USA News Archive

Gov. Kay Ivey, center, tours the University of South Alabama Medical Center and talks with Sam Dean, hospital administrator, before announcing a $4 million bond issue to renovate and expand the hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center.

Medical Center Awarded $4M for Trauma Center
August 9, 2017

Gov. Kay Ivey visits South to announce funds for renovating and expanding the region's only Level 1 trauma center. ...

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. ...

Autumn Baxter, Davidson High School, listens as Chris Flight of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab talks about what she found while snorkeling in the grass beds at St. Andrews Park in Florida.

'Emerging Scholars' Link Environmental, Human Health
August 7, 2017

Mobile County high school students get hands-on experiences on South's campus and at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. ...

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. ...

USA Gives Teens Primer on Cybersecurity
August 2, 2017

Students at Mobile's Davidson High School participated in the 3rd Annual GenCyber Camp at Shelby Hall. ...

Dr. Heather Hall, who was named interim dean of the USA College of Nursing, earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from South and her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Hall Named Interim Nursing Dean
August 1, 2017

Following a nationwide search, Dr. Heather Hall has been named interim dean of the USA College of Nursing. ...

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. ...

Some members of a newly formed steering committee for USA Health's advanced practice providers met recently at USA Medical Center to discuss strategies for sharing information about the specific roles advanced practice providers have in the 3,800-employee health system.

Support for Advanced Practice Providers
July 26, 2017

At USA Health, medical professionals are joining together to best meet the needs of the University's hospitals and clinics. ...

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 tangibl ...

Gráinne O’Dea attended the University of South Alabama on a track and field scholarship and graduated with two degrees before taking a job at Pace Sports Management in London.

Keeping Up With the World's Fastest Human
July 14, 2017

South alum Gráinne O'Dea helps manage the careers of some of the world's top track and field athletes, including ...

South to Leverage MIT Mentoring Program
July 14, 2017

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology program was licensed to and will be administered in Mobile by USA. ...

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 game ...

USA to Honor First Responders, Medical Professionals
July 11, 2017

An Oct. 10 reception and dinner will highlight the courage and dedication of helping patients survive traumatic injury. ...

Dr. Harold Pardue, director of graduate programs in the School of Computing, has been named dean of USA's Graduate School and associate vice president for academic affairs. A South alumnus, Pardue will start in his new position on Aug. 15.

South Graduate School Dean Named
July 6, 2017

Dr. Harold Pardue, a first-generation college student and USA alumnus, has been tapped to lead the Graduate School. ...

USA College of Nursing alumna Dawn Downs, a critical care nurse, recently graduated with her nurse practitioner degree from South, which has given her more experience and preparation for her future professional work. Photo courtesy of Dawn Downs.

A South Education, a West Coast Location
July 5, 2017

With a robust online program, USA's College of Nursing has graduates in all 50 states. Meet one: Dawn Downs of California. ...

Canned food for Boxing Out Hunger. Through phase one of the Boxing out Hunger program, the Stanton Road Clinic will distribute 1,000 healthy pre-packaged boxes to food insecure patients that contain an assortment of shelf-stable ingredients such as canned produce, protein, dairy and grains.

South Clinic 'Boxing Out Hunger'
June 29, 2017

USA partners with Feeding the Gulf Coast to improve health by addressing patient food insecurities. ...

Natalie Fox, pediatric nurse practitioner and manager of clinical operations for pediatrics at USA Health, and Dr. Steven Kahn, assistant professor of surgery and a burn, trauma and critical care surgeon.

Tips for Happy, Healthy July Fourth
June 29, 2017

How chalk can protect children from a hot grill, and other tips from USA health providers for a safe Independence Day. ...

Faculty Explore Innovative Teaching Methods
June 29, 2017

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Institute was coordinated by the Innovation in Learning Center and USAonline. ...

Dr. Joel Lewis Billingsley, a faculty member in the College of Education and Professional Studies, presented along with her family a personal historic perspective about the last survivor of the last slave ship that docked in Mobile Bay, as part of a workshop for elementary school teachers. From left, Lewis Billingsley; her father, Robert Lewis; her mother, Paulette Lewis; and her great uncle, Israel Lewis III.

Teacher Training Focuses on Alabama History
June 27, 2017

Presentation on oral history led by USA's Dr. Joel' Lewis Billingsley is a part of the Alabama Bicentennial Summer Insti ...

Overcoming Struggles to Help Others
June 23, 2017

Ron Stallworth slept in his car between class and work. The alumnus has since established a scholarship for others in need. ...

Dr. Kathy J. Cooke, dean of USA's new Honors College standing outside the Bethel Chapel

South Names Dean of New Honors College
June 22, 2017

Dr. Kathy J. Cooke will lead an ambitious initiative to increase honors enrollment and offer additional tracks of study. ...

Former Jag and right-hander Ben Taylor is 0-1 with one save and a 6.59 ERA in 11 relief appearances with the Boston Red Sox.

Seven Former Jags Competing in MLB, MiLB
June 20, 2017

South Alabama players have gone on to teams including the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. ...

South Brand Internationally Recognized
June 20, 2017

USA's comprehensive branding initiative earns a bronze award in the 2017 Circle of Excellence program. ...

Dr. Sytske Kimball, chair of meteorology, right, discusses research projects with Caroline Kolakoski and Dillon Blount, two of the four South students named as recipients of the prestigious Hollings Scholarships. Caitlin Ford and Sam Sangster are also recipients.

Hollings Scholars in Record Numbers at USA
June 15, 2017

Four South meteorology students are 2017 recipients of the prestigious Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarships. ...

A delegation of USA Student Government Officers, gather in a session of the international Going Global conference in London. From left accompanying the students is Associate Dean and title IX Coordinator Dr. Krista Harrell. Seated next are Josh Crownover, the SGA’s immediate past president, and Shaun Holloway, SGA’s chief of staff.

USA Students Go Global in London
June 14, 2017

A delegation of USA Student Government officers and faculty went to London for the international Going Global conference. ...

Sun Belt Conference's all-sports trophy AKA or Vick Bubas Cup

All-Sports Trophy Comes South Again
June 9, 2017

USA's baseball team won the Sun Belt Conference tournament, giving South the league's Vic Bubas Cup. ...

Returning South Leads to More Career Success
June 9, 2017

The ink on Monica Whatley’s diploma was barely dry before the math and statistics major packed up and moved to Washington, D ...

5 Playground Safety Tips for the Summer
June 7, 2017

With children headed outside, USA's Dr. Jason Richerson offers advice for staying free of fractures, burns and boo-boos. ...

Jags to Jobs image with Capt. Sean Scarcliff standing with NASA building in the background

Jags to Jobs: Sean Scarcliff
June 6, 2017

Sean Scarcliff, a space operations officer for the U.S. Army, earned his master's degree in history from South in 2010 after ...

Dr. Nicole Carr, right, associate vice president for Student Academic Success, teamed with Dr. Kathy Thompson and Dr. Andre Green of the College of Education and Professional Studies to secure a grant that further supports South's Pathway USA program.

Pathway USA Gets National Recognition
June 5, 2017

The program that improves access among two-year college students to a degree at South receives Gates Foundation funding. ...

three smoke stacks with smoke billowing out

A Paris Primer: What Happens Now?
June 2, 2017

Following the U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement, South's Dr. Scott Glaberman says there are five things you should know. ...

The USA National Alumni Association recognized five members of the South community on Thursday for outstanding achievements. From left are Dr. Pat C. Covey, founding dean of USA’s Pat C. Covey College of Allied Health Professions; Lee Covey, founder of the Collegiate Housing Foundation; James L. “Jim” Busby, ’83, founder of Drobotik Sciences; and Dr. John S. Meigs Jr., ’79, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Not pictured is retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral William “Dean” Lee, '79.

Alumni, Service Leaders Recognized
June 1, 2017

The USA National Alumni Association honored five members of the South community for outstanding achievements. ...

Nick Barton, a junior finance major from Alabaster, will spend part of his summer raising money for people with disabilities during Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity's national philanthropy, "Journey of Hope."

A 'Journey of Hope,' on Two Wheels
June 1, 2017

Junior Nick Barton, after biking 900 miles in Florida, will serve as crew chief in a Pi Kappa Phi fundraiser across the U.S. ...

The Jags' win over Georgia Southern marks South Alabama's 11th Sun Belt Tournament title, and its first since 2005.

Jags Win Sun Belt Championship
May 29, 2017

South Alabama's defeat of Georgia Southern marks the program's 11th conference title, and its first since 2005. ...

6 Ways to Avert the Next WannaCry
May 26, 2017

What you should know, and what South's School of Computing is doing, to ward off malware and other disruptive cyber attacks. ...

Graduate student Ramon Deanda, left, junior Lauren Carroll and Professor Tony Wright show some of the hand-print tiles that will be on display at Medal of Honor Park's playground.

South, Children Leave Imprint at Playground
May 23, 2017

Tony Wright, two of his students and hundreds of children create ceramic handprint tiles for display at Medal of Honor Park. ...

Arriving at USA by Way of the NFL
May 19, 2017

Jeremy Towns traded in shoulder pads for a white medical coat to join his new teammates in South's College of Medicine. ...

Thomas Merrigan, a 2000 chemistry graduate, has always had a side project. One turned into Grayle, a water filter and purifier bottle now sold in 250 stores in the United States. Photo courtesy of Thomas Merrigan.

A (One-Press) Push for Innovation
May 17, 2017

Travis Merrigan's busy week: Quit job, got married, moved to Seattle and began full bore developing the Grayl water bottle. ...

The “Vagina Monologues” performance at the University of South Alabama raised $616 for the Mobile Rape Crisis Center. South Alabama members of the cast recently presented a check to support the center's programs. From left are Catherine Buttrey, Kenishia Jackson, Title IX Coordinator and Associate Dean of Students Dr. Krista Harrell, Kadijah Oliver, Tiffany Martin and Eve Windhorst.

Donations go to Rape Crisis Center
May 17, 2017

Proceeds from the 'Vagina Monologues' are given to combat violence against women and girls. ...

“USA is really honored to be a part of this program, which can become a model locally as well as nationally with everyone working together,” Lynne Chronister, USA vice president for research and economic development, said at a Tuesday news conference with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, left, and Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft.

South to Host Beach Job Boot Camp
May 16, 2017

The University will train 17- to 24-year-olds for summer employment in partnership with the cities of Mobile and Gulf Shores. ...

South Employees, Retirees Raise $720K
May 16, 2017

The Employee and Retiree Annual Fund is part of South's Upward & Onward comprehensive fundraising campaign. ...

Newly-named Alabama Teacher of the Year Chasity Collier, left, receives a special 50th Anniversary medallion from Dr. Andrea Kent, dean of the University of South Alabama College of Education, during a surprise celebration pep rally at Dawes Intermediate School. Earlier this year, South Alabama’s College of Education celebrated 50 years. Collier teaches fifth-grade science at Dawes Intermediate School.

Alumna Named Alabama Teacher of the Year
May 12, 2017

Chasity Collier, a fifth-grade science teacher at Dawes Intermediate School in Mobile County, graduated from South in 1998. ...

The finalists of the USA Public Speaking Contest are, seated from left, third place winner Faith Wheeler of Murphy High School; first place winner Siddiqah Abdullah of Murphy High School and second place winner Marie Doyle from the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science. Standing from left are USA communications faculty Dr. Reggie Moody, associate professor; Katherine Rigsby, instructor; Megan Sparks, senior instructor; Dr. James Aucoin, professor and chair; and Dr. April Dupree Taylor, assistant professor.

'Advocacy' Highlights Public Speaking Contest
May 11, 2017

Thirty-one 9th-12th graders from five local schools participated in the contest at the University of South Alabama. ...

The Waterman Globe, after being removed from public view since 2015, was on display this year for Commencement activities, including the College of Medicine's convocation ceremony.

The Waterman Globe Makes Its Return
May 10, 2017

After being draped off for repairs for more than a year, South's traditional photo backdrop at Commencement is back. ...

Dr. Doug Haywick, associate professor of geology, shakes the hand of Dr. Andrzej Wierzbicki, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, at Commencement on May 6. Haywick earned a second bachelor's degree after taking classes beginning in 2002.

'Learning Should be a Lifelong Activity'
May 9, 2017

Retiring professor Dr. Doug Haywick walked across the stage at the Mitchell Center to earn his second bachelor's degree. ...

Full News Archive

Medical Center Awarded $4M for Trauma Center August 9, 2017

Alabama Author Picked for Common Read August 9, 2017

'Emerging Scholars' Link Environmental, Human Health August 7, 2017

Mentoring the Next Generation of Jags August 4, 2017

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

USA Gives Teens Primer on Cybersecurity August 2, 2017

Hall Named Interim Nursing Dean August 1, 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

Support for Advanced Practice Providers July 26, 2017

At South, Research Reaches New Heights July 20, 2017

Keeping Up With the World's Fastest Human July 14, 2017

South to Leverage MIT Mentoring Program July 14, 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

USA to Honor First Responders, Medical Professionals July 11, 2017

South Graduate School Dean Named July 6, 2017

A South Education, a West Coast Location July 5, 2017

South Clinic 'Boxing Out Hunger' June 29, 2017

Tips for Happy, Healthy July Fourth June 29, 2017

Faculty Explore Innovative Teaching Methods June 29, 2017

Teacher Training Focuses on Alabama History June 27, 2017

Overcoming Struggles to Help Others June 23, 2017

South Names Dean of New Honors College June 22, 2017

Seven Former Jags Competing in MLB, MiLB June 20, 2017

South Brand Internationally Recognized June 20, 2017

Hollings Scholars in Record Numbers at USA June 15, 2017

USA Students Go Global in London June 14, 2017

All-Sports Trophy Comes South Again June 9, 2017

Returning South Leads to More Career Success June 9, 2017

5 Playground Safety Tips for the Summer June 7, 2017

Jags to Jobs: Sean Scarcliff June 6, 2017

Pathway USA Gets National Recognition June 5, 2017

A Paris Primer: What Happens Now? June 2, 2017

Alumni, Service Leaders Recognized June 1, 2017

A 'Journey of Hope,' on Two Wheels June 1, 2017

Jags Win Sun Belt Championship May 29, 2017

6 Ways to Avert the Next WannaCry May 26, 2017

South, Children Leave Imprint at Playground May 23, 2017

Arriving at USA by Way of the NFL May 19, 2017

A (One-Press) Push for Innovation May 17, 2017

Donations go to Rape Crisis Center May 17, 2017

South to Host Beach Job Boot Camp May 16, 2017

South Employees, Retirees Raise $720K May 16, 2017

Alumna Named Alabama Teacher of the Year May 12, 2017

'Advocacy' Highlights Public Speaking Contest May 11, 2017

The Waterman Globe Makes Its Return May 10, 2017

'Learning Should be a Lifelong Activity' May 9, 2017