USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences

10/16/2026

Who has access to hearing aids — and who is being left behind?

A new study led by Michelle Arnold, an audiologist and associate professor in the University of South Florida Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, reveals persistent gaps in mandated hearing aid insurance coverage, particularly among older and lower-income adults.

🔗 Read more: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/usf-study-finds-persistent-gaps-in-hearing-aid-coverage-especially-for-older-and-lower-income-adults.aspx

University of South Florida Research

10/12/2026

More than 300 students participated in this year’s Step Into Scrubs: Interactive Clinical Skills & Health Career Expo, making it the event’s largest yet!

Through hands-on activities and conversations with participating programs, students had the opportunity to explore healthcare professions and discover new career possibilities.

Preliminary student feedback highlights the value of these experiences:
• 96% agreed they learned about at least one health profession they had not previously considered.
• 95% agreed the hands-on activities helped them feel more confident exploring healthcare careers.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders was excited to be part of this experience, giving students the opportunity to learn more about careers in audiology and the important role communication and hearing play in health and well-being.

10/09/2026

A meaningful milestone for USF’s future audiologists!

On September 25, twelve second-year audiology doctoral students participated in the annual White Coat Ceremony, marking their transition from academic coursework toward clinical practice.

The ceremony also recognized outstanding student achievements through scholarships presented by Bettina Tucker, AuD, and featured alumna Paula Golson, AuD, as the distinguished guest speaker.

Congratulations to the Class of 2029 and all scholarship recipients as they take this important next step in their professional journeys!

Read the full story:
https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/audiology-students-transition-to-clinical-practice-at-annual-white-coat-ceremony.aspx

10/07/2026

Matthew Foster, a co-principal investigator and associate professor in USF's Department of Child & Family Studies, brings expertise in assessment development and intervention evaluation to the project — helping strengthen the tools and strategies educators can use to support young learners. 🌟

A new $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help us better prepare educators to support young English learners.

Over the next five years, the interdisciplinary effort will bring together our College, the USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, Hillsborough County Public Schools and other community partners to strengthen language and literacy instruction for children from pre-K through third grade.

The initiative will equip current and future educators with practical tools to better meet the needs of multilingual children in their classrooms.

University of South Florida Research
RCMA
Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County
National Institute for Early Education Research

Full story 🔗⬇️

10/05/2026

Disasters can create unique challenges for older adults, especially when chronic illness, limited mobility, caregiving needs and disruptions to health care are involved.

A new special issue of the Journal of Applied Gerontology, co-edited by USF School of Aging Studies faculty member Lindsay Peterson, PhD, examines how complex emergencies affect older adults before, during and after disasters.

Across 12 studies, researchers explore the effects of hurricanes, extreme heat, air pollution and other hazards while identifying ways health care providers, emergency planners, long-term care facilities and communities can better support older adults.

“Motivation alone is not enough,” Peterson said. “Older adults need information that is timely, relevant and meets their needs and life circumstances.”

Read more about the research and what it could mean for disaster preparedness:

For older adults, no disaster is simple. Repeated hurricanes, floods, wildfires and heat waves can combine with chronic illness, limited mobility, weak social support and strained care systems to create risks greater than any one factor alone. As disasters grow more severe and frequent — and incre...

10/02/2026

Five students. Five different paths. One shared commitment to making a difference. 💚

The 2026 Serovich Scholars are turning their education into action, expanding access to essential services, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, addressing loneliness among older adults, advancing mental health and creating stronger communities.

The Serovich Scholars Program was established through a generous gift from Bob Clark in honor of his longtime friend and CBCS Dean Julie Serovich. Inspired by Serovich’s ability to connect people and communities, the program supports CBCS students who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to serving others.

Congratulations to this year’s Serovich Scholars: Joanna Brown, Maribridget Butler, Emma Devine, Amy Polansky and Britlee Yant!

🔗 Read more about this year’s scholars: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/five-students-carry-forward-the-spirit-of-the-serovich-scholars-program.aspx

09/30/2026

❤️ Get your steps in for a good cause!

Join our walking group as we lace up our sneakers and come together to support the American Heart Association! Whether you’re a regular walker or just want to support a great cause, we’d love to have you on our team.

📅 Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026
📍 Raymond James Stadium
🎉 Festivities begin at 7:30 a.m.
👟 Walk begins at 8:45 a.m.

Grab your walking shoes, invite a friend and join us as we take steps toward healthier hearts and stronger communities.

❤️ Ready to walk with us? Join our group!

The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association's premiere event for raising funds to save lives from USA's #1 and #5 killers - heart disease and stroke.

09/30/2026

We’re so proud to have CBCS students sharing their voices with university leadership! 🤘💚

Anna Soares, a doctoral student in the USF Communication Sciences and Disorders department, joined University of South Florida President Moez Limayem and fellow students yesterday for a luncheon to share their experiences, goals and ideas.

“I'm incredibly grateful to President Limayem for taking the time to connect with us, listen to our stories, and show genuine interest in our experiences and ideas,” Soares said. “It's inspiring to see university leadership so committed to hearing directly from students.”

09/25/2026

A legacy of support continues with the inaugural Professor Kathleen M. Heide Criminology Scholarship recipient. 🎓

Rithy Rung Rith moved from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to the U.S. on his own at age 17. Today he's a senior double majoring in criminology and psychology at USF St. Petersburg, and the first student to receive this scholarship.

Distinguished University Professor Emerita Kathleen M. Heide, PhD, created the fund after an early-career gift from a USF associate dean helped launch her research on juvenile homicide offenders. Decades later, she's paying it forward. The scholarship will ease some of the financial pressure on Rith so he can put more time into his studies and professional development.

After graduation, he hopes to start in law enforcement and eventually move into crime analysis or investigative work, with a focus on prevention and building trust in communities.

Read the full story: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/a-legacy-of-support-continues-with-first-heide-criminology-scholarship-recipient.aspx

09/25/2026