Graduate School News

Jay Copeland started work at Vulcan Performance Rehabilitation and Recovery after graduating from the University of South Alabama.

Career-Beginning Injury
June 13, 2022

Dislocating his elbow during a high school baseball game leads Jay Copeland to physical therapy training at South and a job in Birmingham. #MyFirstJob ...

Educational Accessibility & Disability Resources Center Renovated
May 26, 2022

A ribbon-cutting and open house were held for students, faculty, staff and administrators to celebrate the newly renovated space. ...

Jonah Smith, a senior English major from Foley, Alabama is the first graduate of the University of South Alabama's TESL/TEFL certificate program. He hopes to eventually teach English in Japan. The program allows students in any major an opportunity to expand their marketability and find work globally.

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language
May 2, 2022

South's new certificate program for Teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language allows students multiple career options. ...

'How Do We Make Vaccines Manly?'
April 27, 2022

South psychologist Dr. Ryon McDermott leads a national study of the relationship between traditional men's roles and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines. ...

Wenda Johnson, who earned master's and doctorate degrees in nursing from the University of South Alabama, competes in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo earlier this year. Photo by James Phifer courtesy of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

Rodeo Nurse
April 11, 2022

Wenda Johnson, who earned her master's and doctorate in nursing at South, combines a career in medicine with rodeo success in World Championship Barrel Racing. ...

An artist rendering of the planned expansion and renovation of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

$60 Million Earmarked for College of Medicine Building
March 14, 2022

The appropriation from U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby will help fund construction, which will include a new addition and an extensive renovation of the 1974 existing structure. ...

Darlene Lewis, who earned a bachelor's degree and then a master's in school counseling from the University of South Alabama, works with students at Blount High School in Prichard, her hometown.

'This Is My Place'
February 4, 2022

Darlene Lewis turns two education degrees at South into professional success — and personal satisfaction — by guiding students in Mobile County Public Schools. ...

The Mobile Arts Council has recognized South alumna Amanda Youngblood for her dedication to the arts in education and arts advocacy in the community.

Mobile Arts Council Recognizes South Alumna
January 28, 2022

University of South Alabama alumna, Amanda Youngblood received "The Arty" for her dedication to the arts in education. ...

Mobile County Public Schools have named their 2022 Teachers of the Year. From left; Jaime Bosarge, Bryant High School; William Edmonds, Barton Academy; Kelly Parker, Tanner Williams Elementary School. All three teachers are University of South Alabama alumni.

South Alumni Named Teachers of the Year
January 28, 2022

Three former South students are honored by the Mobile County Public School System after being nominated by their peers. ...

Timothy Holden, who earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of South Alabama, is a contractor at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado.

Space Force Career Launched
January 28, 2022

Timothy Holden served in the Marine Corps and as a police officer before earning his engineering degree at South. His job as a Space Force contractor involves satellite communication systems. ...

University of South Alabama doctoral student Kim Pusey says her work in areas of social justice has been fueled by her own upbringing and observations of race and the criminal justice system. “Part of my work, part of the research I do, is in service of trying to make things better for little black and brown kids,” she said.

Studies in Social Justice
January 24, 2022

Kim Pusey chose South for graduate school because of an opportunity to work with at-risk youths. She now plans for it to be her career. ...

Dr. Sean Powers, professor and director of the School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, walks the halls of the school's renovated 20,000-square-foot facility. “We have an international reputation. We want to bring new students to South,” he said.

School of Marine and Environmental Sciences Dedicated
December 2, 2021

New academic and research programs are expected to follow as South increases opportunities for students and faculty. ...

Dr. Brandi Kiel Reese has been named an early-career fellow by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The fellowship comes with a $76,000 award that Kiel Reese plans to use to support graduate students and provide paid internships for undergraduates.

USA Associate Professor Named Gulf Research Program Fellow
November 17, 2021

Dr. Brandi Kiel Reese becomes the second South faculty member honored by the Gulf Research Program in as many years. ...

Barton Academy Principal Amanda Jones, a University of South Alabama graduate, stands in front of the new magnet school.

Old School, New Start
November 17, 2021

South graduates, including Principal Amanda Jones, are remaking history this fall at Barton Academy. The first public school in Alabama has reopened as a magnet school with a focus on world studies. ...

Abritty Abdullah has been named a Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning award winner. The Honor Society is the nation’s oldest and most selective for all academic disciplines and the Love of Learning Award is one of the most prestigious awards for post-baccalaureate study given by the society.

USA Doctoral Student Recognized with Prestigious National Award
November 11, 2021

Phi Kappa Phi awards Abritty Abdullah, a doctoral student in the College of Education and Professional Studies, its Love of Learning award. ...

Stacy Wellborn, a PhD student in the Mitchell College of Business, hosts "Mitchell Moments," a weekly podcast featuring faculty and students about how to best navigate a PhD program.

Podcasting About MCOB's PhD Program
November 2, 2021

"Mitchell Moments" podcast help potential PhD students by offering advice and tips on how to choose and thrive in a Ph.D. program. ...

University of South Alabama Professor Dr. Joseph Currier, seated at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mobile, where is is a member, said he has felt drawn by his belief in God to psychology, theology and mental health counseling. He is leading a national project that seeks to integrate religious and spiritual competencies in training mental healthcare providers.

Faith in Counseling
October 28, 2021

Dr. Joseph Currier, a psychology professor at South, is leading a national project to integrate religious and spiritual competencies into mental healthcare training. ...

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announces at an October 15, 2021 press conference that $41 million dollars from Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 will fund 17 separate projects around the State. South’s project, the Healthy Ocean Initiative, will receive $2,018,880 of that total.

School of Marine and Environmental Sciences Receives $2 Million Grant
October 25, 2021

Governor Kay Ivey's office and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources distributes the federal funding. ...

From L-R, Paul Sledge and Delmas McCryndle are interviewed by Dr. Kern Jackson and USA student Ruby Staten about growing up on the Five Rivers delta. A $453,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will help make interviews like this one available to the general public. At the same time, create a structure for courses and internships through which students and faculty can continue to build relationships with the community through oral history.

Huge Boost for the Humanities
October 4, 2021

$453,000 NEH grant is the largest South has ever received for the humanities and will support multiple programs on campus. ...

Current Master of Fine Arts in Creative Technology and Practice graduate student Micah Mermilliod’s work will be on display at the upcoming art show. Mermilliod works as a curatorial assistant at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center.

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Technology Art Show
September 28, 2021

Department of Art and Art History will exhibit works of current and former Master of Fine Arts in Creative Technology and Practice graduate students. ...

Dr. Haidee Custodio, an infectious disease pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics at USA Health, is enrolled in the University of South Alabama Spanish for Healthcare Professionals Graduate Certificate Program, hoping to become proficient in Spanish to better serve her non-English speaking patients.

Breaking Through the Language Barrier
September 15, 2021

A new graduate certificate program prepares current and future healthcare professionals to serve Spanish-speaking patients. ...

The Colleges of Nursing, Arts and Sciences, and Education and Professional Studies at the University of South Alabama, have joined forces to better serve at-risk youth and teens who are dealing with mental health issues in Mobile and surrounding areas. From left are interprofessional team members Dr.Candice Selwyn, research assistant professor in Nursing; Dr. Kimberly Williams, associate professor in Nursing and project director for the grant; Dr. Shanda Scott, assistant professor in Nursing and director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Dr. Kimberly Zlomke,co-project director and professor in Arts and Sciences. Not pictured are Dr. Yvette Qualls Getch, co-project director and associate professor in Education and Professional Studies; Dr. Kirsten E. Pancione, project coordinator and assistant professor in Nursing; Dr. Bettina Riley, associate professor in Nursing, and Dr. Brian David Johnson, assistant professor in Nursing.

South Receives Grant to Expand Behavioral Health Services and Workforce
September 10, 2021

$1.8 million will help expand and improve mental health services for at-risk youth and teens in Mobile and the Gulf Coast region. ...

Dr. John Lehrter, associate professor of marine science, pilots a boat through Mobile Bay, where he and graduate Chris Mikolaitis took water samples to measure the health of its marine ecosystem.

Bay Watch
July 29, 2021

South marine scientists monitor environmental trends throughout Mobile Bay in a multi-year program that seeks to prevent decline of oysters, blue crabs and spotted sea trout. ...

Merritt McCall's duties with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources include building, seeding and monitoring oyster beds in state waters. she recently earned her master's degree in marine science from the University of South Alabama.

The World Is Her Oyster
July 1, 2021

Marine scientist Merritt McCall turns her experience at South and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab into a fisheries job with the state of Mississippi. #MyFirstJob ...

Broderick Morrissette was a graduate assistant in the University of South Alabama Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, where he has started as its first Campus to Career coordinator.

'We Have Expectations for You'
June 14, 2021

Broderick Morrissette was inspired by his grandmother. Two degrees later, he's helping others achieve their goals as South's Campus to Career coordinator. #MyFirstJob ...

Graduate School News Archive

Career-Beginning Injury June 13, 2022

Educational Accessibility & Disability Resources Center Renovated May 26, 2022

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language May 2, 2022

'How Do We Make Vaccines Manly?' April 27, 2022

Rodeo Nurse April 11, 2022

$60 Million Earmarked for College of Medicine Building March 14, 2022

'This Is My Place' February 4, 2022

Mobile Arts Council Recognizes South Alumna January 28, 2022

South Alumni Named Teachers of the Year January 28, 2022

Space Force Career Launched January 28, 2022

Studies in Social Justice January 24, 2022

School of Marine and Environmental Sciences Dedicated December 2, 2021

USA Associate Professor Named Gulf Research Program Fellow November 17, 2021

Old School, New Start November 17, 2021

USA Doctoral Student Recognized with Prestigious National Award November 11, 2021

Podcasting About MCOB's PhD Program November 2, 2021

Faith in Counseling October 28, 2021

School of Marine and Environmental Sciences Receives $2 Million Grant October 25, 2021

Huge Boost for the Humanities October 4, 2021

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Technology Art Show September 28, 2021

Breaking Through the Language Barrier September 15, 2021

South Receives Grant to Expand Behavioral Health Services and Workforce September 10, 2021

Bay Watch July 29, 2021

The World Is Her Oyster July 1, 2021

'We Have Expectations for You' June 14, 2021