Bulls Notebook: USFSM grad to conduct research at NIH

Anthony Alibro, who graduated with a psychology degree in December, will work as an assistant researcher at the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., starting Aug. 1. He will assist in a study of connections in the brain and the impacts of neurotransmitters like dopamine, glutamate and serotonin.

“I was just kind of hanging around at home when I got an email from the interviewer,” Alibro, 21, said. “She said I want to offer you a position and my mouth dropped.”

Alibro, who plans to pursue a doctorate in psychology, interviewed a few weeks earlier. The NIH accepts a small percentage of post-baccalaureate research applicants each year. Alibro credits staff and faculty with helping him attain the position, which is funded by the NIH for up two years.

Faculty members Dr. Jay Michaels and Dr. Kim Badanich and Director of Student Engagement Kim Mones helped with the application process and provided letters of recommendation. Alibro said his experience assisting Dr. Michaels likely contributed as well. For several months last year, Alibro helped Dr. Michaels in a study of religion’s psychological impacts.

“This is really incredible news,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity and I hope I can make valuable contribution while I’m there.”

To learn more about USFSM’s psychology program, visit usfsm.edu/academics/programs-and-majors/undergraduate/psychology/index.aspx.

M3 Center at USFSM to host free webinar this week

The M3 Center at USF Sarasota-Manatee will host a free webinar Wednesday about the impacts of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which goes into effect this week.

Intended to address internet data protection and privacy issues, the regulation gives EU citizens and residents control over their personal data and simplifies regulations for companies doing business across the EU. The law was approved two years ago and goes into effect Friday.

The webinar, co-hosted by the Association of North America Higher Education International, will feature a panel of experts discussing the regulation’s impact, history and changes from previous rules about data protection and privacy.

Panelists include Finnish entrepreneur, author and marketing consultant Dr. Outi Niininen and Dr. Sachiko Scheuing, the European privacy officer at global marketer Acxiom. Dr. Cihan Cobanoglu, director of the M3 Center, will moderate the discussion.

The webinar is scheduled 11 a.m. Wednesday. Register for free at m3center.org/gdpr.

Dr. Ali invited to research forum

Kudos to Dr. Faizan Ali, who was recently invited to a research forum at The Ohio State University. The May 9-11 invitation-only event brought together “active researchers in the field of hospitality and tourism to set research priorities and mentor the next generation of researchers,” Dr. Ali said.

Dr. Ali, an assistant professor in USFSM’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, specializes in tourism marketing. He was teamed with researchers from Ohio State, Fordham University, Ohio University and Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

The event was co-hosted by The Journal of Service Management; The Ohio State University EHE Office of Research; Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business; Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management; and the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures.

“Our team was charged with engaging in focused discussions to develop a conceptual model to discuss and explain, ‘Managing New Service Experience: User Experience – Customer Journey,’” he said. “The format, to bring together multiple scholars from different positions in their academic careers and from different academic backgrounds, made these discussions very enriching as well as challenging.”

Bulls Bistro returns for two events this summer

The Bulls Bistro is returning for two special events this summer.

The popular dining program that pairs students with faculty from USF Sarasota-Manatee’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership will return June 7 with special guest Chef Jose Martinez of the award-winning Longboat Key restaurant Maison Blanche and again on July 12 as the college salutes Bastille Day with a unique French-inspired menu.

Both events start at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited. The Bulls Bistro is held at the USFSM Culinary Innovation Lab on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch.

For tickets and more, visit www.usfsm.edu/bistro.

USFSM unveils accelerated master’s degree in criminology

USF Sarasota-Manatee is introducing an accelerated master’s degree program for criminology students.

Starting this fall, criminology students can enroll in USFSM’s “BA+MA” program to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees within five years, instead of the usual six, to save both time and tuition expense.

As an added convenience, all of the graduate-level classes will be conducted online to allow students the option to study after work or on weekends in whatever setting they prefer. Students must enroll no later than the start of their senior year. Once they graduate, they will have one remaining year of coursework to earn a master’s degree.

Only top students will be considered: those with at least a 3.3 Grade Point Average (overall studies) and a 3.5 GPA in criminology coursework. The program will be implemented starting fall 2018.

To learn more, contact Dr. James Unnever at unnever@sar.usf.edu.

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