Academics News

Biodiversity surveys and sampling at long term monitoring sites in the U.S. Virgin Islands have provided critical data on the seasonal fluctuations of microalgae and toxicity in these reef ecosystems leading to PIRE research. Graduate student Alexis Sabine is seen conducting biodiversity surveys at Flay Cay, U.S. Virgin Islands. Photo courtesy of Robert Brewer.

Tiny Algae Causing Big Problems
October 20, 2017

USA marine scientist will lead an international investigation into coral toxins that threaten seafood consumption safety. ...

Stokes Center to Host Reading Event
October 18, 2017

Nathan Poole, assistant professor of creative writing, will read from his two books of fiction. ...

South Student is Part of "Generation Teach"
October 12, 2017

Logan Arnold, a physical education major at South, was selected to teach kids in Massachusetts for several months this summer. ...

Lindsay Hutcherson, center, participated in a summer research experience at Kansas State University, the alma mater of Dr. Justin Sanders, left, chair and associate professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. "She is very good at working collaboratively with others," said Dr. Jianing Han, right, assistant professor of physics.

First Assignment: Build a Laser
October 2, 2017

Lindsay Hutcherson's project led to a summer research experience, and the physics major recently presented her findings. ...

USA senior German Cruz-Torres, center, a native of Puerto Rico, concentrates on mapping areas of the island during the GeoClub’s Map-a-thon.

Delivering Aid, From Inside a Classroom
September 29, 2017

South faculty and students help in Puerto Rico's recovery by providing a link between satellite maps and computer software. ...

Dr. Carol Sawyer, an associate professor of earth sciences, visited Iceland this summer as part of a multi-year project examining various aspects of cold environment land forms,

Cold Landforms Amid Hot Volcanoes
September 27, 2017

Dr. Carol Sawyer's research took her to Iceland to study the relationship between cold weather and the country's terrain. ...

Students Kassy Ureña Rodriguez, left, and Skyler Hill, right, speak with Dr. Christine Rinne, coordinator of the new Global Engagement Certificate program. Both have expressed an interest in pursuing the certificate.

South Adds Global Engagement Certificate
September 21, 2017

The new program aims to prepare students in any field of study to effectively navigate the global workplace. ...

'Adrift in Macao' Opens Theatre USA Season
September 18, 2017

The comical musical set in the early 1950s will open at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, and run through Sept. 30. ...

Dr. Charlotte Pence's first book of poems, “Many Small Fires,” explores her father’s chronic homelessness while simultaneously detailing the physiological changes that enabled humans to form cities, communities and households.

Pence to Deliver Hamner Lecture
September 13, 2017

Dr. Charlotte Pence with the Stokes Center for Creative Writing will discuss her first book of poems, "Many Small Fires." ...

Dr. Laura F. Edwards, the Peabody Family Professor of History at Duke University, will explore the ways the Fourteenth Amendment changed the legal order of Americans’ relationships to rights and the federal government during her speech at the N. Jack Stallworth Lecture in Southern History.

Fourteenth Amendment Focus of Stallworth Lecture
September 12, 2017

Dr. Laura F. Edwards will speak about "The Reconstruction of Rights: The Fourteenth Amendment and Popular Conceptions of Governance in the South" ...

The class of 2021 gets their picture taken in the Mitchell Center before Convocation. South marked increases this year in the total number of freshmen from both Alabama and out of state.

Freshman Class Tops in GPA, ACT
September 8, 2017

Retention rates rise, freshmen enrollment up as South enrolls a class with the highest average GPA in University history. ...

This year's University of South Alabama Board of Trustees Scholar, Ada Chaeli van der Zijp-Tan of Madison, Ala., is flanked by 2016 recipient Christian Manganti of Gulfport, Miss., and 2015 awardee Shirley Zhang of Vestavia Hills, Ala. The USA Board of Trustees Scholarship program recognizes the most academically talented student in each incoming freshman class.

USA Board of Trustees Scholar Named
September 8, 2017

Freshman Ada Chaeli van der Zijp-Tan, who arrived at South with a 5.16 high school GPA, is majoring in biomedical sciences. ...

The University of South Alabama has officially opened its new Honors College, with 248 academically talented students enrolled. Opening ceremonies were held today at the Seaman’s Bethel building, a historic structure that serves as the Honors College headquarters.

Honors College Officially Opens
September 7, 2017

Nearly 250 academically talented students enrolled in the Honors College, housed in the renovated historic Seamen's Bethel. ...

Nicholas Brownlee, front, met with music students during a visit to South, where he was taught as a student by Dr. Thomas Rowell, right, director of the USA Opera House.

South Grad, Opera Star ... Pro Truck Racer?
August 25, 2017

Nicholas Brownlee, '12, returns to South for a one-night concert, meets with students and talks about his love of racing. ...

Dr. Craig Pearce, center, is the co-author of the new book “Twisted Leadership” and the Ben May Distinguished Professor in the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama.

Are You Getting Leadership Wrong?
August 22, 2017

Probably so, says the Mitchell College of Business' Dr. Craig Pearce, whose new book emphasizes six ways to improve outcomes. ...

The 28-year-old Yaa Gyasi, a native of Ghana, grew up in Huntsville. Her writing debut "Homegoing" captured international attention when publisher Alfred A. Knopf paid $1 million for the manuscript.

Alabama Author Picked for Common Read
August 9, 2017

The highly acclaimed and best-selling historical fiction novel "Homegoing" is the writing debut of Yaa Gyasi. ...

USA Student Broderick Morrissette is a mentor to Vigor High School student Carrington Bush, a participant in South’s Upward Bound Program. The program recently received a $1.2 million dollar grant to continue for the next five years.

Mentoring the Next Generation of Jags
August 4, 2017

South's Upward Bound program is giving high school students the skills needed to succeed before getting to campus. ...

Dr. Michael Francis earned his Ph.D. in 2013 from the USA College of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral training at the University’s Center for Lung Biology.

South Alum Receives $800K NIH Grant
August 3, 2017

The research of Dr. Michael Francis, who earned his Ph.D. at the College of Medicine, focuses on a deadly vascular disease. ...

Anna Kate Greer, a freshman from Ocean Springs, Miss., studied abroad in Russia under the direction of Dr. Nick Gossett, assistant professor of modern and classical languages and literature.

Next Stop After Orientation: Moscow
August 1, 2017

With plans to major in Russian, Anna Kate Greer took the opportunity to get a jump start abroad with other South students. ...

Lana Henfield-Johnson earned her master’s of nursing degree in informatics from the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama. She also was inducted into the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Inc.

'Whatever You Do, Don't Give Up'
July 28, 2017

She faced setbacks and struggles. But nothing would stop Lana Henfield-Johnson from earning her graduate nursing degree. ...

Dr. Richard Carter, USA's associate vice president for global engagement, and his wife, Angela, have established the Dr. Richard and Angela Carter Global USA Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship enhances South's institutional priority of global engagement.

Carters Endow First Global USA Scholarship
July 28, 2017

The Dr. Richard and Angela Carter Global USA Endowed Scholarship supports international education and global engagement. ...

Lisa Schibelius, a master's student in mechanical engineering, is the lead person on the FAST lab's quadrotor project, which gathers atmospheric data along the Gulf Coast.

At South, Research Reaches New Heights
July 20, 2017

With Airbus in town, interest in USA's FAST program is taking off. 'We are engineers and want to build something tangible.' ...

Attending the two-week summer Research Opportunities for Noyce Alumni professional development training are Dr. Susan Martin, associate professor of Leadership and teacher education, and program coordinator at the University of South Alabama; Ramsey Willis, a math teacher at Davidson High School; and Cathey Ho, a science teacher at Semmes Middle School.

Helping Teachers Help Their Students
July 13, 2017

USA Noyce Scholars will take lessons from research-based professional development, along with a stipend, back to their schools. ...

Dr. Steve Trout, professor and chair of English, specializes in literary modernism, war literature and American cultural studies.

Trout Earns MidAmerica Award
July 12, 2017

The English department chair received the award for distinguished contributions to the study of Midwestern literature. ...

Kohrman, a senior in South's department of music, is the only American selected to compete next week in a prestigious composition competition in Prague.

Senior Pianist to Compete in Prague
July 11, 2017

Peter Kohrman, who says he plays 'both the piano and the computer,' plans to compose music for movies, TV and video games. ...

Academics News Archive

Tiny Algae Causing Big Problems October 20, 2017

Stokes Center to Host Reading Event October 18, 2017

South Student is Part of "Generation Teach" October 12, 2017

First Assignment: Build a Laser October 2, 2017

Delivering Aid, From Inside a Classroom September 29, 2017

Cold Landforms Amid Hot Volcanoes September 27, 2017

South Adds Global Engagement Certificate September 21, 2017

'Adrift in Macao' Opens Theatre USA Season September 18, 2017

Pence to Deliver Hamner Lecture September 13, 2017

Fourteenth Amendment Focus of Stallworth Lecture September 12, 2017

Freshman Class Tops in GPA, ACT September 8, 2017

USA Board of Trustees Scholar Named September 8, 2017

Honors College Officially Opens September 7, 2017

South Grad, Opera Star ... Pro Truck Racer? August 25, 2017

Are You Getting Leadership Wrong? August 22, 2017

Alabama Author Picked for Common Read August 9, 2017

Mentoring the Next Generation of Jags August 4, 2017

South Alum Receives $800K NIH Grant August 3, 2017

Next Stop After Orientation: Moscow August 1, 2017

'Whatever You Do, Don't Give Up' July 28, 2017

Carters Endow First Global USA Scholarship July 28, 2017

At South, Research Reaches New Heights July 20, 2017

Helping Teachers Help Their Students July 13, 2017

Trout Earns MidAmerica Award July 12, 2017

Senior Pianist to Compete in Prague July 11, 2017