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Campus attractions at the university of florida.

By Florence Beth Snyder

The University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville is a preeminent research institution, but visitors can be forgiven for thinking they’ve stumbled onto a soundstage for one of those 1930s college musicals.

With its Gothic Revival architecture and 20 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, UF’s 2,000 acres are a movie location scout’s ideal of what a university should look like. More than 50,000 students from more than 130 countries and all 50 states complete the picture of a campus straight out of central casting. Any day is a good day for a self-guided walking tour of the university’s Historic District . A good place to start is the 157-foot-tall Century Tower, a moving tribute to UF alumni and students who perished in the World Wars of the 20th century. One of only four carillon towers in Florida, Century Tower's 61 bells can sing a five-octave range. The carillon sits at the top of 194 steps and weighs an astounding 57,760 pounds. You can enjoy the Tower’s rendition of “Florida Chimes” on the quarter-hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and listen anytime on YouTube . The Plaza of the Americas is the focal point of the Roaring 20s-era landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted’s sons, John Charles and Frederick Law Jr. It’s a great place to picnic and people-watch.

Just west of the Historic District is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the 88,548-seat venue where UF’s football team plays its home games.

- Brad McClenny for VISIT FLORIDA

Just west of the Historic District is Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the 88,548-seat venue where UF’s football team plays its home games. UF’s national reputation as a football school dates back almost a century, and the stadium is practically a shrine for those who wear the orange-and-blue of the “Gator Nation” and T-shirts bearing pictures of Albert, the school’s alligator mascot. When the stadium is not occupied with practices and home games, visitors are welcome to jog around the concourse, run the steps, or just hang out in the stands and enjoy the Florida sunshine.  On your way in, check out the life-size bronze statues of Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow, as well as the Heavener Football Complex , which houses a museum highlighting Gator football history. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is nicknamed The Swamp, and not just because of UF’s alligator theme. The stadium’s bowled-in architecture is notable for steep stands that put spectators close to the field, and acoustics that amplify crowd noise to eardrum-shattering levels. None of this bothers rabid Florida alumni, whose seats on the west side are shaded by the press box. The visiting team’s supporters have no place to hide from a broiling game day sun. It all adds up to a notorious home-field advantage for UF fans; they have the statistics to back up their brag that "ONLY Gators get out alive." Tourists in search of more cerebral pursuits can always find interesting ways to pass the time at the UF Cultural Plaza, home of the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts , the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Harn Museum of Art . The Florida Museum has been, since 1891, the official curator and champion of the Sunshine State’s rich and diverse natural history. In recent years, it has evolved in to an internationally recognized institution committed to “Inspiring people to care about life on Earth.”

A pair of butterflies search for nectar in the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.

Highlights include the Butterfly Rainforest , a live-action exhibit filled with free-flying butterflies and birds from around the world, along with up-close-and-personal looks at turtles and fish amidst an appealing tropical landscape. If you dare to explore the darker side of nature, visit the Museum’s Bat Colony , home to 300,000 residents of the Bat House and Bat Barn. Every night is Halloween in that 15- to 20-minute window just after sunset and before total darkness, when temperatures are above 65 degrees, as they almost always are.  An observation area is provided, but bring your own plastic protective gear because you never know what might fall from the sky. The bats and butterflies are best appreciated in person, and once you meet them, you’ll want to see them again soon. Thanks to UF’s “ Critter Cams ,” you can, 24/7. The Harn Museum of Art collection includes thousands of pieces of African, Asian, modern and contemporary art, as well as photography with significant representations of Ancient American and oceanic art. The 40,000-plus square feet of exhibition space is surrounded by five peaceful garden spaces, and the Harn’s Camellia Court Cafe is a relaxing lunch spot for Museum-goers, or those stopping by the Phillips Center to buy tickets for an upcoming show. When the Gators wish to commune with real ‘gators, they head to Lake Alice, a small and beautiful body of water where alligators allow people to watch and be astounded ... from a distance. The Baughman Center at Lake Alice is a 96-seat miniature medieval cathedral built from Florida cypress, yellow pine and copper, featuring three shades of travertine marble flooring. Weddings, funerals and small musical performances bring guests to the pavilion, but most of the traffic comes from individuals who stop by to think and meditate in a serene and splendid setting.

When you go… University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-3261

places to remember

Gainesville

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University of South Florida

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Head into the city to get to know USF’s Tampa campus! Take a tour that will explore the acclaimed facilities and vibrant student life of our largest campus, located in the transformative Uptown District. You will also get the chance to learn more about the application process during an information session with an admissions counselor.

Student-Led Campus Tours

Tours are available  Monday through Friday and are open to all students.  You’ll get an up-close view of our top-rated academic facilities, dining options, a suite-style residence hall, student support offices, recreation and other points of pride. In addition, you will hear from current USF students about what life is really like at our dynamic university!  

Before scheduling a visit, please keep the following in mind:

• Dates: Tour space is limited to provide our guests with a positive experience. Please have a few dates in mind before making your reservation in case your first choice is not available.
• Academic calendar :  To get the best feel for USF, check our academic calendar and visit when there are students on our Tampa campus attending classes.
• International students : Contact  [email protected]  to add a meeting with an International Admissions Advisor to your campus tour. 
• Weather : The Tampa campus is located in a subtropical climate and tours are held outdoors. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and temperature-appropriate clothing. And don't forget to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated! It can get hot in Tampa, especially on a walking tour of campus.

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Self-Guided Campus Tours

Mobile and Desktop Tours

Our self-guided tour is a great way to explore USF's Tampa campus at your own pace.   Follow the steps below to get started!

Mobile Instructions

• Follow the link below and select “iOS” or “Android” to install the self-guided tour app on your phone.
• Once installed, open the app, search for “University of South Florida” and select “Get Started.”
• Enter your information, then select the premade “USF Tampa Campus General Tour.”
• Start exploring! 

Access Mobile Tour

Desktop Instructions

Follow the link below and select “Desktop” to access the desktop version of the self-guided tour. Start exploring! 

Access Desktop Tour

Points of Interest Map

You can also navigate through campus with our Points of Interest Visitor Map! Download the map below and get started. 

Note: access to all buildings is not guaranteed, and guests will need to purchase a parking permit from USF parking services.

Group Tours (10+ Students)

Come join us for a group visit of the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus! These visits are comprised of groups of 10+ high school or transfer-level students. If your group is comprised of other types of students, we invite you to join us for a self-guided tour. Find our Points of Interest map linked above.   During your group tour, you’ll explore our academic facilities, a suite-style residence hall, dining options, student support offices, recreation and other important campus stops. Tours include an information session where you and your group will learn about admissions requirements, financial aid, scholarships, campus life, dining and more.

Scheduling Your Group Tour

Due to the large volume of requests we receive for group tours, our guided tours are limited to high school and transfer-level students. We offer guided group tours on weekdays and dates and times are subject to availability.   If your group is comprised of high school or prospective transfer students, please follow the directions below to set up your visit:

• Submit your request at least 30 days prior to the requested visit date.
• Please include your requested date(s) and time(s) in order of preference in the “Date Preferences” field.
• After receiving your request, a representative from our office will contact you. Submitting a request does not guarantee a scheduled visit.
• Should you wish to eat on campus with your group, we recommend our all-you-care-to-eat dining hall. For information on hours and pricing, please visit Dining Services .

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Virtual Tours

Explore USF’s Tampa campus online – from anywhere! Led by student guides, our virtual tour offers 360-degree panoramic views of our beautiful 1900-acre campus as real USF students tell you about their favorite stops.   Picture yourself in our state-of-the-art classrooms. Discover our modern residence halls. Imagine yourself lying under the Florida sun at Castor Beach – in February!

Disability Accommodations

Disability accommodations can be requested when you register for a campus visit or by contacting the tour staff at 813-974-7878 (Florida Relay Service TTY: 800-955-8771) or [email protected] at least two weeks in advance for mobility assistance, visual impairment assistance or American Sign Language interpreting.    USF is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Institution and therefore complies fully with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and all other federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability or handicap.

Directions to Campus

Address: University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL 33620, USA   From the East:

• Take I-4 West to Exit 9 / I-75 North
• Travel North on I-75 for 3.8 miles to Exit 265 / Fowler Avenue
• Head West on Fowler Avenue 4.4 miles to the University's main entrance at Leroy Collins Boulevard

From the West/Tampa International Airport:

• Take I-275 North to Exit 45B / I-4 East
• Travel East on I-4 for 8.1 miles to Exit 9 / I-75 North

Parking on Campus

Just past the entrance to USF on Leroy Collins Boulevard, turn right into the Campus Information Center (CIC) . Pull up to an available drive-through window and inform the staff that you are here for a campus visit with the Office of Admissions. They will provide you with a parking pass and campus map. If you are visiting on a Saturday, the CIC will be closed, and a permit will not be necessary.   After obtaining the parking pass, turn right onto Leroy Collins Boulevard and proceed to the Collins Boulevard Parking Garage (located at the end of Leroy Collins Boulevard, just past the Library). Your parking pass allows you to park on level 3 and above. Before exiting your vehicle, be sure your parking pass is visible.   From the garage, it's just a short walk to the Interdisciplinary Sciences Building (ISA). Check-in begins one hour prior to the visit on the 7th floor.   Note: Please arrive at least 15-30 minutes prior to your scheduled visit to ensure adequate time for parking and check-in. 

Hotels and Accommodations

If you're visiting from out of town, there are a number of convenient hotels located near our Tampa campus. This is not a comprehensive list, so visitors are encouraged to search for other hotels near the campus they are visiting.   Many of the hotels listed offer a special USF rate. If you choose one of these hotels, state that you are visiting the University of South Florida to access the special rate. Some also offer free shuttle service to the campus.

Embassy Suites Tampa 3705 Spectrum Boulevard Tampa, FL (813) 977-7066   Fairfield Inn & Suites Tampa North 12260 Morris Bridge Road Temple Terrace, FL (813) 989-0007   Holiday Inn Express 13294 Telecom Drive Tampa, FL (813) 972-9800   

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa - USF Busch Gardens 2807 E. Busch Boulevard Tampa, FL (813) 936-8200   Holiday Inn Tampa North 3751 E Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL (813) 402-2982   Home2 Suites by Hilton Tampa USF 11606 McKinley Drive Tampa, FL (813) 750-8844   Hyatt Place Tampa/Busch Gardens 11408 North 30th Street Tampa, FL (813) 979-1922   La Quinta Inn & Suites USF 3701 East Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL (813) 910-7500   Residence Inn Tampa at USF/Medical Center 13420 N. Telecom Parkway Tampa, FL (813) 972-4400    TownePlace Suites Tampa North/I-75 Fletcher 6800 Woodstork Drive Tampa, FL (813) 975-9777   SpringHill Suites Tampa North I-75/Tampa Palms 5396 Primrose Lake Circle Tampa, FL  (813) 558-0300  

Explore Tampa (and Beyond)

One of the best parts of attending USF is the location. Our sprawling Tampa campus is packed with all the student amenities and resources of a large university, and it’s conveniently located a short drive from downtown, historic Ybor City, theme parks and more. USF offers something for everyone, from beach lovers to sports fans to art aficionados.    Plus, USF students have access to the rich professional resources afforded by the bustling metropolitan area. This includes a strong economy anchored by major companies. Our business community relationships offer students valuable internship and practicum experiences that prepare them for rewarding careers when they graduate.   Check out the Visit Tampa Bay website or download our Gulf Coast Visitor Guide to make the most of your trip and explore everything the Tampa Bay area has to offer, from sports to arts to nature. 

Download Guide

Contact the Campus Visitation Office

Have questions about life at USF or want to learn about visiting the USF Tampa campus? Contact our team! Email: [email protected] Phone: 813-974-7878

Florida pre-med student stabs mother more than 70 times, killing her during visit, authorities say

A Florida pre-med university student killed his mother by stabbing her over 70 times without saying a word when he visited her from college over the weekend, authorities said.

After Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, killed his mother on Saturday, he perplexedly told detectives that he loved her and that they had a good relationship — but that he had wanted to kill her for years because she irritated him, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Espinoza has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza, the sheriff's office said.

The student at the University of Florida in Gainesville had traveled to Frostproof, Florida, for a family event Saturday and was going to stay with his mother, Judd said .

He arrived at her home around 2 p.m., knocked on the front door, and seemingly without provocation stabbed her "many times" after she opened the door, Judd said.

On Sunday, Judd shared doorbell camera video from Elvia's home that showed Emmanuel approach with a small knife in his right hand, hidden behind his back, and knock on the door. Judd said that Emmanuel had put AirPods in his ears and was playing Kanye West and Jay-Z's song “No Church in the Wild” when he drove up to the house and knocked on the front door. 

“His beautiful mother, who was so excited to see her son, opened the door. The second she opened the door, he charged in and started stabbing her,” Judd said.

The mother ran from him, but "he stabbed her until she fell down and died."

Judd said Emmanuel confessed to stabbing his mother repeatedly, even when he noticed her hands were still moving. He told detectives that he knew where to stab her for maximum effect because of his biology classes. 

Emmanuel told detectives that he had cut his hand in the stabbing. When he went to the kitchen sink to wash himself and the knife off, "he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin for the cut on his hand, but he noticed she was dead," Judd said.

Emmanuel immediately dialed 911 and confessed to operators. 

Audio of the dispatch call was played for reporters Sunday.

“I killed someone,” Emmanuel is heard telling dispatch. “I stabbed my mom.”

When Emmanuel spoke with detectives, he told them he loved his mother and had a good relationship with her but that she irritated him.

“We talked to him and he confessed. He said, 'You know, I have wanted to kill my mother for many, many years because she got on my nerves,'" Judd said.

When asked, "What’s your relationship with your mother?" Espinoza replied: "About a eight out of 10."

"He really loved her, but she irritated him and he made up his mind today on his way from Gainesville that he would murder her, and that’s exactly what he did," Judd said Saturday.

The sheriff said Emmanuel told detectives he wasn't on drugs or alcohol at the time of the stabbing — nor did he have any history of such abuse or mental health issues, no arrest record and there was no record of calls under the Baker Act (which focuses on crisis services for individuals with mental illness) to the home.

Emmanuel was known to be introverted and quiet, with zero issues, Judd told reporters. He was the Class of 2020 valedictorian at his high school and was "described as being a genius."

"[Elvia] wanted to come see him because she hadn’t seen him in a while. They text every day, every other day, they stay in constant contact. No issues over money. She would send him money to make sure she appropriately funded his ability to go to college and enjoy his college life. No argument that day. He never said a word to her," Judd said.

Elvia Espinoza was a mother of three and beloved second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary in Frostproof, and was "well-loved" by the community, the sheriff's office said, calling the incident "an inexplicable vicious murder."

“I want you to understand this lady who was a school teacher for 20 years actually moved around and taught at different schools while her kids were in school so she could be close to them,” Judd said. “I want you to understand that she was the perfect mom. I want you to understand that she was very proud of his accomplishments.”

“Then I want you to understand that he viciously murdered her and confessed to it,” he added.

Polk County Public Schools said in a statement: “Her students and colleagues greatly loved her, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family.”

Grief counselors have been made available at her school and another school where she previously worked. 

Breaking News Reporter

• Life & Culture

Taylor Swift is now a class at a Florida university. What will students learn?

• Howard Cohen Miami Herald (TNS)

A University of Miami dean’s own homework assignment last year — learn all you can about Taylor Swift’s songs as fast as you can — has led to one of the coming fall semester’s hottest classes on the Coral Gables campus.

Students were more than ready for it. The UM’s “Mastermind Taylor Swift Brand” strategic communication class filled up at a pace almost as fast as tickets sold out last August for the superstar’s three South Florida concerts in October 2024. Those shows open the second U.S. leg of Swift’s Eras Tour at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium.

When registration opened earlier this month at UM for the 150-capacity class that’s open to all majors and begins Aug. 20, all seats filled within four days. The school raised the cap to 175. There is now a waiting list for STC 290. UM may add more seats for the Tuesday-Thursday 75-minute class.

How a UM Swift class was born

For Alyse Lancaster, UM’s vice dean for academic affairs in the School of Communication, that “Mastermind Taylor Swift Brand” class she formulated and will teach is a family affair.

The class is happening because her daughter Gabi planted the idea. And her son Sydney, a sophomore at the University of Florida majoring in interior design, designed the class’s promotional poster that UM students have seen around campus since March.

“Taylor Swift has been a staple in my house since my now-17-year-old daughter was 4 years old,” Lancaster told the Miami Herald in an email interview. “But it wasn’t until we were able to purchase pre-sale tickets for the Eras Tour concert that things changed on my end. My daughter told me that I needed to learn all of the songs on the Eras Tour set list, plus most of Taylor’s other songs — ‘because you never know what the two surprise songs she will perform at the concert’ and I need to be ready.”

Gabi made her mom a playlist. Lancaster listened intently.

Don’t blame me, love made me crazy/If it doesn’t, you ain’t doin’ it right blasting on Lancaster’s exercise walks.

And you call me up again just to break me like a promise/So casually cruel in the name of being honest, Taylor’s dig at ex-beau Jake Gyllenhaal, coming from Lancaster’s car stereo on those drives to and from campus in Miami’s infernal traffic jams.

All this cramming of Swift’s music gave the educator plenty of contemplative and creative time.

“Then she and I went to see the Eras Tour movie and while watching this incredible woman perform for 3.5 hours straight, through nine eras of her music, interacting with her over-the-moon-excited, completely engaged audience, I finally understood what the big deal is,” Lancaster said.

On one of those walks, the idea for the class hit Lancaster like an immediate, enchanted revelation, much like words and music come to Swift. She knew she had to teach a communication strategy class at UM built around Swift’s brand.

Swift in academia from UF to Harvard

Other places of higher education have designed courses around the pop star.

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Last fall, the University of Miami’s School of Law had an adjunct professor teach a seven-week intensive class called “Intellectual Property Law Through the Lens of Taylor Swift.”

The University of Florida’s one-credit discussion-based spring 2024 class, “ Musical Storytelling With Taylor Swift and Other Iconic Female Artists,” filled its 15 spots in 10 seconds when early registration opened last fall, the campus newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator reported.

In the last year, Stanford University has offered “All Too Well (Ten Week Version),” a course analyzing Swift’s 10-minute masterpiece, “All Too Well” and “The Last Great American Songwriter: Storytelling With Taylor Swift Through the Eras.”

Harvard’s Department of English opened its “ Taylor Swift and Her World ” course this spring, promising to cover “illicit affairs and hoaxes” and “champagne problems and incomplete closure.”

Berklee College of Music in Boston offers a “Songs of Taylor Swift” class with a focus on the performer’s music composition and lyrics, The Boston Globe reported.

In addition to Lancaster’s coming UM class, Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, Houston’s Rice University, the University of Delaware and the University of California, Berkeley all plan Swift-inspired courses in 2024, according to Best Colleges.

“I typically teach courses in advertising strategy development and social media strategies,” Lancaster said. “These classes focus on brand-building, identifying and communicating with the desired target audience, building brand loyalty, and using social media to build a long-lasting relationship between the brand and its loyal audience. And it occurred to me that Taylor Swift has successfully built a billion-dollar brand with a multicultural, multi-generational, global audience of millions of loyal fans.

“So why not use Taylor Swift’s success and business prowess as the foundation for teaching students about brand-building, audience-building, and the importance of communication in achieving those relationships? And just like that, the class was born,” Lancaster said.

What students will learn

Students who managed to secure a seat for UM’s STC 290 in the fall will learn about the marketing and communication strategies Swift has used to build her billion-dollar brand via “the most diverse and loyal group of fans many of us have ever seen,” Lancaster said.

Take Emma Craig, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering at UM. “It’s going to be a ‘Cruel Summer’ waiting until fall for the new Taylor Swift class coming to UM,” the student told The Miami Hurricane campus paper in anticipation of registration for the course.

“For “Mastermind,” the class title borrowed from one of Swift’s “Midnights” tracks, Lancaster’s lectures aim to teach students how to use promotional, persuasive and strategic communication to build a connection with a target audience, and how to get that audience invested in the brand, Lancaster said as she builds her syllabus. School of Communication issues like freedom of expression, the right to privacy for public figures, and the legal limits of using artificial intelligence to alter images are also on the course agenda.

“These are skills students can use not only in the industry, but also in building their own personal brands after graduation,” Lancaster said.

Swift’s own education path

For Swift, 34, that brand-building began inside a classroom in Hendersonville, Tennessee, when she was a high school freshman in a math class, she told the Miami Herald in an interview published in January 2008, just a month after she turned 18.

While her peers listened to the teacher lecture about algebra a few years earlier, Swift said she scribbled the lyrics to her first two hits, “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar,” in her notebook and sneaked out of class to record voice memos into her telephone.

At 17, signed to her first label, Swift already directed nearly every aspect of her career, from the images on her album covers and press photos, to the songs’ sequencing on her albums. Swift said nothing was released to the marketplace that she hadn’t approved.

“When teachers conducted random notebook checks, they’d be freaked out — but they learned to deal with me,” Swift mused in that long-ago interview.

Knowledge retention

Taylor Swift, Lancaster says, is “in essence, a phenomenon who truly understands many of the important constructs we cover in higher education, including persuasive communication, branding, storytelling, intellectual property, and the power of music.”

One reason universities like UM and UF have taken to teaching Swift, aside from the Eras-like sellout registrations for classes, is they give professors an opportunity to teach concepts that students may actually remember after graduation.

“If students can connect the information they learn to something that’s of great interest to them, they will not only remember that information, but they will be reminded of it whenever the topic of interest comes up. Using Taylor Swift as the impetus for teaching important concepts increases attention, learning, and retention. And plus, it makes learning fun,” Lancaster said.

“I’ve never been more excited to teach a class than I am to teach this one!”

Miami Herald staff writer Howard Cohen teaches a digital writing class at the University of Miami and uses examples from Taylor Swift’s songwriting in lectures.

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Pre-med student stabbed mother on visit home from college, charged with murder, sheriff says

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FROSTPROOF, Fla. (AP) — A University of Florida pre-med student who is charged with murder in the weekend stabbing death of his mother at her home had no history of mental illness or substance abuse, a sheriff said Monday.

Emmanuel “Manny” Espinoza stabbed his mother, Elvia, more than 70 times on Saturday after she opened the door of her home in central Florida to welcome him for a visit from college, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference.

Espinoza, 21, was charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering. He was being held Monday in the Polk County Jail.

Judd said Espinoza stabbed his mother in the chest and stomach as places he knew from his medical schooling that would be most effective. Espinoza then called 911 and confessed to killing his mother, a longtime elementary-school teacher in Polk County between Tampa and Orlando, the sheriff said.

“It is one of the most bizarre murders that we have dealt with in a very long time,” Judd said, adding Espinoza was listening to the Jay-Z and Kanye West song, “No Church in the Wild,” on his ear buds during the stabbing.

Espinoza, the youngest of Elvia Espinoza’s three children, told detectives he had been thinking about killing his mother for a “long time” and finally got up the courage to do it on the drive from the university in Gainesville in north Florida to the home in Frostproof, according to an arrest affidvait.

When asked why he did it, Espinoza told detectives that his mother had annoyed him since childhood but he loved her, it said.

Judd also said in noting Espinoza had no history of mental illness or substance abuse that he had been a high school valedictorian who others described as being “remarkably brilliant.”

Online court records on Monday showed Espinoza had declined the services of a public defender but there was no indication that he had hired an attorney to represent him. Another document showed that he was exercising his right not to be interviewed by investigators about the charges he is facing.

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Home / News / FSU Global / Provost Jim Clark embraces global education during recent visit to FSU’s London Study Centre

Provost Jim Clark embraces global education during recent visit to FSU’s London Study Centre

Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark visited the FSU London Study Centre earlier this semester to see the facilities and meet with students, faculty and staff.

Engagement with FSU’s study centers abroad is a priority to Clark, who also delivered the commencement address at FSU’s branch campus in the Republic of Panama last fall.

“FSU’s study centers in London, Florence and Valencia, as well as the branch campus in the Republic of Panama, provide students with amazing opportunities to live and study in bustling and culturally rich cities,” Clark said. “They also give faculty the chance to teach abroad and immerse themselves in foreign cultures. It was great to see the FSU London Study Centre firsthand after hearing about so many life-changing experiences there.”

FSU’s first study abroad program in London took place in 1971, but students didn’t stay at the London Study Centre until after it was purchased in 1992. Located in the heart of the historic Bloomsbury district, the FSU London Study Centre is within walking distance of many historic and cultural sites, such as the National Gallery and Buckingham Palace. Programs are offered year-round including the unique First Year Abroad program and the Theatre Academy London program .

Clark visited several of the iconic locations near the FSU London Study Centre, including the British Museum, Covent Garden, a shopping and entertainment hub with an elegant piazza, and the Freud Museum.

“Studying at the FSU London Study Centre really allows students to use the city as their textbook,” he said. “It’s a remarkable location with such rich resources to complement the classroom experience.”

Clark also met with London-based instructors and observed some of the most popular courses offered at the Study Centre, including Sexual Health in the Modern World with Instructor Agata Pacho; Peoples of the Roman World with Louise Schofield, an archaeologist and former curator at the British Museum; and Introduction to International Affairs with Associate Lecturer Gergana Dimova.

The visit concluded with an evening reception at the FSU London Study Centre with students, faculty and staff, and FSU alumni currently living in London. Provost Clark recognizes the importance of interacting with faculty, staff and students at FSU’s study centers and branch campuses, as well as alumni who live abroad.

Jim Pitts, the longtime director of International Programs who’s retiring this summer, was honored during the reception with a framed print and a replica blue plaque of the London Study Centre. A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker.

It was an emotional moment for all attending, as Pitts has served as director of International Programs for almost thirty years. Early in his career, he was instrumental in purchasing and renovating the current Study Centre building complex, which has allowed the London program to evolve to meet the needs of generations of FSU students.

“Seeing you all here, hearing you share your testimonies, seeing this room and knowing how it’s been used over the last thirty years, gives me great pleasure in knowing this is the greatest return on investment I’ve ever made,” said lifelong economist Jim Pitts. “It’s been an amazing journey and I’m really looking forward to Provost Clark’s vision in building on the foundation that the London staff has built here.”

Provost Jim Clark was then presented with a framed print of the ceiling painting in the Study Centre’s main building, titled “Bacchus & Ariadne.” It was painted in approximately 1700 by a French Huguenot, Louis Chéron, and is one of the only of its kind surviving in a London townhouse today.

Having this piece of artwork gives the FSU London Study Centre Grade II listed status by English Heritage, a level of recognition reserved for particularly important buildings. The painting depicts the love story of the two mythical figures but is a political nod to the change in monarchy from King James II to King William and Queen Mary in 1689. It symbolizes new beginnings, which seems fitting for the mission of International Programs and the Provost’s vision for the future.

“This is an extraordinary place, you’re all amazing people, you’re risk takers, you push the limits, build new things and imagine your way into wonderful lives, and that’s what FSU is about,” Clark said. “I join everyone in thanking Jim for his vision, we are so lucky to have him as a leader and administrator. At his heart he’s about ROIs in lives, and just look around at what he’s produced for us all and the university.”

To learn more about the FSU London Study Centre, visit international.fsu.edu .

Animal rescue icon Lee Asher, of Asher House, returns to Florida. See locations of his tour

The appearances are of lee asher's "unlock your super power" tour. his talks will take place right after the memorial day weekend..

Animal rescue icon Lee Asher will return to Florida in May for three speaking engagements.

Asher, who was born in New York but raised in South Florida, will speak in Jacksonville, Orlando and Clearwater. The appearances are of Asher's "Unlock your super power" tour. Asher's talks will take place right after the Memorial Day weekend.

"Through compelling stories of overcoming adversity, heartfelt anecdotes about embracing the growth that comes out of tragedy, and a wealth of knowledge about the world of animal rescue , Lee captivates audiences and encourages them to join the movement to be their best self," read a description of the tour on the Asher House Facebook page.

Asher spoke in Boca Raton at Lynn University in November.

Profile story on Lee Asher: How animal rescue star lives his best pack life, and why he eyes Florida sanctuary

Where will Lee Asher be speaking in Florida in May?

The three events are:

• Wednesday, May 29, at 8 p.m.: Florida Theater at 128 E. Forsyth St., Jacksonville. Ticket prices range from $36 to $101.
• Thursday, May 30 at 8 p.m.: Hard Rock Live Orlando at 650 Universal Blvd. at CityWalk. Tickets range from $42 to $186.
• Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m.: Ruth Eckerd Hall at 1111 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Tickets are $49 and $69.

Want to adopt a shelter do? Animal rescue icon Lee Asher offers advice, tips for prospective owners

Who is Lee Asher of 'My Pack Life' and what is The Asher House?

Asher, 35, starred in a 2022 reality TV series called "My Pack Life."

Today, Asher cares for an estimated 200 dogs, cats, horses, llamas and other animals at three privately run Asher House sanctuaries in Oregon.

He shares the stories of the animals he rescues in emotion-packed videos accessed by 6.3 million people on Facebook and 1.6 million followers each on Instagram and TikTok plus 593,000 subscribers on YouTube.

A Florida sanctuary? Animal rescue icon Lee Asher plans to expand his sanctuary concept across the U.S.

How did Lee Asher get into the animal rescue business?

Asher struggled with severe attention deficit disorder as a youth growing up in South Florida.

During a recent appearance at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Asher spoke of desperation "to fit in" and feeling "very different" from his peers whom he watched succeed and thrive. The struggles worsened, and after a serious bullying incident, Asher was forced to change schools.

At about the age of 12, he said, he began visiting a Broward County animal shelter where he found consolation, and kinship, with the dogs and cats in the kennels.

"When I was able to be with the dogs, and they would go from being scared in a corner to tail-wagging and me petting them through the kennel and I could see them happy; seeing them happy just completely took all my pain away," Asher recalled.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at  The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at  [email protected] .  Help support our journalism. Subscribe today .