SPA News
2023 News
![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/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/spa-490x328.jpeg)
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, 2023Alumni News, Community Engagement, Honors and Awards
![MURP graduate student Beneetta Mary Jose (center) at APA award ceremony. (Photo courtesy of APA Florida)](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/apa-award-490x328.jpg)
MURP student wins APA Florida Student Planner of the Year
Beneetta Mary Jose, a second-year student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program in the School of Public Affairs, was recently named the American Planning Association’s (APA) Student Planner of the Year.
September 26, 2023Honors and Awards
![group of people huddled on a path outside of USF sign](/arts-sciences/chronicles/images/edition-17/planner-in-residence-preview.jpg)
First planner-in-residence class to receive award for collaboration with St. Petersburg Innovation District
An innovative planner-in-residence class that developed a neighborhood master plan for the St. Petersburg Innovation District will receive an outstanding student project award from the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association on September 6.
September 6, 2023Community Engagement, Research
![USF School of Public Affairs News image](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/news-placeholder-image-490x328.png)
Pathways Internship at the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
MPA student Tess Ocean was selected for a Pathways Internship at the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center working with their CFO organization in Accounting & Budget.
August 1, 2023Student News
![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/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/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, 2023Alumni News, Honors and Awards
![MURP students with APA President Angela D. Brooks (center). Photographed from left: Aditi Sugeerappa Hoti, Beneetta Mary Jose, Angela D. Brooks, Varshini Renikunta, and Abdul Samad Agha. (Photo courtesy of Beneetta Mary Jose)](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/murp-national-competition-490x328.jpg)
MURP students place third in national competition to improve a Philadelphia neighborhood
USF College of Arts and Sciences Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program students Beneetta Mary Jose, Abdul Samad Agha, Varshini Renikunta, and Aditi Sugeerappa Hoti earned third place for their design in the American Planning Association National Planning Competition in April.
May 16, 2023Community Engagement, Honors and Awards
![exterior of the White House](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/white-house-490x328.jpg)
CAS faculty cited in President Biden’s economic report
Research from USF College of Arts and Sciences faculty was cited in the 2023 Economic Report of the President. The report, released in March, includes a reflection by President Joseph Biden regarding the administration’s economic accomplishments, opportunities and challenges ahead.
April 27, 2023Honors and Awards
![Empty vials of the Johnson & Johnson's one-dose COVID-19 vaccine](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/wusf-npr-covid-490x328.jpg)
A University of South Florida survey shows the political divide on COVID-19 is still strong
WUSF NPR | A survey in conjunction with COVID-19's third anniversary shows the effect of politicization on public responses to the pandemic.
March 21, 2023Research
![University of South Florida: A Preeminent Research University](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/spa-covid-survey-2023-490x328.jpg)
As COVID-19 pandemic marks three-year anniversary, USF researchers release key findings from national public opinion survey
Researchers at the University of South Florida have released results from a nationwide survey that measures attitudes related to the COVD-19 pandemic. The findings include opinions about vaccines, concerns about potential future outbreaks and the role political affiliations play in these results.
March 14, 2023Research
![coronavirus molecules under a microscope](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/spa-covid-survey-2023-490x328.jpg)
2023 COVID-19 Pandemic Survey Results
Researchers at the University of South Florida conducted a nationwide survey of 2,500 American adults to measure attitudes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including opinions about vaccination, exposure to/belief in vaccine-related misinformation, and concerns about potential future outbreaks.
March 14, 2023Research
![USF President Rhea Law and students in the LIP program show their USF pride during USF Day at the Capitol held Feb. 8 in Tallahassee. (Photo by Elizabeth Engrasser)](/arts-sciences/departments/public-affairs/news/images/2023/lip-490x328.jpg)
School of Public Affairs interns get a glimpse of government career life via USF Day at the Capitol
Students taking part in the USF College of Arts and Sciences Legislative Internship Program (LIP) within the School of Public Affairs were part of a group of 100 students and alumni who made a trip up to Tallahassee, Fla. for USF Day at the Capitol held on Feb. 8.
February 21, 2023Community Engagement