Arts and Sciences News

University of South Alabama Arts and Sciences faculty members were recognized for their achievements at the 39th Annual Dean’s Lecture and Faculty Awards Ceremony, including, clockwise from top left, Dr. Joseph Currier, Dr. Krista Mehari, Dr. Amy Sprinkle, Dr. Robert Holm, Joel Borden, Mischa Armstrong, Kristy Britt, Dr. David Durant and Dr. Alexandra Stenson.

College of Arts and Sciences Recognizes Outstanding Faculty
November 10, 2020

Nine faculty members are recognized for their achievements during the 39th Annual Dean's Lecture and Faculty Awards. ...

University of South Alabama Police Officer Roy Mendenhall, sitting in front of the Humanities Building where he once took classes, earned a degree in criminal justice in 2016. He's one of three officers at South who graduated from the University that same year.

Now in Boots, He Walked in Students' Shoes
November 9, 2020

Roy Mendenhall, like most officers in the USA Police Department, graduated from South. He found a career, and a wider world. ...

Dr. Thomas Shaw, associate professor of political science and director of the USA Polling Group, said public opinion surveys will remain a useful tool for gauging opinion. “I think what we will probably see is a continuation of traditional survey research that needs to adapt itself to the new landscape, and then augmented with other ways of trying to look at public opinion,” he said.

Polling 'Vital,' So Are Fixes
November 6, 2020

USA Polling Group Director Dr. Thomas Shaw reflects on General Election polling and why public opinion surveys still matter. ...

Dr. Kern Jackson, USA's African American Studies chair, is part of a documentary film examining the origins and evolution of blues music in Alabama's Black Belt region.

Alabama's Black Belt Blues
October 20, 2020

USA assistant professor Dr. Kern Jackson is featured in an Alabama Public Television documentary on Alabama's blues music history. ...

David K. Akridge, chief information officer for the Mobile County Public School System, said support from faculty, determination and a music scholarship led to his degree in computer and information sciences from the University of South Alabama.

An Eye for Coding, A Voice for a Scholarship
October 19, 2020

New technology in the 80s intrigued David Akridge, a chief of information officer who sang his way through college. ...

Freshman Thanh Haas said the Marx Library is her favorite location on campus at the University of South Alabama. “I like the view from the second floor. You can sit next to the big windows and look out over the lake,” she said.

Move Brings Adventure, New Direction
October 6, 2020

#FreshmanFocus: Thanh Haas was raised in Vietnam and has a German last name. Now she's getting a South education. ...

USA associate professor Dr. Brian Dzwonkowski and his team at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab explore how multiple severe weather events affect storm intensification near landfall.

Following Hurricanes, Gulf in Hot Water
October 5, 2020

A USA oceanographer says severe weather events can fuel marine heatwaves, impacting the intensity of subsequent tropical storms. ...

Jhalana Jones, who has performed in local theater, is studying music education at the University of South Alabama. "We have this teacher, Dr. Thomas Rowell, who is a hoot-and-a-half. He lets us know we're not just his students, we're his people."

Mobile Actress Takes Stage at South
September 21, 2020

#FreshmanFocus: Jhalana Jones, who has performed in local theater and moonlights as a princess, is studying music education. ...

2020 USA Faculty Excellence Award Winners. Top row, L-R: Dr. Christy West, Angela O'Neal. Bottom row, L-R: Dr. Natalie Gassman, Dr. Joseph Hair, Dr. Lesley Gregoricka.

USA National Alumni Association Recognizes Outstanding Faculty, Young Alumnus
September 11, 2020

Five USA faculty members were recognized for their achievements as well as one outstanding young alumnus honored for 2020. ...

Hurricane Florence as seen above the Atlantic Ocean from the International Space Station. Florence made landfall along the Atlantic Coast on Sept. 14 and is the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the Carolinas. While weather forecasting has improved dramatically in the last century, it is expected to improve even more using artificial Intelligence and machine learning.

South Wins AI Forecasting Grant
September 10, 2020

Artificial intelligence and machine learning could lead to improved weather forecasting and more targeted evacuations. ...

Dr. Brandi Reese will serve as an associate professor in the department of marine sciences and as senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Deep Beneath the Deep Blue Sea
September 8, 2020

Department of Marine Sciences newest faculty member Dr. Brandi Reese's cutting edge research explores life below the ocean floor. ...

USA Grad Student Wins Master's Thesis Award
September 8, 2020

South's Valeria King beats out candidates from 200 institutions to earn top life sciences master's thesis for 2020. ...

Dispelling Myths of Sexual Assault
September 3, 2020

'Challenging the Myths' book by South professors wins Women & Crime Award from Society of Criminology. ...

Teaming up for Success in the Classroom
August 27, 2020

USA wins a National Science Foundation grant to help fund workshops for team-based learning in undergraduate mathematics courses. ...

Dr. Jeremiah Henning, an assistant professor of biology, has secured a two-year, $348,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The Science of Diversity and Inclusion
August 10, 2020

Dr. Jeremiah Henning, an assistant professor of biology, secures a two-year, $348,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. ...

April Berry, 4th-year doctoral student at USA

Focused on Her Future
July 20, 2020

Doctoral student April Berry's drive and persistence pays dividends as she hopes to show others they can achieve their dreams. ...

Carlos Moore, a municipal judge and attorney in Mississippi, is the first president of the USA Black Alumni Society.

With Changing Views, a New Banner
July 14, 2020

South alumnus Carlos Moore took the Mississippi flag down in his courtroom three years ago. Now, the state has followed suit. ...

Courtney McKeand, whose portfolio is thick with science fiction and fantasy characters, landed a freelance contract after graduating from the University of South Alabama. “I’m thrilled to have found work so quickly and in my field,” she said.

Artist Lives Dream in Fantasy World
July 14, 2020

#MyFirstJob: Courtney McKeand overcame multiple sclerosis to earn art degree at South and land freelance job in science fiction. ...

Dr. Jeremiah Henning, an assistant professor of biology, contributed to a paper published this week that studied the representation of women and people of color in biology textbooks.

Finding Role Models in Textbooks
June 26, 2020

Biology texts are doing better at representing women and scientists of color, but still fall short, says USA associate professor. ...

Dr. Charlotte Pence, Director of Stokes Center for Creative Writing wins Fellowship from the Alabama Arts Council.

USA's Pence Receives Fellowship
June 18, 2020

Alabama Arts Council awards fellowship to Dr. Charlotte Pence as her latest book of poems is scheduled for release. ...

Members of the University of South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band perform the USA fight song together, one-by-one.

South!, in 70 Different Places
June 9, 2020

Members of the Jaguar Marching Band — plus a dog who helps keep time — perform the USA fight song together, one-by-one. ...

Caleb Santa Cruz, a communication studies graduate, works as a youth pastor at Summit Church, which is constructing a new church building in Foley.

A Career, and a Church, Under Construction
June 9, 2020

#MyFirstJob: Caleb Santa Cruz, a communication studies graduate, heads back home to begin a job as a youth pastor. ...

Broadcasting Scholarship Endowed
June 9, 2020

Alabama Broadcasters Association gives $25,000 to endow a scholarship for TV, radio and broadcasting students. ...

Dr. Miranda Byrne-Steele, at her iRepertoire lab in Huntsville, leads a team of team of researchers exploring coronavirus therapies. “It’s taken years and years of experience and technology development, and we’re applying it in a rapid way,” she said.

South Alumna Explores COVID-19 Therapies
June 3, 2020

Chemistry graduate Dr. Miranda Byrne-Steele leads a team of researchers working on therapies at a Huntsville biotechnology firm. ...

Jack Stover, a summer graduate completing a double major in international business and Spanish, has kept an active schedule during his time at the University of South Alabama. “My extracurricular activities have been just as important to me as my academic work,” he says.

Not Enough Hours in the Day
May 9, 2020

Double major in business and Spanish. Fraternity president. Internships and study abroad. Jack Stover has been busy. ...

Arts and Sciences News Archive

College of Arts and Sciences Recognizes Outstanding Faculty November 10, 2020

Now in Boots, He Walked in Students' Shoes November 9, 2020

Polling 'Vital,' So Are Fixes November 6, 2020

Alabama's Black Belt Blues October 20, 2020

An Eye for Coding, A Voice for a Scholarship October 19, 2020

Move Brings Adventure, New Direction October 6, 2020

Following Hurricanes, Gulf in Hot Water October 5, 2020

Mobile Actress Takes Stage at South September 21, 2020

USA National Alumni Association Recognizes Outstanding Faculty, Young Alumnus September 11, 2020

South Wins AI Forecasting Grant September 10, 2020

Deep Beneath the Deep Blue Sea September 8, 2020

USA Grad Student Wins Master's Thesis Award September 8, 2020

Dispelling Myths of Sexual Assault September 3, 2020

Teaming up for Success in the Classroom August 27, 2020

The Science of Diversity and Inclusion August 10, 2020

Focused on Her Future July 20, 2020

With Changing Views, a New Banner July 14, 2020

Artist Lives Dream in Fantasy World July 14, 2020

Finding Role Models in Textbooks June 26, 2020

USA's Pence Receives Fellowship June 18, 2020

South!, in 70 Different Places June 9, 2020

A Career, and a Church, Under Construction June 9, 2020

Broadcasting Scholarship Endowed June 9, 2020

South Alumna Explores COVID-19 Therapies June 3, 2020

Not Enough Hours in the Day May 9, 2020