Episodes
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Art, Science, and Oyster Restoration with Lily Boyer, Naja Daye, and Professor Tina Piracci
What happens when art, design, and environmental science come together to make a difference? On this episode, we’re joined by Honors Professor Tina Piracci and Honors students Naja Daye and Lily Boyer to explore the Judy Genshaft Honors College’s Oyster Restoration Brick (ORB) project. Professor...
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Building a Concrete Canoe with Saira Ali, Daniel Marola, and Henry Shedd
What would it take to convince you to race a canoe made of concrete? For members of USF’s American Society of Civil Engineers chapter, building a concrete canoe means months of collaboration, trial and error, and building trust before putting their creation to the test at the spring regional...
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Building Community at USF St. Petersburg with Hollie Quackenbush, Morgan Rolfs, and Siddarth Bahl
What makes the Judy Genshaft Honors College experience at USF St. Petersburg stand out? In this episode of The Honor Roll Podcast, we’re exploring how a waterfront campus, historic community spaces, easy access to downtown St. Petersburg, student leadership opportunities, and a tight-knit…
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Behind the Pages of Thread Magazine with Coen McGarrah and Rachel Kandl
Thread Magazine, USF’s student-led undergraduate literary and arts magazine, offers a platform for students to cultivate their creativity interests and see their work published in print form. Thread Magazine spotlights a wide variety of student work, ranging from art and music to short-form and...
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Exploring Research, the Country, and REUs with Chloe Jones
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) have allowed Chloe Jones to take her chemistry studies at the University of South Florida and apply them to cutting-edge research laboratories across the country. When the Judy Genshaft Honors College student and National Merit Scholar began…
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Unconventional Paths with 2026 USF Outstanding Young Alumni Awardees Zita Fletcher and Paul Johannes
Three Judy Genshaft Honors College alumni were recognized with the 2026 University of South Florida Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Zita Fletcher, Paul Johannes, and Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed. Before the awards ceremony on the USF Tampa campus, we had the opportunity to sit down with two of the honorees…
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Hawaii Beyond the Classroom with Naja Daye, Audra Santerre, and Dr. Brooke Hansen
There's a difference between learning about a place and experiencing it firsthand — something Honors study away program leaders Dr. Brooke Hansen and Audra Santerre know well. The Honors Hawaii Beyond the Classroom program combines pre-trip coursework with immersive community experiences…
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Student Advocacy with Carolina Gutfreund, Haran Mahesh, and Max Merchant
Through student organizations like GenCLEO, USF students are developing the skills and experience to become future leaders and engaged community advocates. A Florida-based environmental advocacy organization, GenCLEO’s USF chapter provides students with the resources, connections, and…
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USF Health BRIDGE Clinic with Andrea Medina Garcia, Mónika Domenech Acevedo, Skylar Robbins, and Shenica Jerome
As a student-run clinic, the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic provides free healthcare to uninsured patients in Hillsborough County. For more than a decade, Judy Genshaft Honors College students have volunteered at the BRIDGE Clinic, helping deliver medical care, social services, public health support,...
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USF 70: Honors Student Leaders with Ashley Hinton, Naziza Naeer Bhuiyan, Jason Rodencal, and Katelynn Paciorek
As the University of South Florida continues to celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Judy Genshaft Honors College is bringing back some its past students whose bold leadership shaped the future of Honors for years to come. The Honors College student council plays an integral role in Honors culture…
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Biomedical Ethics with Niveditha Chandrakanth, Vinesh Jarajapu, and Dr. Victor Bowers
The art of medicine isn't always strictly scientific. More often than not, it requires navigating profound ethical and philosophical questions that can mean the difference between life and death. Dr. Victor Bowers, a transplant surgeon and medical director at LifeLink of Florida, teaches a...
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Building a Sustainable Future with Oliver Laczko
Environmental science student Oliver Laczko joins the podcast to share how he is turning research into real-world impact, one green initiative at a time. After serving in leadership positions on the Student Green Energy Fund at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, he's learned...
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Voices of Service: Dogs Inc. with Alexa Michael
This week marks the launch of our new mini-series, Voices of Service, where we highlight volunteer organizations that prospective and current Honors students can get involved with. We sit down with first-year Honors student Alexa Michael to explore how community service can be more than just...
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The USF Gulf Scholars Program with Dr. Catherine Wilkins
A new program on the USF St. Petersburg campus is giving Honors students access to high-impact research opportunities that directly affect the health and future of the Gulf region they call home. Nestled between downtown St. Petersburg and Bayboro Harbor, the campus is now home to the Gulf…
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Decoding Conflict and Media with May Birch, Caroline Pope, and Dr. Arman Mahmoudian
Understanding the complexities of foreign relations can feel overwhelming, but Honors affiliate faculty member Arman Mahmoudian helps make global politics approachable and relevant. From learning how to separate fact from fiction to researching current conflicts, students leave his courses with…
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Internships and the Inside Scoop on Public Service with Cameran Isler
Internships can shape who we become, and for USF Honors student Cameran Isler, they opened the door to public service. Through the Legislative Internship Program and the Tallahassee Internship Program, Cameran stepped into the world of government early, gaining firsthand experience working...
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Leading-Edge Research with 2025 Goldwater Scholars Taylor Rand, Peter Alspaugh, and Abdul-Malik Zekri
USF is celebrating a record-breaking achievement — four Honors students have been named 2025 Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for undergraduate research. In this episode, we chat with Taylor Rand, Peter Alspaugh, and Abdul-Malik Zekri about their passion for discovery,...
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From Honors Roots to a Health Care Future with Patrick and Savanah Mullen
Some connections begin in a classroom and last a lifetime. For Patrick and Savanah Mullen, the Judy Genshaft Honors College wasn’t just where they studied — it’s where they met, grew together and discovered a shared purpose that would shape their futures. This week, Patrick and Savanah take us…
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USF 70: The History of the Honors College with Judy Genshaft, Stuart Silverman, and Dean Charles Adams
Judy Genshaft Honors College leaders and history-makers — USF President Emerita Judy Genshaft, inaugural Honors Dean Stuart Silverman, and current Honors College Dean Charles Adams — reunite to reflect on USF’s growth from Silverman’s arrival in 1970 to today, and on the Honors College’s central...
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From the Classroom to the Capitol with Madison Reiter
What does it look like when a passion for public service leads to the nation’s capital? This week, we talk with Honors student Madison Reiter about her summer in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a legal and policy research intern through The Washington Center Internship Program with the...
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Mapping the Stories of Your Life with Jon Rosario-Bub, Temi David, and Dr. Ulluminair Salim
Honors professor Ulluminair Salim’s Narrative Cartography: Mapping the Stories of Your Life course is reshaping how Honors students see themselves. Through educational techniques like guided reflection, Dr. Salim invites students to explore the meaning embedded in their names and the rituals that...
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Introducing The Suite Life of the LLC: Why Join the Honors Living Learning Community?
This week, we’re sharing a new podcast from the Judy Genshaft Honors College Podcast Network for prospective students and their families: The Suite Life of the LLC. Formerly known as Dorm Room Dialogues, this refreshed series takes you inside the Honors housing experience and explores how the...
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Opening Doors to Research and Florida MedConnect with Elaine Pan and Shivanshu Kumar
This week, Honors students Elaine Pan and Shivanshu Kumar share how a chance meeting in their first-semester Honors Foundations course spakred the creation of Florida MedConnect, a thriving student organization. As pre-med students, they knew firsthand the challenges of finding research...
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The USF Undergraduate Research Portal with Sofia Mitsuyuki de Menezes, Anzhelika Kurnikova, Akmal Kurbanov, and Dr. Reginald Lucien
The Judy Genshaft Honors College is home to some of USF’s most innovative problem-solvers, including the Honors IT Team. In this episode, we sit down with Associate Dean of Planning and Programming Reginald Lucien and student developers to explore the story behind the USF Undergraduate Research...
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Honors 101: Everything You Wanted to Know with Nick Nechaiev, Rysun Chu, and Dean Charles Adams
What is an Honors College? Beyond the name, beyond the GPA, beyond the myth that “honors” just means harder classes, what does it truly mean to be part of a transformative academic community? In this episode, we sit down with Dean Charles Adams of the Judy Genshaft Honors College, alongside…
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Opening Doors to Success: The Jenkins Scholars Program with Adam Costello and Kate Ashmore
Sometimes a scholarship offers more than just tuition — in this episode, we sit down with first-generation college student Adam Costello and Jenkins Scholars advisor, Kate Ashmore, to talk about one of USF’s most unique scholarships. We discuss how receiving the Jenkins scholarship gave Adam…
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Getting Involved with Honors Student Council with Katelynn Paciorek and Olivia Pinilla
The Honors Student Councils offer students a chance to build leadership skills, direct events, and create meaningful connections within the Honors community. Katelynn Paciorek and Olivia Pinilla are Honors students doing just that. In this week’s episode, they share how their involvement led them...
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Finding Your Path at USF with Natalie AmRhein
Have fun with it! After choosing the University of South Florida as a National Merit Scholar, recent Honors graduate (and incoming adult) Natalie AmRhein shares how she combined her passion for the outdoors with health care. In this week’s episode, Natalie reflects on her undergraduate…
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The New Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society with Grace Beck
A proud former member of the Honors Living Learning Community, two-time study abroad participant, marketing graduate assistant, and the college’s first-ever Honors admissions director, University of South Florida alum Grace Beck (’16) returns to the Judy Genshaft Honors College to share her story...
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Curating Career-Driven Coursework with Chinaza Munonye
Honors student Chinaza Munonye is using her coursework to lay the foundation for a future in dermatology. A first-generation college student with Nigerian roots, Chinaza shares her hopes of improving equity in dermatological research and how the intersection of her academic interests and career...
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Ambition and Impact: USF 25 Under 25 with Rylee King, Emilie Leyva, Minh Ha Pham, and Joshua Streitmatter
Get to know four of this year’s USF Muma College of Business 25 Under 25 honorees who are driving change at USF and beyond. In this episode, we sit down with Rylee King, Emilie Leyva, Minh Ha Pham, and Joshua Streitmatter to explore how leadership, service, and real-world experience have shaped...
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Leadership in Literature and Film with Jenna Epright, Daniel Anderson, and Professor Deepak Singh
Honors Professor Deepak Singh believes leadership isn’t taught through lectures but discovered through stories. In this episode, students Jenna Epright and Daniel Anderson reflect on the Honors course Exploring Leadership Through Literature and Film — a seminar-style capstone course that examines...
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Juggling College and Life with 2025 Courageous Bull Award Winner Brooke Casey
College students often wear many hats — as learners, employees, friends, and more — and balancing it all can be a challenge. This week, we’re joined by recent Honors graduate and 2025 Courageous Bull Award recipient Brooke Casey, who shares how grit and determination helped her successfully…
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From USF to the US Foreign Service with Hiram Ríos Hernández
Recognized as a 2025 USF Outstanding Young Alumni, Hiram Ríos Hernández has built a career in diplomacy that reaches across the globe. From consular work in Shanghai to public diplomacy in Burma, he now serves as an international relations officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lima. In this episode…
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Accelerating Your Path to Law School with Anabella Garcia
This week, we’re diving into the ups and downs of law school with Honors alumna and Stetson University College of Law student Anabella Garcia. Now in her second year, Anabella is committed to serving her community and advancing conservation efforts through her work as an environmental law clerk…
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Practicing Medicine With Purpose with 2025 USF Young Alumni Award Recipient Dr. Bailee Olliff
Honors alum Dr. Bailee Olliff exemplifies early success in the medical field, balancing a fast-paced career with a deep commitment to research, mentorship, and community service. Named a 2025 USF Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, she is a trauma surgeon specializing in acute robotic…
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Navigating Academic Burnout with Catherine Ugwu, Serena Bhaskar, Ghali Omar Boutaib, Rysun Chu, and Professor Melanie Ryerson
What happens when academic stress turns into burnout? This week, Honors students Catherine Ugwu, Serena Bhaskar, Ghali Omar Boutaib, and Rysun Chu join the podcast to open up about their own challenges with balance and the realities of high-achieving student life. Then, licensed mental health...
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Learning to Lead with Kelsey Sherman and Elise Prophete
This week, we’re joined by St. Petersburg Honors students Kelsey Sherman and Elise Prophete to talk about civic engagement, leadership, and what makes the St. Petersburg campus unique. Through local and state involvement, these Honors students have transformed their passions for public service…
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Student Entrepreneurship with Mira Stimac and Frank Nunez
This week, we’re talking all things student entrepreneurship with Mira Stimac, CEO and founder of energy bar brand Lope Collective, and Frank Nunez, program planner at the USF Muma College of Business' Nault Center for Entrepreneurship. Mira takes us through her journey from designing training...
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Global Student Consulting with and Alison Frate, Abigail Brake, and Dr. Gregory Smogard
This week on the Honor Roll Podcast, we’re exploring how Honors students are making an impact in global business. Alison Frate, Abigail Brake, and entrepreneur/professor Dr. Gregory Smogard share their experiences in the Global Student Consulting capstone course, where they tackled real-world...
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The First-Year Honors Experience with Heather Stroup
This week, Honors student Heather Stroup joins the podcast to talk all about her journey as an out-of-state-student. A biomedical sciences major and recipient of the Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Judy Genshaft Scholarship, Stroup discusses the impact of scholarships and extracurriculars on...
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The 2025 USF Climate Teach-In with Katelynn Paciorek and Maia Ryan
The future of climate justice and education lies in the hands of the next generation, which is why we invited Honors students Katelynn Paciorek and Maia Ryan to discuss how they are organizing this year’s USF Climate Teach-In. They join the podcast to share their journey in making the week-long...
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Inside USF's 7-Year Med Program with Rahul Jain and Parker Olive
The journey to becoming a doctor is long and demanding, but the accelerated 7-Year B.S./M.D. program at the University of South Florida offers a streamlined path for students committed to a career in medicine. This unique partnership provides the support of Judy Genshaft Honors College faculty…
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Honors Scholarships with Whitney Louis, Nora Wolfgang, and Marco Nardiello
Looking for information on scholarships, awards, or financial support? Tune in this week as Honors students Whitney Louis and Nora Wolfgang share their experiences earning scholarships at USF and how these resources have enriched their college journey. Also joining the podcast is advancement...
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Marine Biology at USF St. Petersburg with Gabrielle Schwager
Recent USF St. Petersburg Honors graduate Gabrielle Schwager joins the podcast to share her passion for marine biology. Originally from North Carolina, Gabby highlights how the unique opportunities at USF St. Pete — such as an Honors study abroad program in the Bahamas and hands-on courses in...
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Failing Forward with Rachel Weitz, NMS Coordinator Audra Santerre, and Professor Melanie Ryerson
Everyone fears failure, but setbacks can help us achieve success. During the week of February 17–21, the Judy Genshaft Honors College will host Failing Forward, a weeklong series of events focused on reframing failure and redefining success. This week, we’re joined by Honors student Rachel Weitz,...
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How Peer Mentors Shape the Honors Experience with Martin Ladjimi, Anrae Stephenson-Frazier, and Dr. Kevin Lee
Martin Ladjimi, peer mentor lead, and Anrae Stephenson-Frazier, graduate assistant for first-year student success, join Dr. Kevin Lee to discuss Honors Foundations and its peer mentor program. We explore the unique dynamic of upperclassmen teaching underclassmen, the program’s growth and the…
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South Korea Beyond the Classroom with Giovanna Viloria-Castillo and Maryam Latif
In this special bonus episode, Giovanna Viloria-Castillo and Maryam Latif join the Honor Roll Podcast to share their experiences on the Honors South Korea Beyond the Classroom trip. From late-night noodle runs and cat cafés to wearing traditional hanbok and hiking mountain peaks, this episode is...
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Presenting Undergraduate Research at a National Conference with Alex Vu
Interested in taking your projects to the national stage but not sure where to start? This week, Judy Genshaft Honors College student Alex Vu joins the Honor Roll Podcast to share his experience representing USF at the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, where he...
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Bonus: The Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom Study Abroad Program
In this special bonus episode, Honors student Lana Almukhtar shares her transformative experience in the Dominican Republic through the Beyond the Classroom Study Abroad program. From living with a host family to working in a local clinic and providing care to under-served communities, Lana...