WINTER 2007 VOL 49 NO 1

A new Florida Center of Excellence in biotechnology could change theway disease is detected and treated

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WINTER 2007 VOL 49 NO 1

Features

COVER: FIRST IN FLORIDARanking first among six grant recipients and 19 finalists, USF’s proposed Florida Center ofExcellence in biotechnology was awarded $8 million in state money. The new center, a truecollaboration between university, community and business, has the potential to change howillness and disease is detected and treated.

BEATING THE ODDSAn innovative program developed by USF's Karen (Kay) M. Perrin allows teen mothers to stayin school while receiving no-cost, safe daycare for their children. Now in all HillsboroughCounty public high schools, the program is making education a viable option for pregnantteens who might otherwise end up on welfare.

ON TARGETThree new grants awarded to partners of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Instituteand USF will focus on and evaluate programs set up to help elderly substance abusers, care-givers in the court system and the homeless.

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Departments

2 FROM THE PRESIDENT

3 UPDATE

14 COMMUNITY

18 DISCOVERY

36 COMMITMENT

38 ATHLETICS

41 LAST WORD

THANKS TO A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS PREGNANT

TEENS TO STAY IN SCHOOL, USF SENIOR KELLI SHAW

GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND WILL EARN A DEGREE

IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE THIS YEAR. STORY PAGE 28.

COVER PHOTO BY JOSEPH GAMBLE

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BLESCENE ON CAMPUS: USF SARASOTA-MANATEE’S

NEW MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE CAMPUS WEL-

COMES STUDENTS WITHIN A THREE-STORY,

LIGHT-FILLED ATRIUM. THE CAMPUS OPENED

FOR CLASS IN AUGUST.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

The University of South Florida is accredited by the Commission onColleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to awarddegrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral levels,including the Doctor of Medicine. USF is an Equal Opportunity/EqualAccess/Affirmative Action Institution.

hat a year wehave justbegun! On theheels of our50th anniver-

sary celebration, USF is makinghuge strides and growing its repu-tation as a research leader at aremarkable pace.

As you will read in this issue,USF ranked first among Floridauniversities and medical centers inthe fall, receiving $8 million tocreate the Florida Center ofExcellence in biotechnology. Thenew center has the potential tochange the detection and treat-ment of illness and disease, and isa true collaboration between uni-versity, business and communitypartners.

In December, we announcedthat USF will partner with SiliconValley-based SRI International andthe State of Florida to create a $10million marine technologyresearch center affiliated with ourCollege of Marine Science andCenter for Ocean Technology.The center will greatly strengthenboth the university’s and Florida’sposition as a leader in marineexploration and discovery.

Earlier in the year, three newgrants were awarded to partnersof the Louis de la Parte FloridaMental Health Institute at USF tostudy substance abuse among theelderly, caregivers in the courtsystem and the homeless.

There is so much to celebrateas we enter our 51st year. Alongwith these major research awards,you will read about countlessinnovative programs that are mak-ing a difference in our communityevery day.

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Thanks to assistant professor inthe College of Public Health KayPerrin, for example, pregnantteenagers in Hillsborough Countynow have an alternative to drop-ping out of school. The program’svalue is evident in the story of KelliShaw who, as a participant, wasable to graduate high school with a5.3 grade-point average, and willgraduate from USF this year with adegree in biomedical science.

The list goes on and on. In largeways and small, USF is impactingthis community, the state andbeyond.

I look forward to sharing moregood news with you in the com-ing issues of USF Magazine. Nodoubt 2007 will be an excitingyear for USF—one of the nation’soutstanding public research uni-versities.

USF Magazine is published by UniversityRelations at the University of South Florida.

Editor Ann CarneyAssociate Editor Anne ScottContributing Writers Anne DeLotto Baier, PhilipBooth, Jeremy Canody, Randolph Fillmore, AdamHollen, Sheryl Kay, Erika Llenza, Barbara Perkins

Contributing Photographers Joseph Gamble, Aimee Blodgett, Jason Marsh

University AdministrationJudy Genshaft, PresidentRenu Khator, Provost and Senior Vice PresidentCarl Carlucci, Executive Vice PresidentStephen Klasko, Vice President for USF HealthJo-Ann Alessandrini, Interim Vice President

for University Advancement Robert Chang, Vice President for ResearchJennifer Capeheart-Meningall, Vice President

for Student Affairs Karen White, Regional Chancellor for

USF St. PetersburgArthur Guilford, Interim Vice President and

CEO for USF Sarasota-ManateeMarshall Goodman, CEO for USF Lakeland

USF Board of TrusteesLee E. Arnold, Jr.Michael J. Barber, PhDRichard A. Beard IIIMargarita R. Cancio, MD Sonja W. GarciaFrank S. HarrisonRhea F. Law, Esq., Chair Kiran C. Patel, MDJohn B. Ramil, Vice ChairDebbie N. Sembler Jan E. Smith Robert L. SoranSherrill M. Tomasino

Contact USF MagazineUniversity Relations4202 E. Fowler Ave., ADM278Tampa, Florida 33620-6300(813) 974-4014scotta@admin.usf.edu

Contact the USF Alumni AssociationGibbons Alumni Center4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100Tampa, Florida 33620-5455(813) 974-2100 • (800) 299-BULL (2855)alumni@admin.usf.edu

Update your contact informationwww.giving.usf.edu

Reprint Policy: USF encourages reprinting articlesin their entirety. Permission may be obtained bycontacting scotta@admin.usf.edu.

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H I S T O R Y

batteries charged,” says Renu.Suresh agrees, adding, “The connec-

tivity is rejuvenating to both the heartand soul. It is a blessing to have thebest of two worlds to choose from.”

During their eight-day stay in NewDelhi, the Khators attended the 26thInternational Congress of Non-residentIndians. The annual congress, ofwhich the award is a part, provides aplatform for Indian businessmen andnon-resident Indians to exploreopportunities for collaboration andjoint business ventures.

The Hind Rattan award comes at theheels of another prestigious honor forthe university's provost. In December,Renu received the OutstandingAmerican by Choice award from theDepartment of Homeland Security/U.S.Immigration and Citizenship Services.The award, presented by EmilioGonzalez, USICS director, recognizesthe significant contributions of natu-ralized United States citizens anddemonstrates the positive impact ofimmigration by honoring naturalizedcitizens who are making a special

difference in their communities.Among the previous recipients of the

Outstanding American by Choice awardare: The Honorable Melquiades “Mel”Rafael Martinez, Florida’s 33rd senator;The Honorable Thomas P. Lantos, theonly Holocaust survivor ever to serve inCongress; Eduardo J. Padrón, presidentof Miami Dade College, the nation’slargest institution of higher learning;Caitriona Lyons, refugee program coor-dinator for the State of Texas; andMarina Belotserkovsky, director ofRussian Communications andCommunity Outreach at the HebrewImmigrant Aid Society, where she isresponsible for assisting over one mil-lion members of the Russian-speakingcommunity in America. Dr. Kiran C.Patel, a member of the USF Board ofTrustees and a philanthropist, was alsohonored at the same award ceremony.

“In a span of just a month, I wasrecognized by both countries, myadopted land and my motherland,”Renu says. “I feel very humbled andvery blessed.”

-ANN CARNEY

International Honor

On the eve of Republic Day in India(January 25th), surrounded by fami-ly and high ranking dignitaries, USFProvost Renu Khator and her hus-band, Suresh Khator, professor ofIndustrial & Management SystemsEngineering and director ofEngineering Computing, returnedto their homeland to accept theprestigious Hind Rattan (Jewel ofIndia) award. Given annually, theaward recognizes the outstandingservice, contributions and achieve-ments of non-resident Indians.

n “I was told it was because I was thefirst person of Indian origin to becomeprovost of a major research university,”says Renu. “And Suresh has done evenmore. He has graduated so many PhDsin Engineering…his students are in sig-nificant leadership positions in severalcountries including India, Brazil, HongKong, Turkey—some are deans or vicechancellors of universities.”

It is the first time a couple hasreceived the award. For this couple, itseems only fitting.

“Whatever I am today, it is becauseof him,” says Renu. “Suresh is my men-tor, my teacher, my friend.”

Renu’s life today is far from the lifeshe imagined when she learned at age18 that she would marry a completestranger in just 10 days. At the time shewas convinced an arranged marriagewould end her dream of earning anadvanced degree.

Nothing could have been furtherfrom the truth for the woman who istoday USF's chief academic officer andnumber two administrator.

In their adopted country, theKhator's Indian heritage is very mucha part of their daily life. The couple isactive in Tampa Bay's thriving Indiancommunity, and returns at least onceevery year to their homeland.Students, colleagues and friends whosurround them invariably learn some-thing about India.

“My connection to India keeps my

SURESH KHATOR, PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING, AND PROVOST RENU KHATOR

ARE THE FIRST COUPLE EVER TO RECEIVE THE PRESTIGIOUS HIND RATTAN AWARD.

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$14 Million for BayArea’s Youngest

In one of the largest gifts in Floridato support research and care fornewborns, USF alums Pam andLes Muma have donated $6 mil-lion to USF Health to support apartnership between TampaGeneral Hospital and the universi-ty. Eligible for a state match of $5million and a USF match of $3 mil-lion, as well as physician support,the total impact of the gift is morethan $14 million.

n As part of the gift, TGH willexpand and redesign its NeonatalIntensive Care Unit and rename it theJennifer Leigh Muma NeonatalIntensive Care Unit, in memory ofPam and Les’s daughter who died ina neonatal nursery. In addition, state-of-the-art core research laboratories atUSF Health will be named for LisaMuma Weitz, their daughter wholives in Charleston, South Carolina.

At USF, the gift will create thePamela and Leslie Muma EndowedChair in Neonatal Research.

The gift will allow USF Health andTGH to apply research to transformnewborn intensive care, according toDr. Steven Klasko, vice president forUSF Health and dean of the USFCollege of Medicine. “This is the typeof leadership gift that not only allowsUSF and TGH to perform researchthat will transform neonatal care, butalso fundamentally changes the com-munity such that patients fromaround the country will look toTampa as the place to care for thesickest babies and their moms.”

- ANN CARNEY

Genshaft to HeadTampa Bay Partnership

Judy Genshaft, president ofUSF, has been named the newchair of the Tampa Bay

Partnership, a seven-countyeconomic development organi-zation dedicated to strengthen-ing the Tampa Bay region as adestination for business reloca-tion and expansion, conductingregional research and influenc-ing business and governmentissues that impact economicgrowth and development.

n Genshaft’s election to the posi-tion was announced during theTampa Bay Partnership’s AnnualMeeting and Community Updateluncheon in November. About 500business and community leadersattended the sold-out meeting.

Genshaft, who previously servedin the positions of vice chair and sec-retary/treasurer for the group, alsoserves as a member of the GreaterTampa Chamber of Commerce, theFlorida High-Tech Corridor and theFlorida Council of 100.

President Genshaft pledged tocontinue the important work ofthe partnership in seven keyareas: transportation; affordablehousing; support of the BayArea legislative delegation; busi-ness development; the develop-ment of the regional economicscorecard; Vision21, which main-tains a focus on long-term issuesof growth; and the LeadershipNow campaign.

“Supporting the economicdevelopment of the region is cen-tral to my presidency at USF,” shesays. “I believe the role of a met-ropolitan research university is tobe part of the fabric of theregion. The Tampa BayPartnership has emerged as a keyplayer in the future growth anddevelopment of the region. I amconfident the Partnership willcontinue to be a leader in resolv-ing important regional businessand community issues in theupcoming year.”

- PHILIP BOOTH

Programs EarnTop Marks

Both for its academics and com-munity engagement, USF isearning top marks nationally.

n The Executive MBA program wasnamed one of the country’s best pro-grams of its kind for Hispanics,according to a ranking published inthe September/October issue ofHispanic Trends magazine.

The program, at USF’s College ofBusiness Administration, is rankedtenth in the United States on a list ofthe Top 25 Executive MBA programsfor Hispanics. USF’s program rankedhigher than Executive MBA programsat the University of Pennsylvania’sprestigious Wharton School,Georgetown University, PurdueUniversity and UCLA, according toHispanic Trends.

In addition, the College of BusinessAdministration’s recently establishedEntrepreneurship in AppliedTechnologies program was includedon a list of the nation’s major entre-preneurship programs, as selected byEntrepreneur magazine and ThePrinceton Review. The program offersboth a master of science degree and agraduate certificate.

Off campus, USF is earning topmarks as well. USF was named one of76 U.S. colleges and universities thatare the most engaged with their localcommunities. That’s according to theCarnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Teaching, whichselected USF for the foundation’s newCommunity Engagement Classification.

USF, the only Florida university toreceive the classification, is one ofonly ten public research universitiesaccorded this prestigious statusincluding the University of NorthCarolina Chapel Hill, UCLA, theUniversity of Minnesota, Arizona StateUniversity and Michigan StateUniversity.

- PHILIP BOOTH

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USF4YOU

When Educational Outreach staffwere discussing ways to increaseUSF’s enrollment at the graduatelevel, they found an opportunity inan underserved audience—workingprofessionals contemplating a post-baccalaureate education.

n “There are a large number of peoplewho want to attend USF and theyhaven’t known how to approach us,”says Lagretta Lenker, director of MetroInitiatives and Graduate Certificates.

“We realized we could create a path-way into the university for workingprofessional students, whether theywere seeking a degree or some othercredential, to explore all of the creditand noncredit options available at theuniversity,” adds Kathleen Moore, asso-ciate vice president for Academic Affairsand Educational Outreach. “Wedesigned a service to help studentsidentify their education and career goalsand direct them to a program or courseof study that will get them there.”

Called USF4YOU, the new service isa one-stop portal for adult workingprofessionals to access USF programsand services. Prospective students call1-888-USF4YOU and speak with a con-sultant who helps them evaluate andchoose from a variety of programs,including graduate certificates, profes-sional master’s degrees, bachelor’sdegree completion options, distancelearning and noncredit continuingeducation programs.

The program isworking. In just onesemester, supportedby a comprehensiveadvertising and mar-keting campaign,USF4YOU made morethan 500 referrals ofstudents to academicdegree programs, most-ly at the graduate level.

“It has been so terrificto help people fulfill their

goals or point them in the right direction,”says Lenker, whose entire career hasinvolved helping adults return to school.

Employers interested in helpingemployees advance—educationallyand professionally—are taking note. Infact, the USF4YOU office has receivedseveral requests for presentations fromTampa Bay area businesses.“Employers appreciate the help to bestuse their education and staff develop-ment dollars,” Moore says.

In the Tampa Bay area, competitionfor graduate studentstoday is fierce andincludes both out ofstate and for-profit enti-ties. Often the pro-grams can be veryexpensive and con-fusing.

“USF is a stateuniversity, and wehave a responsibilityto facilitate access,”Moore says. “Wehave programs ofhigh quality and

offer all the benefits of a public univer-sity, including world-class faculty,extensive student support services anda research library.”

Moore hopes to see the serviceexpand its reach to other prospectivepost-baccalaureate students not cur-rently working—people who havecompleted one career, for example,but are not ready to retire. “Everythingwe know about careers tells us thatpeople change jobs five or six times intheir lives,” she says. “We know theyneed a single place to explore optionsand obtain referrals.”

The key to the success of USF4YOUthus far is the people behind it, saysMoore. And, adds Lenker, the individu-alized attention. “When you are work-ing with the adult population, it reallyis a one-on-one process.”

“The decision to return to school isnot a five or six-week decision. It canbe a two or three-year decision. Whenpeople considering this step see theopportunity to explore their options,they’re eager to take advantage.”

-ANN CARNEY

LAGRETTA LENKER, KATHLEEN MOORE AND GERENE THOMPSON SAY THAT IN JUST ONE SEMESTER,

USF4YOU MADE MORE THEN 500 REFERRALS OF STUDENTS TO ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAMS.

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arine exploration anddiscovery efforts inocean science, mar-itime industry andport security will

attract international attention to thenewly launched SRI-St. Petersburg, affil-iated with USF’s College of MarineScience and its Center for OceanTechnology (COT).

Marine technology research anddevelopment is the primary focus ofthe high-profile technology researchcenter, officially approved by GovernorJeb Bush on November 30.

SRI-SP, a 30,000 square-foot facilityexpected to be built at a cost of $10million, is the result of an innovativepublic-private partnership among USF,the State of Florida and Silicon Valley-based research and technology giantSRI International.The research centerwill be permanently located at the Portof St.Petersburg in the USF-St.Petersburg area, and initially willemploy 40 staff members from COT.

“SRI continues the strong traditionof the USF College of Marine Sciencesconducting, sponsoring, and recruitingworld-class research and technologywith direct market applicability,” saidUSF President Judy Genshaft.“I pledgeUSF’s continued support to SRI and

welcome them as our newest partner.”Governor Jeb Bush applauded the

launch of SRI-SP, and the collaborativeeffort that attracted the facility to St. Petersburg.

“The expansion of SRI’s world-classresearch and development (R&D)operations into the Tampa Bay areaexemplifies Florida’s attractiveness topremier R&D institutes worldwide, andvalidates the strength of our marinescience and research foundation,” saidBush.“The presence of SRI will have atremendous impact on the continuedgrowth of our bio-sciences base. I havebeen distinctly honored to work withthe Florida Legislature to support theexpansion of SRI into Florida, and Iapplaud the outstanding collaborationof our academic, economic develop-ment and statewide leaders to success-fully bring this visionary project fromidea to reality.”

Curtis Carlson, president and CEOof SRI International, points to St.Petersburg as the perfect home for thefirm’s next major center.

“Ocean science and technology area growing national priority, and SRI’sreputation has been built on providinghigh-value innovations to our clients.When we decided to broaden ourR&D to include marine technology,

Florida—and the Tampa Bay area in par-ticular—became the logical choice,”Carlson said.“The institutional infra-structure is in place, and the broad-based support we have receivedalready creates momentum and terrificpotential for our new operation.”

SRI’s five-year goal for the center isto employ 100 staff members activelyinvolved in research, engineering andthe process of bringing innovativeproducts to the market. Marine sci-ences, maritime security, bio-medicalsciences, nanotechnology, and energyand the environment will be the

NEW PARTNERS FOR MARINE RESEARCHPHILIP BOOTH

M“The expansion of SRI’s

world-class research and

development operations into

the Tampa Bay area exemplifies

Florida’s attractiveness to

premier R&D institutes world-

wide and validates the

strength of our marine science

and research foundation.”

-Governor Jeb Bush

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emphases of SRI-SP, to be locally man-aged within SRI’s Engineering andSystems Division.

SRI-SP will be home to several high-impact collaborations with USF andother regional economic, academic andresearch organizations, including:

• PharmAdvance, a Florida versionof SRI’s successful PharmaStart modelfor translational drug development

• Regional Economic DevelopmentStudy, prepared by SRI’s EconomicDevelopment group in coordinationwith regional agencies

• Port Security Initiative, a multi-institution program creating a center ofexcellence for port and maritime secu-rity in Florida

• Center for Independent Aging,designed to assess and develop tech-nologies and policies impacting social,

technological and economic issuesassociated with an aging population

The expected economic impact ofSRI-SP over 10 years is dramatic. Thecenter is expected to bring as much as$172 million to the local economy, andcreate a total of 200 jobs.TheGovernor’s Office of Tourism,Trade,and Economic Development workedclosely with Enterprise Florida, PinellasCounty Economic Development,Pinellas County Board of CountyCommissioners, City of St. Petersburg,USF and the Tampa Bay Partnership tosecure this project for Florida.

“USF is an important economic driv-er in St Petersburg and the region,”saidGenshaft, USF president and the newchair of the Tampa Bay Partnership.“Iam confident more high technologycompanies will join SRI in making the

Tampa Bay region home.”Officials with USF, SRI International

and the governor’s office announcedthe launch of SRI-SP during a pressconference at the KnightOceanographic Research Center at USF-St. Petersburg.

Genshaft, Carlson, St. PetersburgMayor Rick Baker and Pinellas CountyCommission Chair Ken Welch wereamong those who offered remarksduring the press event.

Funding for SRI-SP is derived from avariety of sources, including a $20 mil-lion Innovation Incentive Fund, provid-ed by the State of Florida to cover SRI-SP’s operating costs for its first threeto five years; $5 million from the Cityof St. Petersburg, by way of a grantfrom the Florida SeaportTransportation and EconomicDevelopment Council; $5 million inmatching funds from Pinellas County;and $3.5 million in salary and person-nel support from USF. The City of St. Petersburg will lease the center’ssite to SRI at a nominal cost.

SRI International, formerly known asStanford Research Institute, is aresearch and commercialization firmwith 60 years of experience in technol-ogy development. SRI, with more than2,000 staff members and consolidatedrevenues of $390 million in 2005, haspioneered many technologies thathave played a vital role in U.S. econom-ic and technological growth.

PRESIDENT JUDY GENSHAFT WELCOMED SRI AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT THE

KNIGHT OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH CENTER AT USF ST. PETERSBURG IN NOVEMBER.

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BREAKING NEW GROUNDPHILIP BOOTH

onstruction of the JointMilitary LeadershipCenter (JMLC), the new$10.4 million home ofUSF’s Army, Marine,

Naval and Air Force Reserve OfficerTraining Corps (ROTC) programs,officially began September 11.Groundbreaking for the centercoincided with USF’s observancesof the fifth anniversary of the 2001terrorist attacks.

During the hour-long ceremony,

Cattended by about 225 officials andROTC students, USF President JudyGenshaft accepted several artifactsto be displayed in the center whencompleted in late 2007. Among theartifacts: A square of steel recov-ered from the World Trade Centerand soil obtained from theShanksville, Pennsylvania crash siteof United Airlines Flight 93.

Congressman C.W. Bill Young,sponsor of the $6 million federalgrant that helped fund the center,attended along with state repre-sentatives Kevin C. Ambler and

Richard Glorioso; USF Provost RenuKhator; Brig. Gen. Luis R.Visot,executive director of the center;USF Board of Trustees Chair RheaLaw; and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

The center, home of the nation’s

The center is home of the

nation’s only joint program

for ROTC units from the

Army, Marine Corps, Navy

and Air Force.

BRIGADIER GENERAL LUIS VISOT LOOKS ON AS USF PRESIDENT JUDY GENSHAFT ACCEPTS SEVERAL 9/11 ARTIFACTS TO BE DIS-PLAYED IN THE JOINT MILITARY LEADERSHIP CENTER.

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only joint program for ROTC unitsfrom the Army, Marine Corps, Navyand Air Force, is a four-story, state-of-the-art facility located on MapleAvenue immediately north of theUSF Recreation Center.

In addition to providing fourclassrooms and a 360-seat auditori-um for ROTC programs and admin-istrative offices for the JMLC, thecenter will offer two, 200-seat audi-toriums and classroom space foruse by the entire university.

More than 320 undergraduatemen and women participate in the

ROTC programs at USF, one of only38 campuses in the nationoffering ROTC programs fromall Armed Forces. Many ofthose participating in USF’sROTC programs are undergrad-uate students at nearby collegesand universities that do nothave their own ROTC program,faculty or facilities.

“Nowhere else on any uni-versity campus is there a jointROTC program,” Genshaft saidduring the ceremony. “It is makingan historic impact.”

CONGRESSMAN C.W. BILL YOUNG (R-INDIAN SHORES), SPONSOR OF THE $6 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT THAT HELPED PROVIDEFUNDING FOR THE CENTER, SPOKE AT THE CEREMONY WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 225 OFFICIALS AND ROTC STUDENTS.

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hen USF medicalstudent PeachesOrallo started aunit of her third-year program,

she found the material unfamiliar,and frankly a bit daunting.

As part of a 16-week program inprimary care medicine that address-es special needs populations, Orallobegan a unique module on patientswith disabilities. USF offers one ofvery few such formal programs inthe country.

“It’s not something I had evercome into contact with every day,”says Orallo. “It was like a discon-nect. I never thought I might have

to help someone out of a wheel-chair and on to the exam table oneday. When I started this unit, I wasafraid I might physically hurt them,or offend them in a certain way.”

Orallo’s timidity is in part whatmotivated faculty and administratorsin the College of Medicine todesign a course component

addressing adults with physical,sensory, intellectual and develop-mental disabilities.

“This is our attempt to deal morein depth with issues that might notbe addressed on a daily basis inmedical school,” says Dr. LaurieWoodard, associate professor ofFamily Medicine and one of the ini-tiators of the course. “These arepopulations that need a little bit ofextra attention, and attitudinal,financial and physical barriers pre-vent us from doing so.”

For decades, most of the medicalneeds of developmentally disabled(those whose disabilities, mentaland/or physical, occurred during

childhood) have been tended to bypediatricians, notes Woodard, evenas the patient got older. As medi-cine becomes more specialized, thedisabled, like all people, requirethe medical attention of variousphysicians, and most doctors havenot been prepared to work withthis population and its unique,

sometimes complex, requirements.“Doctors reflect society, and have

the same biases,” says Woodard.“Clearly it’s become an issue to findadult providers who are willing orable to deal with people with devel-opmental disabilities.”

Caution about approaching theunfamiliar, along with curriculartime constraints, have left medicalschools neglectful of addressing theissues their students will face withpatients with disabilities.

Still, the need to teach about theunique requirements of this popula-tion is real, and growing. Accordingto a recent Surgeon General’sreport, one in five Americans areliving with some form of a disabili-ty. Yet a separate study by theSpecial Olympics indicates that anadult with an intellectual disabilitywould have to visit 50 primary caredoctors to find one with even mini-mal training in the care of this pop-ulation.

“Every physician, regardless ofspecialty, will encounter patientswith disabilities,” says Dr. KiraZwygart, assistant professor andclerkship director for the PrimaryCare and Focus on SpecialPopulations clerkship. “For that rea-son, we believe it is important forfuture physicians to learn somebasics about the care of thesepatients, and about issues that areimportant to them.”

The unit offered at USF beginswith the strong declaration that

“Every physician, regardless of specialty, will encounter

patients with disabilities. For that reason, we believe it is

important for future physicians to learn some basics

about the care of these patients, and about issues that

are important to them.” – Dr. Kira Zwygart

A DOSE OF REALITY

WBY SHERYL KAY

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physicians must see the disabled aspeople first, and as disabled second.

“We’d like our students to beable to walk into a room and seethe person, and not be totally dis-tracted because the person may bein a wheelchair or may be non ver-bal,” Woodard says.

To that end, the module placesstudents in many different real-lifesituations with the disabled popula-tion, from home appointments tocalls at community centers, on-cam-pus visits, panel discussions, andpractice interviews and exams.

Cristina Spiegel coordinates thestudents’ visits with various organi-zations and neighborhood pro-grams. Something like this has

never been done before,” saysSpiegel. “They’ve never had med-ical students reach out to thembefore. It gives these groups asense of positive support.”

Students are also offered sensi-tivity training where they are put insimulated situations like being blindfolded, or seated in a wheelchair,to get a small inkling of what thatdisability might be like.

Since its inception, about 120students have passed through theunit, and the heightened awarenessis evident. Students feel more atease and therefore better able tocare for these patients in the clini-cal setting.

“I’ve definitely made a connect

now,” says Orallo. “Now I’m notafraid to ask a patient ‘do you mindif I put you on the table.’”

“If medical students can learn tobe empathetic with patients whohave disabilities—if they can takecare of them and be thoughtful andcourteous—that will transfer to allof their patients,” Woodard says.“We take an oath to take care ofour fellow humans. I’m hopingfrom this course the students willdevelop a sense of responsibilityand desire to care for all peoplethat are in need, especially peoplewho may appear on the surface tobe a little different.”

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UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF DR. LAURIE WOODARD, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FAMILY MEDICINE, USF MEDICAL STUDENT PEACHESORALLO IS LEARNING TO ADDRESS THE SPECIALIZED NEEDS OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES, LIKE ROBIN STAWSKI.

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U P D A T E

Nobel Visitors

In November, the NobelLaureate Sir Harold W. Kroto,known for attachingBuckminster Fuller’s name to a molecule he discovered spokeat the Sam & Martha GibbonsAlumni Center Traditions Hall.

n Kroto is known for his co-discov-ery of what is popularly known as“buckyballs,” but formally calledbuckminsterfullerene, a form of purecarbon. The spheroid molecule, con-sisting of 60 carbon atoms, resemblesthe pattern on a soccer ball. Theshape reminded Kroto of the latearchitect and inventor’s geodesicdomes. Kroto won the RoyalSociety’s prestigious Michael FaradayAward in 2001 for his contributionsto furthering public communication

of science in the United Kingdom.Kroto is one of numerous Nobel

Laureates to lecture at USF since1968.

The first Nobel Laureate to lectureat USF was Willard Libby in 1968.Libby was recognized with the NobelPrize in Chemistry in 1960 for hiswork on carbon dating. Since thattime there have been at least 16 oth-ers. The majority were part of the

chemistry lecture series. The Physics Department also has

hosted two Physics Nobel Laureatelecturers and convinced one to stay.

Subsequent to his visit, Ivar Giaeveraccepted an appointment as chair ofthe Physics Executive Advisory Boardin 2004, a position he continues tohold. A third Physics Nobel Laureate,Charles H. Townes, was on hand toaccept an honorary doctoral degreefrom USF in 1988.

In addition, the University LectureSeries, in cooperation with theHumanities Institute, presented Nobel

Peace Laureates, apartheid opponentArchbishop Desmond Tutu and envi-ronmental activist Wangari Maathi tothe university community and the

NOBEL LAUREATE SIR HAROLD W. KROTO, WITH MODELS OF FULLERENES IN 1996, SPOKE ON CAMPUS IN NOVEMBER. NOBEL

PEACE PRIZE HOLDERS DESMOND TUTU AND WANGARI MAATHAI ALSO LECTURED ON CAMPUS IN 2006.

“Tremendous vision inspires the work of people who merit the

Nobel Prize and we value the opportunity to have our students

and faculty learn from and interact with them.” -John Skvoretz

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Faculty First

Naomi Yavneh appears to be ascomfortable searching into thepast as she is delving into con-temporary issues. And, becauseof her considerable contribu-tions in and beyond her field,she was chosen by USF Womenin Leadership & Philanthropy(WLP) as the recipient of itsinaugural Faculty ResearchRecognition Award.

n The director of undergraduateresearch and associate professor ofhumanities, Yavneh is a major fig-ure in Italian Renaissance studiesand yet managed to create aninnovative new research courseentitled “Hurricane Humanitarianand Social Interventions” that pro-duced substantial media attentionlast summer. She received a $5,000grant to support continuedresearch and one year's honorarymembership in WLP.

“We developed this award torecognize USF faculty whoseresearch and creative efforts focuson women and related issues in asignificant way,” says Juel ShannonSmith, WLP executive director.“The recipient also had to demon-strate active involvement in theacademic community and a contri-bution to the institutional welfareof women at the university.”

Yavneh, who holds a PhD in lit-erature from the University of

Patel Foundation broughtMuhammad Yunus, founder andpresident of the Grameen Bank inBangladesh, to address a gathering inhonor of his being awarded thefoundation’s Global Citizen Award.He became a Peace Prize recipient afew months later.

“Tremendous vision inspires thework of people who merit the NobelPrize and we value the opportunityto have our students and facultylearn from and interact with them,”says John Skvoretz, dean, College ofArts and Sciences.

Nobel Laureates who have spoken at USF

Sir Harold Kroto, Chemistry, 1996

Wangari Maathai; 2004 Peace Prize

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Peace Prize

Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Peace Prize

Dr. John C. Polanyi, Chemistry, 1986

Frank Wilczek, Physics, 2004

Dr. William D. Phillips, Physics, 1997

Horst Stormer, Physics, 1998

Ivar Giaever, Physics, 1973

John Polanyi, Chemistry, 1986

Gerorge Hitchings, Physiology, 1988

Herbert A. Hauptman, Chemistry, 1985

Jerome Karle, Chemistry, 1985

Gertrude Elion, Physiology, 1988

Charles H. Townes, Physics, 1964

Derek Barton, Chemistry, 1969

R. Bruce Merrifield, Chemistry, 1984

Herbert C. Brown, Chemistry, 1979

Melvin Calvin, Chemistry, 1961

H. Gobind Khorana, Physiology, 1968

Willard F. Libby, Chemistry, 1960

-BARBARA PERKINS

DESMOND TUTU WANGARI MAATHAI

California, Berkeley, is the 2006president of the Society for theStudy of Early Modern Women(SSEMW). She has co-edited andcontributed to two books: Genderand Sibling Relations in EarlyModern World: Thicker than Waterand Maternal Measures: FiguringCaregiving in the Early ModernPeriod, which won recognition asthe 2000 Outstanding CollaborativeProject from SSEMW. She also is aformer president of the ModernLanguage Association's Caucus forthe Modern Languages.

Stuart Silverman, dean of theHonors College, says, “Her work isnothing short of spectacular. Shehas invented a new kind of inter-disciplinary research experience forundergraduates and is responsiblefor expanding our annual under-graduate Research Symposium tohigh school students.”

“Her work draws on material asvaried as literary art, theologicaltreatises, obstetrical treatises, visualart, the Bible and recent feministtheory, as well as her own experi-ence as an American academicwoman and mother,” says SilvioGaggi, chair of Humanities andAmerican Studies. Calling Yavneh“a true interdisciplinarian,” headds, “She is an energetic andimmensely popular teacher andshe is a leader beyond her teach-ing and scholarship.”

USF Women in Leadership &Philanthropy also has supportedfour research projects in conjunc-tion with the Hillsborough CountyCommission Committee on theStatus of Women on employment,health, housing and child care.

-BARBARA PERKINS

NAOMI YAVNEH

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C O M M U N I T Y

First in the Family

What’s the real world impact ofUSF First Generation Scholarships?The scholarships, the first ofwhich were presented at aSeptember reception at the newUSF Athletic Training Facility, letstudents be students: The fundshelp students, who will be the firstin their families to graduate fromcollege with a bachelor’s degree,to work less, and study more.

n That’s been the experience ofCiera White, a junior studying crimi-nology and planning on a career inlaw, and fellow students SylvesterCoston and Elsie Alvarado.

“When I received the scholarship,I was able to cut back on my hours,”says White, who graduated withhonors from Hardee Senior HighSchool in Wauchula. White previous-ly worked 25 hours a week andrelied on her mother for financialassistance.

“I have more time now to focuson studying and getting everythingready to apply to law school,” Whitesays. “I can manage my time betterwithout having to focus on work orhaving to depend on my mom ormy family for extra expenses.”

“This was something that mymother and my grandmother and mygreat grandmother didn’t have theopportunity to do,” she adds. “Ihope that I can be a role model forchildren everywhere around me. Ihope it motivates my mom andother family members to earn theirown college degrees.”

White, who initially studied athlet-ic training, switched to criminologyafter a summer stint assisting deputyclerks in Hardee County’s JuvenileJustice Department.

“I helped them with getting theirdocuments ready, and I also attend-ed court with them,” she says. “Ialso got a chance to sit in on thejury selection for a couple of trials. Ilearned how the process works. I’m

a people person, and I love helpingothers whenever I have the oppor-tunity to do so.”

Approximately $967,000 in schol-arship funds, including moniesdonated by Publix Supermarkets

Charities, Genesis FinancialManagement Inc., the Krewe ofSant’Yago, and donors to the LatinoScholarship Program and the Jimand June Grant Foundation, havebeen awarded to First GenerationScholars. “At least 500 USF studentsare expected to be provided with

First Generation Scholarships duringthe 2006-07 academic year,” saysPete Fazio, director of theUniversity Scholarship Office. Thesestudents are currently enrolled fulltime at USF, have significant finan-

cial need and have demonstratedacademic success.

Through the First GenerationMatching Grant Program, the state ofFlorida matches, dollar for dollar, up to$967,000 provided by private donorsto USF. Thus, USF may award up to$1.934 million in First Generation

USF FIRST GENERATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SYLVESTER COSTON, CIERA

WHITE AND ELSIE ALVARADO PLAN TO PAY IT FORWARD.

“I see myself as raising the bar for the rest of my family

members, to show them that it’s possible.” - Sylvester Coston

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Well Read

Faculty, staff, students and community members recentlycelebrated the grand opening of Barnes & Noble USF St.Petersburg—the first majorchain bookstore in downtownSt. Petersburg.

n The 10,000 square-foot super-store, located on the USF St.Petersburg campus, includes a spe-cial section for faculty authors, anexpanded reading section and acafé featuring Starbucks® products.The store is open seven days aweek.

“I love it. I love books andbookstores, and I love coffee. Sothis is a perfect combination forme. It rounds out downtown,” saidSt. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker atthe grand opening event inOctober.

For students, the superstore is awelcome addition.

“It’s a great place for students to

meet up for study groups or evento grab a quick bite to eat,” saysMegan Willoughby, StudentGovernment president. “There is asteady stream of students walkingto and from the store throughoutthe day.”

Children from the YWCA FamilyVillage Pre-K class visited the storeon opening day for its first storytime by College of Education stu-dent Melissa Harvey.

“It’s great to walk by the storeand see the campus and communi-ty enjoying our bookstore,” saysKaren White, regional chancellor.“It has helped make downtownand the campus more vibrant.”

The opening of the new book-store came just in time for the St. Petersburg Times Festival ofReading and correlates with USF St. Petersburg and the city’srecent growth. The university justopened its first residence hall andparking garage in August.

-ERIKA LLENZA

Scholarships based on donations com-mitted to this program.

Coston, a sophomore headed fora degree in mass communicationsand a career in film and televisionproduction, also is pleased by theimpact of the First GenerationScholarship on his studies.

“The time I was putting into workI can now spend on studying andgoing over my coursework,” saysCoston, a graduate of Robinson HighSchool in Tampa. “It saves me a lotof working time.”

Coston, the first in his family tograduate from high school and thefirst to go to college, echoed White’shopes for the indirect results of hiscollege studies, in terms of affectingsiblings and cousins.

“I see myself as raising the bar forthe rest of my family members, toshow them that it’s possible,” hesays. “My younger cousins got excit-ed about me going to college.”

Alvarado, a freshman taking pre-med classes, agrees with Coston andWhite on the difference that her FirstGeneration Scholarship has made, interms of enabling her to focus moreintently on her school work.

“I have a work-study job on cam-pus, and I would probably be work-ing more hours there if not for thescholarship,” she says.

Alvarado, a graduate of MiddletonHigh School, with family roots inPuerto Rico, hopes to someday useher medical expertise to help under-privileged people in Latin America,Africa and elsewhere. She hasalready gained practical experience,shadowing nurses at St. Joseph’sHospital in Tampa.

“I always liked helping people,”she says. “I’m thinking about goingto poor countries and helping peo-ple there. They don’t have enoughmedical support. I just want to helpthem, and to teach them how to takecare of themselves.”

-PHILIP BOOTH

USF ST. PETERSBURG’S NEW BARNES & NOBLE OPENED IN THE FALL. USF FACULTY AND

ADMINISTRATION, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES AND LOCAL RESIDENTS

FLOODED THE STORE.

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C O M M U N I T Y

oday’s skin cancers arerooted in yesterday’s sun-burns.

“There is no suchthing as a healthy tan,”

says Dr. Richard Roetzheim, professorof Family Medicine at USF’s Collegeof Medicine. “Tanning is the skin’sattempt to protect itself from the dam-age being done by the sun, and manyskin cancers that adults get are fromexposures during childhood.”

After watching the incidence ofskin cancer reach “epidemic propor-tions” in his own family practice,Roetzheim searched for ways to helpprevent the onslaught, only to realizehe was 40 or 50 years too late for

most of his patients. Since peoplereceive more than 80 percent of theirtotal lifetime sun exposure before age18, he realized the key would be tostart limiting sun exposure early in lifeby shading children’s skin.

This prompted Roetzheim to applyfor, and ultimately receive, a $1.3 mil-lion grant from the National CancerInstitute for a study called SunProtection for Florida’s Children.Roetzheim is working with the com-munity-based health education organi-zation More Health and USF facultymembers in interdisciplinary oncolo-gy, psychology and pediatrics.

Now in its second of four years,the USF researchers are monitoringchildren’s compliance with wearingprotective hats while playing outside,as well as measuring changes in thehealth of these children’s skin duringthe study.

While including information aboutthe importance of sunscreen, the edu-cational study emphasizes the addedbenefit of hats as a skin cancer pre-vention measure.

“In earlier studies looking at theuse of sunscreen at the beach, weobserved that parents tend to missareas like the back of neck or earswhen applying sunscreen to theirchildren and rarely do they reapply

the child’s sunscreen after swimming,”Roetzheim says. “So, putting on sun-screen appears to offer a false senseof security that may keep people fromwearing a hat, staying in the shade orreducing the amount of time spent inthe sun.”

This year the Sun ProtectionProgram was rolled out at 23 elemen-tary schools across HillsboroughCounty. Almost 2,000 fourth gradershave been given specially designedlight-weight, tightly woven hats withtwo-inch-wide brims designed toshade the most vulnerable part of thehead, face and neck. The hats are

worn while playing outside (oneremains at school, and one goeshome with each child). Half of theschools are the control group, and donot receive hats.

Teachers and administrators havebeen encouraged to participate too.

“We knew there would be somesocial factors that might keep individ-ual kids from wearing a hat, so wedecided to do it as a group thing,where they have the support ofeveryone in the whole grade, andthey can model the teachers’ behav-iors,” Roetzheim says.

Project Director Seft Hunter haslaunched the study by visiting theschools and presenting age-appropriateclasses on skin cancer and prevention.

“Its all about social marketing,”Hunter says. “We want to make surewe’ve packaged the message in away that is effective for fourthgraders, not to scare them, but toeducate them and empower them.”

While children volunteer to be inthe project, they are not required to

HATS ONBY SHERYL KAY

“Many skin cancers that adults get are from sun exposures

during childhood. The key to skin cancer prevention is to

start limiting sun exposure early in life by shading

children's skin.” — Dr. Richard Roetzheim

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wear the hats, so their compliance ismonitored by Hunter and othertrained observers who visit the vari-ous schools.

Additionally, five students randomlyselected from each class were eachexamined for the numbers of moles onthe skin, as well as the amount of skinpigment melanin. These students will beexamined again at the end of the schoolyear. More or larger moles, or moremelanin, will indicate sun damage.

Susan Marohnic, principal at LillianSymmes Elementary School inRiverview, oversaw the implementa-tion of a pilot program at her schoollast year, and is tremendously excitedabout its future potential.

Before the pilot study, Marohnicsays, she never saw children wearinghats on the playground unless it wasa special event or a designated hatday (while wearing hats is notallowed in classrooms, it has alwaysbeen permitted outside during recessand gym). Today, she says, she not

only sees the wide-brimmed hats atschool, but often in backpacks ofchildren who were not even part ofthe study.

“This small pilot created awarenessamong the children, and the resultwill be much more far reaching thanany of us could have anticipated,”she says.

It’s an overwhelming feeling forMarohnic whose own son is a skincancer survivor. First diagnosed withmelanoma, the most serious form ofskin cancer, when he was only 13, heendured five different surgeries, andis one of the lucky ones. Now 26, hehas been cancer-free for six years.

Mary Kay Foody, mom of 10-year-old Trey who participated in the pilotlast year at Corpus Christi CatholicSchool in Temple Terrace, echoedMarohnic’s commendations.

Foody, an oncology nurse, saysboth of her children swim in an out-door pool six days a week, and it hasalways been a struggle to convince

Trey to wear sunscreen.“I used to have to literally chase

him around the house,” she says,“and now he actually reminds me toapply his sunscreen.”

While Trey did not continue wear-ing the protective hat, he is muchmore aware of sun exposure and thedamage it causes, and for that, Foodyis grateful.

“I don’t think we can ever be toocareful here in Florida,” she says.

Roetzheim noted that while thoseliving closer to the equator mightexperience more days of constant sun-shine, sun exposure can cause dam-age no matter where someone lives.

In his effort to protect his own twochildren, Roetzheim puts into practicethe same behaviors he wants them toemulate.

“You’ll never find me outside with-out my hat and my beach umbrella,”he says. “It’s a struggle, but you haveto stay on top of it for the kids’ sake.”

DR. ROETZHEIM’S STUDY ENCOURAGES YOUNG CHILDREN TO WEAR HATS WHILE PLAYING OUTDOORS TO LIMIT THEIR SUN EXPOSURE EARLY IN LIFE.

NEARLY 2,000 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOURTH GRADERS WERE GIVEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED HATS AS PART OF THE SUN PROTECTION PROGRAM.

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D I S C O V E R Y

SF geologist husbandand wife teamJonathan Wynn andDiana Roman havereported on the

world’s oldest fossil remains of ajuvenile female, early pre-humanancestor. The Australopithecusafarensis was discovered inDikika, Ethiopia. The geologists’findings were published in theSeptember 21 issue of Nature. Thecoverage served as the magazine’scover story, “A Child of her Time.”Roman also was quoted in theDecember 2006 issue of ScientificAmerican on how the fossils weredated at 3.3 million years old.

Because the new fossil wasfound in the region of Ethiopiawhere similar adult female fossilscalled “Lucy” were found in 1974,the popular press dubbed the new3.3 million-year-old child fossilbones “Lucy’s child.”

“Not only is this fossil the oldestjuvenile hominid discovered todate, the fossil is remarkably wellpreserved for a specimen of suchantiquity,” says Wynn. “Juvenilespecimens in such a pristine stateof preservation are known frommuch later species, such as the

Neanderthals, while most of theearly pre-humans are known froma few teeth and isolated, disarticu-lated bones.”

Scientists found the 3-year-oldchild’s almost complete skull asso-ciated with scapulae (shoulderbones) and clavicles, some verte-brae, some rib bones and fingers,parts of leg bones and metatarsals.All were buried, most likely by aflood, soon after the child died.The more non-human-like natureof the shoulder, leg and fingerbones have led scientists to specu-

late that this Australopithecine mayhave spent considerable timeclimbing in trees as well as walk-ing the earth. More delicate bones,such as the hyoid bone (importantfor human speech) and scapula,are preserved in anatomical preci-sion. The “Lucy’s child” fossilspresent a nearly complete upperbody and face, with brain featurespreserved in good detail.

“This unique preservation willprovide anthropologists with manyclues as to early human adapta-tions such as upright walking and

THEWORLDOF LUCY’SCHILD

BY RANDOLPH FILLMORE

UUSF PROFESSORS OF GEOLOGY JONATHAN WYNN AND DIANA ROMAN RECENTLY

RETURNED FROM ETHIOPIA WHERE THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS COINCIDE TO DEFINE

THE WORLD OF LUCY’S CHILD. ROMAN’S WORK DETERMINES HER AGE, AND WYNN’S

DESCRIBES THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE SHE LIVED.

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the potential for—or lack of—thecapacity for speech,” notes Wynn.

Wynn provided geologicalexpertise to help explain the geo-logical context of the find, notingthat the unique state of preserva-tion of this fossil is a direct result ofthe geological environment inwhich it lived 3.3 million years ago.

“In this part of Ethiopia’s devel-oping rift valley, the floor of therift was dropping down very rapid-ly due to the spreading of Earth’scrustal plates that define the riftzones of East Africa,” explainsWynn. “Rapid rates of tectonicactivity provided the setting forrapid accumulation of sediments,perhaps from a flood, which buriedthe fossil shortly after death.”

Encapsulated in sediment as acorpse, the fossilized bones wereexcavated by anthropologists morethan three million years later.

“We provided answers about thepaleoenvironment and the com-plex geological history of the site,”says Wynn. “We were also able,

through an examination of thelocal geology, and especially theactive volcanic history of theregion, to provide a solid geologi-cal date for the fossil.”

Roman, a volcanologist, usedchemical “fingerprints” preservedin volcanic glass around the fossilto identify unique eruptions ofknown geological age that were

USF geologists help explain the earliest known human

ancestor—a 3-year-old pre-human child who may have

lived in a volcano’s shadow.

nique that compares the relativeamounts of potassium and argon inthe feldspar crystals the ancienteruptions produced.

Volcanic activity not onlyhelped date the fossils but mayhave formed an important back-drop to the “Lucy’s child’s” lifemillions of years ago.

“Volcanoes thought to have

THE TEAM WORKS ON THE DIKIKA

RESEARCH PROJECT IN THE AFAR

REGION OF ETHIOPIA. LOCAL PEOPLE

OF THE AFAR AND ISSA TRIBES ARE

HIRED BY THE SCIENTISTS AS GUIDES.

FOSSILS ARE DATED BY THE STUDY OF

“TUFF”— VOLCANIC ASH FOUND IN

THE LAYERS OF SOIL.

been active during the time that“Lucy’s child” lived, and which arepreserved in the geologicalrecord, may have also influencedthe local environments and influ-enced the habitats she lived in,”suggests Roman.

subsequently used to “bracket” theage of the fossil.

Roman explains that “tephros-tratigraphy,” a technique of exam-ining volcanic ash layers aboveand below the fossil, produced adate range of 3.31 to 3.35 millionyears old for “Lucy’s child.” Theash was dated by a combination ofpaleomagnetic analysis and a tech-

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High Anxiety

Purely psychological stress pro-duces behavioral symptoms inanimal models similar to thoseobserved in people with PostTraumatic Stress Disorder,according to researchers at theUniversity of South Florida andthe James A. Haley Veterans’Hospital in Tampa.

n Phillip Zoladz, a USF doctoralstudent in psychology, conductedthe research with David Diamond, aresearch scientist with the TampaVA and a professor of psychologyand pharmacology at USF. Findingsof the research, supported by agrant from the VeteransAdministration, were presented inOctober at the Society forNeuroscience meeting in Atlanta.

“Rats were exposed to a cat forone hour,” Zoladz says. “No physicalharm came to the rats because of abarrier between the rats and cat.”

Diamond and Zoladz reasonedthat because rats have a powerfulinstinctual fear of cats, the inabilityof the rats to escape from the catwould be traumatic, and that theexperience would be analogous tothe terror that people feel in life-threatening situations.

The USF and VA investigatorssuggested that this research canserve as a tool to develop pharma-cological treatments which mayalleviate the symptoms of PTSD inpeople. “A substantial number oftroops returning from the war inIraq have been diagnosed withPTSD, according to the latest stud-ies conducted by the U.S. Army,”says Diamond. “As a result, there’san urgent need for research into thebiological basis of PTSD to facilitatethe development of treatments forthis disorder.”

Just as veterans of combatwith PTSD have heightenedanxiety that may persist longafter they return to civilianlife, rats displayed high lev-els of anxiety, an exaggerat-ed response to being star-tled, and increased bloodpressure long after theywere exposed to the cat,explains Diamond.

“This animal model ofPTSD will enableresearchers to examinemechanisms in the brainthat may be responsiblefor the pathological effectsof traumatic stress on peo-ple,” says Zoladz.

-RANDOLPH FILLMORE

Building a Smarter Cell Phone

Researchers at USF’s Center forUrban Transportation Research(CUTR) and Department ofComputer Science andEngineering are working on cellphone applications that can helpkeep you safer, tell you when toevacuate from a hurricane andeven let you help law enforce-ment prevent or solve crimes.

n Your next cell phone, in additionto being a communication tool, maybe a friend indeed when you are inneed. That’s thanks to the develop-ment of the Wireless Safety/SecuritySystem (Wi-Via), which can gatherand distribute massive amounts ofinformation and send it where itneeds to go over the Internet andmobile phone channels.

“A number of convenient, personal-ized services are possible with theseadvancements,” says Sean J. Barbeau,a CUTR researcher working with ateam developing new computer soft-ware applications using “location-based middleware” and “remotemethod invocation.”

The next cell phone generation’sGlobal Positioning System

(GPS) will have thecapability to determinewithin three to fivemeters your positionin the event of anemergency, accord-ing to Barbeau. If ahurricane approach-es, you can find outif you are in amandatory evacua-tion zone. Likewise,bi-directional capa-bilities, like reverse911 calls, can alertsubscribers thatthey are in a hurri-cane evacuationzone as a stormapproaches. Or, if

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you dial 911 and send a picture toa dispatcher, that dispatcher can seethe image you have sent and canbe in contact with you at the clickof a mouse. It will also relay a pic-ture or video to first responders,who will be able to respond moreeffectively. Wi-Via technology canalso help law enforcement trackingmissing children.

“If an Amber Alert is issued for amissing child, a user responding to analert could send a picture of a suspectand the suspect’s location to a 911-likecenter,” Barbeau says. “That picturecould then be sent to other AmberAlert subscribers in the nearby area.”

Barbeau has been invited to repre-sent USF in an elite group of interna-tional experts developing a new soft-ware standard for mobile phones.USF is the only university asked toparticipate in the developmentprocess. The high-profile groupincludes hand-picked representativesfrom Motorola, Samsung, Sprint-Nextel, Cingular, Nokia, SunMicrosystems, Inc., Sony Ericsson,GPS hardware manufacturer Sirf, andEuropean cellular providers Orangeand Telecom Italia.

With funding support from boththe Florida and U.S. Departments ofTransportation, CUTR and theDepartment of Computer Science andEngineering at USF are developing avariety of location-aware cell phoneapplications. USF has pioneeredresearch in this area of technologyand will now bring its experience andexpertise to the development group.

- RANDOLPH FILLMORE AND PHILIP BOOTH

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la Parte Florida Mental HealthInstitute’s (FMHI) Department ofMental Health, Law and Policyand the School of Aging Studies.Their findings were published inthe September issue ofAlzheimer’s Disease andAssociated Disorders.

n “Dementia is a very debilitatingcondition,” says co-author Ross Andelof the School of Aging Studies and theFlorida Alzheimer’s Disease ResearchCenter. “It affects up to 10 percent ofadults over 65 and can account for upto 70 percent of the long-term care,nursing home population. This studyprovided evidence that treatment withChE-Is can delay nursing home place-ment by an average of three-and-a-half months, possibly as a function oftemporary stabilization of cognitiveand functional abilities.”

According to the Alzheimer’sAssociation, ChE-Is are designed toincrease levels of acetylcholine, achemical messenger involved in mem-ory and thought processing. The drug,first approved by the FDA in 1993, isknown by several trade names, includ-ing Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne.

A Beneficial Delay

Treating dementia patients withcholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is)may delay placement into nurs-ing homes while providingimproved quality of life and help-ing preserve personal and socie-tal resources. That’s according toresearchers from USF’s Louis de

To carry out the study, researchersused records from the FloridaMedicaid program to follow separategroups of patients over age 60 withdementia who were either taking ornot taking ChE-Is and had not beenplaced in a nursing home.

“The group of patients who werealready taking ChE-Is were signifi-cantly older and included morewomen,” says lead study authorMarion Becker of FMHI. “That thosetaking ChE-Is were placed in a nurs-ing home more than three monthslater than those not taking the drughas implications not only for patientsand their families, but for controllingthe rising costs of Medicaid.”

Cost effectiveness is also a consid-eration when expensive drugs areused in the Medicaid system.

“The cost of the therapy can beoff-set by the financial benefits thatcome with nursing home placementdelay,” Becker adds.

Nursing home care costs inFlorida average approximately$60,000 per patient. In 2003, nursinghome costs in Florida amounted to$2.5 billion.

-RANDOLPH FILLMORE

USF RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TREATING PATIENTS WITH CHOLINESTERSE INHIBITORS, LIKE ARICEPT, EXCELON

AND RAZADYNE, MAY DELAY NURSING HOME PLACEMENT BY AS MUCH AS THREE AND A HALF MONTHS.

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ennis Kyle has made acareer out of battlingdeadly but neglectedparasitic diseases indeveloping countries. A

scientist who spends as much timein the field as in the laboratory, hehas witnessed the tremendous bur-den of diseases like malaria—mis-carriages among pregnant women,low-birth-weight babies, schoolchildren with physical and mentalimpairments and lost wages forafflicted workers.

But the reality hit home when hewas working as chief of immunolo-gy and parasitology for the ArmedForces Research Institute of theMedical Sciences in Bangkok,Thailand. The 3-year-old son of acolleague in Nigeria contractedmalaria and died within days.

“I thought I knew a lot aboutmalaria, but then I learned howtruly devastating the disease can bein a personal sense,” says Kyle, azoologist who recently joined USFas a professor in the College ofPublic Health’s Department ofGlobal Health and in the Center forBiological Defense. “The first timeyou see a child die of malaria yougain a different and more immedi-ate perspective about what researchneeds to be done.”

There is an urgent need forcheaper, safer and more effectivedrugs to treat parasitic diseasesendemic to some of the world’spoorest countries, mainly in tropicaland subtropical regions of Africa,Asia and South America, Kyle says.Although malaria is a curable dis-ease if treated promptly and appro-priately, a record number ofcases—350 to 500 million—arereported today. Pregnant womenand young children are particularlyvulnerable to severe anemia, dehy-dration and death from malaria par-asites, which are transmitted from

infected to healthy people throughthe bite of a mosquito.

One of the major challenges isovercoming the increasing resist-ance of parasites to antimalarialdrugs. If the currently used anti-malarial combination medicine con-taining an artemisinin compound(ACT) develops resistance, nothingexists to take its place.

In the case of leishmaniasis, a

parasite transmitted by tiny sandflies, the long course of treatmentadministered by injection is costprohibitive and difficult for patientsto comply with.

“Developing drugs and vaccinesfor the poorest of the poor hasreally never been a priority for any-one but the World HealthOrganization, but that’s changing,”Kyle says. “The upswing in fundingover the last five years is due large-ly to groups like the Bill andMelinda Gates Foundation, whichhave sparked interest in public-pri-vate partnerships and gotten indus-

BATTLING THE DISEASES OF POVERTY

BY ANNE DELOTTO BAIER

D“The first time you see a child die of malaria you gain a

different and more immediate perspective about what

research needs to be done.” – Dr. Dennis Kyle

DR. DENNIS KYLE IN BANGKOK

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try involved earlier in the drug dis-covery process for neglected dis-eases. Private industry is invaluablein helping academic scientists trans-late innovative research ideas intopractical applications.”

“We now have several promisingnew candidate drugs beingscreened for malaria and othermajor diseases of poverty.”

Kyle himself is a co-principalinvestigator of a $21.3 million grantannounced in September by theBill and Melinda Gates Foundation.The grant—part of $68 millionworth of new Gates Foundationgrants targeting the development ofcures for parasitic diseases plaguingthe developing world—went to theUniversity of North Carolina atChapel Hill. UNC has partneredwith a consortium of internationalresearchers from academic, govern-mental and private institutions,including USF, which was awardeda $650,000 portion of the grant.

Kyle’s laboratory at USF is provid-ing expertise in preclinical drugdevelopment and evaluating newtherapies for the treatment of leish-maniasis. The disease attacks theskin, mucosal tissue and gut of mil-

lions, killing an estimated 250,000people a year. Soldiers in Afghanistanand Iraq have contracted the lessserious form of the parasitic dis-ease, developing ugly sores thattake months to heal and can leavescars. Working with the consortiumand Ohio State University’s Collegeof Pharmacy, Kyle’s team is tryingto come up with a pill that is welltolerated by patients, includingwomen of child-bearing age.

“Dr. Kyle is a welcome additionto our faculty,” says JacquelineCattani, director of the USF Centerfor Biological Defense. “As a scien-tist and a research administrator, hehas demonstrated phenomenal pro-ductivity and rigor in seeking inno-vative ways to optimize combina-tion drug therapies for malaria andother tropical diseases.”

Before joining USF, Kyle spent20 years with the Walter Reed ArmyInstitute of Research, leading keyefforts with the U.S. Army’s Drugand Vaccine Development Programsand eventually serving as deputydirector of the Division ofExperimental Therapeutics. He wasrecently named the inauguralScientist of the Year by the Malaria

Foundation International for hisresearch in malaria combinationtherapy and antimalarial drug resist-ance. In addition to the GatesFoundation, his work is funded byNational Institutes of Health andthe Medicines for Malaria Venture.

While at Walter Reed, his scien-tific team was among the first todevelop a malaria parasite resistantto the drug artemisinin. Dr. Kyleand others are now using the para-site to discover how the bugmutates to overcome a drug andmultiply. “If we gain a better under-standing of how the parasitebecomes resistant, we can developbetter combination drugs,” he says.

While malaria has been virtuallyeradicated in the United States andother parasitic diseases are rare,Americans must not become com-placent about less pressing publichealth threats, says Kyle, notingthat international travel increasesthe likelihood for global epidemics.“The rapid spread of West Nilevirus shows what could happenhere with emerging infections origi-nating elsewhere.”

DR. DENNIS KYLE IS A CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ON A $21.3 MILLION GRANT FROM THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDA-

TION. HE WAS RECENTLY NAMED INAUGURAL SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR BY THE MALARIA FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL.

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FIRST INFLORIDA

BY SHERYL KAY

n what may be Florida’s greatest university fundingcoup of 2006, USF scored an $8 million grant to helpfund a new Florida Center of Excellence inBiomolecular Identification and Targeted Therapeutics(FCoE-BITT). The new center, a true community/busi-

ness partnership, could change the way infectious diseasesand life-threatening illnesses, such as Parkinson’s and tuber-culosis, are detected and treated.

Competing against 32 other institutions, USF was the topgrant winner among the other well-recognized programsthat were awarded funds, including Florida AtlanticUniversity, the University of Florida, Florida State Universityand the University of Central Florida. The second highestranked proposal received $5 million.

I

at USF and create exciting newpartnerships. I am proud of ourteam and look forward to seeingthe fruits of our labor pay off forthe region, the nation and theworld.”

Biotechnology is a very broadterm encompassing several differ-ent disciplines, explains RobertChang, vice president for researchand principal offeror on the pro-

USF’s winning application repre-sents a full scale partnership involv-ing collaboration between severaldepartments from three collegeswithin the university as well asorganizations throughout the region,including Hillsborough County, theCity of Tampa, the Florida HighTech Corridor Council, St.Petersburg College andHillsborough Community College.

Also involved was BiovestInternational, a world-leader in thebiotechnology industry.

“This proposal demonstrates mycontinued commitment to support-ing multidisciplinary projects withpartners from both the private andpublic sector,” says USF PresidentJudy Genshaft. “Our Center ofExcellence will support andstrengthen ongoing research efforts

A new Florida Center of Excellence at USF will generatehigh tech industry, hundreds of jobs and an economicimpact of more than $188 million while improving thedetection and treatment of diseases.

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THE NEW CENTER REFLECTS USF’S

COMMITMENT TO MULTIDISCIPLINARY

COLLABORATION. LEFT TO RIGHT:

EDWARD TUROS, PROFESSOR, ARTS &

SCIENCES; PETER G. STROOT, ASSIS-

TANT PROFESSOR, COLLEGE OF ENGI-

NEERING; DANIEL LIM, DISTINGUISHED

UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IN BIOLOGY;

RICHARD HELLER, PROFESSOR, COLLEGE

OF MEDICINE.

posal. From drug discovery to engi-neering and developing medicaldevices, diagnostic and testing kits,and methods for contaminationprotection, the common thread isthat the end results, in some way,help with the prevention, detection,and treatment or cure of illnesses.

The core mission of the centerwill be to research, design, develop,and then help produce such prod-

ucts in tandem with business part-ners. One industry leader, BiovestInternational of Worcester,Massachusetts, will work with thecenter in its quest to develop per-sonalized immunotherapies for lifethreatening cancers of the bloodsystem.

Grants like these are offered bythe state, says Chang, because theystimulate universities to have “trans-

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lation research,” thereby bridging thegap between inventions by the facul-ty and the marketing of end resultsby industry. In this case, the researchwould position Florida as a leader inbiotechnological inventions.

“The state has made great stridesin recent years to develop economiesbased on high technology, specifical-ly biotechnology,” says Chang.

There are many reasons why USFreceived the substantial award,according to Chang, including a top-notch proposal that addressed all ofthe criteria, principal investigatorswho have first-class track records,mature research programs currentlyin place, already established businesspartners, strong community support,and unsurpassed efforts by adminis-tration, faculty, and staff members.

Ed Turos, professor of chemistryand one of the principal investigatorson the grant, is especially excitedabout the enhanced research capabil-ities the center will afford him andhis colleagues in their work on thediscovery and synthesis of newantibiotics and drug delivery systems.

Researchers will have direct accessto advanced, state-of-the-art instru-

mentation and drug screening capa-bilities, he says, as well as to theexpertise of trained personnel whoknow how to make the most of thesefacilities. Also, training grants for stu-dents as well as seed grants fordeveloping multi-disciplinary projectswith other researchers will ensureinnovative research and teaching thatcuts across all levels. And perhapsmost importantly, adds Turos, “there

will be an active environment ofopen collaboration.”

Another principal investigator,Richard Heller, professor of molecularmedicine, echoes Turos’ anticipation,noting that the center will be instru-mental in his own area of research

that focuses on novel ways toenhance the delivery of therapeutics.

“Our faculty and students willhave the opportunity to work on cut-ting-edge research projects,” Hellersays. “And we’ll have access to state-of-the-art core facilities and be ableto work in a collaborative atmos-phere that will enhance the potentialfor funding from federal and privateagencies.”

Distinguished University Professorin biology, Dr. Daniel Lim, is anotherof the principal investigators, whoseresearch laboratory, AdvancedBiosensors Laboratory, is alreadygearing up for collaborative effortswith its ongoing work developingrapid biosensor assays (tests) fordetection of biothreat agents such asanthrax, smallpox, and ricin, as wellas for detection of food borne, water-borne, airborne, and human diseasebacteria and viruses.

Rounding out the principal inves-tigators’ team is Peter Stroot, assis-tant professor of engineering, whobrings talent in both engineering andmolecular biology.

In addition to the huge benefits itbrings to USF, the center will helpgenerate great boosts in Tampa’slocal economy, from the number ofjobs created, to attracting highly edu-cated employees qualified for suchwork, to establishing the communityas a world leader in biotechnology.

“The benefit to our communityand the region cannot be understat-

“Blending scientific interactions between university

departments with business and community resources for

the benefit of the region, the nation and the world is

the mark of a great public research university.” – Rhea Law

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ed,” says President Genshaft. “Notonly has $39 million in matchingsupport been committed to the cen-ter, but the return on this investmentincludes the creation of 400 newbiotechnology jobs, $84 million indirect wages and an estimated eco-nomic impact of over $188 million.”

Rhea Law, chair of USF’s Board ofTrustees, says the award makes astrong statement about the universi-ty’s efforts toward becoming one ofthe nation’s top 50 public researchuniversities. “Blending scientificinteractions between universitydepartments with business and com-munity resources for the benefit ofthe region, the nation and the worldis the mark of a great publicresearch university.”

Community leaders have spent thelast several years actively promotingTampa and the surrounding areas asthe up and coming biotechnologydevelopment center in the state, andperhaps in the nation.

“The University of South Florida’sdesignation as a Center of Excellencein Biomolecular Identification andTargeted Therapeutics will furtherenhance USF’s reputation as a world-class research center and position ourregion to better compete on a nation-al and international scale,” says PamIorio, Tampa’s mayor. “This centerwill positively impact our local econ-omy by creating jobs in the biotech-nology industry throughout ourregion while providing an opportuni-ty to develop a better trained localworkforce to support our area’sbiotech efforts.”

The advantages are multifold.Increased jobs in biotechnology leadto a robust workforce of highlytrained and educated employees,which in turn attract more businessesto Tampa that are similar in nature.And new businesses mean moreemployment opportunities.

“We want the jobs to come hereto Tampa Bay,” says Turos. “The

SF’s proposed FloridaCenter of Excellence for

Biomolecular Identificationand Targeted Therapeuticsranked highest among 32proposals from colleges andmedical centers throughoutFlorida. USF’s proposalreceived the greatest amountof funding at $8 million.The other proposals selectedfor funding include:

$5 millionFlorida Atlantic University Ocean Energy

$4.5 millionUniversity of FloridaEnergy Technology Incubator

$4.5 millionUniversity of Central FloridaLaser Technology

$4 millionUniversity of FloridaNano-Bio Sensors

$4 millionFlorida State UniversityAdvanced Materials

accelerated growth in biotechnolo-gy in this region will lead to a sub-stantial influx of new and estab-lished businesses from other areasof the country.”

The Florida High TechnologyCorridor Council, an organizationcommitted to attracting, retainingand growing high tech industry in a23-county corridor running alongInterstate 4 and stretching approxi-mately from Tampa through Orlandoto the Space Coast and north toGainesville, is another eager commu-nity partner.

“The new center will not onlyproduce groundbreaking researchin biomolecular identification andtargeted therapeutics,” says councilpresident Randy Berridge, “but willgreatly enhance our efforts to helpour region achieve economicdiversification by encouraginggrowth in the life sciences andmedical technologies.”

Looking down the road, investingin the collaborative center’s workwithout the usual boundaries of dis-cipline-specific research will help tocreate the new technologies and bio-medical advances from which allpeople around the world could ben-efit. From development of new sen-sitive biosensors to targeted thera-peutics, the long-term benefits tosociety will be extraordinarily diverseand pronounced.

“New technologies for detectingand treating infectious diseases orlife-threatening ailments such asParkinson’s, cancers, diabetes, ortuberculosis, to mention a few, willlikely emerge from the center thatcan have a profoundly positive effectfor people regardless of where theyhappen to live in the world,” saysTuros. “Advances come from scientif-ic research by dedicated scientistswho are driven by the excitementand significance of discovery, andmaking that happen seamlessly iswhat this center is all about.”

Fundingfor Florida

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BEATING THE ODDS

t was the middle of the nightwhen high school sophomoreKelli Shaw realized she couldn’tlive with her secret any longer.She woke her father and deliv-ered the news—Kelli was five

months pregnant.“I just had to tell someone,” Shaw

recalls. “He was disappointed, but hesaid we were going to get through it.”

Though she wasn’t quite sure whatthe future would hold, Shaw says onething was certain—“I knew I wouldstay in school.”

The odds were against her.According to the National Campaignto Prevent Teen Pregnancy, teenmothers are less likely to completehigh school (only one-third receivea high school diploma) and only 1.5percent have a college degree byage 30.

Shaw, an honors student, wasn’tdeterred. When the school nurse toldher about the Internet ParentingProgram—a new program that wouldallow teen mothers to stay in schoolwhile receiving no-cost, safe daycarefor their children, she signed on andtook charge of her life, finishing highschool at the top of her class.

BY ANN CARNEY

IBut she didn’t stop there. This year,

Shaw will graduate from USF with abachelor’s degree in biomedical sci-ence. And, she plans to begin dentalschool in 2008.

Shaw credits the Internet ParentingProgram with helping her to realizeher goals.

A Program to Fill the GapAt a Healthy Start Coalition annual

breakfast with eight of her colleaguesin 1999, USF associate professor inthe College of Public Health, Karen(Kay) M. Perrin, PhD, becameincreasingly disturbed hearing aboutthe large number of pregnant teensdropping out of high school due tolack of daycare. Though the teenswere eligible for state subsidized day-care, few could make it to either ofthe two distant high school sites thatprovided onsite daycare and therequired parenting courses to receivethe vouchers.

“It was a Catch-22 for the teens,”says Perrin. “They couldn’t get to thehigh schools, so they couldn’t accessthe vouchers to which they were enti-tled. Their only choice was to dropout.”

Perrin and her colleagues knewthere had to be a better way, and allsigns pointed to modern technology.If they could put the course online,pregnant and parenting teens couldaccess it anywhere, at any time, andqualify for the state subsidized daycarevouchers that would enable them to

stay in their high school.The group got to work. Perrin

developed a Web-based version of thestate-approved, two-semester curricu-lum, and Mary Ellen Gillette, thenHillsborough County Schools’ directorof student services, served as the pro-gram’s link to the school district, aposition she continued to fill for theprogram even after she retired in2004. And, in a remarkable exampleof collaboration, numerous communi-ty agencies and volunteers stepped in,donating their services and time. Seedmoney to host the Web site wassecured from the Work Force Boardof Hillsborough County; the HealthyStart Coalition of Hillsborough County,Inc., provided office resources; andthe Children's Board of HillsboroughCounty donated the printing of theworkbooks.

Tough SellBut it wasn’t an easy sell. It took

Perrin, Gillette and the others morethan one-and-a-half years to find aHillsborough County high school prin-cipal willing to sign on. Principalsfeared that by offering the program,despite its cost- and maintenance-freenature, their school might becomeknown as a school that makes it easyfor pregnant teens.

“The key was finding a staff personat the school willing to take on theresponsibility of working with preg-nant and parenting teens,” Gilletterecalls. “Once identified, they were

Developed in part by USF’s Kay Perrin, the innovative Internet Parenting Program helpspregnant and parenting teens stay in school and become productive members of society.

KELLI SHAW AND SON, KOBE. SHAW FIN-

ISHED HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TOP OF HER

CLASS WITH HELP FROM THE INTERNET

PARENTING PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, SHAW

WILL GRADUATE FROM USF WITH A BACH-

ELOR’S DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE.

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able to help sell the program to theprincipal. The school nurses were thepersons I first approached aboutassisting us with the program.”

Finally, in 2000, Gillette found awilling principal at Tampa Bay TechHigh School, the magnet schoolwhere Shaw was an honor student.East Bay High School followed thatsame year, bringing the total numberof student enrollees to four. Thoughthe enrolled students hadn’t yetgiven birth, they were able to enrollbecause the program allows teens toregister and begin taking parentingcourses as soon as they discoverthey are pregnant.

“The Internet Parenting Programmade me take responsibility for mysituation,” says Shaw. The program letme focus on my goals.”

Real Life CurriculumThe Internet Parenting Program is a

two-semester, self-paced course whichaddresses real life parenting topicslike choosing safe daycare and livingon a budget. Students work in a

workbook and take an online test atthe end of each module. As soon asstudents enroll, they are eligible toearn state vouchers for licensed day-care in their neighborhood.

Every high school has a desig-nated staff member who volunteersto be the contact person for eachteen mom.

“It gives the teens a real sense ofempowerment,” says Perrin. “They getto choose the daycare; and knowingwhat to look for in a daycare provideris a topic in the course.”

But it’s not a free ride. Daycare isonly available when the mother is inschool. On half-days, the child mustbe picked up early. On school holi-days, no daycare is available.

Participating teens sign a contract.They must maintain a 2.0 grade-pointaverage and attend school regularly.Program requirements are consistent-ly monitored.

Demonstrated SuccessOne needs only to look as far as

Shaw to see the program’s impact.

Shaw graduated from Tampa BayTech in 2003 with a 5.3 grade-pointaverage. She earned a 75 percentFlorida Bright Futures Scholarship,and when USF recruiters saw herpotential, they quickly offered tomake up the remaining 25 percent.

Shaw’s son, Kobe, is now almost 6years old. He attends kindergartenand was recently named Student ofthe Month. The boy’s father, Keith, isactively involved in his son’s life.

Shaw’s story is not unique. Sincethe Internet Parenting Program beganin 2000, more than 320 pregnantteens have enrolled in the programand nearly 100 have graduated. Theprogram is available today in all 26Hillsborough County public highschools—a major coup.

“Now, principals come to us askingfor the program,” says Perrin.

Every high school has a designatednurse, teacher, social worker or guid-ance counselor who volunteers to bethe contact person for each teen momand grades the workbook assignments.

In the fall, Chris Brown, a 17-yearschool district employee who hasworked on teen pregnancy preventioninitiatives in the county’s middleschools for the past nine years, becamethe program’s part-time coordinator atfour hours per week. She took overday-to-day operation of the program,the post previously filled by Gillette.

“What we are supporting is educa-tion,” says Brown, who already hashad requests to offer the program inSpanish. “We are helping the momsovercome one of the barriers of com-pleting school and allowing them tobecome productive adults for theirchildren and for themselves.”

She adds, “We are providing safedaycare for children who might nototherwise receive it.”

Facing the FactsAccording to the National

Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy,teen pregnancy costs the United States$7 billion each year. And teen mothersare more likely to end up on welfare.

“THE INTERNET PARENTING PROGRAM MADE ME TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY SITUA-

TION,” SAYS SHAW. “THE PROGRAM LET ME FOCUS ON MY GOALS.”JO

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Health Care Heroeshen the Tampa Bay Business Journal announced its2006 Health Care Heroes award finalists late last year,one thing was strikingly clear—USF Health is having a

significant impact on the wellbeing of residents in the Tampa Bayregion and the quality of health care provided.

Of 37 finalists, more than half were part of, or affiliated with, USFHealth. And when the actual awards were announced in seven cate-gories and two special recognition areas, seven USF deans and/orprofessors were called to the stage.

“Tampa Bay Business Journal’s HealthCare Heroes awards celebration was USFHealth at its best,” says Michael Hoad,associate vice president ofCommunications for USF Health. “Allthree colleges and schools, education,research and health care took centerstage, showing how USF is making theTampa Bay region a better place to live.”

Karen (Kay) M. Perrin, associate pro-fessor in the College of Public Health,whose Internet Parenting Program (see

main article) is making education a viable option for pregnantteens, was just one of the winners from USF.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Healthcare Heroes for 2006from USF are:

Lifetime Achievement - John Curran, College of Medicine, thefounding neonatologist at Tampa General Hospital and a primaryarchitect of Hillsborough County’s Health Care Plan.

Health Care Educator - Kay Perrin, College of Public Health, forthe Internet Parenting Program, a unique program that allowspregnant teenagers to take Web-based parenting courses and gainchildcare vouchers, now in all 26 high schools in HillsboroughCounty.

Community Outreach - Jodi Ray, College of Public Health, USFLawton & Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies,director of the Florida Covering Kids and Families project, and anadvocate for families.

Physician - Dennis Penzell, College of Medicine, who has beenserving migrant workers in Ruskin and now volunteers for theJudeo-Christian Clinic.

Health Care Innovation and Research - Paul Sanberg, College ofMedicine, for pioneering work to develop stem cells into therapies.

Medical Professional - Non-Physician - Patricia Quigley, deputydirector of the Patient Safety Center at the James A. HaleyVeterans’ Hospital, a charter student in the College of Nursing andgraduate of both the colleges of Nursing and Public Health.

Special Recognition - Patricia Burns, dean of the College ofNursing, for her leadership and especially the clinical collaborativepartnership with area hospitals.

In addition to the award winners, 11 individuals from USF werenamed Health Care Heroes finalists.

“The only way out of poverty iseducation,” says Perrin. She says itagain and again. “Typically theseteens don’t go back to school and thewhole cycle of poverty is passed onto another generation. The InternetParenting Program gives students achoice. It makes education a viableoption.”

Perrin says the Internet ParentingProgram is successful for several rea-sons, ticking them off easily: It is runalmost entirely by volunteers; it hasbeen around long enough to have aproven track record; it takes the bur-den of daycare off of families; it is atrue community collaboration; andmost importantly, it assures that preg-nant teens are not denied an educa-tion, which is their right by law.

Perrin is committed to making theprogram available statewide. And sheis adamant that school districts shouldbe mandated to offer this alternativeprogram to access the daycare vouch-ers. She says, “Florida can’t afford todeny pregnant teens a high schooleducation.”

Breaking the Cycle“We can’t keep this issue in the

shadows,” says Shaw. “There’s a lot oftalk about abstinence, but the reality ispregnancy still happens. When itdoes, these girls need to know thereis something out there for them andthey don’t need to give up theirgoals.”

For Shaw, dropping her goal ofgoing to college was never an option.But, being able to live at home, toaccess daycare and to work to coverher expenses enabled her to achievethat goal.

“I’m somebody who doesn’t like tobe dependent on other people,” shesays. The Internet Parenting Programhelped assure that she wasn’t. “Iwork. I save. I don’t ask anyone formoney.”

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ationwide, sub-stance abuse con-stitutes a major cri-sis with far-reach-ing ramifications.Add complicating

issues such as aging, homelessnessor related legal problems and theburden of addiction can be thatmuch more daunting to individuals,families and their communities. TheUniversity of South Florida is work-ing with community agencies tomeet the challenges presented bythis particular set of problems.

Three new grants to partners ofthe Louis de la Parte Florida MentalHealth Institute (FMHI) at USF willaddress substance abuse among theelderly, caregivers in the court sys-tem and the homeless. These grantswere secured in large part due tothe efforts of staff at FMHI and willbe used to evaluate programs setup to help these three populations.

"These projects are an exampleof the benefits that both the com-

munity and FMHI receive fromworking closely together,” saidRobert Friedman, FMHI interimdean. “The research knowledgeand expertise at FMHI has con-tributed to over $50 million in newfederal funds coming to providersin Florida for direct services overthe last five years, and has provid-ed enormous benefits to individualswith serious challenges, such as thestruggle to overcome alcohol anddrug problems. At the same time asdirect services are enhanced, FMHIresearchers gain increased opportu-nities to expand their research onpromising approaches to complexand serious problems.”

Alcohol and drug abuse amongolder Floridians will be addressedby a $14 million, five-year grant tothe state of Florida from the U. S.Department of Health and HumanServices’ Substance Abuse andMental Health ServicesAdministration (SAMHSA). Thefunding is to be used in the state’s

ON TARGET

Three new grants to partnersof USF’s Louis de la ParteFlorida Mental Health Institutewill address substance abuseamong the elderly, caregiversin the court system and thehomeless.

NBY BARBARA PERKINS

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Screening, Brief Intervention,Referral and Treatment (SBIRT)effort, a project designed to helpolder Floridians avoid alcohol andother drug abuse problems.

Florida is one of only four statesto receive the five-year award. Thesuccess of the proposal can beattributed to the pilot work knownas the Florida BRITE Project (BRiefIntervention and Treatment forElders). BRITE, which is funded bythe Florida Department of Childrenand Families’ Substance AbuseProgram Office, operates inBroward, Orange, Pinellas andSarasota counties. The innovativeprogram relies on best practicesapproaches published by SAMHSAand developed both by faculty inthe Department of Aging andMental Health at FMHI and from theUniversity of Michigan. It providesscreening and brief interventions,often in the older person’s home.

“This new grant will enable theFlorida BRITE Model to expand toother regions in the state,” saidLawrence Schonfeld, professor ofaging and mental health, who hasprovided training for the BRITEtreatment agencies as well as evalu-ation of the project. “The workwe’re doing is designed to identifyand serve older adults with prob-lems related to alcohol, prescription

medication, over-the-counter med-ication, illicit drug use, depressionand suicide risk.”

The second grant is directed atcaregivers and their dependentsinvolved in the Tampa DependencyDrug Court (DCC). The Tampa DDCprogram, a collaborative effortbetween the judicial circuit court,substance abuse treatment providersand the university’s researchers, wasawarded $400,000 per year for threeyears, also by SAMHSA. The purposeof the Tampa DDC program is toprovide enhanced services to parentsalleged to have neglected their chil-dren as a result of alcohol or otherdrug use, ensure the safety and well-being of children, and family reunifi-cation. The plan is to enroll 40 fami-lies with substance abuse issues eachyear. FMHI helped formulate theproject and will conduct the evalua-tion component.

The 13th Judicial Circuit Courtbegan the first adult drug court inearly 1992 with an average censusof 300 participants. The success rateis approximately 75%, with 96% ofthe participants remaining arrest-freethe first year after completion of theprogram.

“Evidence-based practices areemerging to effectively serve thisever increasing population,” saidKathleen Moore, assistant professor

of mental health law and policy.“Hillsborough County has identifieda gap in treatment for dependencydrug cases that require more inten-sive substance abuse services andmore structured referral services toadequately address their issues.We’re working to fill that gap.”

The application for the grant wasdeveloped jointly by theHillsborough County 13th JudicialCircuit Court, Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. and FMHI, which hasover 30 years of community servic-es research experience through itscollaboration with the community.

“In recent years, significantresearch, training and consensusbuilding activities in the Tampa Bayregion has laid the groundwork forthis collaborative,” said Moore.“This program will provide an inte-

“Hillsborough County has identified a gap in treatment for

dependency drug cases that require more intensive substance

abuse services and more structured referral services to

adequately address their issues. We’re working to fill that gap.”

- Kathleen Moore

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grated system of care and use evi-dence-based practices as a modelprogram for the region in the provi-sion of integrated services for fami-lies involved in the dependencydrug court program.”

Other key members who haveagreed to participate in this effortinclude: Hillsborough Kids Inc.,Florida Department of Children andFamilies, Office of the AttorneyGeneral and local agencies provid-ing an array of services (e.g., men-tal health, medical, vocational, etc.).

The third grant, an award of $2million, involves the USF-FMHIDepartment of Mental Health Lawand Policy, in partnership withCoastal Behavioral Healthcare andthe Charlotte County “Home 2Recovery” project. The FMHI unitwill evaluate this new five-year

SAMHSA Center for SubstanceAbuse Treatment (CSAT) HomelessTreatment grant. The program wasestablished to implement a compre-hensive and integrated system ofevidenced-based mental health andsubstance abuse recovery servicesthat are tailored to the uniqueneeds of the chronically homelesspopulation in Charlotte County,Florida. Some of the peopleinvolved are homeless and have co-occurring disorders, including somewho were evicted from the FEMATrailers, after surviving HurricaneCharley.

Principal investigator MarkEngelhardt, Kathleen Moore,research assistant professor, andScott Young, coordinator of statisti-cal research, will conduct the evalu-ation of the Charlotte County

“Home 2 Recovery” project. SamTsemberis, pioneer of the “HousingFirst” approach through thePathways to Housing project inNew York City, will serve as a con-sultant to the project.

“Through evaluation we will helptrack and develop the most effec-tive treatment options,” Friedmansaid. “Our findings will be sharedand ultimately benefit people local-ly and nationally.”

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n May 2005, USF alumna BettyOtter-Nickerson (Class of ’76)made a career change thatplucked her from a professionalbackground in the software

development and information tech-nology industries and challenged herto follow her passion for helpingothers in the nonprofit arena. As thechief operating officer of the LanceArmstrong Foundation (LAF), shegoes to work every day motivatedby the foundation’s mission thatencourages and enables cancer sur-

vivors to live life to its fullest…inother words, “LIVESTRONG.”

In March of 2006, Otter-Nickerson’sprofessional life collided with herpersonal life when she learned thather mother had been diagnosedwith a terminal form of cancer ofunknown origin. Ironically, the dis-ease the LAF fights every day formillions of cancer survivors ultimate-ly claimed her mother just eightdays later.

“Instantly, I understood I hadfound my calling in a very personalsense,” she says. Today, Otter-

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C O M M I T M E N T

Nickerson oversees the daily opera-tions of the LAF that was founded in1997 by cancer survivor, championcyclist and sports mega-icon LanceArmstrong, who was inspired tohelp other cancer survivors fightone of life's toughest battles.

The foundation tapped Otter-Nickerson for her leadership talentsin an effort to increase the LAF’soperational infrastructure andstrengthen its management systemson a global scale. Her professionalbackground in corporate arenas

well prepared her to hit the groundrunning.

Prior to joining the LAF, Otter-Nickerson served as president andchief executive officer ofGalleryWatch.com, an online legisla-tive tracking service for both thefederal and Texas markets. Thoughthe service was sold to theEconomist Group late last year,Otter-Nickerson was asked to stayon board and continues to help runthe company today.

Otter-Nickerson also previouslyheld positions as president and chief

executive officer of Vincera,Software, Inc., vice president ofoperations for product managementand development for BMC Softwareand a variety of technical and infor-mation technology positions atLower Colorado River Authority,Syntex Pharmaceutical, TRW and theFlorida Board of Regents.

Today, she credits her successfulcareer to the educational foundationshe received while attending USF.“It’s something you don’t thinkabout when you’re a student.However, once I reached certainmilestones in my career, I couldn’thelp looking back to my experi-ences at USF and realizing howmuch of what I learned there hashelped me get to where I amtoday.”

Otter-Nickerson returned to heralma mater on a perfect fall day dur-ing USF’s Homecoming 2006 activi-ties. She quickly was brought backto the mid-70s when she was asomewhat shy and reserved studentpursuing her degree in psychology.“Early on, I kept to myself. However,I enjoyed living on campus backthen and the experiences and rela-tionships I had while at USF I willcherish for a lifetime.”

One relationship that hasremained constant since her collegedays is that with her husband, Glen(Class of ’77), who she met whileplaying tennis on campus. Otter-Nickerson says she knew then thatshe and the engineering major werea match made in heaven. “I knew it

LIVING STRONG

BY JEREMY CANODY

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“As a leader in business, I realize how important a

university can be to developing a strong workforce and

economy within the region it serves. USF is doing that

in Tampa Bay and beyond. The value that brings to my

degree is priceless.” - Betty Otter-Nickerson

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was going to be interesting when hetook me on my first date…to thelibrary.”

More than 30 years after gradu-ating, she says her USF friendshipsand memories hold a special placein her heart. “The friendships Iforged at USF are among my mostcherished and that group offriends continue to remain closeand we see each other everychance we get.”

A tour of the Tampa campus pro-vided her with an eye-opening per-spective on how much USF hasgrown since she graduated. “It’s soexciting to see the change takingplace here. The growth is amazing.I’m impressed with its magnitude.”

“As a leader in business, I realize

how important a university can beto developing a strong workforceand economy within the region itserves. USF is doing that in TampaBay and beyond. The value thatbrings to my degree is priceless.”

During her visit to USF, Otter-Nickerson was able to share herwealth of knowledge of ways tomarket a nonprofit organization withUSF students in an organizationalcommunication class. Her presenta-tion proved to be the highlight ofthe semester for many of the stu-dents in attendance.

“I enjoy speaking with studentsabout my professional experiences. Ihope they can take something awaythat will help them in their careerafter college,” she says. “Early in my

career, someone was there for me asmentor and I very much credit mysuccess to the advice she provided.”

Although Otter-Nickerson callsAustin, Texas home, she says shecherishes the opportunity to returnto USF whenever possible to shareher real-world knowledge with stu-dents eager to learn.

“I enjoy speaking with collegestudents every chance I get becausethey appreciate gaining perspectivefrom someone who has been thereand done that. I was once in theirshoes. And although they may notrealize it now, every bit of profes-sional advice they are exposed tocan pay off for them down the road.I’m honored to be able to give backto USF in this way.”

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USF ALUMNA BETTY OTTER-NICKERSON OVERSEES THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION, FOUNDED TO

PROVIDE CANCER SURVIVORS WITH CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS; EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND COUNSELING; FINAN-

CIAL ASSISTANCE; INSURANCE GUIDANCE; CLINICAL TRIAL PLACEMENT; AND LOCAL SUPPORT RESOURCES. APPROXIMATELY 55 MILLION

PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE WEAR A LIVESTRONG™ WRISTBAND IN SUPPORT OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER.

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A T H L E T I C S

Poised to Go National

When Augustin Moreno agreedto coach the women’s tennisteam at USF prior to the 2005-06season, he knew he was inherit-ing a program that had consis-tently been at the top of its con-ference. Yet, he also knew it wasstill looking to break through onthe national scene.

n While some wondered if that waseven possible, Moreno viewed it asa fact of life. It was a stubborn —in

a good way—mindset. And hisvision is quickly taking shape.

With all but one player back fromlast season, plus the addition of ahighly ranked transfer and talentedfreshmen, the USF women’s tennisteam entered the 2006-07 seasonwith an opportunity to make anational splash.

Last year, the Bulls marchedthrough the regular season and intoBig East Tournament play to con-tend for the conference crown injust their first year of membership.When the team finished second in

the highly competitive league, its listof accomplishments was hardly fin-ished. The team earned a NCAATournament berth for the first timesince 2000, was represented in sin-gles play at Nationals for the firsttime since 1998, and in doubles playfor the first time since 1985. To topit all off, the Bulls featured two play-ers who gained All-America statusfor the first time in 20 years.

The team achieved all of thisunder Moreno in his first year incharge. He guided a team that fin-ished just over .500 one year before,

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USF’S 2006-07 WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM COULD MAKE A NATIONAL SPLASH THIS SEASON.

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to a 17-6 record in a major confer-ence. Six wins came against ITAranked opponents and the teamposted a 4-1 conference record—thelone loss being to Notre Dame inthe Big East Championship match.From March 7 to April 1, the Bullswent on an eight match win-streakthat included triumphs over #52Mississippi, #55 San Diego and #61South Alabama. USF twice defeateda #35 ranked team—during regularseason play against FIU (4-3) and inNCAA Tournament action againstMaryland (4-0).

The Bulls were led on this chargeby a slew of talented student-ath-letes. Seniors Luisa Obando andNeyssa Etienne provided veteranleadership, with Etienne earning ITADoubles All-American honors alongwith teammate Gabriela Duch. Thepair posted a 16-5 record in dualplay and a 28-10 mark on the sea-son as a whole, leading them all theway to the quarterfinals of theNCAA Tournament. The duo cappedoff the year with a final ITA rankingof #11 in the nation. Obando com-bined with Courtney Vernon to posta 15-2 overall record on the year asthe team’s No. 3 tandem. Vernonexcelled in singles play also, postinga perfect 20-0 record from the No. 2position and 28-2 overall. Her playled her into the NCAA Tournament—the first to do so from thewomen’s tennis team since AliciaKerstyn in 1998.

With the amount of success thewomen’s tennis team has alreadyachieved, Moreno still has loftiergoals in mind. “We want to competefor national championships,” saysMoreno.

With the off-season acquisitionshe has brought to the team, thatvision is not out of the question.USF has all but one of last year’s tal-ented players retuning to the team.Duch, Vernon, Liz Cruz and Iciri Raiare back for competitive action,while Obando remains with theteam as a first-year assistant coach.

Highlighting the talented new-comers is senior Shadisha Robinson.The transfer from Georgia carriedITA preseason ranks of #1 in dou-bles and #6 in singles in her lastseason as a Bulldog. Already thisyear, she has demonstrated thatthose numbers are not inflated.During her semi-final run at theRiviera/ITA Championships singlescrown in early October, she defeat-ed 2005 NCAA Champion ZuzanaZemenova in straight sets and tooklast year's NCAA Champion, SuziBabos, to three sets.

“Shadisha may be the most talent-ed player in college tennis,” saysMoreno. “She’s got a complete all-around game, and she’s got a verygood forehand, although she needs

to understand how good it isbecause she doesn’t use it as muchas she should.”

USF adds two additional transfersin junior Ginifer Hartman, whoplayed at Hillsborough CommunityCollege, and sophomore AshleySchumacher, who arrives fromKennesaw State.

Ann-Marie Modric, from Malmoe,Sweden, joins Jessica Sweeting, asouthpaw from Freeport, Bahamas,and Shaena Keefe, a local talentfrom Spring Hill, Florida, in thefreshman class.

The Bulls won’t have to wait longto test their strength when theyopen the season at highly regardedFlorida, January 26.

- ADAM HOLLEN

Super Fans: It all started with a bunch of guys who love football—Bulls football in particular, says USF alumnus Jay Mize (third from left), amember of the university’s inaugural football team and part-owner of thegreen and gold house on Leroy Street. No game was complete without atailgate party. Over the years the parties grew, expanding to include spous-es and children. So, when a house was listed for sale some 250 yards fromRaymond James Stadium, Mize and 10 of his friends jumped at the chanceto own a place where friends could congregate, bring their families andcelebrate USF. They spruced the place up, adding custom Bulls colors anda touch of the Bucs in a back room. The group charges an annual member-ship fee to some 50 alumni and friends, called Bullioneers (Bulls andBuccaneers), to enjoy the house during Bulls games, Bucs games andmajor sporting events. Eventually they hope to take on more—nonprofitand charity events to benefit the Tampa Bay community. - ANN CARNEY

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A T H L E T I C S

Gaining Ground

Character and daily improvement.Those are two things Universityof South Florida football coachJim Leavitt demands from hisplayers.

n After the first two games thisseason—tightly contested winsover McNeese State and FloridaInternational—Leavitt found him-self doubling his efforts in thosepursuits.

By the end of the season, histeam was defeating the seventhranked team in the nation on theroad and claiming a secondstraight bowl bid and a first-everbowl win in what is still just the10th season in school history.

“From what I thought we weregoing to do after our first and sec-ond game—we weren’t verygood—I think we have done someawfully good things this year,”Leavitt said just days after theteam’s win at West Virginia. “Webarely got through McNeese Stateand Florida International. Wecould have lost both of them.”

Leavitt did feel like his teamshowed character in fighting backto a win over Florida International,but perhaps more importantly hefound his new quarterback infreshman Matt Grothe.

Grothe, from Lakeland, Florida,gained his first start in that FIUgame after replacing Pat Julmiste(knee bruise) against McNeeseState. In what would becomesomewhat of a trademark ability,Grothe led the Bulls to the come-from-behind victories in each ofthe first three games of the sea-son, and nearly did it two moretimes against Kansas and Rutgers.

Grothe led the Bulls to an 8-4record and Papajohns.com Bowlbid, while also earning recognitionas the Big East Rookie of the Year.Meanwhile, three USF players—linebacker Stephen Nicholas, cor-

nerback Trae Williams and kickreturn specialist Ean Randolph werenamed to the All-Big East FirstTeam. Randolph was also recog-nized as the Big East Special TeamsPlayer of the Year.

While the 2006 season may ulti-mately be remembered for theBulls regular-season ending win atnumber seven West Virginia,Leavitt offers a more historical per-spective of that win.

“What is important is to realizewe’ve had a number of big wins,”Leavitt said. “If (West Virginia) wasthe only big win that we have

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IN ONLY ITS 10TH YEAR OF EXISTENCE, THE USF FOOTBALL TEAM CAPTURED ITS

FIRST BOWL GAME TITLE, DEFEATING EAST CAROLINA, 24-7, AT THE PAPA JOHN’S

BOWL AT LEGION FIELD.

had, then you have to wonderabout the substance in the pro-gram and you have to wonderabout the foundation. The fact thatwe’ve been able to beat Pittsburghtwo out of four, Louisville two outof four, West Virginia 1-1,Cincinnati 2-2, and Syracuse—wehave beaten them both times. Wecan see a trend in this programmoving forward. I’m not sayingthat we’re there, and I know wehave a long way to go.”

- JOHN GERDES

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L A S T W O R D

USF: How many students participateeach year?

Marcus: The groups in recent yearshave ranged from 35 to 50 students.

USF: What do students gain from theprogram?

Marcus: It is such an unbelievableexperience. Beyond the courses, theability for students to live in Paris for amonth and adopt it as their temporaryhome is incredible. They learn some-thing from the moment they wake upin the morning.

At its best, the program makes studentsfeel they are citizens of the world.Their neighbors in the residences arefrom Algeria, China, India—all over.

USF: What is different about the arthistory course for students in theSummer Art Program?

Marcus: Paris art history is art historywithout the slides. Students are in frontof the actual works with their professor.

USF: What extra curricular experiencesdo you provide for students?

Marcus: We offer two food events.Every week we take the students out-side of Paris on day trips to destinationssuch as Giverny and Chartres and sev-eral chateaus including Chantilly andVaux le Vicomte. We offer hiking tripsto places of historic and cultural signifi-cance. There is no separation betweenthe learning and the fun.

USF: Your wife, Mary Ann, who worksfor the college and who is also an artist,is part of the experience as well?

Marcus: Yes; she has been a real partof the Paris program. She shares herenergy and enthusiasm with the stu-dents every year.

USF: Why do you keep going back?

Marcus: Paris never gets tiring for me.There is a huge amount of culture andart I am still discovering. I don’t thinkyou ever exhaust the city. I did my firsttrip to Paris 30 years ago, but it’s a verydifferent place now. Each year I get toexperience the city through a fresh setof eyes.

USF: What is one thing you wish peo-ple knew about the Summer ArtProgram in Paris?

Marcus: It is probably one of the mostlife expanding things that a student cando. Whether or not you do the pro-gram, I think every person should go toParis at least once in their life.

USF: Because?

Marcus: As the American writer andartist Thomas Appleton once said,“Good Americans, when they die, go toParis.” I say, why wait?

-ANN CARNEY

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Lou Marcus

In the summer of 1987, Professorof Art Lou Marcus took 15 studentsto Paris for a month-long study ofart history in the City of Light. He’sbeen taking students there everyyear since—500 at last count.

Now in its 20th year, the four-weekSummer Art Program in Parisallows students to experience Parisas temporary residents, learningabout its monuments and arts, aswell as the daily life of its inhabi-tants and the city’s myriad culturalhighlights—the Eiffel Tower, theArc de Triomphe, the Louvre andthe Musee d’Orsay, among others.An additional one-week excursionto Venice, Italy or London, Englandis offered for students interested inexpanding their experience abroad.

Marcus, creator and director of theSummer Art Program in Paris,serves as on-site coordinator and isaccompanied each summer bythree faculty from the School ofArt and Art History. A part-timeresident of the city and professorof art at USF, he teaches courses inphotography, the history of pho-tography and visual culture. Hiswork has been exhibited widelyand is in numerous public and pri-vate collections.

USF: Why Paris?

Marcus: I worked on a photographyproject in Paris in 1985, and realizedthe city would be great for students.In many respects it is the cultural capi-tal of Europe.

USF: Do students earn credit for theprogram?

Marcus: Yes; credits earned are appli-cable to USF art and art history degreerequirements. Students can enroll inone course or take up to two coursesin Paris. The program is structured touse the city as a classroom.

Name: Lou Marcus

Greatest city on earth: Paris

English books or French: It's apleasure to read in both languages

Baguette or bagel: Baguette detradition

Must-see in Paris: The Louvre

Best thing about Tampa: Wintersand the Tampa Theater

UNIVERSITY RELATIONSUniversity of South Florida4202 E. Fowler Ave., ADM278Tampa, FL 33620-6300

Non Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTampa, FloridaPermit No. 257

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ROCKY ENTERTAINS ALUMNI AND STUDENTS AT FOWLER FIELD DURING SUPERBULL X— USF’S TENTH FOOTBALL HOMECOMING—IN OCTO-

BER. HOMECOMING EVENTS INCLUDED A PERFORMANCE BY HIP-HOP STAR LUDACRIS AND THE TRADITIONAL NIGHT PARADE, BONFIRE AND

FIREWORKS. THE HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME AGAINST PITTSBURGH RESULTED IN A 22-12 VICTORY FOR THE BULLS.