St. Petersburg Is Counting on 7% Growth to Fund Rays Project. Is That Risky?
Tampa Bay Times
Jay Cridlin
May 7, 2024
A recent proposal to fund a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays depends on St. Petersburg continuing to grow through 2042. Kimball Adams, part-time accounting faculty who spent 35 years as Largo’s finance director, said that long-term plans such as these historically go off track. “You can’t project worst-case scenarios, that 1-in-100-year event. … The further you go out, the less confidence you should have.”
How Does the Labor Market Affect Inflation?
Yahoo! Finance
Robin Hartill
May 6, 2024
Thomas Stockwell, assistant professor of economics, gave insight on the balance between unemployment rates and inflation: “High inflation will usually lead to an increase in the number of workers to take advantage of the higher wages being paid.”
Renters Are the Biggest Losers in Louisville’s New Registration Law
The Hill
Abby Hall Blanco
May 2, 2024
Abby Hall Blanco, assistant professor of economics, penned this opinion piece about new controversial renting policies in Louisville, KY. The city now requires owners of rental properties to register their properties, pay a registration fee and agree to have them regularly inspected at random.
Classical Musicians Take over St. Pete Brewery To Bring Chamber Music to the People
WUSF
Meghan Bowman
May 2, 2024
The local music group Classical Revolution started playing monthly gigs at Webb’s City Cellar in St. Petersburg to make chamber music more accessible to the public. The group is comprised of both professional and amateur musicians, including Josh Hett, a rising senior at UT. At an April event, Hett brought his own guitar and played a couple songs he worked on for a class recital.
From Banking and Higher Ed to the Arts, Here Are the 2024 Business of Pride Honorees
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Pam Huff
May 1, 2024
David Gudelunas, dean of the College of Arts and letters, was named an honoree in Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2024 Business of Pride awards.
IKEA and University of Tampa Team up for Sustainability Art Exhibit
FOX 13
April 27, 2024
IKEA’s Tampa location invited UT’s graphic design students and faculty to collaborate on an art exhibit for Earth Month. Assistant Professors Luciana Gassett and Maria Blokhina led the project and worked with their students to create pieces of sustainably-sourced home décor. "The recycling of fabrics is very tough, and this is one way we can recycle those fabrics where instead of going to landfill, if we put our minds to it, we can find a way to recycle the fabrics into something that we can still admire," explained Blokhina.
Forget Clever Slogans and Bright T-Shirts: We Need Teamwork To Create a Better Sarasota
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Carrie Seidman
April 19, 2024
The nonprofit organization PEN (Public Education Network) Sarasota was created to preserve the quality of the communities A-rated public school district. Theoni Soublis, professor of education and one of PEN’s founding members, is working to collaborate with other organizations that have a similar mission: “There are several grassroots organizations that have popped up in recent years because of what’s going on in the public education system here. … How can we amplify their voices and connect everyone?”
A Team of UT Students Is Taking Their Nutritional Supplements to a National Competition
WUSF
Madelyn Todd
April 16, 2024
Morgan Bierbrunner and Isabella Dillio will showcase their pre-workout gummy company, Rush Power, at a Shark Tank-esque national competition in Minneapolis.
Exploding Stars Send out Powerful Bursts of Energy − I’m Leading a Citizen Scientist Project To Classify and Learn About These Bright Flashes
The Conversation
Amy Lien
April 16, 2024
Assistant Professor of Physics Amy Lien wrote this piece for The Conversation about her citizen scientist project to learn about gamma ray bursts.
This article also appeared on Yahoo!News and astronomy.com.
2 University of Tampa Swimmers Prepare for Olympic Team Trials
WFLA
Chloe Sparks
April 16, 2024
Right after the UT swim program won its first NCAA championship, swimmers Parker Knollman, a junior, and Jacob Hamlin, a freshman, qualified for Olympic Team Trials. Knollman will be competing in the 100M backstroke, while Hamlin will be competing in the 200M and 800M freestyles. The trial will take place on June 15.
‘Immaculate Disinflation?’ We’ve Come a Long Way, but We’re Not Quite There Yet
The Hill
Vivekanand Jayakumar
April 12, 2024
Macroeconomists and monetary authorities have been puzzled at the decreasing inflation rates without an increase of the unemployment rate. Vivekanand Jayakumar, associate professor of economics, explains the series of events in this article.
NPR News
WOSU-FM (Columbus, OH)
April 6, 2024
Ryan Cragun, professor of sociology, uses his research to discuss the question “Is it possible that religion and non-religion aren’t really what make people good or bad?”
This story also appeared on WLRN (Miami), WUWF (Mobile, AL), WPLN (Nashville), WRKF (Baton Rouge, LA), WUSF (Tampa), KVPR (Fresno, CA), WJCT (Jacksonville), WGBH (Boston), KJZZ (Phoenix) and WVPS (Burlington, VT).
Florida Experiences a Partial Solar Eclipse
Spectrum Bay News 9
Anthony Leone
April 3, 2024
Ahead of the rare solar eclipse, Denija Crnojevic, assistant professor of physics, explained how the phenomenon is possible: “For a total solar eclipse to happen, we have to have a precise alignment between the Earth, the moon and the sun.”
This story also appeared on Spectrum News in the regions of Central Florida; Rochester, NY; Austin, TX; Buffalo, NY; Columbus, OH; Cleveland, OH; Jamestown, NY; and San Antonio, TX.
2024 State Farm Insurance Review
WalletHub
Lilah Butler
April 1, 2024
Jennifer Burton, associate professor of marketing was interviewed for this WalletHub piece about State Farm Insurance.
Dahlberg to Head The University of Tampa
Tampa Bay Magazine
March/April 2024 issue
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Texas Christian University, is succeeding Ronald Vaughn as the next president of UT.
University of Tampa Men's Swimming Team clinches NCAA National Championship
ABC Action News
By Jada Williams
March 20, 2024
For the first time in program history, the men’s swimming team took home the NCAA National Championship title.
Meet Adrianne Wilson, a 2024 Businesswoman of the Year Honoree
Tampa Bay Business Journal
By Chris Erickson
March 18, 2024
Adrianne Wilson, associate professor and the academic chair of the education department, was interviewed in the Tampa Bay Business Journal about being a 2024 Business Woman of the Year Honoree.
The Ryan Gorman Show
WFLA News Radio
March 15, 2024
Junior criminology major Carmen Calderon spoke with Ryan Gorman about her recent experience as a contestant on The Price is Right during their spring break week, when the show exclusively chooses college students as contestants. Calderon had tickets to see the show with her dad, then was called up from the audience to compete in the first round. Calderon won a laptop, digital camera, trips to Cabo and Key West, and $1,220. The episode aired on Monday, March 18, on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+ or free with ads on CBS TVE.
A Spartan Vision: Ron Vaughn Will Leave a $1 Billion Legacy at The University of Tampa
Tampa Bay Business Journal
By Alexis Muellner
March 15, 2024
“After nearly 30 years at the helm of the University of Tampa, Ron Vaughn will leave the institution next month at record enrollment highs, a surge in new faculty and a fully transformed downtown campus.”
Sierra Leonean Author Pede Hollist’s Novel So the Path Does Not Die Selected by West African Exam Council
Brittle Paper
Kuhelika Ghosh
March 11, 2024
So the Path Does Not Die, a 2008 novel by Arthur “Pede” Hollist, professor of English and Writing, was recently selected by the West African Exams Council as recommended reading for students taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Literature-In-English test. WASSCE test scores are used to gain entrance to higher education institutions, much like the SAT or ACT in the U.S. About a half-million students each year take the Literature-in-English test. Hollist’s book will be on the recommended reading list through 2030.
Fearlessness Drives Mike Valdez and University of Tampa Baseball
10 Tampa Bay
David Shiele
March 8, 2024
Spartans baseball is in the middle of a record season, with senior outfielder Mike Valdez leading the team in batting average just one year after recovering from a broken leg. “You have to understand that nothing in this game can stop you other than yourself,” he said.
What is sober curious? More young adults go alcohol-free but experts say more needs to be done
Fox 13 News
By Allie Corey
March 5, 2024
University of Tampa junior Maddie Donahue and Addie Carothers, director of wellness, were quoted in this Fox 13 News piece about younger people being less interested in drinking.
Freethought Matters
WPIX
March 3, 2024
Ryan Cragun, professor of sociology, spoke about his book How To Defeat Religion in 10 Easy Steps and about his own experience being raised as Mormon before eventually leaving the church.
Tampa International Book Fair
FOX 13
March 1, 2024
The multilingual and multicultural Tampa International Book Fair took place in Ybor City earlier this month, bringing in more than 100 authors from 16 countries. James Lopez, professor of Spanish, was an organizer for the event and described how the event celebrates Tampa’s rich cultural history.
Parsonian Among 8 Spartans in All-SSC Selections
Parsons Sun
Feb. 29, 2024
First-year swimmer Sidni Meister’s hometown newspaper covered her selection to the 2023-2024 All-Sunshine State Conference Women’s Swimming Team. Seven of Meister’s teammates also earned All-SSC honors.
20-Year-Old University of Tampa Student Fosters “Paw-sitive” Change
WFLA
Gayle Guyardo
Feb. 29, 2024
UT club Happy Tails hosts events like Puppy Pilates to improve mental and physical health for both students and puppies from local shelters. As a psychology major, club president Arina Nadya Khona has a passion for the healing benefits of animals and founded the club to share those benefits across campus.
Tampa Company Shifts Directions, Invests Millions To Find and Sell Bitcoin
Business Observer
Jim Stinson
Feb. 26, 2024
Tampa entrepreneur Bruce Rodgers switched from funding homeowners associations to mining bitcoin. John Dorrell, assistant teaching professor of economics who studies cryptocurrency, weighed in on the risk factor of mining bitcoin. Dorrell said that the rising value of bitcoin combined with the decreasing value of the U.S. dollar could lead to a more favorable perception of bitcoin compared to government-backed money.
UT Beach Volleyball Provides the “Spike” of Life
FOX 13
Jeff Tewksbury
Feb. 23, 2024
Spartans beach volleyball is starting its seventh season after winning its third Small College National Championship. Senior Keely Westra joined the team from Austin, TX: "I just thought that this would be a good chance for me. It’s a great school, so you have great studies, and at the same time to play beach volleyball, a sport that I love." Recent alumna of the program Julia Oswald will stick around as an assistant coach: “This has always been my family. But now it’s more of a motherly role."
Retired General: ‘The Moment You Become Selfish as a Leader, You Are Done’
Business Observer
Mark Gordon
Feb. 23, 2024
Business Observer covered UT’s 2024 Leadership Summit, hosted by the TECO Energy Center for Leadership within the Sykes College of Business. Retired U.S. Army General Tom Kolditz spoke to students about making a difference with leadership, which he believes is a calling rather than a title.
Art Therapists Could Become Licensed in Florida Under Senate Bill 878
Spectrum Bay News 9
By Julia Hazel
Feb. 21, 2024
Florida’s Department of Health does not currently license art therapists, which disappointed Dana Fidler after receiving an art therapy degree from UT and 2022. Fidler is currently a master’s student at UT studying social and emerging media and provides therapeutic art services at Joe’s Art Time.
Best Store Credit Cards
WalletHub
By John Kiernan
Feb. 14, 2024
Jennifer Burton, associate professor of marketing in the College of Business was listed as an expert in this WalletHub piece about best store credit cards.
Economic Experts Weigh In on Inflation Projections for 2024
ABC Action News
By Larissa Scott
Feb. 2, 2024
The Federal Reserve announced in its January meeting that the committee was going to keep interest rates steady at 5.25% to 5.5%. “Their economic decisions tend to give us, I think, the best look into what some of the really big economists think is going to happen in the future,” said Thomas Stockwell, assistant professor of economics.
Jewels, Gowns and Crowns: Gasparilla History on Display at the Plant Museum
ABC Action News
By Lauren St. Germain
Jan. 26, 2024
At the Henry B. Plant Museum on The University of Tampa’s campus, there is a special exhibit, looking into what Gasparilla was like over the last century.
Apple’s New Vision Pro Is a Privacy Mess Waiting To Happen
The Washington Post
Geoffrey Fowler
Jan. 30, 2024
The new Vision Pro headset from Apple is roughly equivalent to wearing a head full of iPhones — with two depth sensors, six microphones and 12 cameras — and tracks every movement of the people in a room with one. Understanding what’s in the room around you can be even more invasive than having a photograph of it, says Joseph Jerome, a visiting professor of communication and the former policy lead on sensor data at Meta’s Reality Labs.
This story also appeared on MSN.
Former Baseball Pro Playing College Ball for The University of Tampa
Fox 13 News
By Kevin O’Donnell
Jan. 25, 2024
Anthony Nunez, a current UT student, played two seasons with the San Diego Padres before opting to become a Spartan.
Unexpected Plan Leads to More Conference Titles and Master’s Degrees for UT Player
ABC Action News
By Kyle Burger
Jan. 23, 2024
After covid-19 hit unexpectedly, Audrey Ramsey was granted a sixth year to play basketball, while pursuing two master’s degrees at UT.
This Warty, Toxic Pest Threatens Entire Ecosystems. These Scientists Have a Secret Weapon
CNN Australia
Hilary Whiteman
Jan. 19, 2024
A biology instructional staff member at UT, Jacob LaFond, was quoted in this piece about cane toads. “The running narrative right now is that there were those initial attempts, none of them worked, but then somehow this giant crate full of 20 or so toads got busted open in Miami airport. And because it was warm enough down there, they became established,” he told the news outlet.
This story also appeared on Yahoo! News and AOL, among other outlets.
NASA Wants You To Help Track Gamma Ray Bursts
The Washington Post
Erin Blakemore
Jan. 14, 2024
Amy Lien, assistant professor of physics, is leading a NASA project inviting the public to identify gamma-ray bursts in the sky. These bursts provide insight into other environments in space, and possibly the history of the universe.
A similar story appeared on 83 Degrees.
The League of Women Voters-Manatee Asks Two Experts What Women Should Be Aware of
WSLR - Sarasota Community Radio
Johannes Werner
Jan. 10, 2024
This segment describes women voters as crucial influencers to the people around them. Liv Coleman, political science professor, says that while female representation in the legislature has improved, there are several proposed laws that many women deem unconstitutional.
‘Plant-Based’ Has Lost All Meaning
By Yasmin Tayag
Jan. 8, 2024
"On packaging and ad copy, plant-based has been applied to so many items—including foods that are highly processed, or those that have never contained animal ingredients—that it has gotten “diluted to nothing,” Mark Lang, a marketing professor at The University of Tampa who studies food, told The Atlantic for this piece.