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October 29, 2024

I continue to be inspired by the resilience and strength demonstrated by our USF Bulls community in the aftermath of consecutive major hurricanes impacting Tampa Bay. 

Although we have resumed normal class schedules and business operations across all campuses, we are still working to support our students, faculty and staff who face significant challenges from the storms.

We launched the “Tampa Bay Strong” campaign, which includes a special edition T-shirt with proceeds benefitting students impacted by the recent storms. Through the United Support Fund, we have already distributed emergency financial aid to more than 250 students, and we continue to review applications as quickly as possible. We are also raising funds for those in need through the Employee Hardship Assistance Program, and we are providing support to approximately 150 employees thus far.

I encourage you to take time to read about how our dedicated team members helped keep our students safe and prepared our campuses to reopen, how the USF community is helping the region recover and how our researchers are rapidly responding to help us better understand hurricanes in the future.

The road to recovery may vary for each of us, and I thank you all for your continued patience and compassion as we heal from these challenging events. Seeing our community come together to support one another has deepened my pride in our university and the region we proudly call home.

Updates

• We are heartbroken over the unexpected passing of USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on our university. In his first season, he brought an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped generate unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation. His influence on our student-athletes, coaching staff and the USF community will live on forever. To honor his legacy, a celebration of life will be hosted at the Yuengling Center on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m.

• We announced yesterday a $1.5 million gift made to USF by longtime, generous supporters Valerie Riddle and her husband, David Reader. The funds will be split among several areas of our university, including the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy and USF Athletics’ Stampede for Women initiative. We truly appreciate their unwavering support of our university and the continued success of our students.

• Nearly 1 in 5 USF employees — approximately 3,000 of our faculty and staff — are also alumni, a distinction we proudly refer to as “Working Bulls.” Last week, I was delighted to join the Alumni Association for the annual Working Bulls Lunch, where we thanked these dedicated alumni for their unwavering support of our alma mater. As a fellow “Working Bull,” I am truly grateful for everything our team members do to ensure USF remains one of America’s leading research universities.

• I was honored to represent USF and join fellow university presidents and chancellors last week for the Association of American Universities fall membership meeting in Washington, D.C. The agenda featured sessions with key leaders in national policy and research, including a discussion with the director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan. This was a wonderful opportunity to explore how our university can further enhance its impact through education, research and innovation.

• In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, we rescheduled our Homecoming Week to Nov. 4-9. Homecoming activities are free and open to the university community, and I hope you’ll join us in showing your USF Bull pride.

Additional University News Sources

• USF Newsroom

• St. Petersburg campus

• Sarasota-Manatee campus

• USF Health

• USF Athletics

USF faculty have participated in nearly 50 expert interviews with news outlets about the recent hurricanes, including the Washington Post (1, 2, 3, 4), The New York Times and The Associated Press.

Bay News 9 featured USF senior Evita Garcia in a story about her experiences as a student and scholarship recipient in USF's Latino Scholarship Program.

The New York Times quoted USF Professor William Haley in a story about strategies caregivers can use to manage mood and personality changes in people with dementia.

USF Athletics has been named one of the “Best College Athletic Departments" for 2024 by Front Office Sports. The award is presented to institutions whose athletic departments serve as a national model for innovation and maximizing the success of their student-athletes.

Inside USF: The Newsletter is published approximately every other week in the fall and spring and once per month in the summer.

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