R.G. “Kelly” Caldwell is CEO and President of Caldwell Trust Company and its parent, Trust Companies of America, Inc. The Caldwell Trust Company Business Scholarship is an award given annually to students attending the College of Business at University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

Why is USFSM important to you personally? 

Caldwell Trust Company has first-hand experience in the value of USFSM, not only to our community but also to our own business. Back in 2003 we hired Sonya Kristie (now Sonya Dlug), as an intern when she was a junior-year student at USFSM. Sonya proved so capable and talented that upon her graduation in 2005, we promoted her to fulltime trust assistant. She rose quickly within our company, becoming a trust associate in 2007 and assistant trust officer in 2009. By 2010—just five years out of USFSM–she was a full trust officer, serving her own clients with our complete confidence. It’s gratifying for Caldwell to know that USFSM helps to educate our young people right here in Sarasota. We don’t have to look outside our area to find capable employees who already know and love our community.

What do you think the role of USFSM is in the community?

Absent institutions like USFSM, many of our local youth would be attending colleges in other communities or states. USFSM provides the same resources, presenting a clear path for our kids to stay and work within our community. By serving our young people so well and keeping them in town, USFSM brings a vibrancy to our community.

How important was your education in preparing you for your business success?

Very important. I was trained as an engineer, a profession that taught me to approach problems with critical thinking in a linear fashion. In our fast-moving, ever-changing world, it is vitally important to bring that keen, cold-eyed look, to cut through the superficial noise and get to the heart of a situation.

What drives you in giving back to the community?  

This is my home. My family’s roots herego back to the 70s. This community has given so much to me and has meant so much to our family for generations, and I believe strongly in giving back.This is where I grew up as a child, where I wish to raise my three children. I want them to live in a strong community, a prosperous one. The best way to ensure that future for my boys—and for others here—is to contribute my time, talent and whatever other resources I can provide so that I can help to build on the outstanding resources we all enjoy. 

Outstanding Professor Award

Honorees for the Outstanding Professor Award at USF Sarasota-Manatee share a sincere involvement with their students, passion for the university and its mission, and a commitment to excellence through education. Presented by the Student Government Association on behalf of the graduating seniors, the award is the highest campus level honor for USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty members. It recognizes exceptional accomplishments, leadership, and service to the campus and community.

Dr. Reich has been at USF Sarasota-Manatee since 2005 after spending several years working at the USF Tampa campus. Reich earned his B.S in Psychology from the College of Charleston in 1994 and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from USF. He has been published in over 10 different journals and publications and has overseen directed studies for undergraduate psychology majors at USFSM since 2006.

Dr. Reich is known as an expert for cognitive factors affecting substance use and abuse as well as statistical applications to psychological research. For all this and more, the USFSM students have recognized Dr. Reich as this semester’s Most Outstanding Professor.

What special projects/research are you involved in? 

I am involved in several projects studying the cognitive factors influencing the decision to drink alcohol.  Some of these projects are collaborations with current and former USFSM students.  I also am a research/statistical consultant on multiple projects at Moffitt Cancer Center.

What courses do you teach?

Most recently, I have taught Research Methods, Pro Seminar, Drugs and Behavior, Cognitive Psychology, Learning, and Physiological Psychology.

Why did you get into teaching? 

To some degree, vanity.  I hoped to captivate the attention of students the way I was captivated by great teachers I had.

Why did you come to USFSM? 

I came to USFSM because I needed a job.  I have stayed at USFSM for three reasons: 1) The value the administration puts on teaching and research. 2) The students, who are conscientious and rich in life experience; and 3) The enormous potential of the university. 

What does it mean to you to be named outstanding professor?  

I hope it means the students have learned something in my classes. 

King O’Neal Scholar Award

The USF Alumni Association awards the King O’Neal Scholars award every semester to those students completing their USF coursework with a 4.0 GPA. The award was created in honor of charter USF graduates Lucas King and Evelyn O’Neal.

Michaela is a Hospitality Management major who will graduate with a 4.0 GPA. Following graduation, Michaela hopes to continue her education by attending culinary school to obtain a degree in baking and pastry arts. She also helps to manage a family business in the restaurant industry in her spare time.

Michaela aspires to own her own business after finishing her education.

What would you like to do for a career upon graduation?

Upon graduation, I plan on attending culinary school to obtain a degree in baking and pastry arts. I currently manage a family business in the restaurant industry, and I would ultimately like to have my own business after completing my education.

Why did you choose the major that you chose?

I chose Hospitality Management due to the fact that it encompasses many aspects of the industry that I am interested in. In the future, I aspire to have an event planning/catering business.

What are some of your interests?

Some of my interests include traveling, baking, reading, scrap booking, and playing the piano.

What is something about you that people wouldn’t normally know about you?

Something that most people would not normally know about me is that I like to go target shooting, and I can hit a bulls eye from 100 yards away with an AR 15 rifle.

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee?

I chose USF Sarasota-Manatee for the smaller campus, relative location to my home, and for the degree that I was pursuing.

Why were you a good candidate for this award?

I believe that I was a good candidate for this award because I work extremely hard at trying to succeed in my education, and I have put a lot of time and effort into earning a 4.0 GPA. 

Dr. Wilma Davidson, Instructor of Business and Technical Writing

What made you come to USFSM?

We moved to Florida and I wanted to contribute in my area of expertise in academic as well as corporate classrooms, where I have been working across the globe for several decades.

What special projects/research are you involved in?

Tod Roberts and I have built the Professional and Technical Writing Program here at USFSM over the past few years—and in 2012 successfully presented a proposal to Tampa to make our concentration in Professional and Technical Writing a separate B.A. degree program (B.A. in Professional and Technical Communication).  It will begin in Fall 2014.

What other jobs have you held before this one and what were your roles?

I am still the president of Davidson & Associates Communications Consultants, Inc., a corporation devoted to helping executives and professionals manage their writing and speaking challenges in the workplace.

If you were selling USFSM to an incoming student what would you say?

Come here!  You will find professors who care, classes that are small, and an opportunity to get a quality education in a place where you can be counted.

How has USFSM made you a better professional/person?

It has allowed me the opportunity to blend my work in corporate classrooms with my work in academic classrooms.  Each informs my teaching and research.

What are some of your goals for the future?

To continue to help students succeed: to help them feel good about themselves and to give them the tools they need to write and speak professionally in the workplace.  To help them stand above the crowd. (I plan to contribute to write and publish as well.)

Regina Oykherman, President of Bulls on Parade

What would you like to do for a career upon graduation?

My ideal career after graduation would be working as an investigator for the Medical Examiner’s office in Sarasota County.

Why did you choose the major that you chose?

The Criminal Justice Field is fascinating to me, not only do you get the ability to learn why criminals may commit crimes and what their motives are, but you are also able to learn how to better help the community and society as a whole stay better protected, and how to help those individuals that may have turned to crime at one point in their life and how there are various programs that may help them get ‘back on their feet.’

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee?

I chose USF Sarasota-Manatee not only because it is close to home, but also because USF is a great school to attend. USF Sarasota-Manatee not only has a beautiful campus, but also allows you to have small class sizes giving you the ability to work closely with your professors. What I say to any student interested in attending USFSM is that this campus is a ‘public school with a private school atmosphere’ and that all the instructors are not only teaching in the classroom, but are also working in the field, bringing valuable knowledge and experience into the classroom.

Would you recommend USFSM to someone else?

Yes, I have already recruited my brother to attend USFSM. 

How has USFSM prepared you for your career goals?

USFSM has not only prepared me through the classroom, but has also allowed me to get involved and hold leadership positions within the campus so I can grow as an individual. The knowledge I have gathered from my studies, and the experiences I have had through my involvement on campus will allow me to better understand, work and problem solve in the field.

What was your favorite class at USFSM and why?

Alternatives to Incarceration – This would have had to be my favorite class because it not only helped me understand why persons commit crimes, but also informed me of various ways to better discipline individuals through means other than incarceration/jail etc. I also enjoyed this class because not only did I learn about these types of alternatives in the classroom, but I was also given the opportunity to visit the Sarasota County Jail and do a walk-through with the rest of my class. This experience not only allowed me to see what goes on in the inside of a jail, but also allowed me to learn about various programs and activities that individuals housed there can partake in while serving their time. This class was not only informative but also eye opening, letting me know that in order to reduce re-incarceration rates, there is a major need for alternatives to incarceration and transition programs that allow persons to ‘smoothly’ or ‘more easily’ transition back into society.

What is the best part of USFSM?

There is no single good thing about USFSM. USFSM as a whole is a great campus and great school. With extremely knowledgeable professors, small class sizes and great opportunities that USFSM provides to get involved on and off campus, USFSM is indeed the whole package! 

What would you like to do for a career upon graduation?

I would like to work as a Foreign Service Officer for an American Embassy abroad.

Why did you choose the major that you chose?

I chose Criminology because it was a wide enough field that would later allow me to pursue a career in Law Enforcement, Government, or even take the LSAT and apply for law school. It is a good starting point into other fields.

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee?

I chose USF Sarasota-Manatee because it was close to home and my job.  The class sizes were small and all the staff and faculty from professors to maintenance staff were personable and very professional. I desperately wanted the “college experience” that I missed out on the first time around and was able to have it through my involvement in the Rowing Club, Ambassadors and Student Government. We had the opportunity to go to football games in Tampa, participate in the Fall Ambassador Retreat with the Tampa campus, as well as compete in different events through rowing. I liked the small size of the classrooms and knowing that I was a person and not a number. My professors took interest in me and did everything possible to help me succeed.  

Would you recommend USFSM to someone else?

I would highly recommend USFSM to everyone ranging from a high school graduate who is attending college for the first time, to a young adult as myself who has to work a full time job but still wants to feel part of a big university and have the “college experience”, to a parent who perhaps has always wanted to return to school but had to raise a family. USFSM can meet the needs of very different individuals in our community.

How has USFSM prepared you for your career goals?

USFSM has provided me with all the tools I need to succeed independently and they continue to help me as I transition from my undergrad to graduate studies. The career center was extremely helpful in preparing my resume as well as always sending information about possible employment opportunities not only in our community but abroad as well.

What was your favorite class at USFSM and why?

I would say it is very difficult to pick my favorite class because I truly enjoyed all my classes even the ones that I hated at the time I learned and took something valuable with me that I can apply to real life experience.

What is the best part of USFSM?

It is really hard to narrow down to just one thing but for me the best part of USFSM is the benefits of a small school with small professor to student ratio while still having the big University feel to it. I think it was the best of both worlds. 

What made you come to USFSM?

I am a gerontologist and came to Sarasota because of the aging population- and to escape New York’s cold weather!

What special projects/research are you involved in?

Aging in place, aging in community, advance care planning throughout the end of life, end of life care, geriatric mental health, inter-generational programming and health care professional communication.

What other jobs have you held before this one and what were your roles?

I have been teaching college since 1987- 1-4 courses per semester with exception of a few summers and two semesters I gave birth.

I was a geriatric nurse in acute and long term care, medical social worker- mostly cardiac and ICU but all areas , geriatric case manager, gerontological consultant, associate director of  a gerontology center and a personal caregiver.(Her grandmother lived with me for a decade)

If you were selling USFSM to an incoming student what would you say?

“USFSM is a small school, so you won’t get lost as a number.  There is great, high-quality teaching and Sarasota is a great place to live all year round!”

How has USFSM made you a better professional/person?

To me, an extension of my role in the aging network of providers in this city.  I have a new found respect for the synergy of an engaged aging citizenry- my last publication.

What are some of your goals for the future?

To continue to serve the university and community by transforming the experience of aging.

What is the best part of USFSM?

It is small scale, so you can interact easily. 

How did it prepare you for the work you do now?

I have a BS for Hospitality management and now I am part owner and COO  in a company called NetWeave Social Networking.  I feel that what I learned at USFSM helped me in with learning the business aspect of a company.  I already had a hospitality background and learning the ins and outs of running a business was so beneficial.  I am able to keep hospitality alive and well for my bed and breakfast and restaurant clients.  Since I have that background I am better suited to do their social media.

What was the best thing you got out of your USFSM experience?

The best thing I got out of my USFSM experience would be everyone associated with the campus from faculty to custodians.  I felt as if everyone there was helping achieve my goals.  It truly is a community.

Do you have one anecdote or story to tell that sticks out in your memory?

I loved presenting reports and making them not just reports in front of a class, I made each report an experience.  On several occasions you could see me walking down the halls dressed in my costume for my Baroque class as Artemisia Gentileschi or cooking shrimp for Dr. Walker for a party presentation. 

What would surprise people the most to know about USFSM that you want to share?

The one thing that would surprise people about the USFSM campus is the small classes and everyone’s willingness to help if you are having difficulties whether they be academic, financial, or personal.  The guidance department is always friendly.  The student government is there at every turn with events and fun give-a-ways.  I will always be grateful to all the faculty who helped and supported me during tough times.

What made you choose USFSM?

I grew up in Tampa and because of my family situation I never thought I would have the opportunity to attend USF.  I watched the campus grow and I attended some of the summer class programs for children. Life happened and I was unable to further my education.  One day I was given the opportunity to go to university.  I heard that the USFSM campus had just finished completion and would start in 2006 was perfect timing and I knew I found my academic home.

Who you recommend USFSM to others? If so, why?

I would happily recommend USFSM to anyone.  I have two high school seniors right now and we are all excited to see that next Fall will be the first time there have been freshmen classes.  We’ve taken the campus tour with my adopted son and he loves the small class size and the campus itself.  He sees himself studying outside by the fountain between classes.

I already have one son attending USF and I have hired USF students.  I am proud to say that I attended the University of South Florida.  I am proud to say, “Go Bulls!”