USF St. Petersburg is an urban university that aims to integrate seamlessly into the fabric of the city and region, enhancing opportunities for students, businesses and the public. This community roundup series highlights the ways that USF faculty, staff, students and administration are active in the community. If you’d like to engage with USF St. Petersburg, or are a campus staff, faculty or student interested in engaging with the community, please contact Caryn Nesmith, Community Relations Director.
Congresswoman Castor celebrates campus veterans
“It was great to stop by @USFSP for their Veterans Week MRE competition,” Congresswoman Cathy Castor shared on X on November 6. The Office of Veterans Success organizes this annual event, highlighting Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), a staple for deployed soldiers. Castor served as a special judge. The competition educates non-military participants about military culture and fosters understanding on a campus where one in four students are veterans or military-connected.
Bulls to the Polls helps students vote
On Election Day, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) ensured students could exercise their right to vote by offering free rides to polling stations. The "Bulls to the Polls" initiative was available to all USF students until 5 p.m that day. A station was set up along Harborwalk near the University Student Center (USC), where students connected with the CCE team to arrange transportation. “This initiative was particularly focused on supporting USF St. Petersburg’s residential students, who may not have their own transportation to get to the polls,” said Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, founding director of the CCE.
3rd Annual Halloween Fest is biggest yet
USF St. Petersburg held its 3rd annual Halloween Fest on October 30, which saw more than 1,300 attendees, including more than 100 volunteers and representatives from 42 organizations and departments. There were so many great activities, and participants had the opportunity to vote for their favorites. Here were the results: best activity went to the Butterfly Garden hosted by the USF Advancement and Garden Club teams, and the Not-So-Haunted Nelson Poynter Memorial Library. Of the two dozen tents and trunks, best tent went to Dogs, Inc./Puppy Love. Best trunk went to the University Police Department for the pirate ship, complete with “walking the plank” into a pool of plastic balls.
After two hurricanes, a lot of little ones in our area didn’t have a safe place to trick-or-treat and the USF St. Petersburg campus was able to provide this service to the community. Thanks to the sponsors from the City of St. Petersburg and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. This year, the City of Gulfport also participated, so a special thanks to Mayor Sam Henderson!
USF Community Steps Up for Hurricane Recovery
Hurricanes Milton and Helene significantly impacted the USF St. Petersburg community, displacing more than 40 employees. Among them was Political Science Professor Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, whose Madeira Beach home was flooded with four feet of water. Over a dozen colleagues and former students helped her sort through debris and clean her home. Additionally, more than 30 students, faculty, staff and alumni from the Judy Genshaft Honors College assisted at a volunteer clean-up day at Sacred Lands Preservation and Education. Severely impacted by eight feet of storm surge from Hurricane Helene, the cultural site at Jungle Prada – listed on the National Register of Historic Places – suffered extensive damage. The USF team stepped in to assist with tasks such as mucking out a museum, hauling away debris, landscaping and dismantling a displaced dock. This spirit of volunteerism exemplifies the strength of the USF community in times of crisis.
ICAR and Storm Squad Host Community Town Hall
USF's Initiative on Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (iCAR) and the Storm Squad hosted a public town hall on October 26 at the Child’s Park Recreation Center in St. Petersburg. The meeting focused on the South St. Petersburg community following the impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton. The town hall featured organizations like Bay Area Legal Services, Endeavors, Red Cross and Pinellas County Emergency Management who provided information and resources related to storm impacts. Attendees learned about data collected during the storms and discussed issues such as coastal flooding, sea level rise and resilience.
Employ-a-bull: Student wins Joffrey's Coffee Art Contest
Heidi Hicks, a Graphic Arts major, designed a coffee label now featured at Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company in Tampa and Disney. The project was part of a USF St. Petersburg class challenge, where students created labels for Joffrey’s new Coffee Cake Blend. Hicks’ winning design stands out. “We’re doing real-world design for real clients,” she said. “This experience is preparing me for what I want to do after graduation.”
Now offering Self-Guided Tours
Situated on 52 sunny acres of waterfront in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, our close-knit campus offers an intimate experience with the benefits of attending a large institution. Along with small class sizes and ample opportunities for engagement with faculty and peers, our students enjoy membership in a top-50 public university, including state-of-the-art facilities, unique academic experiences, American Athletic Conference athletics and an expansive alumni network. Come find out why USF St. Petersburg is right for you with the self-guided campus tour where you can visit our most scenic, “Instagram-able” locations and scan a QR code to learn more.
Dean of Students Honored with Signature Burger
Ford's Garage in downtown names burgers for special locals! Jake Diaz, Regional Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Dean of Students, is honored to have his own burger on the menu. The "Jake Diaz", a.k.a. the High-Octane, includes Tillamook® Pepper Jack Cheese, Guacamole, Chipotle Ketchup, Crisp Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion and Fresh Jalapeño Peppers on a Brioche Bun. Diaz said he didn’t know about it until a friend mentioned it. “I went there for lunch to see if it was real.” One of the partners of Ford’s Garage explained that she asked students employed there about who should have a burger named after them from USF leadership and Diaz’s name came up repeatedly. What a testament to his love for the students and theirs for him.
Leadership Pinellas visits St. Pete campus
Forty leaders from the 2025 class of Leadership Pinellas visited campus as part of St. Pete Day. Regional Chancellor Christian Hardigree spent the morning conversing with participants from all over the county on the incredible trajectory of the university and campus.
Library Celebrates Bob Devin Jones & Studio@620
The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library celebrated Studio@620 and Emeritus Artistic Director Bob Devin Jones through the launch of a digital collection, a month-long exhibit, and a panel event on September 16. The Bob Devin Jones/Studio@620 Digital Collection was created by USF Libraries and the Poynter Library’s Special Collections & University Archives department to digitally preserve the legacy of Bob Devin Jones and The Studio@620 as an arts and community space in St. Petersburg. The library hosted a panel discussion and exhibition reception to celebrate the collaboration. Moderated by The Studio’s new Artistic Executive Director, Erica Sutherlin, the event featured panelists including Devin Jones, actress Bonnie Agan and USF John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History Emeritus, Dr. Raymond Arsenault. The corresponding exhibit, curated by designer David Meek and titled “The Studio@620, 2004-2024,” was on view in the Poynter Library’s gallery through October.
Criminology students, SPPD talk mental health
Students in Professor Lori Hall’s Critical Issues in Policing class organized a mental health forum with the St. Petersburg Police Department on November 12 on campus. Students facilitated the entire forum and asked questions about the impact of policing on officers’ mental health. Later this semester, the students will present a policy proposal to St. Pete Police Chief Holloway and other members of his administrative staff.
Mayor Welch’s City Hall on Tour Visits Campus
On September 18, St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch was accompanied by St. Petersburg government officials to the University Student Center (USC) as part of his “City Hall On Tour event series." The series features the mayor and members of his leadership team going to different locations throughout the city to listen to and learn from residents about their needs. These tour stops are purposely held in different areas of the city, providing an opportunity for all residents to ask questions and address concerns with key City leadership. Hundreds of community members visited and over 17 different USF initiatives and departments were present to highlight research, programs and departments on campus. Over a dozen student and employee groups met with the mayor during “Coffee with Ken.”