Arts and Sciences News

Amre Davis, a Vigor High School student who is taking courses at the University of South as part of the Start South dual enrollment program, starts her schoolwork as early as 4 a.m. “I get up, set up my laptop, maybe have a bowl of cereal, and get going on my assignments,” she said.

High Schoolers Get a Jump Start with Start South
February 22, 2021

The dual enrollment program allows high school students to begin taking college classes at half the cost, while reducing the time it takes to earn an undergraduate degree. ...

NBC 15 Chief Meteorologist and USA adjunct instructor Alan Sealls has achieved multiple firsts in his more than three decade career in television.

Forecasting the Weather and Making History
February 18, 2021

South adjunct instructor Alan Sealls has broken through numerous ethnic barriers to become one of nation's top meteorologists. ...

With Mardi Gras canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, South alumnae Suzanne Sarver, left, and Courtney Harris, right, joined with Mitchell College of Business Ph.D. student Stacy Wellborn to begin the Mobile Porch Parade. Wellborn's home features monsters from the children’s book, “Where the Wild Things Are.”

South Graduates Lead Mobile Porch Parade
February 13, 2021

With Mardi Gras parades canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, two alumnae and a Ph.D. candidate find a new way to celebrate the Carnival season. ...

2020 Mobile County Public Schools Teachers of the Year. From L-R; Anna Mouton, Clark-Shaw School of Math, Science and Technology. Julie Neidhardt, Hutchens Elementary School. Deborah Pippen, Citronelle High School.

South Alumnae named Teachers of the Year
February 9, 2021

A trio of women, who earned degrees from South have now been named the best of the best in the Mobile County Public Schools. ...

USA student 2nd Lt. Zachary LaJoie, a recent graduate, received his military commission after completing the USA Army ROTC program last fall. LaJoie’s parents Steve and Bonnie pin his bars onto the uniform during the ceremony.

Perseverance Pays Off
February 8, 2021

2nd Lt. Zachery LaJoie receives his military commission from the U. S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, ROTC at South. ...

Dr. Jason Strickland, assistant professor in South's department of biology was part of a team breaking new ground in genetic research.

Strickland Recognized for Genetic Research
February 3, 2021

South faculty member Dr. Jason Strickland co-authors study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ...

Olivia McCarter still visits the grave at Jackson County Memorial Park of Alisha Ann Heinrich after helping identify her using DNA samples and genealogy records. Next to the plot is the grave of another baby girl whose body has never been identified.

South Sophomore Solves Cold Cases Using DNA, Forensic Genealogy
January 19, 2021

Olivia McCarter brings focus and closure to unsolved cases, identifying victims and giving law enforcement a trail to suspects. ...

From L-R; Will Marriott, staff archaeologist, USA Center for Archaeological Studies, and Jeremy Pruitt, field technician, USA Center for Archaeological Studies sift through soil collected during a cultural resource survey in the Africatown community of Mobile.

Digging Into the Past
January 15, 2021

South and the City of Mobile partner on a cultural resource survey in the Africatown community prior to planned construction. ...

Drs. Joél Billingsley, Charlene Dadzie, Kern Jackson and Shenghua Zha were awarded Social Justice Initiative grant awards for research.

South Social Justice Awards Announced
January 8, 2021

Four members of USA's faculty were awarded the first Social Justice Initiative grant awards. ...

Seven members of the Jaguar Marching Band have been chosen by College Band Directors National Association to participate in a virtual halftime performance at the College Football National Championship game.

USA Band Members Participate In National Championship Performance
January 7, 2021

Seven members of the Jaguar Marching Band will join nearly 1,500 other performers for a virtual college marching band show. ...

Dr. Ronnie Baker, an assistant professor of marine science at the University of South Alabama, holds a grouper off San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. When he returns for research, Baker plans aims to identify coastal nursery habitats for fisheries species.

South Dives Into Galapagos Research
January 5, 2021

USA's collaboration with partners in Ecuador and on the volcanic archipelago grows with a focus on research and global engagement. ...

Temple James, left, and Yavaniy Garraway have been named winners of the "I Belong" essay contest hosted by the Department of English, Honors College, Student Academic Success, and Counseling and Testing Center.

This Is Where I Belong
December 30, 2020

Winners chosen in for the first, "I Belong" essay competition describing each students' journey that led them to South. ...

Dr. Mara Kozelsky, professor of history, is leading the effort to develop a digital history lab planned for a fall 2021 opening.

South Building Digital History Lab
December 17, 2020

A U.S. Department of Education grant provides $20,000 in seed money to develop and build an on-campus digital history lab. ...

Dr. Claire Cage, associate professor of history and gender studies is one of 13 USA Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning Program Faculty Fellows.

Faculty Fellows for Community Engagement Program Named
December 15, 2020

The inaugural class of 13 full-time assistant and associate professors from six colleges were chosen for the program. ...

A Life Well Lived
December 1, 2020

University of South Alabama Writer in Residence, Frye Gaillard's latest book is deeply personal memoir of his late wife Nancy. ...

The 3-year, $493,244 grant will provide support for USA and a campus interprofessional team to increase awareness and establish a campus-wide outreach program for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

Empowering Sexual Assault Survivors
November 30, 2020

South receives a federal grant to develop highly skilled nurses to serve as a resource and support for sexual assault survivors. ...

Dr. Ronald Baker, assistant professor in the department of marine sciences co-authored a paper on salt marshes that was published in Science magazine's November 6, 2020 issue.

DISL Researcher's Work Published in Science Magazine
November 24, 2020

A November 2019 meeting at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab led to a report on salt marshes published in esteemed scientific journal. ...

$160.9 Million Raised in Upward & Onward
November 19, 2020

South exceeds fundraising goal with more than 23,000 donations to support academics, research, athletics and healthcare. ...

Dr. Kelly Dorgan, an associate professor of marine science at the University of South Alabama, studies worms and their impact on marine sediment.

The 'Important, Poorly Understood' Worm
November 18, 2020

Dr. Kelly Dorgan studies worms and marine sediment, creatively piecing together what she calls the 'puzzle of science.' ...

South Receives Renewal for Delta Fellows Program
November 17, 2020

The renewal comes from the Jean O'Connor-Snyder Internship Program at the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. ...

The University of South Alabama holds the easement to 60 acres adjacent to Historic Blakeley State Park along the Tensaw River. The property, in addition to more than 30,000 acres throughout rural Alabama and Mississippi, can be used by South faculty for research and teaching.

Land Newly Available for Research, Teaching
November 17, 2020

Faculty and students will have access to more than 30,000 acres, including land along the Tensaw River in the Mobile Delta. ...

University of South Alabama Assistant Professor Dr. Krista Mehari and Professor Dr. Phillip Smith were awarded a $1.8 million grant to research strategies to reduce gun-related suicides and homicides. The project will last three years and will focus on better understanding the perspective of people who possess and own guns to improve public health strategies.

Grant Seeks to Reduce Gun Deaths
November 17, 2020

Firearm safety measures often focus on access. Two South professors aim to take a different approach with buy-in from gun owners. ...

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. ...

Arts and Sciences News Archive

High Schoolers Get a Jump Start with Start South February 22, 2021

Forecasting the Weather and Making History February 18, 2021

South Graduates Lead Mobile Porch Parade February 13, 2021

South Alumnae named Teachers of the Year February 9, 2021

Perseverance Pays Off February 8, 2021

Strickland Recognized for Genetic Research February 3, 2021

South Sophomore Solves Cold Cases Using DNA, Forensic Genealogy January 19, 2021

Digging Into the Past January 15, 2021

South Social Justice Awards Announced January 8, 2021

USA Band Members Participate In National Championship Performance January 7, 2021

South Dives Into Galapagos Research January 5, 2021

This Is Where I Belong December 30, 2020

South Building Digital History Lab December 17, 2020

Faculty Fellows for Community Engagement Program Named December 15, 2020

A Life Well Lived December 1, 2020

Empowering Sexual Assault Survivors November 30, 2020

DISL Researcher's Work Published in Science Magazine November 24, 2020

$160.9 Million Raised in Upward & Onward November 19, 2020

The 'Important, Poorly Understood' Worm November 18, 2020

South Receives Renewal for Delta Fellows Program November 17, 2020

Land Newly Available for Research, Teaching November 17, 2020

Grant Seeks to Reduce Gun Deaths November 17, 2020

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