Stu and Diane Williams Head Baseball Coach endowment was inspired by life’s lessons.

Mark Lang is a food marketing expert with a passion for aquaculture.

Softball’s Alexa Russo ’23, M.S. ’25 and her family have a Spartan-strong comeback story.

Spartan Spotlight: Dylan Neel '22 offers his nursing skills to places in need.

Spartan Spotlight: Damara (Chaudhuri) Besker ’15 is a multitalented entrepreneur.

The University of Tampa has developed a systemic approach to improving student success through emotional wellbeing.

Warmth, eloquence and empathy. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey exuded all three as she navigated difficult subjects last Thursday with students, faculty and others at the University of Tampa.

Before the plane landed back in the United States, finance major Jack Leach ’28 hatched a plan to study abroad again.

Going to the gym can be intimidating, and for many people, the anxiety they feel about working out around others can keep them from exercising at all.

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey will speak at the University of Tampa on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 6-7 p.m., in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts.

The University of Tampa is proud to announce a new partnership with The Davis United World College (UWC) Scholars Program, an esteemed initiative that promotes global understanding and peace through higher education.

After 26 years of leading a winning Athletic Department, University of Tampa Director of Athletics Larry Marfise has announced his retirement.

University of Tampa has been ranked No. 74 among the 2025 Best Online Master’s in Business programs by U.S. News & World Report.

Journalism major Ella Zinken ’25 grew up watching football with her dad and always knew she wanted to be a sportswriter.

Assistant Professor Nate Connealy and a team of researchers evaluated Gunshot Detection Technology (GDT) in Chicago and Kansas City through a $503,129 grant from the National Institute of Justice.

The annual juried Student Art Exhibit, featuring student artwork from the University of Tampa, will open Friday, Jan. 31, and run through Friday, March 1, in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on campus.

On Friday, the University of Tampa graduated 982 students in two ceremonies held on the university’s campus.

On Friday, the University of Tampa will graduate 982 students in two ceremonies held on the UTampa campus.

The University of Tampa will hold its 159th commencement on Friday, Dec. 13, at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., in the Martinez Athletics Center on campus.

The University of Tampa Symphony Orchestra is hosting a holiday pops concert on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m., in Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

UTampa Assistant Professor of Criminology Kayla Toohy recently traveled to Italy to research information related to the work of Pauline Tarnowsky, the lost mother of criminology.

After serving as a victim advocate in the Office of the State Attorney, Emily Ramos ’25 now has the opportunity to see how victim advocates operate within law enforcement.

When Ashtyn Harris ’24 first sat down in a wheelchair to play basketball against the Tampa Bay Strong Dogs, a wheelchair basketball team, Tuesday night, she didn’t know what she was getting herself into.

The University of Tampa has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting.

Olivia Nichols ’25 trekked more than 1,500 miles from her home state of Maine to go to college in a thriving sports metropolis.

The Princeton Review has ranked the University of Tampa’s entrepreneurship program as the 19th best program for graduate programs and the 31st best program nationally for undergraduate programs.

Three innovative ideas won cash prizes in the CREATE Business Idea competition, held Nov. 1 in the University of Tampa’s John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center Pitch Room.

Assistant Professor of Communication Colter Ray knows how to talk about cancer.

A group of UTampa students and some UTampa alums are hoping to soar Saturday on the Red Bull Flugtag stage.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cameron Brate is kicking off his second career with UTampa’s Executive MBA program after nine seasons in the NFL.

The University of Tampa proudly presents “Out of Context: Jason Hulfish REMIX,” a student-led exhibition opening Nov. 1 and running through Dec. 12 at the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery.

The University of Tampa held an opening celebration for its newest and largest building on campus Friday with a brief ceremony and ribbon cutting.

The League of American Bicyclists has honored the University of Tampa with a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University award in recognition of the institution’s achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.

The University of Tampa will host a children’s fishing tournament on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 8:30 a.m., run by Associate Professor of Environmental Science Bridgette Froeschke’s Spatial Ecology Lab

The University of Tampa Department of Athletics has received its first head coaching endowment.

Members of UTampa’s PEACE Volunteer Center have been busy assisting those impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The University of Tampa Department of Music will resume both the Amerant Bank Concert Series (formerly known as the Damron Concert Artist Series) and the Charlene and Mardy Gordon Chamber Music Series this semester.

Marty Rifkin ’82 was recently honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center

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UTampa astronomer’s research engages students and a global community of amateur scientists in search of answers to questions of the universe

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James Eyer Endowed Nursing Scholarship opens opportunities for more students to succeed

Four national championships have Spartans ‘on top of our game’

Spartans on stage with vice president for NCAA Sports Day

The University of Tampa Lowth Entrepreneurship Center continues to empower entrepreneurs through its Spartan Spark Fund.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa, is proud to present “From a Family’s Second-Generation Business to Lasting Generational Impact,” as part of its Leadership Speaker Series, a biannual speaker event.

The University of Tampa is again ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top tier Regional Universities (South) category in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings.

Brian Veit '25 wants to bring back biodiesel.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business was once again recognized in the Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business School listing and was noted on the 2024-2025 list as the No. 22 school in the U.S. for diversity.

Students witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime moment on Saturday when Jane Goodall spoke at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on UTampa’s Roots & Shoots chapter’s 10-year anniversary.

Two ROTC cadets from the University of Tampa spent part of the summer abroad, honing skills that will help them in their desired career fields.

The University of Tampa has been included in the WSJ College Pulse Ranking 2025.

As part of the University of Tampa’s Week of Welcome, new students had the opportunity to exchange old T-shirts from other universities and colleges for new, limited edition “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts.

At one of the most renowned science-based organizations in the world, there is still space for creativity.

The University of Tampa again has been named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education and is described as a “sunny, growing, global university.”

Amy Lien, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at The University of Tampa, recently received a two-year, $233,768 grant from NASA to study gamma-ray bursts.

The University of Tampa’s Institute for Sales Excellence, which prepares the next generation of sales leaders, has been renamed thanks to a generous donation from longtime University supporters.

The growing invasion of Brazilian pepper trees in Tampa Bay is distressing native crabs to the point of cannibalism more than ever before.

The John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, part of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, this week selected the 2024-2025 cohort of its Spartan Incubator program.

University of Tampa Students Going “Into the Streets” for Volunteer Event.

The University of Tampa's Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media (MASEM) program held its fourth student exhibition and awards ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery.

Before traveling to Ireland this summer, Alexi Jones ’25 had one goal in mind: document Irish life and culture, specifically how people have moved on in the 26 years since the violent, 30-year conflict called the Troubles ended.

Nolan Dodge ’24 is one of three UTampa students working with Gatorade this summer, hydrating some of the most talented up-and-coming athletes in the nation in internships at the famous IMG Sports Academy.

Scaling mountains of data, Robert Cooper is planning to protect the national parks.

Three University of Tampa sports teams visited Washington, D.C., this week to participate in NCAA Sports Day.

For Steven Pichardo ‘25 and Alyssa Rannekliev ‘25, what began as a class requirement ended with international aspirations.

Sara Festini, associate professor of psychology at The University of Tampa, recently received a three-year, $277,536 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business has been named as an outstanding business school with an on-campus MBA program by the Princeton Review – and recognized as one of the 244 best business schools.

Former and current faculty, students and alumni come together for a yearlong exhibition to celebrate both the history of the sculptural arts at UT and one of its greatest champions, former University of Tampa art gallery director, alumna and artist Dorothy Cowden ’70.

Kelsey Lopez ’25 sang for her supper in her professional debut with ThinkTank Theatre this June in their production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Through UT’s International Programs Office’s faculty-led program, Karen Duritza ’26 and Sergio Santana ’27 flew 5000 miles, visited a safari and created service projects to benefit the rural communities of Nabdam, Ghana

A group of students studying criminology and criminal justice recently got a firsthand look at how the justice system works in another country.

If she feared the crowd, she didn’t show it. 

The University of Tampa women’s lacrosse team won the National Championship for the first time in program history this past weekend.

On Saturday, the University honored more than 1,900 graduates in morning and afternoon ceremonies at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Tampa beach volleyball repeats as AVCA National Champions for the first time in program history.

The Department of Film, Animation and New Media at The University of Tampa will host an innovative workshop featuring the music group Jumping Planets on Friday, April 19, at 11 a.m., in the Virtual Production Studio in the Cass Building. The workshop is titled “Finger Drumming Techniques with Ableton Live.”

While UT is often thought of as a traditional four-year institution, many transfer students have found their home on Spartan soil. Students Abby Grinnell ’25, Hannah Kowanes ’24 and Chad Mendez ’24 shared how they found community and are thriving through transfer-student supportive programs on campus.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ part-time MBA and UT’s master’s degree in nursing were named among the best programs in the country in the 2024 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News & World Report.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ part-time MBA and UT’s master’s degree in nursing were named among the best programs in the country in the 2024 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News

The campus art collection, much of it carefully chosen by the Vaughns, is a nod to the value of a cultural education

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT: Victoria Suslovitch ’16

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT: Peter Nuccio ’73 and Augie Martinez ’73

Ronald L. Vaughn breathed life into a languishing university. Now, after nearly 30 years as president, he leaves it thriving. We talked to him about what worked, what it took and what’s ahead for him after a career that established UT as a pillar of reinvention and innovation.

Lessons from President Ronald L. Vaughn’s tenure are in no short supply.

For more than 40 years, UT has thanked some of its biggest supporters with an evening of dinner and dancing at the Minaret Society Dinner. The event has been a favorite of Ron and Renée Vaughn, who help decide the menu, music and theme, including last year’s popular “Step Into Our Story.” The event celebrates UT donors and their philanthropic commitment to advance UT’s mission and provide elevated educational experiences for UT students.

The University of Tampa baseball team captured the program's ninth national championship with an 8-3 win over Angelo State University.

Over spring break, many UT students took part in study abroad courses and service and cultural learning activities.

Four-time New York Yankees World Series champion first baseman Tino Martinez ‘11 will receive the Thurman Munson Award from the AHRC New York City Foundation on Thursday, March 14, in New York City.

The annual juried Student Art Exhibition, featuring student artwork from The University of Tampa, will open Friday, March 15, and run through Friday, April 5, in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on campus.

Note to parents: Buying a toy at the museum gift shop does more than stave off a temper tantrum. A recent student-faculty research project at the Glazer Children’s Museum found that it can influence a child’s learning habits and memory.

Cord Christensen, founder, CEO and chairman of PetIQ, will give a talk as part of The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’s Hall of Fame Business Speaker Series on Thursday, March 14.

UT President Ronald Vaughn was interviewed on WEDU this week about his nearly 30 years at the helm of the University.

The University of Tampa's John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, part of the Sykes College of Business, hosted its annual Alumni Awards ceremony on Feb. 29. 

The University of Tampa Department of Music will resume both the Damron Concert Artists Series and the Charlene and Mardy Gordon Chamber Music Series this semester. All concerts are free and open to the public.

This May, two UT new graduates will become Army cyber officers, considered among the Army’s most competitive assignments.

The University of Tampa's John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, within the Sykes College of Business, hosted 10 colleges and universities from around the state in the Governor's Cup entrepreneurship pitch competition on Saturday, Feb. 24.

The University of Tampa Symphony Orchestra will present “Towering Figures,” a concert in Falk Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29. The event is free and open to the public.

The University of Tampa’s master’s degrees in business administration (MBA), marketing, accounting and finance, as well as UT’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) have been named as best programs by TFE Times.

Last week, The University of Tampa’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) organizations raised $173,670 for two local charities. The amount doubled last year’s Greek Week total, which was slightly more than $86,000, and marked the fifth year in a row of record fundraising.

Yesterday, The University of Tampa announced the establishment of a new endowed scholarship in recognition of President Ronald Vaughn, his wife, Renée, and their decades of service to the University.

Everything about Alex Gialanella ’26 screams confidence. 

University of Tampa President Ronald Vaughn was named the Christine Burdick Downtown Person of the Year at the Tampa Downtown Partnership (TDP) 2024 Annual Urban Excellence Awards last night.

The University of Tampa is collaborating with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay to host 30 local middle school children to practice being a “PA for a Day.” The event will go from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 1, in the Jenkins Health and Technology Building on campus.

The Governor's Cup, Florida's premier collegiate pitch competition, is set to take place at The University of Tampa on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., at the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center on the UT campus. The competition is open to the public.

Emily Lochhead ’25 knew there was more to her human performance major than an occupation in the health sciences. A recent internship and a new part-time job with the Ironman Foundation have proved that to her.

The University of Tampa has been accepted into the National College Athlete Honor Society as the State of Florida Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma (XAΣ), which recognizes student-athletes from accredited four-year NCAA, NAIA, USCAA or NCCAA institutions who excel in both the classroom and competition.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business has maintained its business accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

The University of Tampa will host the Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project, a six-piece, genre-bending ensemble featuring some of New York City’s most in-demand jazz musicians.

The Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGS) minor at The University of Tampa offers any student a chance to explore how class, age, region, religion, history, race and more affect gender and sexuality. It’s a minor that can complement any major by offering students the chance to critically reason and learn fundamental strategies to thrive in the world.

Valentines and others are invited to enjoy a romantic holiday bell concert on the Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora in Sykes Plaza at The University of Tampa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

When Quin Anderson ’25 was looking to book acts for Party in the Park this year, he immersed himself in the research.

Jillian Núñez ’25 squinted to find her conductor under the harsh stage lights’ glare and steadily breathed in rhythm.

Student dancers from The University of Tampa will take the stage in the annual Spring Dance Concert on Thursday, Feb. 15, through Saturday, Feb. 17, in Falk Theatre. The shows begin at 8 p.m. each night with an additional Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public.

The University of Tampa announced this week that it has partnered with Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to become a preferred provider of education for TECO employees pursuing a UT graduate program.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business, will host social psychologist Tom Kolditz for its 2024 Leadership Summit on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The event will be held in Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall.

On Feb. 9, The University of Tampa will celebrate and highlight the University’s commitment to building a sustainable campus, its partnerships with the Tampa community and entrepreneurship in the environmental space.

Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat will speak at The University of Tampa on Friday, Feb. 16, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series.

A recent 10-day trip to the United Arab Emirates turned a class of 17 UT students into a group of friends who felt like family as they sandboarded and watched the sunset in the desert.

The University of Tampa will honor the legacy of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service to help the Tampa Bay community on Saturday, Jan. 20.

This article first appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of the UT Journal.

The University of Tampa’s Scarfone/Hartley Gallery will host a showcase of artistic works by faculty in the College of Arts and Letters’ Department of Film, Animation and New Media (FMX). The exhibition runs from Friday, Jan. 19, to Friday, Feb. 23, with an opening reception on Friday, Jan. 19, from 6-8 p.m.

Gamma-ray bursts, one of the most energetic and bright explosions in the universe, may help explain how stars and the universe evolve throughout cosmic time. However, the physical mechanism of these phenomena remains unsettled. University of Tampa Assistant Professor of Physics Amy Lien hopes to unlock some of these mysteries and is looking for your help to do so. No previous experience or training is required to join this quest, just a love of astronomy.

There are great teams in sports, superhero comics and, perhaps unexpectedly, even sociology conferences.

Watch the Show Now

On Friday, The University of Tampa graduated 1,015 students from the University.

Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, currently provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Texas Christian University, has been named The University of Tampa’s next president by the Board of Trustees.

Watch the Show Now

On Friday, 1,015 graduates, including 670 bachelor’s degree candidates and 345 master’s degree candidates, will receive their degrees from The University of Tampa at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.

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Spartan Spotlight: Nigel Kirwan ’92

From enlisted to ambassador, Bismarck Myrick ’72 has left his mark on the map

Spartan Spotlight: Michele Smith ’08

Centennial Circle supports students, strengthens the University

Fraternity Bonds Inspire Couple to Give Back

Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat will speak at The University of Tampa this spring as the inaugural event of the University’s distinguished speaker series. The event is set for Friday, Feb. 16, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts.

The University of Tampa will hold its 157th commencement on Friday, Dec. 15, at 9:30 a.m., at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. The ceremony will honor 1,015 graduates, including 670 bachelor’s degree candidates and 345 master’s degree candidates.

Have you ever stopped to look at the birds on The University of Tampa’s campus and wondered about their species?

The University of Tampa Symphony Orchestra is hosting a Holiday Pops Concert on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Falk Theatre. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

Most people don’t ever get the chance to hold a heart in their hands.  

A simulated natural gas explosion on Saturday gave UT students a unique opportunity to practice what they are learning in the classroom.

On Monday, Nov. 27, Travis Kaiser ’07, owner of Santoro’s Pizzeria in the Hyde Park neighborhood, will be in the spotlight at UT’s Ethics Hot Seat Speaker Series, hosted by the Center for Ethics at the Sykes College of Business. The event begins at 6 p.m. in Reeves Theater on the second floor of the Vaughn Center on campus.

The University of Tampa was recognized as a Circle of Excellence Gold Chapter by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines.

It’s not often that you get an insider’s look into the Secret Service.  

The Princeton Review has ranked The University of Tampa’s entrepreneurship program as the 15th best program nationally for undergraduate programs and the 16th best program for graduate programs. This is the highest rank UT’s program has received from The Princeton Review.

Three student entrepreneurs won cash prizes to put toward their businesses in the finals of the C.R.E.A.T.E. (Creating Real Entrepreneurial Actions Through Education) Business Idea Competition, held Nov. 3 in the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Tampa.

This year’s Evening of Experimental Dance at The University of Tampa will feature exciting collaborations between creative writing, music and dance. Directed by Amanda Gabaldon, assistant professor of dance, the theme of the event is “the body as an instrument.” The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, in Sykes Plaza and is free and open to the public.

Rian Benoit ’24 traded in a winter of sun-lit palm trees and swinging hammocks for cold stone, piping-hot tea and the opportunity of a lifetime to study last year at the University of Oxford, through the UT Honors Program.   

One of the University’s strangest and most popular clubs has a mysterious origin story and a mighty manifesto: “Here to render due worship and obedience to cheese."

The annual Fall Dance Happening will take place Wednesday, Oct. 25, through Friday, Oct. 27, at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show will begin each night at 8 p.m. in Falk Theatre at 428 W. Kennedy Blvd. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

The University of Tampa will host a children’s fishing tournament on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., run by faculty, staff and students in the environmental studies and biology departments. The event will take place on the west side of the Hillsborough River between UT’s Cass Building and Plant Park.

Sometimes a first impression leads to a second chance.

The University of Tampa has been ranked as the 203rd best university in the nation, out of 857, by personal finance company WalletHub. WalletHub puts UT in the top 76th percentile of all institutions.

DJ Reyes will receive the Tampa Bay Ethics Award from the Center for Ethics, part of the Sykes College of Business, at The University of Tampa at a breakfast and ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 2.

The University of Tampa announced its enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year. This year’s total enrollment — including graduates and undergraduates — is 11,054, a new record.

When the sun goes down and the sky turns into a dusky twilight, The University of Tampa will celebrate All Hallows’ Eve with a spine-chilling bell concert on the Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m., in Sykes Plaza.

Rebecca J. White, professor of entrepreneurship and director of the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center in the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, received the prestigious Legacy Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC).

The University of Tampa Symphony Orchestra invites you to its first concert of the year on Oct. 12, an eclectic program titled “Dances Around the World.” The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Falk Theatre, 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., and is free and open to the public.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, is proud to present “Leading People in an Ever-Changing World,” as part of its Leadership Speaker Series, a biannual speaker event. The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Plant Hall’s Fletcher Lounge on the UT campus, followed by networking and refreshments.

Rachel Ryweck ’24 and Jacob LaFond, instructional staff in the Department of Biology, are experts on the most poisonous toads in the state.  

The University of Tampa will screen the film Revoir Paris (2022) as the first film in UT’s Albertine Cinémathèque à UT: A French Film Series.

The Brazilian Student Union (BRASA) is open to all students, regardless of nationality. 

The University of Tampa announced today that it has partnered with Gannon University to offer eligible UT graduates a direct pathway to graduate-level health programs in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

The University of Tampa will again host the popular, standing-room-only Damron Concert Artist Series this fall in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values.

Associate professor of music Bradford Blackburn’s new album, "When Gaia Falls," expresses a call to action to protect the environment and biodiversity.  

The University of Tampa’s Fall 2023 Honors Program Symposia resumed earlier this month with a presentation by students from the Oxford Study Abroad program.

The University of Tampa is again ranked in the top tier in the category Regional Universities (South) in the U.S. News

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business was recognized in the Bloomberg Businessweek Best B-School listing as the No. 29 school in the world for diversity.

As part of The University of Tampa’s Week of Welcome, new students at UT had the opportunity to exchange old T-shirts from other universities and colleges for new, limited edition “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts. The “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts were exclusively available during the event, held Friday, Sept. 1.

The University of Tampa was awarded a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that will provide Wellness Services with $102,000 every year for the next three years.

University of Tampa students, faculty and staff will head “Into the Streets” Saturday, donating their time to two Tampa Bay organizations.

Every day during the training and competition season, members of the UT women’s soccer team pick up a small garment and slip it on with their workout gear or game jersey as they head out to the field. Over on the basketball court, the women’s team also dons the tight-fitting, sleeveless pinney. Graduate students from the Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance oversee this state-of-the-art wardrobe and ensure that each player has one.

Emma Chestang ’25 had only ever traveled around the southern United States, so being on a research ship for 12 days was completely new territory for her.  

*This event has been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Idalia.*

The University of Tampa has been again named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education and is described as a “sunny, growing, global university.”

Ethan Lehr '24 spent the summer interning with the Tampa Police Department. A senior double majoring in criminology/criminal justice and applied sociology, he is also participating in UT's 4 1 program, where he will earn his graduate degree in criminology when he finishes school this spring.

The University of Tampa's Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media (MASEM) program celebrated its second MASEM Student Exhibition and Awards Ceremony, honoring exceptional graduate projects.

The University of Tampa was awarded $10,000 from the Florida Humanities as part of the Greater Good: Humanities in Academia grant to go toward UT’s Center for José Martí Studies Affiliate (CJMSA).

The University of Tampa is home to a new photography exhibit titled Through Her Eyes: Women Photographers of Tampa Bay.

Jasmine M. Villavicencio ’24 spent six weeks in Indonesia this summer, studying biodiversity and conservation and learning the Bahasa Indonesian and Javanese languages.

For Jennifer Rodriguez ‘24, her research is personal, as it is inspired by her Hispanic roots. 

UT researchers explore the women of the White House

Scher/Giuliano endowed scholarship to benefit pre-med, business students

A culture of care and attention is behind the new Janet R. Matthews Ph.D. Endowed Chair in Psychology

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Christina McCauley ’05 has a big job with a simple mission. She’s the CEO of Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County, and her every day comes down to one thing: helping people.

Get to know the people behind the plates at these alumni-owned restaurants(And if we missed your favorite, make sure we know! Email publicaffairs@ut.edu)

Former Spartan point guard Mathew Johnson ’17 is sitting courtside at the top of men’s college basketball.

‘Serious focus on sport and scholarship can indeed coexist,’ says the Spartans’ three-time Academic All-American

UT leans into tech’s changes and challenges to enhance students’ critical thinking, motivation and learning experiences in and out of class

This year’s winner of the Timothy M. Smith Inspiration Through Exploration Award traveled to Anchorage, AK, to recreate the landscapes in her paintings.

“I always believed you’ve got to think about the future to have one,” said President Ronald Vaughn, in a recent podcast interview with the Tampa Bay Business Journal, reflecting on his nearly 30 years at the helm of The University of Tampa.

Being a varsity student-athlete is normally an undergraduate pursuit. The NCAA has rules, after all, that historically have restricted competition mostly to those completing a traditional, four-year course of study.

Jacqueline Sluss ’24 put her double major to use during a two-week class trip to Madrid, Spain, this summer.  

Haley Faul ’23 says the greatest part of her internship with the U.S. Probation Office in the Middle District of Florida is the possibility that she could change someone’s life. 

The Solar Butterfly, a solar-powered, 30-foot-long butterfly-shaped tiny house that charges the vehicle that tows it, will stop by The University of Tampa on Aug. 29 during its North American tour to celebrate and highlight UT’s progress on incorporating sustainability into the academic curriculum and into campus facilities and operations.

The University of Tampa was awarded $210,719 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support a research project by Katie Gordon, assistant professor of physics. The funds will allow UT to join the SARA (The Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy) Observatory Consortium, which will grant UT’s Physics and Astronomy Department access to three advanced telescopes located in Arizona, Chile and Spain.

The UT volleyball team became closer than ever after spending 12 days exploring three countries and playing foreign competition this summer. 

A course within The University of Tampa’s new Spartan Studies general education curriculum was recognized at the 2023 Global Career Services Summit held in London.

Organismal and evolutionary biology major Gabriella Nunez ‘23 has always had a fascination with all animals and wanted the ability to work with them hands-on.

The University of Tampa has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through the 2028 academic year.

16 UT students got to see firsthand how the criminal justice system in the Netherlands differs from that of the United States.

The University of Tampa announced this week that it will begin offering a professional master’s degree in athletic training, starting in Summer 2024. The M.S. in Athletic Training program will provide students with content knowledge and hands-on clinical training where they’ll learn to examine and diagnose patients suffering from a variety of neuromusculoskeletal injuries, then rehabilitate them to full recovery.

Sara Festini, associate professor of psychology at the University of Tampa, has spent over a decade studying cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.  

Joe Cannatelli ’23 credits his new career to being in the right place at the right time. 

The University of Tampa has announced the hiring of Linc Darner as its head men's basketball coach. Darner brings a resume that includes an NCAA Division II national championship while guiding teams to the NCAA tournament at both the Division I and II levels. As a head coach, he has produced winning teams at every stop. He also played in the NCAA tournament, helping Purdue to the Elite Eight.

The more than 1,800 graduates honored at The University of Tampa’s 156th commencement ceremonies at the Florida State Fairgrounds on Saturday were left with at least one clear directive: help others.

Maison Anderson ’23 refers to his job at Disney as “the perfect balance” between his major, finance, and his passion: TV and movies.

Winning the National Collegiate Club Golf Association (NCCGA) tournament didn’t come without challenges for the University of Tampa team.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ part-time MBA and UT’s master’s degree in nursing were named among the best programs in the country in the 2023-2024 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News

The University of Tampa renamed the Academic Study Lounge, located in the Martinez Athletic Center, in honor of Stephen H. Mauldin, a member of UT’s Class of 1990, and a member of UT’s Board of Trustees since 2018. The renaming recognizes Mauldin’s achievements as a student-athlete, his commitment to UT as an alum and his philanthropic efforts.

University of Tampa alumni, parents, faculty, staff, volunteer boards and friends contributed $1.04 million last week during the annual UT Give Day. Gifts came locally, nationally and globally. The donations will help UT provide a world-class education and resources to students.

The University of Tampa will honor more than 1,800 students at its 156th commencement on Saturday, May 6, during two separate ceremonies at the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

When Ximena Salazar ’24 set out to make a short film based on her parents’ love story, she never imagined it would win a Gasparilla Film Festival honor. 

The University of Tampa beach volleyball program captured its third National Championship in program history over the weekend.

On Monday, April 24, J. Christian Plesner Rossing, chair of The University of Tampa’s Department of Accounting and associate professor of accounting, will be in the spotlight at UT’s Ethics Hot Seat Speaker Series. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center on campus. Refreshments will be served.

The Spring Dance Happening will take place Wednesday, April 26, through Friday, April 28, at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show will begin each night at 8 p.m. in Falk Theatre. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

Students, faculty and staff will experience the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and compete for $6,000 in prize money on Friday in a fast-paced, multiplayer business-simulation competition called the Venture Valley Collegiate Cup.

After a year of serving as interim director, Lindsay Huban was named executive director of the Henry B. Plant Museum.  

What’s the secret sauce behind UT’s new environmental studies department? Inviting folks from across disciplines to come to the problem-solving table together.

On Friday, April 14, The University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center will showcase more than 40 of its student and community-run startup business concepts at the 2023 New Venture Exposition. The exposition will be held from 8 a.m. to noon in the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, which is located on the eighth floor of the Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building. The event is free and open to the public.

The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business annual Adam Smith Breakfast will be held Thursday, April 13, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center.

For three marine science and biology majors, their idol, primatologist Jane Goodall, is a dream come true.

Close collaboration between sports and science is a game-changer for UT teams and student researchers

Spartan Spotlight: Rod Brooks ’94

Spartan Spotlight: Sally Seymour MBA ’08

Ronald L. Vaughn, who has led the transformation of The University of Tampa into a nationally known institution, has announced he will retire in 2024, after almost 30 years of serving as UT’s president.

UT and The Saunders Foundation — a partnership for a smarter city

Baseball boosters give new meaning to ‘rainy-day fund’

Inspired by the glam and groovy, Tracy Turco ’89 built an art and design empire

Innovation shines in UT’s newest showcase space, the tech side of the Jenkins Health and Technology Building

On Friday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., faculty from The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business will present their research conducted over the past year at the Sykes College of Business Faculty Research Symposium. It will be held in the Sykes College of Business building in rooms 131 and 134. Lunch will be served at noon and a reception at 2 p.m. will conclude the symposium.

For students and staff, UT’s upcoming inaugural Neon Nights event will provide an opportunity to have fun while supporting a good cause — mental health awareness for college students. 

The annual juried Student Art Exhibition, featuring student artwork from The University of Tampa, will open Friday, March 24, and run through Friday, April 14, in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on the UT campus.

Spring break at The University of Tampa offered everything from leadership opportunities at Walt Disney World to cultural experiences in Atlanta and Tulum, Mexico, and service trips in Memphis, TN. 

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, is proud to present “Defining the Odds” as part of its Leadership Speaker Series, a biannual speaker event. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 29, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center on campus.

The University of Tampa has been named by G.I. Jobs as a 2023-2024 Military Friendly® School and was ranked in the gold category of universities.

Last week, The University of Tampa’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) organizations raised more than $85,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The amount surpassed last year’s Greek Week total of more than $76,000 and marked the fourth year in a row of record fundraising.

For students looking to work in professional sports, opportunities abound in Tampa.

The University of Tampa honored alumni Joseph Monteforte ’15, Raymond Mohler ’20 and Wil White ’20 with awards last night by UT’s John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center for their professional and personal achievements.

Holley Tankersley, currently founding dean of the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences at Coastal Carolina University, has been named by The University of Tampa as the dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education (CSSME).

When it comes to choosing a career path, it helps to get a sense of what certain jobs look like in real life.  

Some UT students experienced what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Thursday when the president of the United States spoke on campus. 

President Joe Biden visited The University of Tampa on Thursday, the second stop in what’s being called a 20-state “blitz” following his State of the Union address this week.

After a nationwide search, Stephen Blessing, professor of psychology, has been named the inaugural Janet R. Matthews Ph.D. Endowed Chair of Psychology.

Student dancers from The University of Tampa will take the stage in the annual Spring Dance Concert on Thursday, Feb. 16, through Saturday, Feb. 18, in Falk Theatre. The shows begin at 8 p.m. each night, and the additional Saturday matinee begins at 2 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public.

Denis Vuko '24 has always been passionate about film and all of its intricacies: how they’re made and the behind-the-scenes of it all.

The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business has been named as an outstanding business school with an on-campus MBA program by The Princeton Review — and recognized as one of the 243 best business schools.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business, will host Bill Treasurer of Giant Leap Consulting for its 2023 Leadership Summit on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The event will be held in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center on campus.

The University of Tampa’s Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center has been selected as a top finalist for the Tampa Downtown Partnership (TDP) 2023 Annual Urban Excellence Awards in the Private Sector Project category.

New students this fall at The University of Tampa will be the first to enroll under a general education curriculum called Spartan Studies.

When Reilly Sargolini ’24 gets worried about classes, she knows the best way to chill out — on the ice.

The University’s cybersecurity major is one of the top 20 most popular undergraduate majors on campus. The curriculum, which also includes a minor and a graduate program, teaches students to protect the confidentiality, availability and integrity of information and information systems that support modern organizations. But not all learning in this field has to take place in the classroom.  

A lot of students change their major, but when Bryan Lee ’24 did it, he set out to change the world.

Inexhaustible curiosity. Empathy. Problem-solving skills. These are the three qualities Kimberly Morris, assistant professor of health sciences and human performance, encouraged the December 2022 graduates of The University of Tampa to pursue in their future endeavors. 

During The University of Tampa’s 155th Commencement Ceremony held this Friday, 670 students will receive their bachelor’s degrees. 

Michael Middlebrooks, associate professor of biology at The University of Tampa, was awarded $87,775 by the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund to study the phenomenon of seagrass in Tampa Bay being replaced by macroalgae called Caulerpa.

The University of Tampa will present an artistic performance exploring space-time travel at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Sykes Plaza on the UT campus. The event is free and open to the public.

When an opportunity presented itself for psychology major Destin Rothe ’23 to get involved in research on delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, the popular cannabis product also known as delta-8 THC, he jumped at the chance. 

The University of Tampa will hold its 155th commencement Friday, Dec. 16, at 9:30 a.m., at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.

The Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora, a 105-foot bell tower at The University of Tampa, will make its holiday debut before and after the 11th annual holiday concert, Let Heaven and Nature Sing: A Holiday Celebration, on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 and 4 p.m.

Anthony Rickman, president of The Rickman Law Firm, will be on the hot seat for The University of Tampa’s Ethics Hot Seat speaker series on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center on campus. The event is free and open to the public, but attendees are required to register. 

In just five years, The University of Tampa’s Club Golf team has grown from a group of seven to over 70 members. In December, the club will make its fourth appearance at the National Collegiate Club Golf Association (NCCGA) National Championship. 

The University of Tampa’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi — the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines — was recognized by Phi Kappa Phi as a Circle of Excellence Platinum Chapter, the highest commendation a chapter can receive from the organization.

The University of Tampa has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as the inaugural 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for making intentional efforts to increase student voter participation.

What’s the secret sauce behind UT’s new environmental studies department? Inviting folks from across disciplines to come to the problem-solving table together.

Spartan Spotlight: David Rey ’03

By Janet Siroto

By Janet Siroto

By Janet Siroto

UT’s new bell tower marries centuries-old traditions with 21st-century technology.

"Ain't gonna be no corporate drone, I'd rather strike out on my own." — From the song, "Corporate Drone," on his 2017 album, Pick Your Poison

Philanthropists and education advocates Frank and Carol Morsani, longtime supporters of The University of Tampa and namesake of one of its residence halls, today announced an estate gift – one of the largest in UT’s history – that will support the development of the UT Honors Program into the Morsani Honors College.

This year’s Evening of Experimental Dance at The University of Tampa will feature exciting collaborations between photography, music and dance. Directed by Amanda Sieradzki, visiting assistant professor of theatre and dance, the theme is titled  Arts in Conversation. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, and is free and open to the public.  

The more time you spend with the works created by abstract painter Sara Conca, the more you’re likely to see something in it that means something to you.  

Rev. Morris E. Hintzman, president of Metropolitan Ministries, will receive the Tampa Bay Ethics Award from the Center for Ethics at The University of Tampa at a breakfast and ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 3.

With a grand opening yesterday afternoon, The University of Tampa officially dedicated and named the new Technology Building, along with the adjoining building currently housing Graduate and Health Studies. The two buildings, linked by a sky bridge, will be named the Jenkins Health and Technology Building, in honor of Howard and Patricia Jenkins, who made a generous donation to the University to support student learning in both health and technology.

Alison Stratton ’24 has always been passionate about the ocean and all its inhabitants.   

Criminology and criminal justice major Marlee Mason ’23 knew she wanted an internship for the hands-on experience, and she was intrigued by a Sarasota-based organization, Selah Freedom, that presented in her Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation class. Selah Freedom works to end sex trafficking through awareness, prevention, outreach, and residential and organization consulting.

Most undergraduates who pursue film and media are familiar with the limitations of student set design: the reliance on repurposed backdrops, scant resources for creating intricate scenes and minimal access to locales beyond what’s readily available in the neighborhood. 

The University of Tampa announced its enrollment for the 2022-2023 academic year. This year’s total enrollment— including graduates and undergraduates — is 10,566.

The Fall Dance Happening will take place Wednesday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Oct. 28, at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show will begin each night at 8 p.m. in Falk Theatre at 428 W. Kennedy Blvd. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

The owners of Hampton Chocolate Factory and PHDermatology, as well as the CEO of Verséa Holdings, will be featured at The University of Tampa’s first Business Network Symposium event in the 2022-2023 series Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The University of Tampa will kick off the Charlene A. Gordon Chamber Music Series with a piano-violin duo Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

The University of Tampa welcomes back renowned jazz pianist, composer and accordionist Ben Rosenblum, along with bassist Marty Jaffe and drummer Eric Kennedy, for an encore performance on Monday, Oct. 17. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts. This event is free and open to the public.

The Ars Sonora, the University of Tampa’s one-of-a-kind musical sculpture, was played for the first time in public on Saturday, Oct. 8, with its 61 working bells being played on a piano keyboard in time with vocalists and the UT brass quartet.

The University of Tampa will screen the film “Aline” on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts.

Spartan Spotlight: Eunice Penix M.Ed. ’80

Spartan Spotlight: Keith Brady ’10

SPARTAN READY PHILANTHROPY

SPARTAN READY PHILANTHROPY

The newly expanded Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center offers the UT community a healthy getaway from the daily grind.

Thanks to a recent initiative called UT2UT , a growing number of alumni are either staying at — or returning to — UT to join one of the University’s 25 graduate programs and leveraging the opportunity to achieve their goals.

SPARTAN READY PHILANTHROPY

The University of Tampa today celebrates both the construction of its largest building – a combination residence hall, parking deck, classroom and office building — and the continued transformation of UT’s campus.

The University of Tampa’s Department of Music will kick off its annual concert season with several performances on Fall Weekend, taking place Oct. 7-9. All events are free and open to the public.

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The 2022 Fall Weekend will take place, as originally planned, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8.

“Do not overlook the value of what you’re doing together right now,” stand-up comedian and TV writer J.B. Ball ’09 told students in UT’s Reeves Theater on Thursday.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, is proud to present “Embracing a Growth Mindset: A Career of Evolution,” as part of the Leadership Speaker Series, a biannual speaker event. The event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center on campus.

When Andrew McDougall ’23 came face-to-face with a shark in the Bahamas this summer, he wasn’t scared. 

The University of Tampa Lowth Entrepreneurship Center is introducing a new program for practicing and aspiring entrepreneurs. In the new program, the Start-up Studio, participants can gain verified skills and competencies with short, flexible micro-credentials that focus on personal growth, skill development and transformation of the founder as well as the company.

The University of Tampa has been named on Bloomberg Businessweek's ranking of the best and most diverse business schools of 2022-2023.

Lt. Col. Brett Boston, director of Army ROTC and professor of military science, was awarded the U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC) Professor of Military Science of the Year Award of Excellence. It is an annual award presented by the USACC to one individual in the country currently in charge of an ROTC department.

The University of Tampa is again ranked by U.S. News

The University of Tampa’s Fall 2022 Honors Program Symposia series will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, with a presentation by students from the Oxford Study Abroad Program. The presentation will be held in the Trustee’s Boardroom on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center and is free and open to the public. Attendees do not need to register prior to entry.

As part of orientation on Sept. 2, new students at The University of Tampa had the opportunity to exchange old T-shirts from other universities and colleges for new UT “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts. The UT “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts were exclusively available during the event.

Washington Monthly magazine, which ranks colleges based on “what they do for the country,” highlighted The University of Tampa as a “Best Bang for the Buck” college and as a “Best College for Student Voting.”

Gerald “Jerry” Divers, the founder of The Bank of Tampa, and Gregory Celestan, CEO of Celestar Corp., will speak as part of The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’s Hall of Fame Business Speaker Series on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Following two knee surgeries that led to the end of her collegiate swimming career, Shannon Lindsey ’23 took the energy she had put into being a student-athlete and focused it on her career.

A new art exhibition at The University of Tampa, The Heart of Nature, will feature 78 artworks from the Ferman Wood Art Collection. The exhibit includes bowls and novelty woodworks, handmade from both domestic and exotic types of wood, and explores the technique of woodturning and wood media's intersectional role between form and function. The Heart of Nature will be open Saturday, Aug. 27, through Saturday, Dec. 10, in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on the UT campus.

A panel of community judges recognized outstanding projects by two graduate students in The University of Tampa Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media (MASEM) program last week at the inaugural MASEM Student Exhibition and Awards Ceremony.

Are you an instrumentalist? Do you play strings, winds, brass or percussion? Would you like to play in an orchestra? If so, consider joining The University of Tampa Symphony Orchestra.

The University of Tampa has been awarded a $234,914 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to offer a summer institute in 2023 focusing on the rise of the U.S. as a global power in the early 20th century as a consequence of its intervention in Cuba’s War of Independence.

When recruiters and managers interview recent college graduates for open positions, of course, they want to make sure the candidates have gotten a quality college education. But beyond looking at majors and GPAs, they’re also wondering:

A new community paramedicine training program for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay was developed by graduate students in the physician assistant medicine (PAM) and instructional design programs at The University of Tampa to further improve access to care. The Crisis Center will use this training program to onboard newly-hired paramedics.

This summer was the first time Jahnel Villalba ’24 had been to Nicaragua and the first she’d been in a surgical room as part of the medical staff. The UT junior, a double major in allied health and biology, joined a team that included part-time faculty in the chemistry department, Dee Dee Brumfield, for the most hands-on and career-affirming experience of her collegiate journey.

Rather than host an old-school job fair, which can sometimes feel stiff and transactional (a student hands over a résumé and receives a business card in return), UT’s Career Services started a new type of event for students in 2018 called “After Hours” that is getting better turnout.

The University of Tampa has announced a partnership with SkillStorm, a tech talent accelerator that hires, trains, certifies and deploys IT talent in the most in-demand technology fields. The partnership will provide customized training to students to meet the specific hiring needs of technology companies across the greater Tampa region and throughout the country.

This past fall, UT launched a new initiative for first-year, off-campus students called Spartan Connect. Its purpose is to enhance students’ sense of belonging, resiliency and well-being as they adjust to the University lifestyle. 

Christopher Boulton’s Sunscreen award-winning short documentary “Progress” almost didn’t happen.

The University of Tampa announced this week it will begin offering nine additional graduate certificates starting in Fall 2022. These graduate certificates will offer working adults a new opportunity to gain advanced, skill-based training in business, accounting, analytics, instructional design and health science disciplines in one year.

In just four days, a University of Tampa professor and two students brought as much of Paris to contemporary readers as they could.

The camels loped along in a single row, head to tail, with 20 UT students undulating as they acclimated to the camels' gait. It was early May, and they were far from Tampa — on another continent, actually — trekking through desert terrain as part of an 11-day college trip.

Michael “Mike” Hendricks, Ed.D., currently vice president for enrollment management at Furman University (SC), has been named vice president for strategic enrollment planning at The University of Tampa.

Alisha Miles, currently director of library services for the Air University Library in Montgomery, AL, has been named executive director of the Macdonald-Kelce Library at The University of Tampa.

In its continued commitment to sustainability and being a green campus, The University of Tampa has installed six new electric vehicle (EV) chargers on campus.

The University of Tampa recently completed its four-year partnership with the JED Foundation (JED), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting emotional health and preventing suicide among young adults.

The University of Tampa men’s lacrosse team won the program’s first NCAA Division II National Championship in East Hartford, CT, on Sunday. 

The University of Tampa Spartan’s men’s lacrosse team defeated Limestone University Sunday to advance to the NCAA Championship for the first time in the program’s history.

University of Tampa President Ronald Vaughn today was recognized with the prestigious Hillsborough County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award.

“Your journey will take you places you would have never expected,” Carlos Baldor Jr. ’87 told the candidates participating in the afternoon ceremony of UT’s 154th commencement on Saturday, May 7.

While TikTok helped Gaby Almeida ’22 stay entertained throughout college, she never imagined it would be anything more than laughs and life hacks. That is, until last year when she applied for a Summer 2021 internship with TikTok on a whim.

Austyn Keelty ’23 has helped hundreds of students prepare and present speeches in the three years she’s been a tutor in UT’s Center for Public Speaking.

Maggie Palmore’s arm was raised in victory as applause from the crowd erupted around her. Palmore ’24 had just earned the title of 2022 National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Champion – the first wrestling national champion in University of Tampa history.

The University of Tampa today announced that it will construct a new, 10-story multipurpose building on campus.

The University of Tampa will honor more than 1,700 students at its 154th commencement on Saturday, May 7, during two separate ceremonies at the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

The University of Tampa will showcase the work of 15 student artists who are graduating with a BFA in Art and Graphic Design during the Spring 2022 BFA in Art and Graphic Design Exhibition at the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery from Wednesday, April 20, through Friday, May 6.

On Friday, April 29, The University of Tampa’s College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS) will hold its annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center from 2-5 p.m.

Spring Dance Happening will take place Wednesday, April 27, through Friday, April 29, at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show begins at 8 p.m. each night in the Falk Theatre at 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., opposite campus. It is free and open to the public.

Under the supervision of Rebecca Olsen, associate professor of health sciences and human performance, Maria Velazquez-Santiago ’22, a public health major, is working alongside five other UT students (Mihir Waykar, Danusia Mryczko, Peyton Whaler, Zachary Esch and Katelyn Scioli) to conduct research with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Steinbrenner Emergency/Trauma Center.

The secret reason UT fraternities and sororities prepare students well for the workplace

The creation of the Don V. and Sara G. Giunta Endowed Memorial Scholarship was a family affair.

Spartan Spotlight: Joe Dervaes ’63

Spartan Spotlight: Laura (Plumb) Duda, MBA ’99

SPARTAN READY PHILANTHROPY

The new Ferman Center for the Arts is a stunning, 90,000-square-foot space on campus for music, theater, art, design, film and more. Enjoy this visual tour of some of the four-story building’s most impressive aspects.

When Shannon (Nigg) Ballantyne ’16 and her then-fiancé, Shaka Ballantyne, entered a contest for health care workers during the pandemic, they couldn’t have imagined what would happen next.

On Wednesday, April 13, The University of Tampa’s Department of English and Writing will host Stephanie Phillips ’12 and Cooper Levey-Baker MFA ’14 as part of the annual Writers at the University series. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public. 

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ annual Adam Smith Breakfast will be held Thursday, April 21, from 7:15-9:30 a.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center.

In Fall 2022, The University of Tampa will launch two new undergraduate degree programs: data science and environmental studies.

The University of Tampa and Vū today announced Vū’s donation of virtual production equipment, valued at $750,000, to The University of Tampa.

When Bridgette Froeschke, associate professor of biology, meets a new first-year student, she doesn’t just see the uncertainty in their eyes. She sees a load of potential. This perspective is one of the reasons Froeschke was named the 2022 Faculty Mentor of the Year by the Florida Undergraduate Research Association (FURA).

The University of Tampa announced this week that it will begin offering preferred admission to its Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program for select members of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO).

More than 30 University of Tampa students and community members will showcase their startup business concepts at this year’s New Venture Exposition on Friday, April 22.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ part-time MBA and UT’s master’s degree in nursing were named as two of the best programs in the country in the 2023 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News

The University of Tampa’s Honors Program will host the annual Spaulding Speaker Series for the first time on April 7 at 6 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the ninth floor of the Vaughn Center. The speaker will be Robert Agnew, one of the founding scholars of modern-day criminology. Tickets can be reserved online for free. The event is open to the public.

With tears in his eyes, Benson Alex Riseman ’78 group-hugged his family after watching the unveiling of the new name on the fitness center: the Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center. 

The Ferman Center for the Arts at The University of Tampa, which is already transforming the creative arts for both UT students and the Tampa community, will be celebrated with a public grand opening on Friday, April 1, from 5:30-7 p.m.

The University of Tampa’s Department of Theatre and Dance will be presenting the Spring 2022 main stage musical, First Date, in the Falk Theatre on campus from Thursday, March 24, to Sunday, March 27. The Thursday-to-Saturday performances will all be at 8 p.m., and the Sunday performance will be a matinee at 2 p.m. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will be asked to sign in upon entrance in order to socially distance.

The University of Tampa will hold a grand opening of the Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center with a brief ceremony and tours on Monday, March 21, at 11 a.m.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, is proud to present “Know Thy Team and Know Thyself,” as part of the Leadership Speaker Series, a biannual speaker event. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 23, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Crescent Club on the 9th floor of the Vaughn Center on campus.

On Thursday, March 17, The University of Tampa’s Department of English and Writing will host the Spring 2022 Scholars’ Symposium, featuring Dennis Tyler Jr. The event will begin at 4 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts on campus.

Last week, The University of Tampa’s fraternity and sorority life (FSL) organizations raised more than $76,000 in donations for charities, breaking last year’s record of almost $62,000. More than $30,000 was raised for Relay for Life, a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, while more than $46,000 was raised for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The newly revamped Honors Program features courses taught by not one, not two but three professors from three different disciplines – at the same time.

In partnership with the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) and Hillsborough County Public Schools, The University of Tampa’s Scarfone/Hartley Gallery is hosting the 2022 Hillsborough County Region Scholastic Art and Writing Exhibition presented by Suncoast Credit Union. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public and the media, will feature art and writing pieces by local middle and high school students from Tuesday, March 1, through Friday, March 25. 

The Spring Dance Concert will take place Thursday, Feb. 17, through Saturday, Feb. 19, at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show begins at 8 p.m. in Falk Theatre on Kennedy Boulevard opposite campus and is free and open to the public. There is also a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Masks are required indoors.

Joy Randels, founder and CEO of The Prowess Group and chairwoman of New Market Partners, has joined The University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center as entrepreneur-in-residence.

The University of Tampa welcomes back the Ben Rosenblum Trio — made up of award-winning jazz pianist, composer and accordionist Ben Rosenblum; bassist Marty Jaffe; and drummer Ben Zweig — for a concert on Wednesday, Jan. 26. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts on campus and is free and open to the public. The trio will also perform a new work by Bradford Blackburn, associate professor of music and director of music technology and composition. Masks are required indoors.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business, will host its 2022 Leadership Summit on Feb. 16. The event will be held in the Crescent Club on the 9th floor of the Vaughn Center on campus. Masks are required indoors.           

Since last summer, Emily Friden ’22, marine science-chemistry major, has been in the lab researching red tide, the harmful algal blooms in coastal regions that color the surface of the water and kill marine animals.

Four undergraduate UT researchers headed to Tallahassee this week to present their findings to legislators, as well as to other college students from around the state, in the second annual Florida Undergraduate Research Posters at the Capitol, held Jan. 20, 2022. The goal is to encourage the visibility and viability of undergraduate research, while also providing high-achieving students a space to engage directly in the political process.

A thrilling piece of baseball history is now on view at the Henry Plant Museum. On April 4, 1919, on the grounds of the Tampa Bay Hotel, George Herman “Babe” Ruth hit what was reported to be the longest home run of his career. The ball from that towering homer was held in private collections for more than 100 years before being donated to the Museum by the Estate of Thomas Newman. 

The University of Tampa students, faculty and staff will honor the legacy of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service to help the Tampa Bay community on Saturday, Jan. 22.

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Young professionals are invited to refine their business leadership skills at The University of Tampa’s Modern Advances in Leadership certificate program, which begins Jan. 18. Presented by the Sykes College of Business TECO Energy Center for Leadership, the program runs Jan. 18 to March 29 from 6-9 p.m. on select Tuesday evenings in the Sykes College of Business.

The University of Tampa announced this week that it will begin offering a doctoral degree in business administration, starting Fall 2022. The Executive Doctor of Business Administration program will offer students the opportunity to define, analyze and solve complex business problems utilizing interdisciplinary topics and research methods, while exposing students to diverse perspectives on contemporary business issues.

In celebration of the classes of 2020 and 2021 at UT’s commencement on Dec. 17, Lonnie Bryant, chair and professor of finance, told the 1,063 graduates there was little advice he could give to two classes who have both adapted and persisted better than most.

Spartan Spotlight: Gianna Russo MFA ’17

The Board of Counselors and the Board of Fellows

The Family Association Board

As the world watched the Tokyo Olympics in awe this past summer – and looks ahead to the upcoming Winter Games in Beijing – three UT alumni were busy playing strategic roles behind the scenes of the world’s largest sports stage.

Spartan Spotlight: Roman Cowan ’10, M.S. ’14, MBA ’14

The Alumni Association Board

Artist Ryan McCallister ’10 uses steel, fire and electricity to create larger-than-life sculptures that make you wonder: “How did he do that?”

The newly revamped Honors Program features courses taught by not one, not two but three professors from three different disciplines – at the same time.

The first cohort of graduates in The University of Tampa’s physician assistant medicine (PAM) graduate program will celebrate their accomplishments in a convocation ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 16, and at UT’s commencement ceremony on Friday, Dec. 17. The convocation ceremony will be at 5 p.m. in Falk Theatre on campus and the commencement ceremony will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. Masks are required indoors.

A new community paramedicine training program for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay was developed by graduate students in the physician assistant medicine (PAM) and instructional design programs at The University of Tampa to further improve access to care. The Crisis Center will use this training program to onboard newly-hired paramedics.

The No. 1 seed University of Tampa volleyball team played for the 2021 NCAA Division II national championship at home, capturing the program's fourth national title following a 3-0 sweep over Washburn University.

The University of Tampa will hold its  153rd commencement Friday, Dec. 17, at 9:30 a.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. The ceremony will include 1,063 graduates, including 718 bachelor’s degree candidates and 345 master’s degree candidates. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Masks are required indoors.

While others were perfecting their tan and shopping for new bathing suits the week before Spring Break 2020, a handful of University of Tampa students were spending their days on a major movie set as interns and extras for Justin and Christian Long’s new movie, Lady of the Manor.

The University of Tampa will showcase the work of five graduating student artists during the Fall 2021 BFA in Graphic Design Exhibition titled fem at the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery between Friday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec. 17.

Featured in Tampa Magazine’s “Top 10 Under 40” list, Jay Malone ’21 names The University of Tampa as one of the chief reasons for his success.

The University of Tampa has been ranked the 27th and 30th top school for entrepreneurship studies for undergraduate and graduate students, respectively. The rankings were announced recently by The Princeton Review® and Entrepreneur magazine as part of The Princeton Review's 16th annual survey.

The University of Tampa’s College of Arts and Letters and Department of Film, Animation and New Media (FMX) will be showing the movie Lady of the Manor as part of its Sunshine Cinema film series, followed by a Q

On Sunday, Dec. 5, The University of Tampa’s Department of Music will host its annual holiday concert, Let Heaven and Nature Sing: A Holiday Celebration, for the 10th year. There will be two performances, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., in the  Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. The program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Doors open 30 minutes before the concert. Masks are required indoors.

Picture Disney’s Mandalorian walking through the dunes of a desert landscape with the sun beating down, and The Child floating alongside. You almost feel bad for the actor who must be sweating inside that costume. Now picture the same scene, but this time the blazing sun is actually just a light fixture, the actors are in air conditioning and the desert mountains are illusions created on a gigantic screen in a production studio.

The University of Tampa’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents 9 to 5: The Musical. Performances will take place in the Falk Theatre on campus from Thursday, Nov. 18, to Sunday, Nov. 21. The Nov. 18-20 performances will all be at 8 p.m., and the Sunday, Nov. 21, performance will be a matinee at 2 p.m. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. The event is free and open to the public with masks required. Attendees will be asked to sign in upon entrance in order to socially distance.

Since the closest way Isabella Lesinski ’22 thought she could get to Alaska was through a virtual internship, she decided to take it with open arms.

The University of Tampa Opera Workshop and the UT Symphony Orchestra will present Gilbert and Sullivan, a family-friendly opera scene concert, on Friday, Nov. 12. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held on campus in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. The concert is free and open to the public. Masks will be required at all times.

The Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition 2021, featuring student artwork, will be open Friday, Nov. 12, to Friday, Dec. 10, in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on The University of Tampa campus.

Ronald Vaughn, president of The University of Tampa, and his wife, Renée Vaughn, received the 2021 Patrons of Culture and the Arts IMPACT Award from the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA) on Thursday, Oct. 21, at Armature Works in Tampa.

The University of Tampa’s Department of Education has recently received the 2021 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The University of Tampa’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents “An Evening of Experimental Dance.” The performance will take place on Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Amanda Sieradzki, part-time dance professor, this year’s event will travel on campus between Plant Hall’s East Verandah and Plant Park’s Sticks of Fire sculpture.

The University of Tampa will welcome the owners of Mise en Place Inc. and Kahwa Coffee Roasting, as well as the vice president of Wine Stream Inc., in the first Business Network Symposium event in the 2021-2022 series on Tuesday, Oct. 26.

The subtleties of everyday sounds typically pass unnoticed.

The Fall Dance Happening event will take place Oct. 27-29 at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show will begin each night at 8 p.m. in Falk Theatre at 428 W. Kennedy Blvd. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Masks will be required at all times.

Alongside the stills from Then, Now, Next: UT Visual Arts Film, Animation and New Media Student Showcase that are on display in the Ferman Student Study Gallery in Ferman Center for the Arts on campus, The University of Tampa will also present a film screening that will include work by alumni and students in the Department of Film, Animation and New Media (FMX) on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Charlene A. Gordon Theater in the Ferman Center for the Arts.

On Thursday, Oct. 14, Michael Hurwitz, restauranteur and franchisee of the well-known Uno Pizzeria

This Thursday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m., four dance students from The University of Tampa will be performing live at the “Skyway 20/21: A Contemporary Collaboration” exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art. The exhibit features “Blueprint/Redbloom,” a collaborative piece between Amanda Sieradzki, part-time dance faculty, and Jaime Aelavanthara, assistant professor of art and design with a specialty in photography. The performance will be accompanied by an original composition by Michael Standard, part-time music faculty, and his group, Homegrown New Music Ensemble. The event is open to the public, but the museum admissions fee must be paid upon entry. Visit tampamuseum.org/visit to check the admissions fee.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership, part of the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, is proud to present the Fall 2021 Leadership Speaker Series on Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The event, “Knowing Who You Are: The Role Culture Plays in Unifying the Organization,” will be held in the Crescent Club on the 9 th floor of the Vaughn Center.

The University of Tampa has recently been ranked both in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education (WSJ/THE) College Ranking 2022 and the Forbes Top Colleges 2021 ranking.

Dr. Gerald Kutzman ’65 is sponsoring an endowed scholarship through his estate.

A new exhibit at the Henry B. Plant Museum, “When The Train Comes Along: Booker T. Washington at the Tampa Bay Casino,” highlights a speech that the famous educator and activist gave on race relations in 1912 at the Tampa Bay Casino – which was part of the Tampa Bay Hotel and is where the Southard Family Building is now on campus.

How well do you know your alma mater? Celebrate the 90th anniversary of UT with a custom-made crossword, jumble, photo quiz and word search.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal ’89 has climbed through the officer ranks of the U.S. Army for more than three decades, reaching a level that few achieve. After living all over the globe, he’s grateful to be stationed in familiar territory: at the U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, just a stone’s throw from his beloved alma mater.

Spartan Spotlight Harrison Haas ’08

A new exhibit at the Henry B. Plant Museum, “When The Train Comes Along: Booker T. Washington at the Tampa Bay Casino,” highlights a speech that the famous educator and activist gave on race relations in 1912 at the Tampa Bay Casino – which was part of the Tampa Bay Hotel and is where the Southard Family Building is now on campus.

Spartan Spotlight: Mia Salvemini ’19

The University of Tampa has been named to Bloomberg Businessweek's ranking of the best U.S. business schools of 2021-2022.

The University of Tampa’s Fall 2021 Honors Program Symposia series will begin on Monday, Sept. 20, with Stephanie Tripp, associate professor of communication. Her talk, "Thinking in Place: Writing the Immersive Essay," is at 4 p.m. and is free and open to the UT community only.

As part of orientation on Sept. 3, new students at The University of Tampa had the opportunity to exchange old T-shirts from other universities and colleges for new UT “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts. The UT “Spartan Spirit” T-shirts are gray and feature the school’s mascot, Sparty.

The University of Tampa is again ranked by U.S. News

Faculty members within the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics at The University of Tampa have received two major grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Presented by the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, “REVERBERATIONS: Black Artists On Racism and Resilience” shares artwork from emerging and established Black artists who live and work in the Southeastern United States, including three alumnae from The University of Tampa: Nneka Jones '20, Princess Smith '12 and Kendra Frorup '92 (who is also associate professor of art and design at UT). The art exhibition will be open Saturday, Sept. 11, through Friday, Nov. 5, in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on UT’s campus.

The University of Tampa has been again named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education.

Before the sun rises in Clearwater, FL, Madison Schorle ’22 can be found at the beach five days a week, trekking her way through the sand. She’s not searching for the perfect spot to work on her tan, though. It’s part of her job helping mama sea turtles safely lay their eggs.

The University of Tampa College Panhellenic Association was one of 26 collegiate panhellenic organizations honored last week with a National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) College Panhellenic Innovation Award.

Are you an instrumentalist? Do you play strings, winds, brass or percussion? Would you like to play in an orchestra? If so, consider joining The University of Tampa Symphony Orchestra.

Looking to sharpen your leadership acumen and enhance your negotiation skills? Then consider signing up for The University of Tampa’s Modern Advances in Leadership Certificate Program, presented by the Sykes College of Business TECO Energy Center for Leadership. The program runs Aug. 31 to Nov. 23 from 6-9 p.m. on select Tuesday evenings in the Sykes College of Business.

The University of Tampa has implemented the Spartan SOS campus safety app to further bolster the safety and security of the campus community.

The Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Tampa has again received a grant from the TD Charitable Foundation for its Spartan Incubator Program, which will assist more low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals in advancing their early-stage businesses. 

The University of Tampa (UT) announced today that phase II of the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values – centered by the world’s largest and most technologically advanced Ars Sonora® musical bell sculpture – is underway.

The University of Tampa has announced that Dr. Thomas Witherspoon has been selected as the University’s new chief diversity officer.

UT’s Office of Residence Life was recently celebrated for using data-driven programs to support on-campus living. Skyfactor Benchworks, a Macmillan Learning company, recognized UT among seven colleges and universities with the Assessment and Impact Award for Housing and Residence Life.

Every summer, a group of driven UT students are awarded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI). Paired with faculty members, the students dive into issues across all disciplines, from politics to biology to psychology.

The University of Tampa has been ranked as the safest college campus in Florida, and the 19th safest college campus in the U.S. The ranking was compiled by YourLocalSecurity.com in its fifth annual Safest College Campuses in America report.

The University of Tampa (UT) announced a partnership this week with Hillsborough County Public Schools that will provide Hillsborough educators interested in taking leadership roles a path to pursue either a certification in educational leadership or a master’s degree in educational leadership.

The University of Tampa Board of Fellows announced today that its Scholarship Endowment Fund has grown to over $1 million through the generous support of the Board members, both present and past.

When you hear the word “sea slug,” you might start regurgitating whatever you ate for lunch. But it turns out, sea slugs are way cuter and cooler than you might think.

The University of Tampa announced an agreement this week that guarantees qualified students and graduates from Bethune-Cookman University admission into UT’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction.

UT’s Alpha Kappa Delta chapter (Theta) was named the 2020-2021 Chapter of the Year by Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. The chapter won $500 to put toward chapter development and service activities.

For the first time in the alumni magazine’s history, the UT Journal of The University of Tampa has won two international 2021 Circle of Excellence awards from CASE (the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education).

Three University of Tampa students, Chandler Culotta ’22, Lily Connolly ’21 and Nina Darcy ’21, took their books and notes to Key West this May to walk in the footsteps of their favorite author, Ernest Hemingway.

The University of Tampa has announced that AnneLiese Busch has been selected as the associate dean for international programs.

University of Tampa president Ron Vaughn, and his wife Renée Vaughn, were honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning as Lightning Community Heroes during the first period of tonight’s playoff game against the Florida Panthers.

In a ranking of MBA programs that stressed “fact-based criteria,” The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business was placed in the “Tier One” out of schools in North America. Additionally, UT’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program was ranked 62nd out of 91 schools in the Global EMBA rankings.

To centralize and support technology programs and functions across campus, The University of Tampa announces its newest facility – the Technology Building: a new, six-story, 105,000-square-foot academic building in the heart of campus.

Allen Lopez ’21 said he learned a lot at UT, from balancing a ledger to learning the Greek alphabet to even the proper form for deadlifting weights. The biggest lesson: adapting to change.

When Gina Pantano graduates on Saturday, her work won’t be done. UT’s first physics and mathematics double major, Pantano will begin a 10-week paid, remote internship with the NASA Goddard Flight Center starting in June.

UT will host its spring commencement ceremonies as a virtual experience on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 11 a.m. EST. The ceremonies can be viewed at ut.edu/commencement/may-2021-virtual-commencement.

The University of Tampa Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, part of the Sykes College of Business, announced the winners of the Spartan Accelerators and Incubators New Venture Expo 2021, a modified version of the annual entrepreneurship competition for companies participating in one of the center’s programs.

Colin White, a senior at The University of Tampa, was named a Daveler Scholar by The Frank and Ellen Daveler Entrepreneurship Program.  

A semester-long project studying desserts? Yes, please.

University of Tampa Professor of Sociology Ryan Cragun has received a $70,000 grant to better understand the nuanced ways that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) think about science.

Allen Lopez ’21 served as president of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity from November 2019 to November 2020, keeping the brotherhood connected amidst a pandemic.

Spring Dance Happening will take place, in person, April 28-30 at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show begins at 8 p.m. each night in UT’s Falk Theatre at 428 W. Kennedy Boulevard, opposite campus. It is a free event.

The Derek Chauvin trial verdict is a substantive marker in this country’s history. Almost a year ago we wrote to you outraged and confounded by the inhumanity witnessed in the death of George Floyd and many others. In the intervening months, we have witnessed additional deaths of Black men and women, a wave of violence against Asian Americans and other manifestations of systemic racism. 

The University of Tampa’s Principles of Management (MGT 330) course, which is required for all College of Business students, focuses on the evolution and practice of the core management functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling. But in assistant professor of management Ru-Shiun Liou’s class this semester, there’s a unique twist: sustainability.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership at the Sykes College of Business is offering an online series of courses titled “Navigating Cybersecurity: The Foundations for Leaders” from May 5 to June 9 that’s designed to help leaders recognize cybersecurity risks and effectively manage them. Those who successfully complete all six sessions will earn a certificate.

Simon Schuler is tracking down answers to one of life’s biggest questions: Where do the building blocks of life originate from?

Paintings, sculptures, photos, printmaking and mixed media work by 27 alumni and faculty artists are being showcased in “65 Years in the Making,” one of several new exhibitions at UT. Here, we take a closer look at a few of the artists who make it so special.

This year’s historic Super Bowl LV wasn’t just a great excuse to celebrate our victorious home team — it provided UT students and alumni a behind-the-scenes look at how the nation’s largest sporting event comes together.

Spartan Spotlight: Miriam Toland ’67

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT Drew Townsend ’02

Supporting the Ferman Center for the Arts is the latest example of the family’s impact over the last seven decades.

Thanks to these key donors, special areas were created inside the Ferman Center for the Arts for students and faculty to thrive.

Twice a U.S. ambassador in Africa, Patricia Moller ’73 knows a thing or two about how to have complicated conversations and persuade powerful leaders.

The University of Tampa (UT) announced a partnership this week with Pasco County Schools that will provide Pasco educators interested in taking leadership roles a path to pursue either a certification in educational leadership or a master’s degree in educational leadership.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ part-time MBA and graduate entrepreneurship programs, and UT’s master’s degree in nursing, were named as some of the best programs in the country in the 2022 edition of “Best Graduate Schools” by U.S. News

Every Tuesday and Thursday, after Brin Robinson’s morning class wraps up, she walks across the Cass Street bridge to the Glazer Children’s Museum.

The University of Tampa will host an interactive Journalism Grad Symposium featuring four alumni who have successful careers in the field of journalism on Thursday, April 1, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

The UT Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Arts and Letters is presenting a pre-recorded performance of the play “Antigone,” which can be watched online starting Thursday, March 25, at 8 p.m. through Sunday, March 28, at 10 p.m. at ut.edu/theatre/antigone.

UT will present the first annual International Forensics Day, a.k.a. “CSI Day,” on Thursday, April 15. It will include:

From the moment Mary Amato ’23 was born, she was immersed into the world of martial arts.

The University of Tampa's journalism program in the Department of Communication will present its inaugural award for outstanding achievement by a local journalism professional to Paul Guzzo of the Tampa Bay Times. The ceremony will be conducted via Zoom on Tuesday, March 30, at 6 p.m.

In seven days, UT’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) community raised almost $62,000 to help several philanthropies that are important to all 20 active UT chapters. 

The Scarfone/Hartley Gallery at The University of Tampa is proud to partner with the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) to display The Boomer List: Photographs Taken by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

On Friday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at a virtual event, faculty from The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business will present their research that was conducted over the past year at the Sykes College of Business Faculty Research Day.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay helps victims of sexual assault and domestic violence get back on their feet. Whether it be providing financial assistance, medical exams or victim advocacy, volunteers and staff at the center are available 24/7 to those in need. 

The Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa is proud to present the Spring 2021 Leadership Speaker Series on Wednesday, March 17, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The event, “Navigating Through Uncertainty,” will be virtual and held via Zoom.

The Scarfone/Hartley Gallery at The University of Tampa is proud to partner with the Hillsborough Education Foundation and Hillsborough County Public Schools to host the 2021 Scholastic Art

While browsing through podcasts in 2019, Zane Austin Willard ’21 discovered The OUTCast Podcast, which “celebrates everyday victories for anyone who’s ever felt ‘other’ or like an outcast.” Willard listened to season one of the podcast, which covered topics from substance abuse to dating apps.

The University of Tampa is celebrating the opening of the Ferman Center for the Arts and its new gallery spaces with a trifecta of UT visual arts exhibitions. Some will be taking place at the original Scarfone/Hartley Gallery, while others will be taking place in the new gallery spaces at the center: the Saunders Foundation Art Gallery, the Charlene and Mardy Gordon Performance Gallery and the Student Study Gallery.

The University of Tampa announced today that it has a new education partnership with Diamond View Studios, a professional video production company that recently debuted Vū: a state-of-the-art virtual production studio housing one of the largest LED volumes in the world.

In fewer than 10 minutes, entrepreneurship major Shirah Benarde ’24 landed $60,000 and international attention for her company, NightCap, with her appearance on the ABC TV show Shark Tank.

The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business Hall of Fame Business Speaker Series will take place on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. as a free, hybrid event that welcomes attendees both online (via Zoom) and in person (at Falk Theatre, 428 W. Kennedy Blvd.).

When the Super Bowl comes to Tampa on Sunday, Brianna Mercer ’16 hopes it leaves a lasting impression on more than just football fans. She’s hoping the spotlight of the big game and the influence of the National Football League (NFL) lift up the Tampa community.

University of Tampa President Ronald Vaughn has been named one of Tampa Bay’s most influential leaders by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, as part of its 2021 Power 100 guide.

Where the long, single-story, peach-colored Fairgrounds building stood just weeks ago is now a leveled, dirt lot. But not for long.

The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business will host its 2021 Leadership Summit on Feb. 10. The free event will be held online via Zoom, and a link will be provided upon registration.

Each year, South Tampa Magazine recognizes 10 standouts in the Tampa community involved in business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy in their “Top 10 Under 40” list. Not only are these young professionals stars in their field, but they also take the time to give back and make an impact in the community.

University of Tampa first-year student Shirah Benarde and her brother Michael Benarde, a graduate student at Florida State University, are scheduled to pitch their drink-spiking prevention scrunchie, NightCap, on ABC’s Shark Tank on Friday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. EST. Shirah Benarde, 18, is in the Spartan Accelerator program in The University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center.

In Abby Byrne’s three and a half years at UT so far, the film and media arts major has found herself on film sets and in production studios getting the kind of exposure to her career field of choice that many dream of, and she did it through networking with a UT alum.

The University of Tampa announced this week that it will begin offering a master’s degree in social and emerging media, starting Fall 2021. The program blends technology and creativity as it prepares students to develop compelling media projects, build sophisticated social media strategies and engage effectively with audiences.

Jessa Madosky, professor of instruction I, biology, has been researching a population of wild horses in Shackleford Banks, NC, for more than a decade. When one of her collaborators at the National Park Service wrote a grant to develop a curriculum on the horses for elementary and middle schools, Madosky was named the main researcher on the grant.

The University of Tampa joins in the condemnation of the unfortunate violence, destruction of property and willful interruption of the functioning of the U.S. government that occurred yesterday in Washington, D.C. I urge UT faculty, staff and students to reaffirm their commitment to open dialogue, critical inquiry and pursuit of truth. We do not have room for nor will we permit violence, injustice and the abandonment of rational thought.

Seeking transformative and interactive learning experiences to refresh, re-equip or advance your leadership skills? Sign up for The University of Tampa’s Modern Advances in Leadership Certificate Program, presented by the Sykes College of Business TECO Energy Center for Leadership. The program runs in person from Jan. 19 to April 6 from 6-9 p.m. on select Tuesdays.

You’ve likely heard of chronic traumatic enceph­alopathy (CTE), a serious brain condition that’s linked to repeated hits to the head and dementia. It can affect people like football players and those in the military. As of now, there’s no treatment.

In an effort to support enrollment growth, as well as occupants of new campus facilities, The University of Tampa announced this week the construction of a new, 437-space parking garage on the west side of campus.

Every December, the start of the holiday season can be marked by the Department of Music’s annual concert, “Let Heaven and Nature Sing: A Holiday Tradition,” usually held in a standing-room-only performance in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values.

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A common phenomenon among humans is something called the cross-race effect: the tendency for people to have an easier time recognizing faces of individuals from their own racial group as opposed to another.

The renowned University of Tampa Holiday Concert “Let Heaven and Nature Sing: A Holiday Tradition,” which was performed live last year and broadcast by WEDU PBS, will be rebroadcast this year on WEDU on Christmas Eve (Thursday, Dec. 24) at 9 p.m., and on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25) at 3 p.m. It will also be broadcast on WEDQ on Christmas Day at 10 p.m.

This year, UT launched a major, campus-wide, nonpartisan effort to get students registered to vote – and to the polls – to make sure their voices are heard.

High school math teacher Ashley Kearney ’12, who is improving outcomes for students in her hometown of Washington, D.C., won the nation’s highest honor for STEM education.

Still need a present for that hard-to-buy-for person? Look no further. Give them an item or service from one of these 11 UT alumni-owned businesses.

Spartan Spotlight: Charles F. Scherer ’02

Spartan Spotlight: Starr Brookins ’07

Five fraternity brothers help a minority student fund their education.

Up until about two decades ago, The University of Tampa used to hold its commencement ceremonies on the steps of Plant Hall. That changed on Saturday when, for its 151st commencement, the University hosted its virtual December graduation on those iconic steps.

The University of Tampa announced today that it will begin offering a bachelor’s degree of science (B.S.) in computer science, starting Fall 2021. The curriculum will cover the fundamentals and applied aspects of hardware and software, and graduates of the program will be equipped for roles in software development and engineering, web development, data analysis, cybersecurity and more.

When Payton Cusimano ’20 introduces the speaker at UT’s December commencement, she said it’ll be a shining cap on her UT experience.

UT’s Department of Film, Animation and New Media will host the Fall 2020 Black Box Film Festival virtually on Friday, Dec. 4, from 8-10 p.m.

The University of Tampa will hold its 151st commencement virtually on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at 11 a.m. (EST). The ceremony will honor 618 degree-seeking candidates, including 497 who will be earning a bachelor’s degree and 121 who will be earning a master’s degree. The event is free and available to view online by the students, their family members and friends, UT faculty and staff, and the general public.

Students at the Naimoli Institute for Business Strategy partnered with TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center to create an online store.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) announced last week that The University of Tampa has received accreditation for its educator preparation programs.

The lemonade stand is a childhood staple for many. A small table set up by mom or dad fit with a sign reading some variation of “fresh lemonade” or “$1 a cup,” with an ice-cold pitcher filled to the top sitting at the edge of the table just waiting for some customers. Entrepreneurship major Austin Gappelberg ’22 started his first lemonade stand at the age of 10.

The University of Tampa has been ranked the 17th and 20th top school for entrepreneurship studies for undergraduate and graduate students, respectively. The rankings were announced today by The Princeton Review® and Entrepreneur magazine as part of The Princeton Review's 15th annual survey.

Last fall, marine biology major Lauren Kulick ’21 sat in a child-sized chair in a Tampa elementary school surrounded by a few eager kindergarteners peppering her with the most bizarre facts about octopuses and seahorses.

NOTE: This event was rescheduled from Nov. 13 to Nov. 20.

Stuff that feels ordinary to most people can be super stressful for Zoe Jarvis ’21: making small talk and knowing when someone is telling a joke, taking a standardized test in a timed environment or driving a car while loads of overwhelming stimuli are coming at her at once.

**NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOW NOV. 20. READ DETAILS ABOUT UPDATED EVENT.**

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, The University of Tampa will host a number of activities to encourage voting and political engagement.

When Kevin Mondlane ’20 M.S. ’22 from Mozambique, Africa, first arrived to The University of Tampa four years ago as a first-year, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. But after four years and the start of a master’s program, he is certain it was the right choice.

The University of Tampa has announced the commencement of phase II of the Fitness and Recreation Center, which will add additional workout and exercise space, along with a new aquatic center, beach volleyball complex and basketball courts, as well as academic classrooms, offices and laboratory spaces.

Bucking national trends caused by COVID-19, UT’s total enrollment — including graduates and undergraduates — remained stable at 9,605 – down only two-tenths of a percent from last year’s total of 9,628.

The Fall Dance Happening will take place Oct. 28—30 at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The free show begins at 8 p.m. in UT’s Falk Theater on Kennedy Boulevard opposite campus. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this event is for UT community members only.

When Ali Norman was first introduced to printmaking, it spoke to her love of history.

For two years, Brianna Rubenstein ’21 has partnered with Alyssia Miller, professor of instruction I, Spanish, on a series of projects exploring the intersection of language, culture and health with the aim to provide data to healthcare providers and policy makers to ultimately provide better health care and education for the Hispanic population.

When Hayley Kudzmas ’21 heads to the beach, she’ll bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect herself. But it hadn’t crossed her mind to consider the bacteria she might be swimming in. 

Mayor Jane Castor, the 59th mayor of the City of Tampa, will give a talk as part of the Sykes College of Business’s Leadership Speaker Series on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The University of Tampa has been ranked in the  Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education College World University Rankings 2021.

Renata Sindicic ’21 checks her Instagram and Snapchat at least hourly. They are her most-used social media platforms and are how she keeps informed on what’s going on and how she messages back and forth with her friends.   Renata Sindicic ’21 was part of a UT research group that studied how undergraduates use social media and their preferences, and on their lurking behaviors. Photo provided by Sindicic

The University of Tampa is again ranked by U.S. News

Tech entrepreneur Nicholas Hinrichsen is the latest guest on The University of Tampa Lowth Entrepreneurship Center podcast, EnFactor. He appears on the Sept. 9 episode called “Take Big Risks and Just Get Started.”  

When Breanna Arbanas’ biology research project fizzled in Fall 2019, she was frustrated. The data wasn’t producing any significant results. But it was one of many lessons the current senior was to learn about research.   Breanna Arbanas ’21 is using machine learning to identify human adenoviruses. “Machine learning is so new that every time a mistake came up I couldn’t Google it,” she said. “Dr. Pad and I would have to analyze the issue and work through it together.”

Local retailers are invited to participate in a free webinar series that will provide tools to stay afloat during the tough COVID-19 economic climate.

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT Elizabeth Nuñez ’92

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT Chris Whitney ’06

As the COVID-19 pandemic began gripping the globe this past spring semester, many faculty, staff, students and alumni came up with creative – and inspiring – ways to help.

Manatee Mania

A Local Legend's Gift of Music

Four of UT’s 58 international student-athletes share how they’ve acclimated to their new environment, overcome obstacles and broadened their horizons.

Lt. Amy Judy ’92, who risked her life during a rescue, doesn’t want to be called a hero. But her community honored her in two unexpected ways.

Studying the human brain has been a source of excitement for Sara Festini, UT assistant professor of psychology.  Assistant Professor Sara Festini co-authored "Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of Long-term Episodic Memory Encoding and Retrieval fMRI Studies" that was published in Ageing Research Reviews. The researchers sought to better understand the relationship between nine categories of Alzheimer's disease risk and task-evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in cognitively-normal older adults. Photo courtesy of Festini

The University of Tampa Board of Trustees has named five new members to three-year terms.

Two CEOs will join The University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center as entrepreneurs-in-residence.

With the advent of online banking options (from paying bills to transferring money and depositing checks) the need to visit a brick-and-mortar branch has become less necessary for people of all ages — and especially for Generation Z (people born between 1995—2015).  Tampa-based investment advising company Manole Capital Management recruited the help of a group of interns from The University of Tampa, University of Florida, Indiana University and Lehigh University to conduct its third annual Gen Z Financial Service Survey on banking, brokerage, digital currencies and the payment sector.

Nneka Jones’ fingers were raw by the time she finished embroidering her most recent piece on canvas — an incomplete American flag, frayed at the bottom third. It was a 24-hour marathon all-nighter, reminiscent of some of her college days, which aren’t that too far past.

The University of Tampa earned three "2020 Best of the Best" awards from readers of the Tampa Bay Times, including a bronze for Best Local College, a bronze for Best Nursing School and a silver for Best Graduate School.

The University of Tampa has been again named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education.

The Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Tampa has received a grant from the TD Charitable Foundation to expand its Spartan Incubator Program, which will assist more low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals in advancing their early-stage businesses.

After spending several months discussing, planning and preparing for students’ return to campus, The University of Tampa has taken proactive, unprecedented measures to resume a dynamic learning and campus experience with a combination of in-person, hybrid and remote classroom teaching.

The deaths of individuals such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have triggered a wave of protests this summer across the nation. The response from law enforcement officers to many of these protests — like that in Portland, OR — has involved using military equipment and tactics. 

As a young girl, criminology and criminal justice major Chloe Wimpfheimer ’21 participated in Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that encourage self-empowerment, positivity and healthy lifestyles through mentored running.

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University of Tampa director of athletics Larry Marfise has announced that, in conjunction with the Sunshine State Conference Presidents Council, UT teams will not engage in fall sports competition due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions surrounding winter and spring sport competition will be made at a later date.

The Sykes College of Business is holding the Modern Advances in Leadership Certificate Program this fall on select Tuesday nights from 6-9 p.m. starting Sept. 1.

To help limit the spread of COVID-19 on campus and help protect the local community, The University of Tampa has partnered with Rapid-Trace, a local firm that aids businesses and educational institutions with contact tracing services.

The park at the tip of Davis Islands in Tampa will become an outdoor theater on July 11.

The TECO Energy Center for Leadership at the Sykes College of Business is offering a free online program titled “Leading in the New Normal” from July 22 to Sept. 2 that’s designed to help practicing managers focus on real opportunities and threats to their organizations.

In 2010 Haiti was hit with a number of natural disasters, including 7.0- and 6.1-magnitude earthquakes and the Category-2 Hurricane Matthew. Thousands of Haitians died in the disasters, which left long-lasting, negative effects on the economy while destroying homes, businesses and schools throughout the country. 

Internships give college students multiple opportunities: professional experience in the field of their choice, the chance to learn more about themselves and the ability to figure out exactly what they do and don’t want to do.

In 2015, while still in high school, Jordan Belous ’21 posted a video of herself on social media doing the popular dance, “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silentó. Belous tagged the video with #WhipPediatricCancer and challenged her friends and family to dance or donate. Her 14-second video went viral within hours, and Belous was on her way to making an impact.

The late Vincent Naimoli — founder and first owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, emeritus chair of UT’s Board of Trustees and a longtime donor — was certainly onto something big when he established UT’s Naimoli Institute for Business Strategy (NIBS) in 1998 within the Sykes College of Business.

Five cadets from The University of Tampa will be participating in the U.S. Army's National Commissioning Ceremony on June 12, 2020, at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

University of Tampa alumni, parents, faculty, staff, volunteer boards and friends contributed $263,373 last week during the annual UT Give Day. This year, anticipating an increased need for student financial assistance, the donations will help fund student scholarships.

As a U.S. Army combat medic, Sgt. 1st Class Case B. DeWinkel provided medical care for troops and civilians in Iraq, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. In 2014 he received the Purple Heart for putting his life on the line to save his comrades.

The following was sent to the University community on Monday, June 1, from Ron Vaughn, UT president; David Stern, provost; Stephanie Russell Krebs, vice president of student affairs and dean of students; and James MacLeod, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The website study.com has named The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business as the No. 2 best international business school in the country.

In its first annual rankings, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education research company and publisher of the “QS World University Rankings,” has named The University of Tampa as a top university for excellence, equity and employability.

Updated: June 1, 2020

Instead of receiving their diplomas in person, the Class of 2020 found theirs presented at the top of a minaret.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Army will conduct its annual spring ceremony to commission its second lieutenants at The University of Tampa via a virtual ceremony on Friday, May 8, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will not be streamed, but it will be recorded. There will also be a supplemental national ceremony where several cadets across the United States Army Cadet Command will be honored.

There have been many challenges for the Class of 2020, but for some landing a job in an economic downturn is proving not to be one of them.

For the first time ever, due to the unprecedented circumstances that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon campus life, The University of Tampa will host a virtual commencement on May 9 at 11 a.m. (EST) to honor the 1,752 degree-seeking candidates at the University's 150th commencement. The event is free and available to view online by the students, their family members and friends, UT faculty and staff, and the general public.

Film and media arts major Olivia Miranda ’20 wasn’t sure how to produce her senior thesis — a film that would showcase all of the skills she’d learned the last four years — from home and in quarantine. She was frustrated, but reminded herself that the rest of her peers were in the same situation.   When on campus, students have access to the equipment cage with professional DSLR cameras and camera accessories like tripods, as well as the black box sound stage that provides a full lighting grid and the advanced audio recording suite. Without these resources, the film students had to get creative at home.

On the night that dance major Janel Wirley ’20 was supposed to perform in the Spring Dance Happening (April 29), she instead will be logging in to an online meeting with all the other performers, choreographers and dance majors, going through their rituals and commemorating the annual event digitally instead of on the stage. While she is disappointed not to be performing in person, she isn’t dismayed.

For many college students, balancing a full course load, a social life, various extracurricular activities, as well as jobs and internships often means nutrition and healthy eating aren’t priorities. The UT Wellness Center is hoping to change that through the help of peer nutritional counseling.   Through a UT Wellness Center scholarship, interested students attend a workshop and are certified as nutrition consultants by the American Academy of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionists (AASDN). They are then employed through the Wellness Center, providing both a benefit to their peers as well as hands-on professional experience for their own careers.

SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT Jay Patel ’92

Love is in the air! Find out how UT played cupid for these four couples.

Take a closer look at the inaugural year of UT’s physician assistant medicine graduate program. Housed in a state-of-the-art facility, the program offers high-tech learning tools that take hands-on medicine to a new level.

Spartan Spotlight: Stacy (Estes) Yates ’02

In 2017, the UT Journal spotlighted a diverse group of freshmen students from the class of 2020 to explore their passions and dreams for the future. Since then, these Spartans have embraced the opportunities college has provided. We’re catching up with these students – now seniors on the cusp of graduation – to discover how UT has transformed them.

In response to the community’s shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), The University of Tampa has been making protective face shields for health care workers — including shields going to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa— using the tools from its digital fabrication lab, or Fab Lab.

Adapting to remote learning takes pivoting, flexibility and even a sense of adventure: qualities that make a good journalist as well. It’s no wonder Lauren Wong ’20, a journalism major who has spent the last year as a paid reporter for several news outlets, has found the silver lining in remote learning — more time to sleep in and spend with her family in Downers Grove, IL, and a belief that this too shall pass. Journalism major Lauren Wong ’20 has spent the last year as a reporter for several news outlets, often providing her own photography. Photo provided by Wong

Rebecca White, the James W. Walter Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship, a professor of entrepreneurship and the director of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center in the Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa, recently welcomed two particularly inspiring guests on her podcast, EnFactor.

Although women representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs has increased since the 1990s, women still make up only a fraction of engineering and computer science occupations.

Alexsandra Wolfe ’22, a sophomore at The University of Tampa, was named a top 25 finalist in the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge.

On any given day, Emma Quintana is asked to problem-solve on a variety of projects, from an entrepreneur’s prototype to a marketing class’s campaign materials.   Emma Quintana, coordinator of UT’s Fab Lab, is making face shields for health care workers with materials from the digital fabrication lab. Photo courtesy of Quintana