USF Sarasota-Manatee welcomes Andrea Stephens as assistant director of development for University Advancement. A USF alumna with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing, Andrea has previous experience in donor relations and event management for higher education. She grew up in Sarasota, where she lives with her husband and son, and volunteers at several nonprofits in the community, including Senior Friendship Centers. “Andrea is a great asset to our team with her special appreciation for higher education, building personal relationships and showcasing all that USF Sarasota-Manatee has to offer,” said Dennis Stover, regional vice chancellor for advancement. “She is particularly excited to be putting her talents to work in support of her Alma Mater.”

The College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee announces new courses in the emerging areas of IT Security and Mobile Applications.

A new era of total connectivity and access to information 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week has created the demand for training in a variety of emerging technical fields, including the latest courses at USFSM in Android Web Apps, Mobile/Wireless Security, and IT Strategy and Entrepreneurship. The assembly of new programs in USFSM’s College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership addresses the needs of traditional and non-traditional students, as well as working professionals seeking formal training in new technologies. The IT curriculum has been designed as a team effort among educators and industry partners, resulting in rigorous content aligned with current and emerging industry needs.

“Students live in a connected world and are bringing these ideas to the workplace,” said Shane Hartman, who will be teaching the new courses on Android Web Apps. “As such, USFSM is bridging the gap between personal and social ideas that students are accustomed to and applying them to the workplace with courses like Software Development for Mobile Apps and Android Web Apps, which shows students how to take business constructs and adapt them to the mobile environment.”

USF Sarasota-Manatee continues to be on the forefront of emerging technologies and areas of study with the addition of these three courses, made timely by the viral story of Nick D’Alosio. D’Alosio, a 17-year-old from the United Kingdom who became instantly famous for selling an app he developed to Yahoo!, for millions of dollars. “The never-ending debate between mobile and native (traditional) web applications is a debate which will undoubtedly grow along with Android’s market share,” said Fred Cavazza, a regular contributor on social and digital media and technology to Forbes Magazine.

The cornerstone of the IT program at USFSM is information security. Shane Hartman is recognized as one of the area’s premier experts on digital forensics and is the founder of the Suncoast Security Society. Hartman is joined by Dr. Bill Murphy, who will teach the course on IT Strategy and Entrepreneurship. Jeremy Rasmussen, Senior Principal Information Security Engineer at CACI, an IT solutions firm, will teach the Mobile/Wireless Security course beginning this summer.

Android Web Apps will be offered beginning in summer 2013 with Mobile Web Apps following as a complementary course starting in fall 2013. Students are advised to take both courses back-to-back.

In developing this IT track, USFSM’s goal is to be nimble and creative in designing practical programs in the field, enabling students to gain valuable training that will help them land careers in a rapidly changing world.

More information is available here.

Future educators from Manatee County studying at University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) College of Education will have access to even greater scholarship opportunities thanks to the bequest of the estate of Francis E. and Gaile McCracken. The gifts from the McCracken Estate will bring the lifetime total of their donations to nearly one-point-three million dollars ($1.3 million) to support future educators in Manatee County who attend USFSM. 

Francis McCracken (“Mac”) was born in Indiana in 1920, the youngest of seven boys and four girls. He entered training for the Air Force and was certified as a fighter pilot just after WWII ended. Francis attended Purdue on the GI bill, earning a BS in Agriculture and an MS in Education. His wife, Gaile, attended Ball State Teachers College and Syracuse University and taught high school social studies. Francis taught vocational agriculture in Indiana and agriculture and biology in Michigan. He was also adjunct faculty for USF.

Mr. and Mrs. McCracken retired at the age of 55 and enjoyed traveling to most countries around the globe. The couple had no children, and after retiring to Manatee County, lived modestly and invested carefully. In 2007, Francis created the McCracken Educator’s Scholarships at USF Sarasota-Manatee, and was proud to provide a legacy of financial support and access to higher education for Manatee County students attending USFSM. The scholarships contain both financial need and academic eligibility requirements.

When he died last August, Francis left a bequest in his will which added more than a million dollars in endowment to the existing McCracken Educator’s Scholarships Fund for students at USFSM.

“As dedicated educators, the McCrackens believed in the value of creating a steady supply of future teachers, as well as helping Manatee County students offset the rising cost of a quality education,” said USFSM’s Regional Vice Chancellor for Advancement Dennis Stover. “The McCracken Educator’s scholarships in the USF Sarasota-Manatee College of Education ensure a wonderful legacy of generosity that will impact future educators and our region for many years to come.

Each month, we take a look back at all the major news stories about USF Sarasota-Manatee, its faculty, staff and students. For all the latest news about USFSM, be sure to sign up to get the monthly e-News by clicking HERE.

Join USFSM in the 36-Hour Giving Challenge next week, when Southwest Florida unleashes its inner generosity!

You can help USFSM qualify for thousands of dollars in donations and grants that support our scholarships and programs. Please plan to CLICK, SHARE & SHOP during  The Giving Challenge, from March 5 at 7 a.m. to March 6 at 7 p.m.

Here’s how:

1.      CLICK on our “USF” profile on The Giving Partner website with this shortcut: www.USFSM.edu/click. Every unique visitor gets us closer to winning a $5,000 grant.

2.      SHARE your love of USFSM by visiting www.USFSM.edu/share, search for “USF” and make a secure donation of $25 or more.

3.      SHOP at The Furniture Warehouse, where you’ll not only get a discount during the 36-Hour Giving Challenge, but the store will make a donation to USFSM for every sale!

Please share this message with all of your friends and encourage them to support USFSM during the 36-Hour Giving Challenge!

Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Manatee Community Foundation with support from The Patterson Foundation.

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee announces a generous planned gift by Robert Purzycki of Ipswich, MA, a renowned expert on travel, tourism and the cruise industry. Bob, who graduated from USF in 1968 with a degree in Geography, created this deferred gift of $650,000 to support operations as well as need- and merit-based scholarships benefitting graduate students in the USF Sarasota-Manatee College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership (COHTL).

“This wonderful donation from someone who knows the tourism industry so well from the inside will help develop our College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership into one of the top-10 programs in the country,” said Dr. Cihan Cobanoglu, dean of the college. “We are proud to know that Bob Purzycki values our role as a unique resource for future leaders in global hospitality and technology education, innovation and research.”

Bob and his late wife, Jeanne, were world travelers and avid cruisers who spent their careers training professional travel agents, hotel administrators, airline managers and members of the travel, hospitality and cruise industries in innovative sales, marketing and customer service techniques. The couple met when Jeanne hired Bob to work for Garber, one of the largest travel agencies in Boston. In collaboration with Jeanne, who died in 2011, Bob co-authored five highly regarded books, as well as college curricula for schools in the Boston area. Dr. Cobanoglu and several USFSM students are currently helping revise and update the Purzyckis’ book “Sails for Profit”.

A native of Schenectady, New York, Bob put himself through college working as a radiologic technician before entering the travel and tourism field where he indulged his love of geography and foreign cultures. After being drafted into the US Navy during the Vietnam War, he learned Arabic and Spanish, taking advantage of postings to Spain, Greece, the Middle East and North Africa.

Having traveled to 120 countries and experienced 43 cruises, Bob says his favorite destination remains the Canadian Rockies. In addition to his passion for travel, Bob volunteers at the Ipswich Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass. In memory of Jeanne’s long battle with breast cancer, he supports the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, and a nonprofit for the prevention of animal cruelty. He visits Sarasota frequently, and particularly enjoys sharing his vast knowledge and global travel experiences with USFSM students. “The education I received at USF, nearly a half-century ago, has constantly guided and helped me navigate through the various tangents that have come my way while pursuing careers,” Bob said. “I’m proud to support the COHTL program, giving future students a chance to live their dreams.”

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee has named Brian Mudd the new Director of Technology Services. Mudd comes to USFSM with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including the last 23 at Saginaw Valley State University.

“I hope that within a year faculty and students will notice continued improvement in the level of Technology Services, with a customer service emphasis and responsiveness to technical issues, including exploration and implementation of innovative tools which enhance overall teaching,” Mudd said. “I look forward to meeting – and exceeding – the needs of USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty and students.”

Throughout his career, Mudd helped facilitate audio and video, library media and information and instructional technology services for faculty, staff and students. He has been a part of the opening of six academic buildings as well as designing classrooms and systems to aid in improved learning. Mudd was also in charge of running a help desk and responding personally to calls when necessary. He has demonstrated leadership, public service and management skills.

“I hope to contribute positively in the growth and expansion of USF Sarasota-Manatee, while continuing to elevate the level of customer service and responsiveness to meeting faculty and student needs and to contribute to the overall learning mission,” Mudd said.

In his new role at USFSM, Mudd will oversee all of Technology and Internet Services, including the Information Commons and Internet Café. Mudd received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (in Program Broadcast and Cinematic Arts)  from Central Michigan University, and an Educational Certificate in Distance Education from Indiana University.

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee College of Education worked with students in Susan Ambriosio’s fifth grade art class at Emma E. Booker Elementary to create original works of art entitled “What I Can Be With a College Degree”.

A reception introducing the display will be held in the USF Sarasota-Manatee College of Education from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on February 22^nd.

“What I Can Be with a College Degree” is a collaborative effort to promote the value of higher education among students that are culturally, linguistically, racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse. It grew out of the College of Education’s Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching (PAInT) Center, which infuses the arts into all teacher preparation. Emma E. Booker Elementary School serves as a host for USFSM’s teacher candidates completing their internships. The Educator’s Alliance at USFSM encourages future educators to work with diverse students and encourage their growth and success through professional development and community service.

To prepare for the display, students were assigned homework researching different state universities to see what college degrees were offered and which would interest them. They researched how long it would take to acquire that degree, what clothes they would wear in that profession, what tools they would use and what type of salary they would earn once they were working in that field. Each student had a photo of his or her face taken, which was converted into a computerized line drawing that personalizes each work of art and helped the young artists focus on the professions rather than their drawing skills. Teacher Susan Ambrioso said “This project encouraged Emma E. Booker fifth graders to think about college and professions in which they may be interested. They came upon the realization that college was a possibility rather something that was out of their grasp and it wasn’t that far in the future. They also figured out that some professions require a college degree and some need a special training route instead.”

“Latavia’s” self-portrait shows that she could become a teacher. “Rose” drew herself as a labor and delivery nurse. There are several veterinarians, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers and fashion designers in the group, as well. Through bright colors and imaginative settings, the children depicted their aspirations for the future.

“This was a special initiative because it gave us the opportunity to see the potential these students have and to encourage their dreams,” said USFSM College of Education student Bailey Leonard, currently a student teacher at Tatum Ridge Elementary. “As educators, one of our goals is to help every child reach their potential in life and to help them succeed. We really got to see that connection being made!”

The project also reinforced how important arts integration is in the classroom. “It gives children a chance to express themselves in not just a pencil and paper kind of way,” Leonard said.