About

Vision

USF St. Petersburg is an urban campus seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the city and region it serves, thereby increasing prosperity for students, businesses, and all citizens.

The Office of Community Relations was established in partnership with the City of St. Petersburg the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and the St. Petersburg Innovation District in 2021 to serve as a liaison to and from the St. Petersburg community. In 2023, USF established the Office of Community Partnerships to serve as a front door for ONEUSF. Dr. Eric Eisenberg is the inaugural senior vice president for Community Partnerships for ONEUSF.

In 2021, the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, the St. Petersburg Innovation District partnered with USF to establish a director of community relations for the campus for the following objectives:

  • Enhance relationships with key stakeholders: City of St Petersburg, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and the St. Petersburg Innovation District, the St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce, and the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation
  • Serve as a liaison between the campus and the community to enhance access to USF resources and opportunities for partnerships and collaborations.
  • Cultivate trust by coordinating campus and community efforts and improving response to and presence in community;
  • Increase student and faculty engagement opportunities, working with community organizations to identify opportunities;
  • Publicize community engagement initiatives.

“People who live in St. Pete feel very strongly about this campus. We take great pride in this campus. We see it as our St. Pete university. … this campus that is so close geographically to the downtown of St. Pete has a very important role economically and emotionally in the business community.” - Jason Mathis, CEO of the Downtown Partnership

“Our community cares about the USF St. Pete campus and students and wants them to be successful. The business community has long rallied around the campus. It really is a catalyst for bringing new ideas to the table.” - Alison Barlow, executive director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District

USF St. Petersburg leadership sit on a number of boards in the community, including but not limited to:

  • Downtown Waterfront Parks Foundation
  • Florida Holocaust Museum
  • Gulf Beaches Historical Museum
  • LEAP Leadership and Vision Councils
  • Pinellas County Urban League
  • Pinellas County Historical Society
  • Phi Beta Kappa Alumna Association of Tampa Bay
  • Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay
  • St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce
  • St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs
  • St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership
  • St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation
  • St. Petersburg Innovation District
  • Tampa Bay Watch Leadership Council