Bulls By the Bay Weekly News Update – May 12, 2025
Hello and welcome to Bulls By the Bay, your weekly roundup of news from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. I'm Caryn Nesmith, bringing you the latest stories from our campus and community.
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Debbie Sembler recognized with President’s award
In a commencement ceremony on May 9, USF President Rhea Law presented the President’s Fellow award to Debbie Sembler, a beloved longtime supporter of USF St. Petersburg, a Campus Board member, who is also the incoming president of the USF Foundation. The Sembler family’s generous contributions to the USF St. Petersburg campus over the decades have included creating the Debbie and Brent Sembler Florida Holocaust Museum Lecture Series, supporting the Debbie Nye Sembler Academic Student Success Center, and the Debbie and Brent Sembler Family Fountain. Debbie is not only an advocate and benefactor to USF but also a good human who cares about people. Congratulations to Debbie on this deserved recognition.
https://www.usf.edu/news/2025/award-recipients-at-usfs-spring-commencement.aspx
USF Researchers Explore Digital Media's Impact on Youth
USF journalism professors Dr. Justin Martin and Dr. Stephen Song have published an essay titled, What 1,500 Florida kids told us about digital media policies” in the Tampa Bay Times discussing their "Life in Media" study, which surveyed over 1,500 Florida adolescents to understand how digital media affects young people. Their research aims to inform policies on mobile device use in schools. The study will track participants over 25 years to assess long-term impacts on mental health and well-being.
Learn more about the study here.
Read the TBT essay: https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2025/05/07/what-1500-florida-kids-told-us-about-digital-media-policies-column/
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USF St. Petersburg's Historic Role in WWII
May 8 was the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, and our next news item remembers that USF St. Petersburg's campus once served as a U.S. Maritime Service Training Station during World War II. From 1939 to 1950, approximately 25,000 merchant marines trained here. Today, the former barracks house the College of Marine Science, continuing the site's maritime legacy. You can read more about the history of campus before it was a higher education institution on the USF St. Petersburg news site at stpetersburg.usf.edu
https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2025/before-usf-st-petersburg-merchant-marines-trained-for-world-war-2-on-campus-grounds.aspx
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Monty Graham to Lead Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
USF President Rhea Law announced this week that Dr. Monty Graham, director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography, has accepted a new role as director of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland. Dr. Graham's leadership has been instrumental in advancing marine science research at USF. He will remain with us through the end of May. The Florida Institute of Oceanography, known as FIO, located on the USF St. Petersburg campus, along side the College of Marine Science, and it supports marine research by operating three large research vessels-the R/V Weatherbird II, the R/V W.T. Hogarth, and the R/V Western Flyer; as well as a full-service field laboratory in the Florida Keys Keys Marine Laboratory (KML).
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/william-monty-graham-named-director-smithsonian-environmental-research-center
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Our last two stories are about graduating students:
Graduate Student Triumphs Over Cancer
Kylie Culver is a master's student in the Florida Studies program, who has overcome a rare form of leukemia to earn her degree. After a year-long battle with acute promyelocytic leukemia, Kylie returned to complete her thesis and graduate. Her resilience and determination are truly inspiring.
https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2025/determined-usf-grad-student-overcomes-rare-cancer-to-earn-degree.aspx
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Twin Sisters Launch Successful Startups
Meanwhile, Cherish and Unique Alston are twin sisters graduating from USF St. Petersburg, who have each launched innovative startups. Cherish's company, SoleLuxe, offers customizable shoe accessories, while Unique's app, Ridely, provides a carpooling platform for students. Both have received significant recognition and funding for their ventures.
https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2025/sibling-startups-sisters-graduate-and-blaze-separate-entrepreneurial-paths.aspx
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That's all for this week's Bulls By the Bay. Stay tuned for more stories highlighting the achievements and history of USF St. Petersburg. Go Bulls!