USA News Archives | Media Relations

Dr. Robert Holm, professor of music at the University of South Alabama, has been teaching Natalie Newton piano lessons since she was 12.

Piano Camp Keeps the Music Alive
June 21, 2016

One of the participants was Natalie Newton, a repeat camper who began playing at age 7 on a Radio Shack keyboard. ...

Kelab Williamson, University of South Alabama Noyce Scholar; Dr. Andre Green, interim associate dean, chair and professor in the department of leadership and teacher education in the USA College of Education; and Tami May, graduate of South’s Noyce Scholars program celebrate the success of the first annual Robert Noyce Regional Conference.

Inspiring Educators to Create Bright Futures
June 17, 2016

The Southeast Regional Robert Noyce Connections Conference highlighted South's commitment to K-12 education. ...

The first produce of the season is being harvested from the garden, located on the west side of campus.

USA Gets Growing with Campus Garden
June 13, 2016

The farm-to-table movement is growing on the USA campus, thanks to students and University-wide support. ...

Vanguard Staff is Finalist in the Region

Vanguard Staff Wins Journalism Awards
June 10, 2016

Alyssa Newton, former Vanguard editor-in-chief, won first place in multiple categories at a national journalism competition. ...

Jaguars Competing in National Track Finals
June 8, 2016

Trio returns to NCAA championships looking to earn All-America honors. ...

"Team Zambia" Produces Life Lessons for Students
June 6, 2016

USA engineering students designed an irrigation system using existing technology to help villagers grow sustainable crops. ...

Kenneth O. Simon, right, a Birmingham attorney, was elected chair pro tempore of the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees, while businessman James H. “Jimmy” Shumock of Mobile was elected vice chair. Arlene Mitchell, a Mobile philanthropist and civic volunteer, not pictured, was elected secretary.

USA Board of Trustees Elects New Officers
June 3, 2016

Attorney Kenneth O. Simon, businessman James H. Shumock and philanthropist Arlene Mitchell were selected for three-year terms. ...

Agnes Tennenbaum, seated, the last known Holocaust survivor in Mobile, visited the USA Marx Library in 2014 for a donation to the Agnes Tennenbaum Holocaust Library Collection. Joining her, from left, Rickie Voit, co-chair, Mobile Jewish Film Festival; Tennenbaum’s son, Henry Schwarzberg and his wife, Diane; Dr. Richard Wood, dean, USA Libraries; and Jerry Darring, curator, Alabama Gulf Coast Holocaust Library. Tennenbaum died on Memorial Day.

A New Installment for Holocaust Collection
June 2, 2016

The selection of titles is named for Holocaust survivor and Mobile resident Agnes Tennenbaum, who died on Memorial Day. ...

60 Percent of South Employees Pledge Gifts
June 1, 2016

The University of South Alabama raised more than $628,000 during its 2016 Employee and Retiree Annual Fund as part of the Upward & ...

USA meteorology students, from left, Kashawn Sinkler, Peyton Barlow, Cameron Young, Adam Olivier, Alysa Carsley and Jonathan Chance toured a Hurricane Hunters plane during the Gulf Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour on May 19 at Brookley Field.

Prepare for Homegrown Hurricanes
May 31, 2016

USA hurricane expert Dr. Keith Blackwell says the return of La Niña increases the chances of storms forming in the Caribbea ...

The Battle over Peleliu partial book cover

War and Memory Podcast Debuts
May 27, 2016

South's Frye Gaillard interviews the author of "The Battle over Peleliu"; Chair of English Dr. Steve Trout edits bo ...

Gastric lavage, a non-lethal technique, is used to gather the remains of birds and other food from captured tiger sharks. From left are Cody Eggenberger, former intern in the USA Fisheries Ecology Lab; Mariah Livernois, incoming USA graduate student; and Dr. Marcus Drymon, USA research assistant professor. Photo by David Hay Jones.

Want to Know What This Shark Eats?
May 27, 2016

The tiger shark's off-the-menu pick is revealed when USA shark experts are featured in a National Geographic program. ...

Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter in Hollywood's latest producation of the 'Alice in Wonderland' trilogy.

The 'Wonderfully Weird' Tales of 'Alice'
May 26, 2016

The latest movie may be visually impressive, says a USA expert, but expect significant deviation from Lewis Carroll's trilogy ...

During the 2016 Student Organizations Leadership Awards luncheon, students were recognized for their outstanding service. Congratulating the award recipients are Ravi Rejendra, immediate past president of the Student Government Association, front row far left, and Ashley Ford, far right, SGA student-at-large member.

Student Organizations Honored for Service, Leadership
May 25, 2016

The University of South Alabama held its Student Organizations Awards luncheon to showcase and honor organizations and individuals ...

Robert “Bobby” Faulk, left, received an honorable mention this year from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Boni Yraguen and Robert Mines both received fellowships. Each did undergraduate research at the University of South Alabama, as did fellowship awardee Patrick Poirson, not pictured.

Rooted in a 'Culture of Undergraduate Research'
May 24, 2016

USA finds National Science Foundation success with three fellowship awardees and one honorable mention. ...

Megan Sparks, communication instructor, teaches a public speaking class during the Maymester session. One of her students said the flexibility is allowing him to complete his coursework sooner than expected. Nearly 500 students are enrolled in 88 Maymester courses.

A Full Semester in Only Three Weeks
May 23, 2016

Maymester offers students greater ability to graduate in four years; nearly 500 enrolled for the inaugural session. ...

Dr. John Smith, left, USA executive vice president; Jinni Frisbey, USA associate athletic director of sports medicine and senior woman administrator; and Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson are pictured with the Bubas Cup, which was awarded to South Alabama for the second year in a row.

Repeat Performance: Jags Awarded Bubas Cup
May 23, 2016

South received the Sun Belt honor for athletic performance; the Jaguars also ranked tops in a key academic indicator. ...

South students and faculty participate in the USA in Russia Study Abroad program in the summer of 2015.

Record Number Ready for Study Abroad
May 18, 2016

More than 100 South students will travel out of the country this summer for unique educational and cultural experiences. ...

Marcus Houtzager, Lien Hoang, Caleb Cochran, Minh Lu, Michael Pham, David Sauers, Marzieh Atigh and Fariborz Bayat show off the aircraft they built for the Design/Build/Fly competition.

Design/Build/Fly – And Learn
May 16, 2016

Engineering students with different backgrounds come together to build two radio-controlled aircraft and compete in Kansas. ...

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Michael Mitchell, center, congratulates Dean’s Cup winners Sigma Chi Fraternity and Chi Omega Fraternity for women. Joining Mitchell are Drew Tranchina of Sigma Chi and Caitlin Jackson of Chi Omega.

South Honors Greek Community for Outstanding Achievement
May 16, 2016

Fraternities and sororities at the University of South Alabama were honored for outstanding service, leadership and academic achie ...

Matt Spivey's decision to put roots in Trinity Gardens gives him credibility he would not otherwise have. “Mr. Spivey is part of the community,” said Chastang Middle School Principal Sonya Floyd.

Matt Spivey: Teacher, Coach and Neighbor
May 16, 2016

South alumnus and 'foster child' of Mobile's Trinity Gardens neighborhood finds focus at Chastang Middle School. ...

South's women's track and field program won its first outright Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championship, totaling 132 points. USA shared the crown in 1999 with Louisiana Tech.

Jags Take Track and Field Championship
May 16, 2016

With South totaling 132 points, it is the women's program's first outright Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championship. ...

Alicia Duke speaks to students at Dothan's Cloverdale Elementary School about The Little Heroes project. Duke returned to her hometown in April to announce that donated food would help children through the end-of-the-year testing period. Photo courtesy of the Dothan Eagle, photographer Danny Tindel.

Committed to Helping Her Hometown
May 10, 2016

Alicia Duke left for college, but she remained determined children from her elementary school would not go home hungry. ...

A study by two USA professors found that sea surface temperature helps explain the variation in body size of the Galapagos marine iguana, and island colonization patterns have influenced the varying body shapes.

The Evolution of the Galapagos Iguana
May 10, 2016

Research by two South professors suggests that island colonization patterns have influenced varying body shapes. ...

Dr. Eric Williams said USA College of Nursing faculty members were instrumental in encouraging and inspiring him to succeed.

Determined to Leave a Legacy of Service
May 10, 2016

USA alumnus Dr. Eric Williams, president of the National Black Nurses Association, has a robust agenda. ...

In two ceremonies, a total of 2,303 spring and summer degree candidates were recognized and honored. Total degrees awarded in South’s history now number more than 84,000.

Three Pieces of Advice for South Graduates
May 8, 2016

Pulitzer Prize columnist Cynthia Tucker Haynes and USA alumnus Kenneth O. Simon offer life lessons at Commencement. ...

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Cynthia Tucker Haynes will address graduates at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, while South alumnus and attorney Kenneth O. Simon will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

Graduation: Everything You Need to Know
May 3, 2016

A Pulitzer Prize winner and a respected attorney will speak at two commencement ceremonies on Saturday. ...

Olivia Butters attended medical school at South after receiving her undergrad from USA. “It’s always been a very welcoming school,” she said.

Finding Opportunities to Serve Others
May 3, 2016

After medical mission trips to Peru, Honduras and Rwanda, Olivia Butters heads to residency training in Florida. ...

Catherine Zivanov said her Honors Program experience "led me to decide on a future in academic medicine as a physician and researcher.”

Learning the Importance of Dedication, Sacrifice
May 2, 2016

Catherine Zivanov, Goldwater Scholar and Honors Program student, is following the example set by her parents. ...

Daeshen Smith, who played in the Jaguar Marching Band throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies, said of South: "This place has felt like home for me."

One Step Closer to Fulfilling a Dream
May 2, 2016

Daeshen Smith knew from a young age he wanted to be a sports broadcaster, and his thesis reflects his interest. ...

University graduate student Amanda Jefferson helps tag one of the 750 red snapper released by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab into northern Gulf of Mexico waters as part of a marine sciences project to estimate the recreational mortality of the popular sport fish. Photo by David Hay Jones

Go Fishing, Earn Cash, Support Research
April 29, 2016

Anglers who catch a red snapper with a yellow tag can earn up to $500 and help researchers study fishing mortality. ...

Goldwater Scholar Robert Mines, 2015-2017, is recognized with Goldwater Honorable Mention recipients, from left, Angela McGaugh for 2016, Madison Tuttle for 2016 and Mikayla Walters for 2015. Not pictured is Goldwater Scholar Catherine Zivanov, 2014-2016.

USA Pays Tribute to Academic All Stars
April 28, 2016

Forty South students are recognized for their national scholarships, fellowships and research experiences. ...

Ground is broken Tuesday on the Mitchell Cancer Institute's 11,000-square-foot Fairhope building, which will include exam rooms, cancer treatment areas and physicians’ offices.

MCI Breaks Ground on Fairhope Clinic
April 26, 2016

The new treatment center, when open in 2017, will double the Mitchell Cancer Institute's space in Baldwin County. ...

7 Ways to Survive Finals Week
April 26, 2016

Feeling a bit stressed? Fear not. Dr. Bob Hanks offers these suggestions on how to prepare for end-of-year exams. ...

David O'Sullivan, left, the European Union’s ambassador to the United States, chats with newly elected Student Government Association President Joshua Crownover on Monday. O'Sullivan spoke to USA faculty, students and staff during a visit to Mobile.

'Conflict Forced Us to Find New Ways'
April 26, 2016

EU ambassador talks trade, refugees and terrorism - and against selling short the European Union - during a visit to South. ...

First-year medical student C.C. Linder of Spanish Fort, left, prepares raw vegetables for Shrimp Fra Diavolo with help from instructor Brenden Ingraham and nursing student Adriana Comerford during a pilot Culinary Medicine class at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church earlier this month.

Scalpel? Check. Kitchen Knives? Check.
April 22, 2016

USA nursing and medical school students are on kitchen duty in pilot program focused on nutrition and healthy eating. ...

Prince, legendary pop star and creative icon, died Thursday in Minnesota. Photo by David Brewster, Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Prince Dies; The Prowl Pays Tribute
April 21, 2016

General Manager and South student Rhett Flowers shares five things he will remember about the iconic pop star. ...

Six Years After Oil Spill, Research Continues
April 21, 2016

Dr. Ken Heck, professor of marine sciences, has employed baseline data on juvenile fishes collected with the help of students. ...

The University of South Alabama student body has elected Student Government Association officers for the 2016-2017 academic year. From left are Darshan Patel, vice president; Marcus Williams, treasurer; Kinsley Knapp, student at large; JuWan Robinson, attorney general; Taylor Davis, chief justice; and Joshua Crownover, president.

South Students Elect New SGA Officers
April 21, 2016

Joshua Crownover, a sophomore majoring in business finance from Satsuma, will serve as president. ...

Dr. John V. Marymont has been named vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.

Medical Affairs VP, COM Dean Announced
April 20, 2016

Dr. John V. Marymont will head the College of Medicine and join the University's health care leadership team beginning July 1 ...

Photo Gallery: South's Oozeball Tournament
April 18, 2016

The Southerners student ambassador group held its 28th annual Oozeball competition in five volleyball mud pits. ...

South will kick off its environmental observance from 9-11 a.m. on Sunday with a clean-up of trash from three waterways along the Glen Sebastian Nature Trail.

Earth Day: Clean-Up, Trash Audits and Art
April 15, 2016

Students boarded kayaks and canoes to clear trash from waterways on campus along the Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail. ...

Two-Faced El Niño on the Run
April 13, 2016

After a mild winter, drought and flooding, observers await a possible La Niña, said South's Dr. Keith Blackwell. ...

Seniors Brianna Bond and Zachary Fitzgibbons will star in "As You Like It," Shakespeare's final and most mature comedy, during a one-week run that premieres at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 15, in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center on the USA campus.

'As You Like It' Closes Theatre USA Season
April 13, 2016

William Shakespeare's comic masterpiece began a one-week run Friday at the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center. ...

The USA Wind Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Saenger Theatre. The event will be free and open to the public.

USA Wind Ensemble to Perform at Festival
April 12, 2016

Mentorship and music blend as Alabama's best young musicians arrive this week for the All-State Band Festival. ...

The author of “The Complete Maus,” Art Spiegelman, is a contributing editor and artist for The New Yorker and co-founder/editor of Raw, an acclaimed magazine of avant-garde comics and graphics.

Graphic Novel Selected for Common Read
April 8, 2016

Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, in comic book format, tells of a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe and his cartoonist son. ...

Angelia Bendolph, who is serving on the national AAUW STEM Task Force, will assist with the summer technology conference for middle school girls, which will be hosted by the University of South Alabama.

Doctoral Student Serves as STEM Advocate
April 7, 2016

Angelia Bendolph picked for American Association of University Women panel on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. ...

Allem Sunanon's beliefs on the importance of academics in collegiate athletics were established long before he ever arrived on campus. “It started with my parents because they hold education to a very high standard more than anything else,” he said.

What He Said Made National News
April 6, 2016

'No matter what sport you compete in, it's going to come to an end sometime,' said Jags kicker Aleem Sunanon. ...

Dr. Mary Graham, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College president, left, and Dr. Tony Waldrop, USA president, sign a commitment for the Pathway USA program.

Pathway USA Expands to Mississippi
April 5, 2016

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students offered a seamless transition to enroll at South after graduation. ...

Margie Friedman, a USA nurse, was recently selected by McDonald’s as one of 24 national heroes who work non-traditional schedules.

Before Sun Rises, South Grad Shines
April 1, 2016

Margie Friedman's firstborn son was a patient at USA Children's & Women's Hospital. Today she is a nurse there. ...