Bulls Notebook: Career Connections Day matches employer, USFSM students

With many workers across multiple divisions nearing retirement, the county is reaching out to USFSM to identify potential employees.

Friday morning, USFSM students boarded a van and traveled to the county’s administrative offices in downtown Bradenton to learn about local government, meet department supervisors and tour county offices. The afternoon ended with a round of face-to-face interviews.

“What we’re trying to do is show students the many jobs and internships that are available at Manatee County so that they can take advantage of that,” said Ben Heins, coordinator of internships and service-learning.

The students heard an overview of local government and met with Sheriff Rick Wells and Circuit Court Judge Gilbert Smith Jr., among others. They also participated in “speed networking” with county supervisors.

“While we were eating, we got three to five minutes to speak with representatives from each department,” said Sam Araboghli, an ISS student with concentrations in political science and criminology. “After we got to know them, we sat down one-on-one to learn more about each department.”

He said many students were surprised at the extent of services at the county level and career options, from social services to accounting to IT positions.

“My aspirations are to one day work for the federal government,” Araboghli said. “Working in local government is a great introduction, a great stepping stone to what my career aspirations are.”

GloBull Showcase continues this week

There’s still time to catch the “2018 GloBull Showcase.” The final segment of the three-day lecture series about global issues occurs noon today in room A320 at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

Organized by interdisciplinary social sciences student Yolanda Woody, the lecture series has academics and local experts weighing in on climate change, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, refugees and migration and other global issues.

The talks run 20 minutes each with opportunities for questions and comments by audience members. The discussions are free and open to the public. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Today’s talk focuses on the theme of “Global Prosperity, Happiness and Well-being” and features:

• Adam Dunn, KarmaDue, the Dunn Law Firm: “Wealth and Income Inequality and the Effects of Automation”
• Ed Demarco, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness: “World Homelessness”
• Jenna Jones-Heonis, All Faiths Food Bank: “Hunger”
• Denise Davis-Cotton, the Florida Center for Partnerships for Arts Integrated Teaching (PAInT): “Racial Issues and the Importance of Arts and Culture”

The speaker series ends today, but the showcase continues Tuesday at noon with an event featuring the Salinas Family Aztec Dancers, appearances by local charitable organizations and the Taste of the World food festival.

“I want the GloBull Showcase to be an event where students come out and are made aware of different issues and cultures while also having fun mingling with their peers and faculty,” Woody said. “Overall, I hope the showcase empowers people to serve and speak up about issues and do something about them.”

USFSM Regional Chancellor to discuss region’s biotech future

USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Dr. Karen Holbrook will discuss her vision for scientific research in the region during a meeting Wednesday, May 16, of the Sarasota-Bradenton chapter of BioFlorida.

Dr. Holbrook, who has a strong history in the life sciences, will speak at about 6:15 p.m. She is expected to discuss the future of the region’s life sciences industry as well as USFSM’s plans to develop a science and research building with teaching laboratories, research labs and classrooms. Afterward, Dr. Holbrook will answer audience members’ questions.

Jason Gaskill, the chapter’s business co-chair, will offer opening remarks. Nancy K. Bryan, president and CEO of BioFlorida, will provide closing remarks.

BioFlorida represents 6,000 establishments and research organizations in the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology (devices and diagnostics), health IT and bioagriculture sectors that collectively employ nearly 83,000 Floridians.

The meeting is scheduled May 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at USFSM’s Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Registration is $45 for non-members, $25 for members and $15 for students.

To register, visit bioflorida.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1094362&group=.

For more information, visit bioflorida.com.

Arts-integrated teaching symposium set for May

Teachers and future teachers will benefit from an arts-integrated teaching symposium May 18-19 at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

This free conference, sponsored by the Florida Center for Partnerships for Arts-integrated Teaching (PAInT), will feature workshops to help educators create arts-integrated strategies, develop partnerships with arts organizations, design collaborative lesson plans and use arts integration to “build community.”

Guest speakers include A. Hasan Davis and Jeanette McCune. Davis, a motivational speaker, is the author of Written Off: How One Man’s Journey through Poverty, Disability and Delinquency is Transforming the Juvenile Justice System. McCune is the director of school and community programs at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Other speakers include Dr. Helene Robinson of USFSM; Kelli Maldonado, director of education and community engagement at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall; Karen Bell, outreach and education manager at the Circus Arts Conservatory; and Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton, coordinator of the Florida Center for Partnerships for Arts-integrated Teaching (PAInT).

The conference will be held at USFSM’s Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

For more information or to register, contact Dr. Davis-Cotton at ddaviscotton@sar.usf.edu.

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