CAS Chronicles
Stories
![Bee box at the USF Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Corey Lepak)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-20/messer-beekeeping-award-490x328.jpg)
Messer Family Award gives the gift of beekeeping
Kenneth Gay is named the Messer Family Award recipient, providing him one year of beekeeping classes at the USF Botanical Gardens.
November 17, 2023Alumni, Community Engagement
![Monique D. Hayes at the Women, Wills, and Wine event. (Photo courtesy of Addy Rundqwist)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-20/monique-hayes-490x328-2.jpg)
Monique D. Hayes pioneers a legal legacy as a University of South Florida alumna
Monique D. Hayes is a distinguished business attorney who has made an impact in the legal profession. Among her numerous achievements, her most notable is as an alumna of the University of South Florida.
November 17, 2023Alumni, Community Engagement
![Dr. Ravi Randhawa and Christine Randhawa (center) with their two sons, Liam and Colin.](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-19/randhawa-490.jpg)
Randhawa Family Scholarship to boost undergraduate molecular biosciences research
A proud USF alumnus and his wife make a gift designed to help College of Arts and Sciences students eyeing medical school.
October 30, 2023Alumni
![(From left) ISLAC director and associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Dr. Beatriz Padilla, applied anthropology PhD student Tailyn Osorio, Rebecca Campbell-Montalvo, president of the Anthropology Graduate Student Organization and PhD student Jordan Wright, and anthropology chair and professor Dr. Antoinette Jackson. (Photo courtesy of Chaady Radwan)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-19/rcm-490x328.jpg)
USF alumna investigates the erasure of Indigenous identity in schools and society
An engaging exploration of USF alumna Rebecca Campbell-Montalvo’s new book, “The Latinization of Indigenous Students: Erasing Identity and Restricting Opportunity at School,” shedding light on how institutionalized school systems affect Indigenous communities.
![Colleen Chappell accepting the Lifetime Achievement award at the WLP symposium. (Photo courtesy of John Tipton & Mridula Singh)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-19/chappell-490x328.jpg)
CAS alumna Colleen Chappell receives Women in Leadership and Philanthropy’s Lifetime Achievement award
WLP recognizes Colleen Chappell's contributions to the USF community and beyond, through its Lifetime Achievement Award.
October 24, 2023Accomplishments, Alumni, Events
![Stephen Benson (left) working with residents (middle and right) of the Tampa Heights neighborhood on a plan for the area. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Benson)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-19/spa-490x328.jpg)
School of Public Affairs alumnus is awarded recognition in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s ‘40 Under 40’
MURP alumnus Stephen Benson currently serves as Planning Director for the City of Tampa. This achievement recognizes his outstanding contributions to the community throughout his career.
October 11, 2023Accomplishments, Alumni, Community Engagement
![Rodriguez-Rogers (middle) and her mentee Yoana Cardoso (right), being featured on the Latin broadcast channel Despierta Tampa Bay with news anchor Sarykarmen Rivera (left). (Photo courtesy of Aileen Rodriguez-Rogers)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-18/aileen-rodriguez-rogers-490.jpg)
Alumna shares her inspiring career journey of empowering communities and celebrating heritage
Aileen Rodriguez-Rogers, a distinguished alumna of USF and former member of USF’s Latin Community Advisory Council, shares her remarkable career and encourages others to actively engage in community advancement.
September 26, 2023Alumni, Community Engagement
![Dr. Beatriz Padilla (left) and Glenda Vaillant Cruz (Right). (Photo courtesy of Padilla)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-18/glenda-vaillant-cruz-490x328.jpg)
Doctoral student Glenda Vaillant Cruz shines a light on Latin American student experience in higher education
Doctoral student and Fulbright scholar Glenda Vaillant Cruz traveled to Spain to examine the Latin American student experience in higher education and reflects on the importance of her mentorship with Dr. Beatriz Padilla, director of ISLAC and associate professor in the Department of Sociology.
September 26, 2023Accomplishments, Alumni, Community Engagement, Research
![DSLS Etiquette Luncheon group photo. (Photo by Dakota Galvin)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-18/dsls-luncheon-490x328.jpg)
DSLS Etiquette Luncheon prepares students for future professional engagements
The Dean’s Student Leadership Society held an etiquette luncheon with host and CAS alumna Sashy O’Connor. Students learned a multitude of etiquette techniques to benefit to their professional development.
September 26, 2023Alumni, Community Engagement, Events
![Mario Garcia (left) and actors Justina Machado (middle) and Will Sasso (right), on the set of “The Throwback”. (Photo courtesy of Mario Garcia)](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-17/mario-garcia-490x328.jpg)
USF alumnus writes and directs an independent film “The Throwback” using inspiration from life's gained perspective
Reflecting on his years at USF, Mario Garcia recounts how his lifelong aspiration to become a writer came to fruition in the form of a movie, inspired by his personal life lessons.
August 28, 2023Alumni, Community Engagement
![USF alumnus thankful for mentorship shaping research on inland hurricane impacts](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-16/yijie-zhu-490x328.jpg)
USF alumnus thankful for mentorship shaping research on inland hurricane impacts
In 2022, USF alumni Yijie Zhu graduated from the School of Geosciences with a PhD in geography, environmental science, and policy. Zhu spent most of his childhood growing up in the coastal city of Shanghai, China. As a child, he recalls always having a curiosity about nature rather than television or toys.
July 25, 2023Accomplishments, Alumni, Community Engagement, Research
![Mifflin (second from left) poses with USF President Rhea Law (third from left) during 2023 Joyce Russell Kente Awards and Scholarship Ceremony. (Photo courtesy of USF Alumni Association).](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-15/mifflin-award-490x328.jpg)
USF Alumna Lisa Anne Mifflin earns 2023 Joyce Russell Kente Award
University of South Florida (USF) alumna Lisa Anne Mifflin is the 2023 Joyce Russell Kente Alumni Award recipient. Mifflin was recognized at the April 22 awards ceremony, 22 years since the first ceremony was held.
June 21, 2023Accomplishments, Alumni