USF Advancement • 11th November 2022

Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers

For two decades, Evelyn Pérez Verdía has dedicated her life to bridging information gaps between diasporic communities and government in the U.S. The daughter of a third-generation American father raised in Florida and a Colombian mother who became a U.S. citizen, her childhood exposed her to a blend of cultures and languages that expanded her worldview.

USF Advancement • 5th October 2022

A Lifeline for LGBTQ Students

When Rick Russo was an undergraduate at Alfred University, the support of his family proved invaluable to his success as a student. But it was not until he read a New York Times piece by journalist Dylan Lewis entitled “My Family Didn’t Accept Me. Ole Miss Did.” that Russo realized how truly fortunate he was to have their unconditional support.

USF Advancement • 23rd September 2022

Lifting as She Climbs

Attorney. Entrepreneur. Educator. It would be impossible to fit Kristen Corpion, ’10, into just one category. A Tampa native, Corpion, 33, owns two companies: CORPlaw, a Miami-based law firm aimed at helping modern entrepreneurs grow their businesses, and Sidebar, an innovative community group for lawyers.

USF Advancement • 23rd September 2022

Growing Generosity on Campus

As the scorching sun beats down on the University of South Florida, a student-led oasis cultivates a generous mission on campus. Located within the Botanical Gardens, the Judy Genshaft Honors College Community Garden provides students opportunities to grow fresh produce and help forge a sustainable and inclusive community through food.

USF Advancement • 14th June 2022

Changing Lives, One Tile at a Time

In 2011, David Unger and his brother, Larry, established a scholarship with USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy in honor of their late mother, Ruth, a brilliant and hardworking woman who defied the expectations of the 1950s.

USF Health Office of Development and Alumni Relations • 17th May 2022

Concussion Center helps patient find relief — and give back

As a paramedic, Frank Koulianos had seen many highway collisions, but even so, he never imagined being the victim of one. Then in July 2020, he was driving on I-275 when he was struck by an 18-wheeler.

USF Health Office of Development and Alumni Relations • 11th May 2022

Local high schooler’s youth tennis tournament scores gift for USF Health ALS Clinic

A senior at East Lake High School, Jack Noll has been playing tennis for nine years. It was when a close friend’s youth leader was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that Noll first witnessed the devastating effects of the disease, more commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

83Degrees • 8th March 2022

Not just a clinic: Dr. Traci's House is a community support hub for East Tampa families

Nestled on the corner of Henry and Nebraska avenues, a former office building has been transformed into Dr. Traci’s House, a bright blue structure that will serve as a medical oasis for single parents and other underserved groups in East Tampa.

83Degrees • 16th November 2021

Keeping a dream alive: Envisioning a chess park in East Tampa

Joshua L. Jones knew a cultural arts center would mean more than just a meeting place for a historically Black neighborhood in Florida. Of course, he was the one who designed it, so he can see it all clearly: Community members would enjoy a variety of cultural amenities like a covered amphitheater, a seasonal food garden and a teaching kitchen. It would also be built around the preexisting structure of an abandoned fire station.

USF Advancement • 17th February 2023

Like Mother, Like Daughter: Leaving a Legacy for Women in STEM

Dr. Anila Jain gained an early appreciation for the values of education and mentorship by watching one of the people closest to her. Her late mother, Mona Jain, PhD ’84, was a trailblazer in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

USF NEWZROOM • 2nd December 2021

Soul-food sanctuary serves Southern cuisine to Northdale

Shundra Wright is an expert in soul food, pr epared and served with love. A former lieutenant for the Michigan Department of Corrections, Wright invested her retirement money into her passion project. In January of 2020, Shundra’s Soul Smokehouse was born.

USF NEWZROOM • 24th November 2021

Tampa Bay’s all-female football team wins on field, in community

Besides the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay is home to another professional tackle football team: the Tampa Bay Inferno. All-female and part of the Women’s Football Alliance, the Inferno has been breaking barriers in the world of professional football for almost 10 years.

USF NEWZROOM • 8th November 2021

Dunedin arcade combines classy atmosphere, gaming experience

George Courtney was busy in 2018. His wife Helen was pregnant, and they were signing the lease for a restaurant space in downtown Dunedin. What resulted was Dunedin’s new virtual reality arcade bar and what they call Tampa Bay’s only bar exclusively devoted to modern console gaming.