USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences

May 10 - 16, 2020

Leigh Anna Nowak's assistant Finley protects her power cord while she works. A very important task.

CBCS COVID-19 photo contest. Submit your work from home COVID-19 photos to cbcsmarketing@usf.edu. We'll post the photos in Communique over the next few weeks, then vote on our favorite photos at the end of the Spring semester.
COVID-19 Update

Save the Date: Dean's COVID-19 Update and Q&A Session

All CBCS faculty and staff are invited to attend the Dean's COVID-19 Update and Q&A session on May 13, 2020. In order to allow faculty to close out the Spring semester, we are convening the meeting the day after grades are due. We hope this will allow everyone to join us before faculty disperse for the summer. This meeting will be held virtually on Teams and we will send a link to the meeting in advance. So mark your calendars. Let Patty Cleveland know if you have any questions.

Save the Date
COVID-19 Update and Q&A with Dean
May 13, 2020 from 10:15-11:00am
Teams Live Event
Link to the meeting will be provided soon.

CBCS Faculty Participate in COVID-19 Town Hall

Dr. Kathleen Moore, Executive Director of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute and Research Professor of Mental Health Law & Policy, Dr. Kristin Kosyluk, Assistant Professor of Mental Health Law & Policy, and Dr. Scott Strader, Director of USF's counseling center served as panel members on a town hall facilitated by State Representative David Silvers. The town hall focused on addressing the mental health resources for college students during the changing landscape of the COVID pandemic. The entire presentation is available here.

Criminology Graduate Student Commencement Video

Drs. Ráchael Powers and Elizabeth Cass recently sent graduate level criminology students a special congratulatory video for their upcoming graduation. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from a formal commencement, the video acknowledges each of the graduates' accomplishments and recognizes the culmination of their hard work. Watch the video here.

RMHC and ABA Programs Welcome Incoming Students

The pandemic has also eliminated the usual orientation/welcoming events traditionally held at this time of the year. CFS's ABA and RMHC programs recently sent out videos welcoming new students to the program. Watch the videos here:

ABA
RMHC 


We invite you to share your COVID-19 stories in Communique. Let us know how you are coping with working remotely. Submit your photos and captions to cbcsmarketing@usf.edu

As always, you should refer to the official USF coronavirus webpage for the most up to date information. 

Stay safe

CSD Associate Professor Receives USF Creative Scholarship Grant

Dr. Jean Krause in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders was recently awarded a USF Creative Scholarship Grant to evaluate typical accuracy levels and lag times of American Sign Language Interpreters. The study is a collaborative effort with Dr. Steven Surrency and student researchers. Results will establish quantitative measures of interpreter accuracy and serve as pilot data for an external grant application aimed at examining how increasing auditory access (i.e. similar to that provided by digital hearing aids and cochlear implants) affects message intelligibility for deaf and hard of hearing individuals who use interpreters.

Aging Studies Student Highlighted in "Believe in Bulls" Commencement Campaign

As a first-generation American citizen, education has played an important role in Natalie Rodriguez's life. At 18 years old, she's this semester's youngest graduate, earning her bachelor's degree in Aging Science. At 16, Rodriguez graduated from high school and Hillsborough Community College. At the same time, she began volunteering with local organizations and saw first-hand the struggle older adults face in health care. She plans to pursue an MBA at LSU next fall. The full article is available here.

Five CBCS Students Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society

Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) is the oldest and most respected undergraduate honor society for the liberal arts and sciences in the United States. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is highly selective. Approximately 10% of American colleges and universities have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and within those schools, only 10% of students in the liberal arts and sciences are invited to join the society. The University of South Florida is one of the newest additions to this prestigious community. Election to the USF chapter is based primarily on scholastic achievement and breadth of education. CBCS is proud to announce the 2020 inductees:

  • Isabella Avila, Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Shelby Bedwell, Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Manuela Gonzalez, Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Stephanie Haller, Behavioral Healthcare
  • Steven Reyes, Criminology

List of all USF student inductees.
Virtual induction ceremony.

Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Interns with Children's Mental Health Network

USF's Master's in Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Program partners with community, youth, and family agencies across the United States and internationally to provide field experience opportunities for our graduate students. The CMHNetwork promotes and advocates for the availability and effectiveness of high-quality services for children with mental health needs and their families. Learn about our students working with the Children's Mental Health Network.

Donations Needed for People Who Are Homeless

As faculty, staff, and students in CBCS, we all share a mission to help those in need. Unfortunately, in light of the circumstances, many of the resources that have previously served people who are homeless and hungry have been forced to shut down. These past few weeks, we have met with two organizations that are still up and running and doing their best to help: The Coffee Shop (an outreach and engagement center provided by Gracepoint) and Hillsborough Hope (the new tent city in Tampa supported by Catholic Charities and the county government).

We are currently working to put together supply kits for these organizations, where they can safely and securely be put into the hands of those who need them. We are accepting financial donations here through GoFundMe.

Alternatively, if you are stuck at home and find yourself in a cleaning frenzy, we are also accepting donations of the following:

  • Bath towels
  • Reusable bags (like grocery bags, canvas bags, backpacks, etc.)
  • Blankets
  • Shoes (mostly men's)
  • Clothing (we really need men's clothes, especially pants!)
  • Socks
  • Nonperishable food
  • Depends (mostly for men)
  • Nonperishable drinks (juice, tea, ensure, etc.)
  • Hygiene items (especially sunscreen, razors, and nail clippers)

If you gather your donations in a bag and place them outside of your house, one of our team members will happily come pick them up or we can meet you at a convenient spot! Just email us your address when it is ready, and we will coordinate the rest. Please rest assured, we are taking safety precautions to sanitize and maintain social distancing. For questions, donation pick-up, or more information about our partners, please reach out to Amanda Sharp at amandasharp@usf.edu, Melissa Carlson at mbarongi@usf.edu, or Kathleen Moore at kamoore@usf.edu. Thank you for your kindness!

New Publication
  1. Kosyluk, K., Marshall, J., Conner, K., Macias, D. R., Macias, S., Beekman, B. M., & Her, J. (2020). Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness Through Creative Storytelling: A Randomized Controlled Trial of This Is My Brave. Community Mental Health Journal. doi: 10.1007/s10597-020-00625-4
Adding News/Events/Publications to the CBCS Website and Newsletter

If you have news/events, or recent/upcoming publications you would like posted on the CBCS website and/or newsletter, please send the details and any attachments to CBCS Marketing. (CBCSMarketing@usf.edu)

Be sure to include all pertinent information in the format you would like to have posted (title, date, times, location, event description and contact information). Please provide your information in editable digital text format.

Articles included in the CBCS Communique may be disseminated to USF Media outlets and/or beyond.