USA News Archive

Dr. David Johnson, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the University of South Alabama, will chair the board of trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Johnson Elected SACSCOC Board Chair
December 12, 2019

Dr. David Johnson will chair the board of trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. ...

Marylyn L. Gafford said her interest in a globally focused career began at home. “Once we started hosting exchange students,” she said, “I knew I wanted a more global career.”

A Global Perspective Shaped at Home
December 10, 2019

Marylyn Gafford speaks Spanish and Russian and has traveled abroad. Her globally minded focus started with a single visitor. ...

After working at USA Health University Hospital and as a traveling nurse, Krystal Lockett says she felt called to work with inmates as a nurse practitioner at Fountain Correctional Facility. “I can show them that I care,” she said, “and I feel like they’re receptive to me.”

Fueled by Keto Coffee and True Grit
December 10, 2019

Krystal Lockett juggled a full-time job, family business and sleepless nights while earning a doctorate in nursing practice. ...

Carson Davidenko will begin a career at FedEx after an internship where he shadowed the president of one of its divisions. “I didn’t even know what to think when they first offered me the internship,

After Changing Majors, He Boarded a Jet
December 10, 2019

Carson Davidenko's internship with FedEx Freight and its CEO led to a job offer for the future physician turned business major. ...

Grant to Fund Refugee Collaboration
December 9, 2019

Two projects in South's English department will receiving funding from the Alabama Humanities Foundation. ...

South Research Funding Gets Big Boost
December 9, 2019

USA pulls in more than $87 million in external and contract funding in 2019, a 43 percent jump from the year prior. ...

Internal Grants Awarded for Galapagos Research
December 9, 2019

Seven faculty were awarded $3,000 travel grants to establish collaborations and do preliminary work on their projects. ...

Fernando Guérard, a graduate student at the University of South Alabama, watches as his sculpture of Chief Calvin McGhee is being cast in bronze at the Fairhope Foundry. “This man, his humbleness and his honesty, I really connected with,” Guerard says.

'Everything He Did, He Did For His People'
December 9, 2019

Graduate student Fernando Guérard delved into archives as part of his research in creating a sculpture of Chief Calvin McGhee. ...

Dr. Jonathan Rayner, associate professor of microbiology and immunology, and director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, works in his lab. Researchers at the College of Medicine are collaborating with members of the Yale School of Public Health and its West Nile 4K Project to reconstruct a picture of how the virus has spread and adapted.

South Teams Up With Yale on Mosquitoes
December 9, 2019

The ultimate goal of the West Nile 4K Project and research at USA is to develop life-saving vaccines and therapeutics. ...

Ruby Bryan, a University of South Alabama student, joined Dr. Kathy Cooke, Honors College dean, and Dr. Kern Jackson, director of the African American Studies Program, for an interview on the Eastern Shore as part of an oral histories program. The interviews will be shared with the public in local library programs early next year.

Collecting History Through Conversation
December 9, 2019

An Honors College initiative is sending students and faculty into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta to record stories of its people. ...

Dr. Kendrea Garand, an assistant professor of speech pathology in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions, works with a volunteer control subject to collect data on swallowing against data collected from an ALS patient. The goal of her research is to improve treatment options for those who suffer from dysphagia.

Taking On One of Life's Interrupters
December 9, 2019

At South, an emerging leader in dysphagia research is investigating treatments for people who have difficulty swallowing. ...

Dr. Alvin J. Williams, a nationally recognized chair of marketing and quantitative methods in the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business, will deliver the fall University Commencement Ceremony address.

South Readies for Fall Commencement
December 6, 2019

Dr. Alvin Williams, professor in the Mitchell College of Business, will speak following individual college and school ceremonies. ...

Visit Mobile Honors Hospitality and Tourism Management
November 22, 2019

South's department of hospitality and tourism management named Hospitality Partner of the Year. ...

'Celebrate the Season' With South
November 22, 2019

The department of music will host its annual holiday concert Dec. 6 on campus. The community is invited to this free event. ...

Graphic: Black Alumni Society Awards. Benefiting Student Emergency Assistance Funds. Feb. 15, 2020. USA Student Center Ballroom. South Alabama National Alumni Association.

Black Alumni Society Requests Nominations
November 21, 2019

Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 18. The awards ceremony is set for Feb. 15, 2020. ...

Dr. Chris Lawrey, assistant professor of economics and finance in the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama, said the best time to start planning for the holidays in January. “After the holidays, assess your spending and create a budget for next year, then open a savings or Christmas Club account and set up automatic payments to that account every pay period,” he said

Six Ways to Shop Smarter This Year
November 21, 2019

South's Dr. Chris Lawrey recommends advance financial planning to keep your wallet from shrinking two sizes too small. ...

Devin Epps, a 2018 graduate of the Mitchell College of Business, works as a food stylist on contract with the Food Network and is in the process of building his own company. “I see myself as a storyteller, and hopefully that will translate into whatever I'm drawn to.”

From 'Shirtless Chef' to Food Network Stylist
November 20, 2019

Devin Epps, a USA marketing graduate, hustles from Nashville to New York to build his brand as a 'tenacious' entrepreneur. ...

Dr. Laura Moore, left, associate professor and chair of music, and Dr. Silas Leavesley, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, were named respectively as Phi Kappa Phi’s artist and scholar of the year.

Phi Kappa Phi Names Scholar, Artist of 2019
November 15, 2019

Dr. Silas Leavesley and Dr. Laura Moore are recognized by the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. ...

Timothy Johnson, a University of South Alabama graduate of the College of Education and Professional Studies, was recently honored as the 2019 Outstanding Alabama Elementary School Science Teacher. He is a STEM lab instructor at E.R. Dickson Elementary School in Mobile.

'I Bring the Subject to Life'
November 12, 2019

Timothy Johnson, a South alumnus, is selected as the 2019 Outstanding Alabama Elementary School Science Teacher. ...

The University of South Alabama Jaguars are the Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Tournament champions after a 5-1 win over Arkansas State.

USA Women's Soccer Picks Six
November 11, 2019

The team wins its sixth conference tournament title in seven years and heads to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. ...

Zack Aggen, a second-year University of South Alabama medical student, tutors and mentors a half-dozen undergraduates as part of a national program called Peer Advisors for Veteran Education. “It’s hard to open up to people who aren’t service connected in some way,” he said.

Paving a Way Forward, Helping Others
November 8, 2019

Zack Aggen survived war. As a peer adviser and medical student, he's now assisting student veterans navigate life back home. ...

Emily Fogt, a freshman from Sidney, Ohio, explains to her tour group how the wings are attached to an Airbus plane. Fogt was among ten University of South Alabama hospitality and tourism management students who led tours of the Airbus Final Assembly Line facility for a recent conference.

South Storytellers on the Assembly Line
November 8, 2019

Hospitality and tourism management students chosen to serve as tour guides and tell Airbus' story at Flight Works Alabama. ...

Virtual reality googles are allowing University of South Alabama medical students to view and dissect patient anatomy without removing it.

Up Close, But Not Too Personal
November 5, 2019

South medical students are using virtual reality goggles to get a high-tech, three-dimensional look at pulmonary anatomy. ...

Trinity Stroud, a junior in USA’s School of Computing, received a Cyber Honors academic scholarship for finishing the Cyber FastTrack Competition in the top 100. “These competitions lay the foundation for students to join the cybersecurity workforce in both government and industry after graduation,” said Dr. Todd McDonald, a USA computer science professor.

Preventing a Big Hack Attack
October 31, 2019

USA School of Computing student Trinity Stroud is dedicating her education and career to online security. ...

The University of South Alabama soccer team celebrates after a 1-0 win against the Appalachian State Mountaineers to win a fifth Sun Belt Conference title in six years.

Jags Win Sun Belt Conference Title
October 27, 2019

South Alabama soccer claimed its fifth Sun Belt title in six years with a 1-0 victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers. ...

South alumna Lucy Gafford worked with other artists and students from several Boys & Girls Clubs in 2014 to paint this mural attached to the facade of the old Gayfers' building in downtown Mobile. The mural depicts life in Mobile County and includes USA's Moulton Tower. Today Gafford is executive director of the Mobile Arts Council.

Encouraging Artists to do 'Big Things'
October 26, 2019

Alumna Lucy Gafford sees opportunity growing in Coastal Alabama. Her goal is to retain young artists in that cultural renewal. ...

Dr. Tera W. Hunter, author and Edwards professor and scholar of gender, race and Southern history at Princeton University, is the guest speaker at this year's Stallworth Lecture. The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.

Princeton Author, Professor to Speak
October 23, 2019

Dr. Tera W. Hunter, who explores the history of African American marriage and family, will be this year's Stallworth lecturer. ...

Dr. John Lehrter, associate professor of marine sciences, and Ph.D. student Mai Fung will take part in a study to determine how oyster, blue crab and speckled trout respond to changes in their environment. “We’re looking at how do we manage the ecosystem both from the bottom up – water quality and habitat quality – and top down – fisheries management,” Lehrter said.

Assessing the Health of Mobile Bay
October 22, 2019

USA receives $2.9 million to study how oysters, blue crab and speckled trout provide answers to environmental questions. ...

Final Countdown: USA Homecoming 2019
October 17, 2019

Events are planned throughout the week and culminate when the Jags take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers. ...

Athanasia Moraitou is a graduate student at South, where she is a midfielder on the soccer team. She also plays for the Hellenic Women’s National Team.

'It's Amazing to Play for Your Country'
October 17, 2019

South midfielder Athanasia Moraitou was better at soccer than the flute. That's good for USA, and for Greece's national team. ...

USA students John Pomerat, center, a sophomore computer science and mathematics major, along with Daniel Hodgins, a freshman engineering major, show Murphy High School student Mollee Bearden how to problem solve during a recent Math Circle session.

Creativity + Critical Thinking = Math Circle
October 15, 2019

South students and professors have helped students grades 7th through 12th solve problems for the past 20 years. ...

Study Abroad Trip Planned to Ghana
October 11, 2019

Students studying in any major can register to participate. The deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 16. ...

Dr. Matthew Pettway, assistant professor of Spanish, will release his book, “Cuban Literature in the Age of Black Insurrection: Manzano, Plácido and Afro-Latin Religion,

New Book Highlights Two Afro-Latin Authors
October 11, 2019

Dr. Matthew Pettway's new book looks at the memory of slavery and religion as a form of resistance in colonial Cuba. ...

How to Watch the Democratic Debate
October 11, 2019

With 12 candidates on stage, figuring out what to focus on can be difficult. Try these seven tips (and put down that phone). ...

What Can Geckos Tell Us About Freckles?
October 9, 2019

USA Mathematics and Statistics supports biological research on leopard geckos. ...

University of South Alabama alumnus and Atlanta BeltLine CEO Clyde Higgs has spent his life's work at the intersection of private and public sectors, or, as he says,

Creating Jobs, Housing and Room to Breathe
October 1, 2019

South alumnus Clyde Higgs leads one of the nation's most ambitious land use development projects at Atlanta BeltLine Inc. ...

The University collected 7,350 pounds of cardboard during Move-In Day from students moving into residence halls.

Plenty of Students, Tons of Cardboard
September 27, 2019

More than three tons of cardboard was hauled in on Move-In Day, contributing to 850,000 pounds of recycled material for the year. ...

Dr. Kimberly Williams, associate professor of nursing at the University of South Alabama, is the project director for a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to help address opioid and substance abuse.

USA Leads $1.3M Fight Against Opioid Addiction
September 19, 2019

College of Nursing-trained healthcare professionals will focus on opioid and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery. ...

Julie Otsuka, author of “When the Emperor was Divine,” will speak Oct. 17 at the University of South Alabama.

Common Read Author to Speak at South
September 19, 2019

Julie Otsuka, author of 'When the Emperor was Divine,' will speak Oct. 17. The event is free and open to the public. ...

University of South Alabama College of Medicine medical student Corey Phillis gives a pair of socks to Paul Brown at the USA Student-Run Free Clinic.

Medical Student Secures Sock Donation
September 17, 2019

Corey Phillis is making sure patients cared for at the USA Student-Run Free Clinic leave on solid footing with a new pair of socks ...

Stephen Azar, second from right, is the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees Scholar for the 2019-2020 academic year. Azar is a freshman from St. Patrick High School in Biloxi, Miss. The scholarship is awarded annually to the most academically talented student in each incoming freshman class at USA. Joining Azar at the USA Board of Trustees meeting are, from left, 2018 scholar Cody Dunlap of Mobile, 2017 recipient Ada Chaeli van der Zijp-Tan of Madison, Ala., 2016 recipient Christian Manganti of Gulfport, Miss., Board of Trustees chair pro tempore Jimmy Shumock; Rana Azar, Stephen Azar's mother; Azar, and University President Tony Waldrop.

University Board of Trustees Scholar Named
September 13, 2019

Stephen Azar, who scored a perfect 36 on his ACT, is named the 2019-20 Board of Trustees Scholar. He plans to major in biology. ...

Alana Fortune of Dillard University and Trentyn Shaw of Alabama State University are participants in the USA College of Medicine's SouthMed Prep Scholars and D.R.E.A.M programs, respectively.

Encouraging Diversity in Physician Workforce
September 9, 2019

South's inclusion programs are yielding results — 20 percent of the 2023 medical class is black, Latino or Native American. ...

Kearria Freed, a transfer student pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies, uses Darling, her 2-year-old Labrador/Golden Retriever service dog, to navigate South's campus.

One 'Last Breath,' Then Resolute Steps Forward
September 6, 2019

Kearria Freed's life abruptly paused four years ago at spring break. A bullet would be the first obstacle to rebuilding her life. ...

Deborah Gurt, archivist for the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, holds one of the Eurdora Welty prints in the Iredale Collection donated to the University of South Alabama. The photo is one of a series taken by Welty as part of her job with the Works Project Administration during the Great Depression.

South Acquires Southern Writers Collection
September 3, 2019

The 166-piece collection is being donated by Dr. John and Beverly Iredale to the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library ...

The club level at Hancock Whitney Stadium will be named The Hargrove Club. Hargrove Engineers + Constructors has committed $1.5 million to the stadium project.

Hargrove Commits $1.5 Million to Stadium
September 3, 2019

The Hargrove Club at South's Hancock Whitney Stadium will be named after Hargrove Engineers + Constructors. ...

Galapagos sea lions resting in Galapagos National Park.

South Signs Galapagos Agreement
August 29, 2019

An affiliation with the Galapagos Science Center will create faculty and student research opportunities on the archipelago. ...

Kevin Fralicks, associate vice president for university development, arrives at South from the University of Washington, where he served as assistant dean and chief advancement officer.

Kevin Fralicks Named Associate VP for University Development
August 28, 2019

Fralicks arrives from the University of Washington, where he served as assistant dean and chief advancement officer. ...

USA Presents Black Alumni Weekend 2019
August 23, 2019

'Come Back, Give Back,' will held Sept. 6-7. Alumni are invited to celebrate the legacy of diversity at South Alabama. ...

Angela Mosley-Johnson, Samantha Lee, Kimberly McWilliams and Hannah Brooks chat during a break in clinical rotations at USA Health University Hospital. The third-year students at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine have been awarded scholarships from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama as part of initiative to improve access to healthcare in underserved areas of the state.

Medical Students Awarded Scholarships
August 23, 2019

Four students at USA College of Medicine awarded Blue Cross Blue Shield scholarships. ...

The College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama has been awarded a $2.6 million federal grant to create a Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Program. The program will be supported through an interdisciplinary effort that includes USA Health Family Medicine and Franklin Primary Health Center.

Nurse Practitioner Residency Debuts
August 22, 2019

The College of Nursing's $2.6 million grant is designed to address a shortage of primary care physicians in underserved communitie ...

Full News Archive

Johnson Elected SACSCOC Board Chair December 12, 2019

A Global Perspective Shaped at Home December 10, 2019

Fueled by Keto Coffee and True Grit December 10, 2019

After Changing Majors, He Boarded a Jet December 10, 2019

Grant to Fund Refugee Collaboration December 9, 2019

South Research Funding Gets Big Boost December 9, 2019

Internal Grants Awarded for Galapagos Research December 9, 2019

'Everything He Did, He Did For His People' December 9, 2019

South Teams Up With Yale on Mosquitoes December 9, 2019

Collecting History Through Conversation December 9, 2019

Taking On One of Life's Interrupters December 9, 2019

South Readies for Fall Commencement December 6, 2019

Visit Mobile Honors Hospitality and Tourism Management November 22, 2019

'Celebrate the Season' With South November 22, 2019

Black Alumni Society Requests Nominations November 21, 2019

Six Ways to Shop Smarter This Year November 21, 2019

From 'Shirtless Chef' to Food Network Stylist November 20, 2019

Phi Kappa Phi Names Scholar, Artist of 2019 November 15, 2019

'I Bring the Subject to Life' November 12, 2019

USA Women's Soccer Picks Six November 11, 2019

Paving a Way Forward, Helping Others November 8, 2019

South Storytellers on the Assembly Line November 8, 2019

Up Close, But Not Too Personal November 5, 2019

Preventing a Big Hack Attack October 31, 2019

Jags Win Sun Belt Conference Title October 27, 2019

Encouraging Artists to do 'Big Things' October 26, 2019

Princeton Author, Professor to Speak October 23, 2019

Assessing the Health of Mobile Bay October 22, 2019

Final Countdown: USA Homecoming 2019 October 17, 2019

'It's Amazing to Play for Your Country' October 17, 2019

Creativity + Critical Thinking = Math Circle October 15, 2019

Study Abroad Trip Planned to Ghana October 11, 2019

New Book Highlights Two Afro-Latin Authors October 11, 2019

How to Watch the Democratic Debate October 11, 2019

What Can Geckos Tell Us About Freckles? October 9, 2019

Creating Jobs, Housing and Room to Breathe October 1, 2019

Plenty of Students, Tons of Cardboard September 27, 2019

USA Leads $1.3M Fight Against Opioid Addiction September 19, 2019

Common Read Author to Speak at South September 19, 2019

Medical Student Secures Sock Donation September 17, 2019

University Board of Trustees Scholar Named September 13, 2019

Encouraging Diversity in Physician Workforce September 9, 2019

One 'Last Breath,' Then Resolute Steps Forward September 6, 2019

South Acquires Southern Writers Collection September 3, 2019

Hargrove Commits $1.5 Million to Stadium September 3, 2019

South Signs Galapagos Agreement August 29, 2019

Kevin Fralicks Named Associate VP for University Development August 28, 2019

USA Presents Black Alumni Weekend 2019 August 23, 2019

Medical Students Awarded Scholarships August 23, 2019

Nurse Practitioner Residency Debuts August 22, 2019