CAS Chronicles
Stories
Can seeds adapt to the heat?
Integrative biology doctoral student Gabriela Quesada-Avila explores how temperature affects seed sprouting to understand plant community responses and inform forest restoration efforts.
March 26, 2025Community Engagement, Research
![Julio Blanco III [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/2025/march/julio-new-listing.jpg)
From first-generation student to future pediatrician, meet USF’s Julio Blanco III
Julio Blanco is the first in his family to attend college. Joining USF was a monumental feat given the adversity he faced growing up, which included periods of homelessness and his family facing financial hardship. But he never let that get in the way of achieving his dreams.
March 7, 2025Community Engagement
Department of Communication professor Madison Pollino empowers youth through public speaking mentorship
When Tampa's Hispanic Services Council reached out to Madison Pollino about helping them with a mentorship program for middle school students, she seized the opportunity to bridge the gap between her work in higher education and the community.
February 24, 2025Community Engagement
Competition plus collaboration equals success for annual ‘Math Bowl’
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics helped bring more than 600 Hillsborough County Public School students to campus for a competitive commemoration celebrating both the expression and power of the mathematics field.
February 24, 2025Community Engagement, Events
School of Information’s Amelia Anderson honored for research excellence in public library services for adults
Amelia Anderson, School of Information assistant professor, earned the prestigious Association for Library and Information Science Education Connie Van Fleet Award for her success in research about public library services for adults.
February 20, 2025Accomplishments, Community Engagement, Research
National Science Foundation names two USF faculty ‘Ocean Decade Champions’
The award will provide supplemental support to an ongoing project, a large interdisciplinary endeavor linking multiple U.S. universities and conservation and marine science organizations called “Strong Coasts,” which seeks to reduce risks from hazards like storm surge, confront environmental degradation, enhance communities' adaptive capacities and advance public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction.
February 12, 2025Community Engagement, Research
![The USF women’s lacrosse team celebrates a victory in their inaugural game. [Photo courtesy of USF Athletics]](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/2025/february/lacrosse.jpg)
USF women’s lacrosse makes historic debut with student-athletes studying to become lawyers, chemists and more
USF women’s lacrosse dominated its debut game in front of more than 2,000 fans at Corbett Stadium. As the inaugural team, the players are well aware that they will forever be a part of USF history and are working tirelessness to ensure their legacy extends beyond the field.
February 10, 2025Community Engagement
From ballet to brain injury advocacy: Meet USF student and Miss Tampa Alexandra de Roos
After a concussion ended her dream of professional ballet, Alexandra de Roos enrolled at USF as a double major in biomedical sciences and psychology with the goal of becoming a neuropsychiatrist. She was also recently crowned Miss Tampa and plans to use her pulpit to promote brain trauma awareness.
February 6, 2025Community Engagement
Graphic novel aims to break breast cancer’s ‘female disease’ myth and educate men on risks
Marleah Dean Kruzel and research colleagues aim to debunk myths surrounding breast cancer and educate men about their risk through a new graphic novel.
February 3, 2025Community Engagement, Research
Celebrating the power of words: World-renowned poets visit the College of Arts and Sciences for poetry series
A new partnership between the USF Humanities Institute and the Michael Kuperman Memorial Library will welcome world-renowned poets to campus to bring students and the community together and empower audiences to pursue their craft.
January 29, 2025Community Engagement, Events
USF partners on $15M grant to revitalize underserved Hillsborough County community with jobs and clean water
The University of South Florida is collaborating with the University Area Community Development Corp. to bring transformative changes, including workforce development and clean water, to the underserved University Area neighborhood.
January 27, 2025Community Engagement, Research
Taste of Italy: Culinary event strengthens global ties
USF joined over 50 universities across the U.S. — and more than 100 countries around the world — for the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World on Nov. 20. The event brought various engagement opportunities to USF and the Tampa Bay area.
January 23, 2025Community Engagement