USA News Archives | Media Relations

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. ...

University of South Alabama students and their parents can learn the most effective way to apply for federal financial aid by attending a FAFSA Frenzy virtual workshop.

Applying for Federal Financial Aid Made Easy
November 6, 2020

USA Schedules "FASFA Frenzy" a free virtual financial aid workshop to simplify the application process for federal aid. ...

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. ...

Nila Clardy took part in South's first commencement in 1967, beginning a long family connection with the University.

A Jaguar Legacy
November 2, 2020

A move to Mobile changed Nila Clardy's college plans and began a generational connection to the University of South Alabama. ...

Honors student and freshman Samuel Blankenship's Eagle Scout project was “Unpack Hunger,” a food collection and distribution program. “Once quarantine hit, it turned into delivering packs to the school counselor, so kids could keep getting them. We were able to do 25 packs for 10 weeks,” he said.

Tackling Hunger, Trivia on Random Things
October 27, 2020

#FreshmanFocus: Honors student and former quiz bowler Samuel Blankenship focused his Eagle Scout project on hungry students. ...

2009 South graduate, Jaysum Hunter completed a 21-day, 1,000-mile bike ride from his home in Chicago to his hometown of Mobile.

The Ride of a Lifetime
October 26, 2020

Looking to inspire others, South alumnus Jaysum Hunter put his career on temporary hold to take an epic bicycle journey. ...

South student receives tutoring at USA's Center for Academic Excellence.

At South, Student Success is a Team Effort
October 21, 2020

Support programs at South, from housing to financial aid, are helping students succeed even during the most trying of times. ...

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 his ...

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. ...

USA Health and University leaders hold a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for a new freestanding emergency department adjacent to South's academic campus. “In addition to providing advanced emergency care, this facility also will support our mission to train the next generation of healthcare providers,” said Dr. Tony Waldrop, University president.

USA Health Celebrates West Mobile E.D.
October 14, 2020

The freestanding emergency department adjacent to campus will provide advanced care and training for healthcare providers. ...

Kaylee Williams, a freshman from Biloxi, said the coronavirus kept her from visiting South Korea, but she hopes to learn how to speak the language as well as Spanish.

Biloxi Student Turns to South
October 14, 2020

#FreshmanFocus: Kaylee Williams follows an interest in global affairs (and Korean hip-hop) to major in international studies. ...

USA mascot SouthPaw shows off the new Hancock Whitney Jaguars branded debit card.

USA and Hancock Whitney Expand Partnership
October 13, 2020

Hancock Whitney named "Official Bank of the University of South Alabama" and sole provider of the USA Jaguars debit card ...

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). NCSAM is a month out of the year in which the cybersecurity professional community comes together to focus on cybersecurity and encourage others to exercise proper cyber hygiene.

Take Care, Be Cyber Aware
October 12, 2020

USA's Information Security Office has important cyber security topics for each week in October, National Cyber Security month ...

United Way Campaign chairs. From L-R, Dr. Andre Green, associate vice president academic affairs. Lisa Mestas, CNO, USA Health, Dr. Stephen Kayes, professor of medical education, retired.

The Giving Season
October 9, 2020

Faculty, staff and retirees continue to show their generosity during the USA-United Way of Southwest Alabama annual campaign. ...

New grant money will allow the PASSAGE USA program to expand, including offering a new four-year option for students.

Major Grant Fuels PASSAGE USA Expansion
October 8, 2020

The College of Education and Professional Studies has been awarded a $2.3 million grant to expand its PASSAGE USA program. ...

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. ...

Kayla Brown's devotion to service and giving back to her community has carried over from her time at South to her new career in the medical field.

Making a Career of Helping Others
October 1, 2020

2020 graduate Kayla Brown remains connected to South by starting her career at USA Health's Franklin Medical Center in Loxley ...

When Trey Hall toured the University of South Alabama as a student in high school, he was impressed to find the Mitchell College of Business had 12 Bloomberg terminals. “In that interview,” Hall said, “I thought, ‘Oh, I need to come here.’”

Finance Major Isn't All Business
September 28, 2020

#FreshmanFocus: Trey Hall is a Mitchell Scholar in the Mitchell College of Business. He's also chasing an elusive perfect gam ...

Dr. Rebecca Giles authors a book on teaching Pre-K students to become successful writers.

Writing Kids' Futures
September 25, 2020

USA professor Dr. Rebecca Giles authors a book about teaching pre-K children to find their voices by learning to be good writers. ...

USA student-athletes volunteered to cleanup area households following Hurricane Sally.

Team Cleanup
September 25, 2020

USA student-athletes help out their campus and community by volunteering to cleanup debris following Hurricane Sally. ...

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. ...

Lynne Chronister, University of South Alabama vice president for research and economic development, is recognized in the 2020 Women of Impact honors, a 'celebration of strong women who shape and propel Alabama.'

Chronister Named 'Woman of Impact'
September 18, 2020

Lynne Chronister is honored statewide in a 'celebration of strong women who shape and propel Alabama.' ...

Neil Chaudhary, named the 2020-21 University of South Alabama Board of Trustees Scholar, is a biomedical sciences student and plans to pursue a career in medicine.“I wasn’t anticipating extra financial aid or anything, but I was definitely very happy and grateful,” he said

North Alabama Student Named Trustees Scholar
September 11, 2020

Neil Chaudhary, with a 35 ACT, is pursuing a career in medicine. An 'early spark' was his grandmother's struggles. ...

Top row L-R: Jim Moore, Kim Lawkis, Ron Stallworth.
Middle row L-R: Patrick Dungan, Ross Bonura, Neil Christopher.
Bottom row L-R: Laura Gabel, Dr. Joseph Molyneaux, Dr. Bryan Op't Holt.

USA National Alumni Association Elects New Officers
September 11, 2020

The USA National Alumni Association elected three new officers and four new directors during its annual membership. ...

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. Joél Lewis Billingsley, associate professor in the University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies, stands along the Mobile River in Africatown, where enslaved Africans aboard the Clotilda formed a community after arriving in America.

A Legacy of Strength, Perseverance
September 9, 2020

Through her work on 'Project 110,' Dr. Joél Lewis Billingsley traces her ancestry and confronts horrific realitie ...

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 fl ...

Kaitlyn Reynolds, a freshman from Orlando, Fla., is considering a career as a physical therapist. “Growing up, playing sports, I was always in and out of physical therapy, so it’s something I’m comfortable with,” she said.

Freshman Enjoys USA Homecoming
September 8, 2020

#FreshmanFocus: For Kaitlyn Reynolds, who kicked field goals in Orlando, Fla., coming to South is a family tradition. ...

The USA-United Way campaign leadership team.

United Way Honors USA for Giving
September 2, 2020

The United Way of Southwest Alabama will honor USA for its devotion to volunteerism and winning a Heart of Gold award. ...

Kristin Maas-Bangston, University of South Alabama associate director for student-athlete academic services, tutors Jaguar basketball player Tyreke Locure at the new Mobile County Center for Academic Success at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Jaguar Athletics Makes the Grade
August 27, 2020

South's athletic programs top the Sun Belt Conference in academic progress rates over the last one-year and four-year periods ...

Madison English, a freshman at the University of South Alabama, has been selected to receive a full scholarship called the 100 Black Men USA Scholars of Perseverance and Social Justice. English said a high school teacher inspired her to get involved. “He told us that the world depends on our generation and we need to make our votes count,” she said.

Mobile Freshman Wins Support
August 26, 2020

Madison English receives the first social justice scholarship from the 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile and the University. ...

Dr. Kathy Cooke has been elected president of the Southern Regional Honors Council, a coalition of honors scholars in the Southern region.

Cooke Elected President of Southern Regional Honors Council
August 20, 2020

USA Honors College dean and history professor will begin serving in her role as Southern Regional Honors Council president in Marc ...

2020 USA civil engineering graduate, Evan Mazur is awarded one of six Hohenstein Fellowship by the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

A Multi-Talented Scholar
August 19, 2020

Evan Mazur is named a Hohenstein Fellow by the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and receives an $8,500 award for graduate school. ...

Savannah Dinkel, Lauren Gaspard and Jose Pardo Granados are among the new Honors College students who, along with other freshmen, began classes this week on South's campus. “I wanted to be part of a community,” Dinkle said.

New Students Join JagNation
August 19, 2020

South's Honors College gets a head start at its annual retreat, and Week of Welcome is underway to welcome new students. ...

60 South faculty members took part in the Innovation in Learning Center's four-week Summer Institute emphasizing online teaching techniques.

Staying on the Cutting Edge of Learning
August 19, 2020

The Innovation in Learning Center hosts Summer Institute for South faculty members to perfect their online teaching skills. ...

Dr. Joe Gaston, assistant professor in USA's department of counseling and instructional sciences and Julie Neidhardt, second grade science teacher at Hutchens elementary school.

South Launches "Next in Ed" Podcast
August 14, 2020

The Next in Ed podcast will feature conversations with teachers, administrators and policymakers about issues in education. ...

Clayton Suell, an engineering senior at the University of South Alabama, was recognized with an Alabama Space Grant Consortium Award.

Quickly Making an IMPACT
August 14, 2020

Clayton Suell, who studies artificial intelligence in South's IMPACT Lab, wins an Alabama Space Grant Consortium Award. ...

Dr. Stephanie Smallegan, assistant professor, coastal and civil engineering earns a 2020 fellowship from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Life is a Beach
August 13, 2020

Dr. Stephanie Smallegan received the 2020 early-career research fellowship given by the National Academies' Gulf Research Pro ...

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. ...

Business Analytics Added to Ph.D. Program
August 7, 2020

The Commission on Higher Education approves an additional concentration for Ph.D. in South's business administration program. ...

William DeMouy called the principal at Grand Bay Middle School the day he saw the job opening for a teacher. He interviewed the next morning. “I was thrilled. I was like, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s go for it.’”

A Second Bachelor's, A Second Start
August 4, 2020

#MyFirstJob: William DeMouy finds his place in the classroom as the geography and civics teacher embarks on a new career. ...

Ph.D. student, Jennifer Henderson's paper exploring the topic of electronic waste and its implications for both producers and consumers was named Best in Track by the Association of Marketing Theory and Practice.

Ph.D. Student Honored for Study of E-Waste
August 4, 2020

USA Business Administration PhD student, Jennifer Henderson earned "Best In Track" for her paper on recycling electronic ...

University of South Alabama Jaguar statue

COVID-19 Testing Begins for Students
August 3, 2020

South students can be tested at no cost or will need to provide proof of medical clearance from a healthcare provider. ...

Social justice consultant, Christina Dawkins will serve as facilitator for workshop sessions.

USA Hosts a Series of Workshops on Social Movements
August 3, 2020

Social movements are an essential part of American democracy and understanding them creates a learning opportunity for students. ...

Jazzlyn Hatcher has been named the undergraduate recipient of the University of South Alabama's Global Student Leadership Award.

Love of South Korean Culture Leads to Recognition
July 31, 2020

International studies major, Jazzlyn Hatcher has been named the undergraduate winner of USA's Global Student Leadership Award ...

Adam Merkle and four other South Ph.D. students had their study of possible causes for MLB's declining attendance published in the Journal of Marketing Analytics.

Examining Baseball's Declining Attendance Problem
July 31, 2020

South Ph.D. student, Adam Merkle and his team examined possible causes for Major League Baseball's declining attendance. ...

Kayla Smith, left, and Syliah Neely earned Gilman scholarships to fund their study abroad opportunities.

USA Students Earn Gilman Scholarships
July 30, 2020

South students earn Gilman scholarships, but the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing them to adjust their 2020 study abroad plans. ...

University of South Alabama graduate student, Marcee Hinds has been selected the Alabama High School History Teacher of the Year.

USA Grad Student Named Alabama History Teacher of Year
July 28, 2020

The Gilder Lehrman Institute has selected USA graduate student, Marcee Hinds as the state's top high school history teacher. ...