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Community News Archive

  • Dr. Kern Jackson, director of the USA African American Studies program, appears in “Descendant,” which has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Image courtesy of Netflix/Participant.

    'Descendant' Nominated for NAACP Image Award
    February 20, 2023

    The film was co-written and co-produced by Dr. Kern Jackson, director of USA's African American Studies program. The 54th NAACP Image Awards will be telecast Feb. 25. ...
  • Margaret Bradford, site coordinator for the VITA program at the University of South Alabama, helps Kobe Cox, an accounting major and student volunteer, fill out a tax return for a Mobile resident.

    'A Great Service'
    February 10, 2023

    Accounting students in the Mitchell College of Business volunteer to help prepare free tax returns through April 15. ...
  • Nichole Harting, a student intern teaching mathematics at Barton Academy in downtown Mobile.

    Filling the Teacher Shortage
    January 31, 2023

    A grant of up to $2 million will help South educators begin a UTeach program for STEM students interested in teaching as a career. ...
  • Screen grab of the holiday video card.

    Holiday Greetings
    December 19, 2022

    The University of South Alabama and Jo and Janée Bonner wish our Jaguar Family and friends Happy Holidays. Spring registration continues into the new year with classes beginning Jan. 9, 2023. ...
  • Musicians perform at the University of South Alabama 2022 Holiday Concert.

    Jags, Jazz and 'Jingle Bells'
    December 2, 2022

    South musicians celebrate the season with a USA Holiday Concert at the Mitchell Center. ...
  • 2022 holiday concert invite. December 1, 6:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Center

    South to Host 'Wonderful Time of the Year' Holiday Concert
    November 17, 2022

    Vocal and instrumental ensembles will be joined by the Jaguar Marching Band at the free Dec. 1 concert. The public is invited to attend. ...
  • Dr. Kern Jackson, director of the African American Studies Program at the University of South Alabama, served as co-writer and co-producer of “Descendant.”

    Folklore Meets Film
    October 19, 2022

    Dr. Kern Jackson helps bring the story of Africatown to new audiences in "Descendant." ...
  • Trinity LaBorde, a freshman from Long Beach, Mississippi, considered studying music education but gravitated toward art. “Here, I wanted a new start, I wanted to meet new people, I wanted to be the person I couldn’t be in high school.”

    Drawn to South
    October 3, 2022

    An art student from Long Beach, Mississippi, gets a head start on university life with the Jaguar Marching Band, a trip to the beach and starry nights on campus. #FreshmanFocus ...
  • “Listening is an Act of Love" is this year's Common Read selection. The voluntary program for the South Alabama community, aims to improve understanding of differences and commonalities across the world while engaging in academic discourse and critical thinking.

    One Book, One South, One Community
    August 22, 2022

    "Listening is an Act of Love" is meant to inspire South students, faculty, staff, and alumni to listen to one another," ...
  • First-year students got a primer on school spirit at Convocation on Monday at the University of South Alabama. Among the lessons: How to properly show your J.

    Jaguars Sing — and Shuffle
    August 15, 2022

    Members of the Class of 2026 cheer, sing and dance at fall Convocation to kick off the academic year. Week of Welcome and Beyond continues through the month. ...
  • Professor of marine sciences Dr. John Lehrter, on a vessel off the Alabama coast in 2021, is leading a study to arrive at a baseline for water quality along the Alabama Gulf Coast. “At a really fundamental level, this project is about going out, very frequently, and trying to get the pulse of state water quality. Where are the places we have to worry about, and what are the places that have good quality?”

    Marine Sciences Professor Wins $3.1 Million Water Quality Grant
    July 11, 2022

    Dr. John Lehrter and the University of South Alabama School of Marine and Environmental Sciences will lead the three-year study of water and sediment quality along Alabama' s Gulf Coast. ...
  • Micah Mermilliod took this self portrait from on top the Alabama Contemporary Art Center, where he took a job as an assistant curator.

    Art Start
    June 29, 2022

    Micah Mermilliod moves from solo shows to collaborative work as an assistant curator for the Alabama Contemporary Art Center. #MyFirstJob ...
  • Deborah Gurt, center, interim director of the McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of South Alabama, created the Jewish Mobile Oral History Project with the help of people such as Abby Grodnick Kennedy and Rabbi Steven Silberman of Ahavas Chesed Synagogue.

    Word of Mouth
    June 6, 2022

    The Jewish Mobile Oral History Project at South looks to make connections, share experiences and record stories before they are lost to time. ...
  • Emily Warner, left, with the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, and Thomas Grace, with Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting, bisect a feature in the soil at a dig site that is along the route for a proposed Mobile Bay bridge. After completing the excavation of half the feature, they will photograph and draw the profile, and then excavate the second half.

    Big Dig
    April 21, 2022

    The USA Center for Archaeological Studies unearths the past to make way for a bridge linking Alabama's two coastal counties. Its archaeologists and anthropologists are joined by South researchers, academics and students from a cross section of d ...
  • Damonique Evans, an emergency medical services graduate of the University of South Alabama, works at Mobile Fire-Rescue Station 23 as a firefighter paramedic. “I hope more people come in and change the narrative of what a firefighter looks like. It’s an honor,” she said.

    First Response
    March 31, 2022

    South emergency medical services graduate Damonique Evans becomes the first Black woman to work as paramedic firefighter for the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. ...
  • Timothy Johnson, who earned an education degree from the University of South Alabama in 2010 before working as a teacher in Mobile County public schools, is an Alabama Technology in Motion specialist at South. His position serves students and teachers in 10 school districts.

    Robots, Drones and Green Slime
    March 22, 2022

    South graduate Timothy Johnson brings science education to life as a specialist for Alabama Technology in Motion and through public television segments for 'Alabama STEM Explorers.' ...
  • The USA National Alumni Association recipients for the 17th annual Distinguished Alumni & Service Awards are, from left, Dr. Carl C. Moore; Martha Peek; USA Health, represented by Owen Bailey and Dr. John Marymont; Harvey L. Barnett; and Maj. Gen. William Joseph “Joe” Hartman.

    Alumni, Community Leaders Honored at Distinguished Alumni & Service Awards
    March 11, 2022

    USA National Alumni Association honored alumni and community leaders at the 17th annual Distinguished Alumni & Service Awards. ...
  • Dr. Martha Arrieta, director of research for the USA Center for Healthy Communities, stands in front of the center.

    Poverty and Public Health
    March 3, 2022

    At the USA Center for Healthy Communities, Dr. Martha Arrieta has spent nearly 20 years working to reduce health disparities in poor and underserved neighborhoods of Mobile. ...
  • Christina Johnson, who teaches drama and costume design at South, works on a Mardi Gras gown at the Revelry Bloom studio in Mobile. The elaborate costume, inspired by the movie “Maleficent,” has been chosen for display at the Mobile Carnival Museum.

    Fit for a Queen
    February 25, 2022

    Christina Johnson, who teaches costume design in the department of theatre and dance at South, helps design elaborate Mardi Gras gowns for Mobile Carnival balls. ...
  • 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. ...
  • 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. ...
  • Brittney Dixon, in front of the Center for Fair Housing in Mobile, says housing choice plays a critical role in equality. “Housing can affect whether you have a grocery store in your neighborhood, or good schools, or even sidewalks,” she said.

    Home Front
    January 17, 2022

    South graduate Brittney Dixon fights discrimination through education and enforcement at the Center for Fair Housing in Mobile. ...
  • Kenneth and Diamond Johnson got married in the chapel at USA Health University Hospital during his recovery after being hit by a pickup truck. Kenneth Johnson, a University police sergeant, has since returned to work. The couple has a 3-month-old daughter, Karis.

    Healed for the Holidays
    December 22, 2021

    Kenneth Johnson, who was struck by a truck in March, will celebrate Christmas at South after recovering from his injuries and returning to work as a University police sergeant. ...
  • 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. ...
  • 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. ...