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College notebook: SPC faculty win awards, USF St. Pete lands another big donation

 
Cynthia Grey
Cynthia Grey
Published Feb. 3, 2015

More donations flowing to USFSP business college

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg has received three six-figure gifts to its business college from philanthropists who followed the lead of Kate Tiedemann, the Pinellas County resident and entrepreneur who gave the school $10 million in September. The latest gift is from Ellen Cotton, also of Pinellas. Her contribution will fund a hub for student organizations in the school's new building. "We are so pleased and proud to announce the establishment of the Ellen Cotton Fund for Student Engagement," said Alison Watkins, associate dean of the college. "This fund will support our business student organizations and will be a game-changer for groups like Beta Alpha Psi and the student chapter of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum." Cotton's gift follows $100,000 donation from Smith & Associates in the fall and another recent six-figure gift from an anonymous donor.

Online MBA snags high ranking

U.S. News & World Report ranked the Online MBA Program at USF St. Petersburg among the nation's top 20 percent in its 2015 survey of Best Online MBA Programs. Of 195 universities, USFSP is ranked No. 32 in the nation and No. 2 in Florida behind the University of Florida. The rankings were based on five categories: student engagement, admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. Gary Patterson, interim dean of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business, said about 85 percent of USFSP's recent MBA graduates are working in the 10 fastest-growing industries, with many of those jobs in Florida. The average starting salary for new MBAs is $68,000.

World affairs conference Feb. 26

Experts will discuss a range of critical issues, from the rise of ISIS to immigration reform, at third annual St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs Feb. 26-28 on the campus of USF St. Petersburg. Among the more than 30 speakers scheduled for the event is Wole Soyinka, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. "This year's conference, as always, will focus on the most timely issues of the day," said Thomas Smith, director of the USFSP Honors Program. "Panelists will address geopolitical issues of Syria, Cuba, and Ukraine, as well as the challenges of climate change, infectious diseases, and women's rights." For more information, visit stpetersburgintheworld.com/conference.

SPC faculty members honored for innovation

Seven St. Petersburg College faculty members will receive the 2014 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Awards from the League for Innovation in the Community College. The league is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote community colleges.

The faculty members and their award categories are:

Michael R. Gordon, associate professor computer and IT, Outstanding Student Engagement (on-campus or blended)

Cynthia Grey and Wendy Rib, veterinary technology professors, Outstanding Student Engagement — Online

Ray Menard, associate professor of natural science, Excellence in Student Coaching and Support

Therezita K. Ortiz, computer and IT professor, Innovation in the Use of Technology

Anthony Valentine, communications professor, Innovative Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching and Learning

James A. Wallis, professor of natural science, Innovation in the Use of Technology.

The awards will be presented in March at a conference in Boston.