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.
Rep. Castor Invites Vietnam Veterans to Ceremony Honoring Their Service
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is hosting a special event to honor Vietnam War Veterans with a commemorative pinning ceremony. The event will take place on Thursday, January 30 at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library on campus, starting at 10:00 a.m. Vietnam-era Veterans who served in the Armed Forces are invited to participate and will receive a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin in recognition of their service. Families of Vietnam Veterans are also encouraged to attend and celebrate the contributions of their loved ones.
All interested Veterans are asked to RSVP through Castor’s official website at castor.house.gov or by contacting her office at (813) 871-2817.
City and Campus Partner on Composting Initiative to Tackle Food Waste and Promote Sustainability
The City of St. Petersburg and USF St. Petersburg have partnered on a groundbreaking composting initiative to address food waste and support urban agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its approval of the $400,000 proposal in December as part of its Composting and Food Waste Reduction program. The USF Student Green Energy Fund is also providing $100,000, and Duke Energy is generously giving a gift of $50,000 toward the project. Under the program, USF will install a large-scale industrial composter on its St. Petersburg campus to process food scraps from campus dining, local restaurants and markets. The project aims to redirect food waste from landfills, incinerators and sewage systems to produce nutrient-rich compost for community gardens, urban farms and landscaping. Partnerships with local farms and farmers markets will help distribute the compost, with the intent to support food security and sovereignty in underserved communities. The program includes educational components as well, such as training students and residents in sustainable practices. It is expected that USF Facilities will use the compost for campus landscaping, reducing fertilizer costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Full operations are expected within two years, with long-term plans for expansion.
Two USF Administrators join LSP Class of 2025
Two members of USF St. Petersburg administration – Mai Jenney and Daniel Wood – were selected for the Leadership St. Pete (LSP) Class of 2025. A selective program, LSP is an intensive and interactive six-month experience that promotes and enhances community stewardship. Participants include burgeoning business, government and philanthropic leaders who receive an in-depth introduction to social, economic and political issues permeating the city. Mai serves as the Regional Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance. In that role, she is responsible for St. Petersburg campus budget planning and analysis, in coordination with the University System Budget Director. Jenney also serves on the Mayor’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Committee. Meanwhile, Wood is the Fiscal & Business Administration manager for Academic Affairs, and has also volunteered for the last three years with the Shine Mural Festival in addition to giving mural tours throughout the year. Read more about Leadership St. Pete’s Class of 2025 here.
USF Researchers to Study Causes and Policy Solutions Surrounding Youth Disengagement in St. Petersburg
Recent reports estimate that 12.3 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 in St. Petersburg fall into the category of “Disengaged and Disengaging Youth.” These individuals are neither enrolled in school or training programs, nor participating in the formal workforce. To better understand this population’s mindset and lived experiences, the City of St. Petersburg issued a national call for proposals titled “Engaging Disengaged Youth in Workforce Development Opportunities.” The City sought a social science research team with the expertise and proven track record to study this hard-to-reach group and develop actionable solutions. Two USF St. Petersburg Sociology faculty, Frank Biafora and Byron Miller, and Education faculty LaSonya Moore submitted the winning proposal: “Strategies to Reach, Engage, and Empower for Tomorrow: A Community-Based Study for Workforce Development.” Throughout 2025, the research team will undertake a multi-phase, mixed-methods project in partnership with Keys Consulting Firm (a local nonprofit), Pinellas County Schools and local law enforcement. The study aims to develop transformative, community-based solutions that empower disengaged youth, strengthen local networks and establish sustainable pathways to workforce development. The ultimate goal is to foster opportunity, resilience and long-term success for the youth of St. Petersburg. For more information, contact Project Manager Dr. Frank Biafora at fbiafora@usf.edu.
Honors Student’s research focuses on art’s benefit for dementia patients at the James Museum
This past semester, Honors Student Violet Adams engaged in collaborative research between the Judy Genshaft Honors College and the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in exploring how engaging with art can benefit those dealing with dementia, memory loss and cognitive impairment. The Art in Mind program focuses on fostering expression, connection and a positive experience through the use of interactive and discussion-based gallery tours. Throughout the semester, students learned how to plan, create and facilitate tours of their own. They also had the opportunity to engage in research surrounding these topics. Adams’ research team aimed to properly assess the efficacy of the Art in Mind program through analyzing survey data and by creating a novel caregiver survey. Adams and her team hope to present their final paper and poster at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference this February. Adams said she truly enjoyed working with her fellow classmates and faculty Catherine Wilkins on this project. “It is truly one of the most enriching experiences I have had during my time at USF,” Adams said.
Employ-a-Bull: Health Sciences Major starts job at Sarasota Memorial
If you’ve visited campus last semester, you may have seen Jacquelin Bernachi working at the University Student Center Information Desk. Now, she will be helping patients navigate the healthcare system in Sarasota. The Fall 2024 graduate earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Sciences and recently started a job in Outpatient Services with Sarasota Memorial Hospital Health System. Bernachi will work full-time and hopes to pursue a master’s degree at USF soon.
USF St Petersburg Camp Rocky Returns For Third Year
Discover the transformative experience of Camp Rocky at USF St. Petersburg Campus Recreation! Beyond just a fun day, the camp offers a safe and educational environment for community youth and future leaders. Camp Rocky seeks to power young participants to make everyday decisions within their groups, fostering valuable learning experiences. The action-packed summer program includes a variety of daily activities such as arts and crafts, swimming, fitness and exercise, indoor and outdoor games, boat rides, and special guest appearances from other campus partners. Registration for summer 2025 will begin in February. Register by February 28, 2025 to get the early bird discount!