to Resilience Lab BRIGHT Project has officially formalized a partnership with Homeland Security Investigations Tampa and Miami through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a significant step forward in strengthening collaborative efforts to combat human trafficking.

This partnership enhances coordination between the BRIGHT Team, The PRR Group, and HSI to help build a more effective national response ecosystem for addressing human trafficking investigations. Together, the organizations aim to alleviate key pain points identified by HSI agents and victim assistance specialists while strengthening survivor-centered support and response efforts for victims of trafficking.

The Department extends its sincere gratitude to Micah McCombs, Jose Figueroa, and John Condon for their leadership, support, and continued commitment to collaboration.

The BRIGHT Project and its partners look forward to advancing this important partnership to strengthen human trafficking response efforts and improve outcomes for victims and survivors nationwide.

Fox 13 - https://www.fox13news.com/news/usf-federal-partnership-human-trafficking-tampa-bay

WUSF - https://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2026-05-26/department-homeland-security-usf-team-combat-human-trafficking

Hoodline - https://hoodline.com/2026/05/usf-joins-feds-in-high-stakes-war-on-tampa-bay-traffickers/#google_vignette

*In the photo: Shelly Wagers, Ph.D., SAC Micah McCombs (HSI Tampa), SAC Jose Figueroa (HSI Miami), and John Condon, Acting Executive Assistant Director for HSI

Strengthening First Responder Mental Health Through Community Collaboration

On May 20, 2026, Cary Hopkins Hall, attended the Suncoast Alliance for First Responders meeting. Retired Assistant Chief of the USF Police Department, Meg Ross, runs the group as a First Responder Ambassador. The group includes first responders and stakeholders from organizations around Tampa Bay who are interested in supporting first responder mental health, including issues such as trauma, suicidality, and substance use disorders.

During this meeting, four committees worked on the overarching themes of Resources, Education, Access, and Leadership. Cary will be working with the education committee on issues such as evaluating peer review programs and creating trauma, recovery, and resiliency training modules. 

Criminology Students Gain Real-World Experience in Capital Defense Work

This spring, a group of Criminology students participated in a valuable internship experience with the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, where they gained direct exposure to criminal defense and death penalty litigation.



Working alongside attorneys and investigators, interns contributed to real cases while building practical skills in legal research, case analysis, evidence review, and client interaction. The experience provided meaningful insight into the critical role of defense advocacy within the justice system.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Anna Dixon, Associate Professor of Instruction in Anthropology, students received close guidance throughout the semester, strengthening both their professional development and understanding of justice processes.