Join us to Celebrate, Collaborate and Caffeinate at an open house for the USF School of Public Affairs! We invite our Tampa Bay community partners for a fun early evening café experience where we will reveal the Gladfelter Award recipient and celebrate our inducted graduates into the Pi Alpha Alpha honor society and additional award scholarships. Learn more about our exciting Non-Profit Leadership program!
Light food and beverages will be provided.
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: John and Grace Allen Administration Building
Suite 130 and Courtyard
12100 Leroy Collins Boulevard
Tampa, FL, 33620
Program
Emcee: Angela Crist, MPA
Director
Opening Remarks
Dr. Robin Ersing, Director, School of Public Affairs
Non-Profit Leadership Certificate Program
Presented by Michelle Turman
Pi Alpha Alpha Inductees and MURP Fellowship Program
Presented by Angela Crist, MPA
School of Public Affairs Scholarships
Presented by Dr. Jocelyn Martinez
Gladfelter Award Presentation to Rebuilding Together Greater Florida.
Presented by Dr. Jocelyn Martinez to Jose Garcia (CEO) and Justin Coles (VP of Development)
Closing Remarks
Angela Crist, MPA
Director
Pi Alpha Alpha
Pi Alpha Alpha is the national honor society for public affairs and administration. The purpose of the USF chapter is to recognize Master of Public Administration (MPA) alumni who demonstrate outstanding academic scholarship and accomplishment in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. Its objectives—such as fostering integrity, professionalism, and effective performance—promote the advancement of quality in the education and practice of public affairs and administration.
Pi Alpha Alpha membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs preparing them for careers in public service and is limited to those who graduate with a minimum GPA of 3.70 and demonstrate the highest ethical standards in the practice. Since 1989, the USF MPA program has inducted over 300 public servants into Pi Alpha Alpha and this year we are proud to induct an additional 14 exemplary alumni.
Pi Alpha Alpha Inductees
Christopher Bishop, MPA '23
Christopher is a Code Enforcement Supervisor with Hillsborough County and a U.S. Navy
veteran. He holds a BA in Criminology and an MPA from USF. A SALUTE Honor Society
member, he’s committed to leadership, community engagement, and driving positive change
through innovation and public service.
Sherri Courtney, MPA '22
Sherri has 13 years of public and non-profit service experience—driven by justice,
ethics, and community impact—with 5 years working in nonprofit leadership and 8 years
working in criminal court administration. While earning her Master of Public Administration
degree, she was able to further her expertise in ethical governance and collaboration
within the local community.
Mari Nicole (Rosales) Esquinaldo, MPA '23
Mari Nicole is the Director of Work-Based Learning for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the
Suncoast and Tampa Bay. A graduate of The Catholic University of America (BSBA) and
the University of South Florida (MPA), she is passionate about youth workforce development
and serves the greater Tampa Bay community.
Samantha (Sam) Fiore, MPA '23
Sam serves as the Opportunity & Access Advisor on the Pinellas Access to Higher Education
(PATHe) team at the University of South Florida, St. Pete campus. As a first-generation
college student, she is passionate about working with community organizations to help
students explore their options and confidently pursue their educational and career
goals.
Shivani Goswami, MPA '23
Shivani graduated with a Master of Public Administration in December 2023 from USF,
followed by a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management in May 2024. She has a
passion for helping people and making a difference in their lives, which is what led
to her interest in working for local government and nonprofits. Her goal is to one
day run a nonprofit organization or become a city manager/county administrator, as
she hopes to make a positive impact on her local communities.
Savannah Havird, MPA '24
Savannah is a Ph.D. candidate in Politics & International Affairs at USF, an MPA graduate,
researcher, and adjunct professor. She conducts research on political stress, disaster
response, and public policy, and has also authored op-eds and presented at national
conferences based on her findings.
Kayon Henderson, MPA '22
Kayon has over 16 years of experience providing nonprofit developers and local governments
with direct assistance and guidance on organizational development and operations.
She has served in multiple roles, most notably as the Director of Housing & Community
Development at the City of Tampa where she created and implemented rental, homeownership,
financing, rehab, preservation, construction, and demolition projects. She has also
served on local and national boards where she advocated for programs and funding to
improve and provide access to safe and quality housing for some of the most vulnerable
populations.
Brandon Henry, MPA '23
Brandon currently serves as the City Clerk for the City of Auburndale, FL. Graduating
from the University of South Florida with his Master of Public Administration in 2023,
his background extends to community development and comprehensive planning for multiple
council-manager municipalities and large county-level agencies.
Luis Molina Martinez, MPA '23
Luis has experience working in the non-profit and private sector. He graduated from
the MPA program with a 3.93 GPA in 2023. He is always looking for new insights in
public administration topics and has an interest in networking with like-minded people
to elevate the practice.
Tess Ocean, MPA '24
Tess, who has worked in seven states and three national parks, was an MPA intern for
three months with the Town of Belleair and thirteen months with NASA at Kennedy Space
Center. She is currently pursuing “a life less sedentary” through Pilates, walking,
pickleball, yoga, and strength training.
Susan Raines, MPA '24
Susan is a seasoned professional with experience working in both the public and private
sectors with a strong background in advocacy and outreach in the nonprofit sector.
She currently works as an Administrator in Research as part of the Basic Science Division
at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. She has completed 3 programs at USF: a Bachelor
of General Studies with a concentration in Public Administration, a Graduate Certificate
in Management of Non-Governmental & Non-Profit Organizations, and a Master of Public
Administration.
Lauren Taylor, MPA '23
Lauren is a double alumna of the University of South Florida, with a bachelor’s degree
in political science and a Master of Public Administration degree. She currently works
for USF World as their Global Business Analyst where she works the day-to-day operations
of the department’s fiscal and business needs.
Eric Tsai, MPA '22
Eric is a Florida native and a retired Marine Corps veteran, who served in the Infantry
deploying to various countries such as Albania, Kosovo, Iraq, Africa, and Afghanistan.
He currently works for the Department of Veterans Affairs at Bay Pines VA Medical
Center as an Administrative Officer.
Tyler Williams, MPA '23
Tyler earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from UCF and
his MPA from USF. He was selected to join the 2023-24 APWA Emerging Leaders Academy,
a year-long program designed to provide intensive leadership and management training
within the context of public works. Since 2023, he has been working with the City
of Winter Haven, most recently as their Capital Projects and Special Initiatives Manager.
MURP Fellowship Program
The University of South Florida (USF) Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program partners with leading Tampa Bay area planning agencies and firms to offer a unique fellowship program to outstanding MURP students. MURP Fellows receive a paid internship and a tuition waiver, which covers approximately 80% of the program tuition costs! USF MURP currently has fellowship opportunities with the City of Tampa, Plan Hillsborough, Hillsborough TPO, Forward Pinellas, Alfred Benesch & Company, and ESRP! MURP Fellows participate in critical planning projects throughout the region and often find employment upon graduation through the training and contacts they gain as fellows. The USF MURP Fellowship Program is valued by area planning employers, who use it to recruit top talent. Fellowship appointments are typically for an entire academic year and, in some cases, may be renewed for up to two years. Fellows may also be eligible for employee benefits through USF. USF MURP students are informed when fellowship opportunities become available, and fellows are selected by employers.
- City of Tampa - City Planning & Transportation departments
- Hillsborough County Planning Commission, Melissa Zornitta - Students: Samantha Landes & Miriam Gbedy
- Hillsborough County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Johnny Wong - Students: Jocelyn Daniels & Michelle Newton
- Forward Pinellas, Rodney Chatman - Student: Michael Okechukwu
- Alfred Benesch & Company, Macy Fout - Students: Logan Shanley & Andrew Tobben
- Ayres Associates, Binoy Panicker
SPA Scholarship Award Recipients
- James E. Blanton III Veterans Scholarship - Donor: Dr. J. Ellis Blanton
Student: James Cunningham, MURP - Jamil Jreisat Scholarship – Legacy: Dr. Jamil Jreisat
Student: (Paper) - Savannah Havird, MPA
Student: (GPA) - Makhabbat Kamalitden, MPA - Joan Pynes Memorial Scholarship – Legacy: Dr. Joan Pynes
Student: Briana Mays, MPA - Julie F. Gillespie Scholarship – Donor: Julie Gillespie
- Mark Bentley APA Sun Coast Section Scholarship – Donor: Mark Bentley
Student: Jalessa Blackshear, MURP - Mark R. Hafen MURP Diversity Scholarship – Donor: Dr. Mark Hafen
Student: Erica Larson, MURP
Lloyd D. Gladfelter Award for Government Innovation
This award is given to non-elected municipal, county, state, or federal employees who—through their careers or a specific innovation—have helped solve a problem for Florida residents and improved public service in the state. The award honors the creative ideas and money-saving efficiencies people expect from government at all levels.
Lloyd D. Gladfelter Award Recipient
Rebuilding Together Greater Florida
RTGFL ensures every family has a safe, healthy home. Through free home repairs and
affordable housing, they help neighbors stay in the communities they love—at no cost
to them. Since 2000, they have helped thousands of families throughout Tampa Bay,
Southwest Florida, North Florida, and Central Florida. Working under the Rebuilding
Together umbrella—a national organization with over 140 affiliates—RTGFL addresses
urgent repairs, disaster relief, homeowner education, and more. They are here to ensure
that safe and affordable housing is within reach for every neighbor.
For reasonable requests and questions about the event, please email CAS RSVP.