By Georgia Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences
When the University opened, Fowler was only paved to the eastern edge of the campus. [Photo courtesy of the Department of Chemistry]
When it was founded by the Florida legislature in 1956, the 草莓视频 had no name, no campus, no students and no faculty.
The sandy plot of land that would eventually become the university's Tampa campus had been an airstrip during World War II, and much of Fowler Avenue was a dirt road.
When USF finally opened its doors to students in the fall of 1960, the campus comprised of three buildings 鈥� including the Chemistry (CHE) building. The charter class consisted of 134 faculty members and 1,993 students.
The story of how USF transformed from scrub pasture to premier research university is one of bold vision, unlikely beginnings and decades of determination that reshaped the area into a hub for innovation, discovery and global impact.
The Department of Chemistry received departmental status in the fall of 1964. This photo of department faculty, staff and students was taken in 1966. [Photo courtesy of the Department of Chemistry]
As USF celebrates 70 years since its founding, the College of Arts and Sciences is reflecting on the role it played in shaping USF鈥檚 past, present and future as one of the most research-intensive universities in the nation, a leader in innovation and a catalyst for prosperity across Tampa Bay and the state of Florida.
Where every USF story begins
From the very beginning, the arts and sciences have existed at the center of USF's academic mission. The first buildings, faculty, programs and departments were rooted in disciplines that, today, call the College of Arts and Sciences home.
鈥淚 started USF in September of 1960,鈥� said Jeanne Dyer, who, as a teenager, dreamt of becoming a chemistry teacher. 鈥淭hat was the first class. The university then was probably smaller than today's high school. We had very few buildings, and everything was sand; we didn't have any grass or sidewalks. I remember the first time I stepped foot on campus. I don't know how to express the feeling 鈥� it was like feeling that my life was about to change.鈥�
Jeanne Dyer with a photo of campus when she was a charter student [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
Upon graduation in 1963, Dyer became a high school chemistry teacher and went on to receive national recognition. Today, she works in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USF.
The majority of students who matriculate from USF begin their academic journey in the college 鈥� whether through general education courses that introduce them to the habits of inquiry, critical thinking and communication that define a USF education or through core coursework in one of the college鈥檚 many degree programs.
鈥淭he College of Arts and Sciences is a critical component of USF because it touches all students,鈥� said former USF President Betty Castor. 鈥淭he faculty is large and the college is especially influential within the university. How many of our students have learned to write their first essay and had their eyes opened by that first religious studies or literature course?鈥�
The Chemistry (CHE) building was one of three original buildings constructed on the Tampa campus. [Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida]
The Science Center (SCA) was formally dedicated in Nov. 1968. [Photo by Corey Lepak]
Completed in 2011, the Interdisciplinary Sciences (ISA) building replaced the old Physics building.
The foundation for a high-impact research university
The formal establishment of the College of Arts and Sciences marked a pivotal moment in USF鈥檚 evolution. As the university鈥檚 research ambitions grew, so too did the need for a unified academic home for the disciplines that generate foundational knowledge, support interdisciplinary discovery and train the next generation of scholars.
President Francis Borkowski and his wife Kay Borkowski [Photo courtesy of the USF Libraries]
The creation of the College of Arts and Sciences was a strategic decision by former
USF President Francis T. Borkowski, who recognized the central role of the arts and
sciences in advancing research excellence. In 1991, he moved to merge the Colleges
of Arts and Letters, Natural Sciences and Social and Behavioral Sciences. By uniting
the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities under a single college, USF strengthened
its capacity to attract accomplished faculty, expand graduate education and compete
on the national stage.
鈥淭he difficulty was that in governance, they were 鈥� they had so much in common, and
yet, they didn鈥檛 have the voice,鈥� Borkowski said of the three colleges during with the USF Libraries special collections department. 鈥淭he faculty were very pleased
because that, just simply, gave them more of a voice in the governance of the institution.鈥�
Decades later, the impact of that decision is unmistakable. Home to 23 academic departments
and schools and dozens of research centers and institutes that advance knowledge,
address complex global challenges and prepare students for meaningful impact in an
ever-changing world, the College of Arts and Sciences remains a cornerstone of USF鈥檚
identity as a high-impact research university.
The people who built the College of Arts and Sciences
Over the years, outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners have shaped the intellectual life of the College of Arts and Sciences. Their collective efforts span generations, disciplines and communities; here, we share just a few examples that illustrate this rich legacy.
Liana Fox
A descendant of Cuban and Sicilian cigar workers in Ybor City, Liana Fox started classes at USF shortly after it opened. Her passion for numbers led her to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, where she launched a career in mathematics education. Today, she is a member of the Dean's Advisory Council.
Rollin Richmond
As the college's first dean, Rollin Richmond aimed to foster a sense of community that would transcend student-faculty, disciplinary and social boundaries. One way he did this was by selecting an "All-University Book" 鈥� an old USF tradition dating back to its founding 鈥� for students and faculty to read and discuss in community. Faculty in the humanities are said to have referred to him as the "dean from heaven."
S. David Stamps
Before serving as dean of the college, S. David Stamps was a professor in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. As dean, Stamps was known for being honest, fair and full of good advice. He later served as provost and vice president of academic affairs at USF.
Eric Eisenberg
When Eric Eisenberg came to USF, he recalls being told to put on a hard hat because he would be part of the construction crew. Eisenberg has worn many hats at USF: professor, chair, dean, interim provost. As dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Eisenberg oversaw restructuring while navigating a budget crisis. Today, he leads the Office of University Community Partnerships.
Jordan Zimmerman
After Jordan Zimmerman graduated from USF in 1980, he built an advertising empire that infused marketing creativity with a relentless focus on data and analytics. He later worked with USF to create the Zimmerman Advertising Program, dedicated to producing the next generation of chief marketing officers by exposing students to business and communication through real-world immersion.
Honey Rand
An accomplished writer, Honey Rand came to USF to study communication. continue to support student writers.
James Strange
The late James Strange was a professor of religious studies and acclaimed Biblical archeologist. The Tampa Bay Times called him a "real life Indiana Jones." After his wife's passing, his children donated a portion of his archaeological collection to USF.
Dean's Student Leadership Society
Established in 2013 to capture the spirit of the college through student leaders, the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Student Leadership Society serves as a bridge between alumni, faculty and community leaders within USF and beyond.
A college for our time
Today, the College of Arts and Sciences brings together the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences to address challenges that don鈥檛 fit neatly within a single discipline. Faculty and students tackle timely issues that touch on behavioral science, artificial intelligence, national security, policy research and public health by working together and across fields, synthesizing data with human insight and scientific discovery with ethical reflection.
New partnerships across campus, including a joint program with the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, ensure graduates are prepared to navigate a rapidly evolving world.
The college is also deeply engaged in the community. Faculty partner with local, national and international organizations, including the Mellon Foundation, the and the Poynter Institute, to ensure that research and teaching have real-world impact 鈥� and that students gain hands-on experience.
As USF celebrates 70 years of innovation and growth, the College of Arts and Sciences remains grounded in the enduring values of a liberal arts education: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity and empathy. By equipping students not only with specialized knowledge but also with the ability to adapt, question and connect ideas, the college continues to push the university forward, preparing graduates to shape lives, careers and communities well into USF鈥檚 next chapter.