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Week of July 18, 2023

After a 4,000-mile journey, the Research Vessel Western Flyer has arrived at its new home in St. Petersburg, and I was delighted to help unveil this magnificent ship last week.

The most technologically advanced ship in the Florida Institute of Oceanography's fleet, the Western Flyer is equipped with additional capabilities that will allow researchers to embark on longer expeditions. The ship will also provide new learning opportunities to students and help fill the talent pipeline to meet workforce needs in a field that serves as a strategic area of focus for USF.

The vessel was granted to USF and FIO by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and has arrived at an opportune moment as we continue to develop a Center of Excellence in Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences on the St. Petersburg campus. You can go inside the new ship with the video available here.

Updates

• To express our gratitude for your continued dedication and commitment to excellence, I am delighted to invite you to the upcoming Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Aug. 17. USF has celebrated several achievements in recent months, including our invitation to join the Association of American Universities, and none of what we have accomplished would be possible without our world-class faculty and staff. You can RSVP here.

• Our university was honored to host last month's Florida Board of Governors meeting, where USF's standing as one of the top institutions in the State University System's performance-based funding model was reaffirmed. Welcoming the BOG to our campus provides an opportunity to showcase our university and highlight our programs, including Gen. (ret.) Frank McKenzie and USF student and employee Dorian Pope, who spoke about the impact made by Cyber Florida and the Global and National Security Institute to help address emerging challenges facing our nation. 

• USF's invitation to join the AAU is a historic milestone for our institution that will also impact our surrounding community and help set the stage for its continued progress and prosperity. In a guest column with the Tampa Bay Business Journal, I shared my thoughts on how the Tampa Bay region and our state will benefit.

• Across all three USF campuses, K-12 students have the opportunity to picture themselves as future Bulls through USF Youth Experiences, a variety of summer programs that allow students to explore new interests and career paths. I had the pleasure of visiting a group of aspiring entrepreneurs attending USF's Youth Venture Summer Camp. Unique experiences like these reflect our commitment to lifelong learning and community engagement, and you can read more about them here.

Additional University News Sources

•  USF Newsroom

•  St. Petersburg campus

•  Sarasota-Manatee campus

•  USF Health

•  USF Athletics

ABC Action News featured USF alumnus Floyd Freeman, who was involved in the construction of the Judy Genshaft Honors College's new building after completing the USF Office of Supplier Diversity's Mentor Protégé Program.

The New York Times, CNN and other media outlets quoted USF professor Chuanmin Hu in news stories about seaweed trends on Florida's beaches.

The Washington Post quoted USF College of Marine Science Dean Tom Frazer in a story about the threat of flooding as central Florida prepares for future hurricanes.

The USF Police Department's therapy dog, Bailey, and her handler, USFPD Officer Nicole Marchesano, are the first K-9 therapy unit to receive certification from the United States Police Canine Association's Region One. The team went through a series of complex tests to judge Bailey's behavior and obedience on the job, and this most recent achievement is the third therapy certification they have earned together. Bailey and Officer Marchesano are frequently seen around USF's Tampa campus attending university events and providing support to community members. 

Inside USF: The Newsletter is published every other week.

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For reasonable disability accommodations requests pertaining to this announcement, please contact one of our offices.