USF is now defining itself as an Engaged University, and these are not empty words. I believe USF should be relevant to women and men at all stages of their lives. Yet we don t always follow up on the cliche, and consider what we are doing to insure a strong future for those children. At USF, I want to strengthen our commitment to children and their families, building on the considerable strengths we already have. All over USF, faculty and students are doing cutting-edge research on child and family issues, often supported by centers like the USF Collaborative on Children and Families, which funds projects on health, education, housing, and much more.
Researchers work with community partners who have a real stake in the outcomes.
There is still much to be done. My own research explores that issue, and we must do more to make sure that the potential of over half our children is not wasted. And as children mature and seek higher education themselves, USF is there for them at that stage of their lives. One of my central goals is to increase the enrollment of traditional-age students, creating the kind of campus environment that befits a Research 1 university. Quality is especially crucial in graduate education, where the best students are heavily recruited all over the country.