Sincerely, South

Have you been wondering about online AI assistants and applications? Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is impacting the educational landscape? In this third episode of their series highlighting aspects of AI, Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson are joined by Sage, a Google Gemini AI Assistant. Sage discusses her perspective on AI in education and industry as well as her self-perception and awareness of public attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Tune in as the three discuss evolving perceptions of AI, useful tips for preservice teachers who want to utilize an AI assistant for planning and resource acquisition, ethical considerations of AI use, future outlook for AI for personal use, and more.

In this second of a multi-episode series exploring the latest in how AI impacts our educational landscape, hosts Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson chat with Timothy Johnson. As a regional director for Alabama Technology in Motion, Johnson visits schools and classrooms to help educators navigate the new opportunities that have arisen as a result of AI technologies.  Tune in as the three discuss how AI can be demystified for K-12 students and how the state is supporting adopters of new technologies as they guide students to be discerning implementers to enhance their learning. 

Dr. Angela Rand, Director of the Marx Library and College of Education and Professional Studies liaison discusses AI with hosts Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson. In this first of a three part series about artificial intelligence, Dr. Rand discusses concerns and conversations about over use of AI and the positive aspects and implications for its use in higher education. In our first video enhanced Sincerely, South podcast, she shares a model for demystifying and discernment in approaching AI.

The Robert Noyce program supports talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate majors and professionals to become effective K-12 STEM teachers. It also supports experienced, exemplary K-12 STEM teachers to become teacher leaders who continue as classroom teachers in high-need school districts.  Each year the Southeast Regional Noyce Conference hosts recipients of the funding to network and to learn about new and innovative STEM teaching practices. In this special edition of Sincerely, South, Dr. Joe Gaston talks with Noyce scholars, teachers, and program personnel from throughout the southeast region. Tune in as they share their stories of growth and as they recount how the Noyce program has made a difference in their lives and in the lives of their students. Hear from first-generation college students, seasoned STEM professionals, and teacher leaders about their experiences with NSF Noyce.If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a STEM teacher through the NSF program contact Dr. Susan Ferguson (ferguson@southalabama.edu) or Dr. Katie Guffey-McCorrision (skguffey@southalabama.edu).

In this special grad edition of Sincerely, South hosted by Dr. Tres Stefurak, Dr. Jim Van Haneghan discusses the history of the Instructional Design doctoral program at South as well as the core of the program that attracts students from all disciplines. Mentorship throughout the program is highlighted as one of the components that drives success from the beginning, through dissertation, and beyond. They are joined in the studio by four recent graduates who share their motivations for studying Instructional Design as well as their experiences throughout the program. Get inspired by Dr. Julie Schwindt (former Accountant & CPA), Dr. Shelly Bates (former recreational therapist), Dr. Stephanie McGilvary (former physician assistant), and Dr. Shelly Mayo (former medical records supervisor) as they discuss their educational backgrounds and what led them to pursue their Instructional Design doctorate.

Dr. Jeremiah Newell has been part of Accel Day and Evening Academy Charter School in Mobile, AL since its start and now serves as CEO of the Mobile Area Education Foundation. In this episode ofSincerely, Southhe illuminates the need for alternative education and alternative paths to help students recognize their educational goals, including flexible scheduling to help students earn their high school diplomas. Join Drs. Joe Gaston and Susan Ferguson as they discuss with Dr. Newell how state and local partnerships and support have been instrumental in offering educational and career-ready options to create agency for more students from middle grades through graduation and how that is now expanding to lower grades as well.

How do faculty and advisors influence the way students feel a sense of belonging in higher education? Science Education Advisor Dr. Katie McCorrison co-hosts with Dr. Joe Gaston in a special alumni highlight episode. Alternative school teacher Sophia Houston discusses how engaging, hands-on experiences such as onsite field trips offer new perspectives for students with limited experiences. Informed by her research with university faculty, Dr. Henning and Dr. Tran into disparities between an individual and their organizational norms, Houston has developed meaningfully tangible experiences for marginalized students in secondary science classrooms. She also discusses how this "cultural mismatch" can hinder first generation college students as they navigate applying for admission and financial aid as well intersecting with STEM disciplines and student organizations. In exposing student perceptions of barriers to access advisors and resources as well as condescending attitudes by faculty, Houston is getting the word out about how to become agents of change in better assisting and promoting marginalized college students.

"Peer Helpers Plus" equips people with tools to healthily treat and support each other and to destigmatize the term "mental health". Join host Dr. Joe Gaston with guest host Dr. Tres Stefurak as they talk with the founder of Thrive Way LLC and Executive Director of the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, Allison Moore. Tune in as Moore discusses basic level coping skills and character curriculum for all students across needs levels and through real-life situations that can impact any student. Learn the benefits of peer mentoring in equipping people to deal with signs of distress among those with whom they interact and the curriculum available to districts to train members of leadership, program coordinators, parents, and key stakeholders. Moore also shares her experiences as a non-traditional doctoral student in the graduate Instructional Design Program at South as well as her upcoming guide to fundraising through planning and hosting rodeos. You can contact Allison Moore at: Allison@jennifermoorefoundation.com or allison@thriveway.com.

Dr. Kathy Thompson shares the inspirational story of her career as a black, female educator in STEM education as she celebrates mentors, taking chances, and high-bar goal setting. Tune in with hosts Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson as they learn how productively run local and state grant projects can attract invitations to attain and administer federally run grant-funded programs.

Join Dr. Tres Stefurak as he hosts the first Grad Edition of Sincerely, South, a series that highlights graduates of the College of Education and Professional Studies. He is joined in the studio by USA graduate Jason Williams as they discuss inspiration to teach as influenced by early experiences working with students with special needs, as well as the need for male influence in the elementary classroom. Tune in to get inspired as they discuss the motivation to teach and the desire to fill a need in the community.

Dr. Joe Gaston is joined in the studio by Physical Education faculty, Dr. Craig Parks and Dr. Shelly Holden. Dr. Parks discusses his internal grant funded research exploring student attrition from undergraduate physical education programs, as a microcosm of the trend in declining undergraduate enrollment and program completion. Dr. Holden talks about lessons learned from the EdTPA portfolio evaluation and the effort to make the process and outcome more indicative of actual preservice teacher competencies and abilities.

This is the second in a two part episode where we hear directly from high school students in teacher preparation academies about what motivates them to pursue teaching as a career. Drs. Joe Gaston and Susan Ferguson continue the conversation with guest Dr. Allan Allday as they listen to interviews with high school juniors and seniors who visited the podcast studio as part of a campus preview initiative facilitated through faculty in the college. Themes in this episode include how the teacher prep academy facilitates experiences for future teachers as well as how many hope to be role models for future generations of students.

In this episode we hear directly from high school students in teacher preparation academies about what motivates them to pursue teaching as a career. Drs. Joe Gaston and Susan Ferguson welcome back to the show chair of the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education, Dr. Allan Allday, as they listen to interviews with high school juniors and seniors who visited the podcast studio as part of a campus preview initiative facilitated through faculty in the college. Themes in this episode include inspiration to become engaging educators, as students recount teachers who made life-changing impact in their lives, as well as wanting to be an encouragement to students in light of negative situations they faced.

Tune in as Dr. Angelia Bendolph shares her journey as a first generation college graduate who has made her mission serving students in P-12 through higher education and effecting change in government, engineering, and industrial arenas through human-centered/learner-centered design and solutions. From her early career as an engineer to her doctoral journey in Instructional Design, Dr. Bendolph's message that community and mentorship matter in the success of underrepresented populations in STEM professions, is one that will encourage and inspire.

The HEART Project (Health, Empowerment, and Recovery from Trauma) is a college campus based initiative for supporting victims of sexual assault through counseling and medical care. SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program advocates serve as liaisons between victims and Title IX and law enforcement, as well as helping them navigate their emotions and rights post-assault. Dr. Candice Selwyn discuses how, through a grant, her team has been able to develop and extend the services provided through a partnership with medical, law enforcement, and counseling personnel to better attend to the needs of campus sexual assault victims. As one of only eight grantees in the county, Dr. Selwyn and her intern, Tristen Grantham, and SANE coordinator, Kat Loveless, share how this project may become a model for medical forensic care for other campuses. The team also emphasizes that free sexual assault care is available at both the student health center on campus and the freestanding ER adjacent to campus on Hillcrest. The Heart Project is supported by a federal grant designated 2020-V3-GX-0164, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. More information about the HEART project can be found at: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/studenthealth/heartproject/

Hosts Drs. Joe Gaston and Susan Ferguson discuss the array of experiences that have guided Dr. Allan Allday along his journey of supporting children, family, and educators through behavioral interventions and perspective-keeping, both in the United States and abroad. Tune in as Dr. Allday optimistically talks about the role hope plays in the lives of families and children who have a variety of needs and behavior problems and who often lack support and encouragement from the education community. He also offers advice and considerations for educators who work with students with a variety of behavioral needs, as well as how teacher reactions to severe behavior issues play a role in both short term and long term student outcomes, with emphasis on the importance of relationship building and of viewing the child as a person rather than a problem. From his role as Department Chair in the College of Education and Professional Studies, Dr. Allday offers insight to the importance higher education faculty play in active community engagement.

What inspires people to be change careers and become K-12 teachers in STEM? Ramsey Willis, a local high school mathematics teacher and adjunct faculty member at the University of South Alabama, joins the hosts of 'Sincerely, South' to discuss the National Science Foundation Noyce Pathway to Mathematics II grant. As a recipient of an NSF Noyce Grant, Willis is one of more than 100 local educators who have launched their careers with the help of funding for graduate degrees in STEM education awarded to undergraduate STEM majors. Tune in to learn about his inspiring journey from the business world to the head of the classroom! Host Dr. Joe Gaston is a Co-PI on the grant and coordinator of the technology connection for middle and high school educators. Co-Host Dr. Susan Ferguson is PI on the current grant and discusses how Noyce grants have had a positive impact on local and regional STEM education and how the recently funded grant incorporates rich experiences in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the STEM classroom. They are also joined by grant Co-PI and College of Education and Professional Studies Associate Dean Dr. Tres Stefurak, who is focused on teacher mental wellbeing. Listen to the inspirational story that led Mr. Willis to education and learn how those interested in a career in STEM education can have their graduate degree funded through NSF Noyce at the University of South Alabama.

“Sincerely, South” meets STEM education in episode 16! Join host Dr. Joe Gaston as he meets with the University of South Alabama Noyce STREAM (Science Teacher, Research, Education and Methods) team about their newly-funded National Science Foundation grant that puts undergraduate science majors into middle and high school classrooms across the region. As a Noyce scholar, students receive a $40,000 scholarship, which includes funding for their graduate education and additional expenses.  Learn how this four-semester program involves local school systems through mentorship, which in return has played a role in retaining teachers and promotes integrated science and math education in engaging ways that reach underserved and marginalized student populations. Hear from Dr. Katie McCorrison as she talks about the evolution of the University's Noyce programs and how scholars now have the opportunity to participate in research through partnerships with graduate science and education faculty and local secondary teachers. Learn how Dr. David Forbes has reimagined advanced science coursework at the graduate level to enhance the experience of preservice teachers as they prepare to apply their content knowledge in their own classrooms in local schools. Meet Noyce graduate Pamela McPherson, now a tenured teacher at Baker High School in Mobile, as she discusses the program and its benefits to science majors who want to make an impact on our future leaders. For more information about the STREAM program or to participate in the fall pre-residency program for spring admission, visit SouthAlabama.edu/NoyceSTREAM or contact Dr. McCorrison at skguffey@southalabama.edu

Join Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Caitlyn Hauff as they discuss student athlete mental wellness with Clinical and Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student Kellen Hill. Informed by his own experience in athletics, Hill has been instrumental in providing mental wellness support for college athletes. Hear how the CHAMPS (Champions of Healthy Athletes for Mental Performance Strategies) initiative is removing the stigma associated with mental wellness through self care and mental health check-ins as part of their regular care programs.

Dr. John Hoyle is the president of the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, the state's only fully public and residential high school for sophomores, juniors and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science, computer science and the humanities. Tuition, room, and board are free. Hoyle says ASMS provides a "turbocharged STEM pipeline for the state." ASMS offers college-level academic and research experiences and values student leadership and leadership development. The school recently started the Jo Bonner Leadership Academy in honor of University of South Alabama President Jo Bonner, who previously served as school board chairman at ASMS. Hoyle earned a Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Development from the USA College of Education and Professional Studies in 2018. His work at ASMS currently focuses on preparing for the school's 30 year anniversary, the construction and funding of the E.O. Wilson Science Research Center, and recruiting new students, who may ultimately find jobs in the state's booming STEM industries. 

Meet Livie Puranen, a current student pursuing a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy at the University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies. Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. Puranen's academic journey began with interest in occupational therapy, but later gravitated to the fun and creative aspects of recreational therapy. Susan Montgomery, an instructor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sport, also joins Puranen in this episode. Puranen completed an an independent study at the Mulherin Home, a residential facility for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. Fresh from working as a makeup artist on a locally produced horror film, Livie took her love for filmmaking into her work with Mulherin Home residents and committed to working with residents to compose, film and screen their own movie. The use of film and video in recreational therapy is not a well-developed practice, but this did not deter Puranen. She began with screening and discussing the art of filmmaking with her residents and moved into working with residents to brainstorm, script and film their own movie. This project helped Puranen learn how to refine her skills to develop recreational therapy programs and better understand the research literature in her field. Puranen is interested in pursuing graduate education in recreational therapy and hopes to further explore the integration of film and video into recreational therapy practice. To watch a recording of "Murder At Mulherin Mansion" visit https://youtu.be/dG61A1YtaWQ.

Dr. Shenghua Zha, an assistant professor of instructional design and development at the University of South Alabama, discusses her National Science Foundation grant "Preparing Elementary Pre-service Teachers to Integrate Computing across the Curriculum." This project is a collaboration between Zha and colleagues from the College of Engineering and College of Education and Professional Studies. The assumptions driving this grant are that computing is an interdisciplinary skill that is often not taught in an interdisciplinary manner, and one that is now significantly supported by state curriculum mandates. These project leaders are working together to deliver and evaluate training for early career teachers to integrate principles of computing into the teaching of English language arts, social studies, mathematics and science. This is accomplished through the use of developmentally appropriate interfaces that expose young learners to principles of computing from basic concepts to coding practices. The larger goal of the grant is to encourage teachers to continue integrating computing into their instruction across the elementary curriculum as they move into their careers.

Deric Scott is a teacher, head football coach and athletic director at Foley High School. During this episode, Scott joins Dr. Benterah Morton, who served as Scott's faculty mentor during his time in the College of Education and Professional Studies educational leadership master's degree program. The two talk with Dr. Joe Gaston, host of the 'Sincerely, South' podcast, to discuss Scott's professional journey. Scott's coaching career includes an Alabama 5A state championship at Vigor High School, where he served as a head football coach in 2018. He recently finished a season of football at Foley that included a close victory over rival Fairhope High School and the school's first playoff berth since 2015. Earlier this month, Scott also served as a coach at the 36th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. During this interview, Scott discusses his development as an educational and athletic leader, with a particular focus on the impact of mentoring. Scott also shares his experience with teaching and leading in culturally and economically diverse schools.

Dr. Lauren Brannan, assistant professor of reading education, was awarded an internal research grant from the University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies for a project titled “Reading Education in the Era of Literacy Legislation.” A team of faculty supporting the grant includes Dr. Hannah Szatkowski, assistant professor of reading education and co-principal investigator. They recently collected data and are now analyzing the language and reading instruction knowledge, skills and pedagogy of Alabama's elementary public school teachers. Following the implementation of the Alabama Literacy Act, this research assessed how the professional development offered to teachers, which flowed from this act, impacted teacher knowledge, skills and pedagogy. According to the team's research, the majority of American elementary students are reading below grade level, and Alabama is below the national average. Prior research studies show that teachers', and in some studies their college instructors', knowledge of language constructs, such as phonology, orthography, morphology and syntax, is low and may be a factor influencing poor student reading achievement. Brannan believes the science of reading training has been geared toward teachers in grades PreK-3, and this leaves out the upper elementary grade levels, where teachers often still encounter struggling readers who are in need of instructional intervention. Brannan's team plans to research and highlight the gaps in knowledge. Ultimately, they plan to provide information about the effectiveness of the science of reading professional development opportunities throughout the state. The research will shed light on any possible gaps in knowledge, skill and pedagogy.

Many young adults attend college to prepare for a future career. It's no different for students with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Abigail Baxter, professor of special education at the University of South Alabama and principal investigator of the PASSAGE USA grant, and Dr. Linda Reeves, associate professor of special education and co-principal investigator, make this dream of attending college a reality. PASSAGE USA (Preparing All Students Socially and Academically for Gainful Employment) is a two- and four-year non-degree certificate program that focuses on life, social, employment and self-determination skills. Students in the program attend specialized classes that target the skills they need to achieve their goals and attend elective classes with other South students. In 2020, Baxter and Reeves' team was awarded a $2.3 million U. S. Department of Education grant to expand the PASSAGE USA program. The program now draws in faculty and South students from counseling, health and kinesiology, and occupational therapy to enhance the PASSAGE USA curriculum, and the grant provides Baxter with the necessary funding to hire additional staff. The program continues to grow and can serve up to 60 students during the current grant funding period.

Mobile is a tourist destination, and travel is back. During this episode, listeners can learn about the hospitality and tourism industry in Mobile. David Clark, president and CEO of Visit Mobile, serves as president of the University of South Alabama Hospitality and Tourism Management Advisory Board Executive Committee. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Clark says that South's prominent location along the Gulf Coast provides students with unique exposure to the industry. The University is located in a tourism mecca. Between Mobile and Baldwin Counties, there are more than 83,000 travel and tourism jobs that service 10 million visitors annually. Clark shares exciting news, including a new cruise ship that will offer six to eight-day cruises to Mexico, Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas from the Mobile Cruise Port. Cultural tourism is booming across the nation, and there is progress to create a public touring experience of Africatown. Clark says their team plans to launch this cultural experience nationally in 2023.

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, funded by the National Science Foundation in the College of Education and Professional Studies, responds to the critical need for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, by encouraging talented students and professionals to pursue science and mathematics teaching careers in high need schools. Dr. André Green, associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of science education at the University of South Alabama, was awarded the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grant, Pathway to Science, in 2009, Pathway to Mathematics in 2011, and Pathway to Science II in 2016 in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences through their mathematics and science departments. Dr. Susan Ferguson, associate professor and program coordinator of secondary education at the University of South Alabama, served as co-principal investigator and project director of the scholarship program and ensured that the overall goals were achieved. Ferguson advised and mentored each Noyce Scholar and has maintained close relationships with each. Over the past decade, approximately 71 scholars have graduated from the Pathway to Science and Pathway to Mathematics programs and more than 90% of the graduates are still teaching science and mathematics in the local and surrounding communities. Green and his co-investigators brought in approximately $3.5 million in NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants and an additional $4.5 million in Noyce Conference grants to the University of South Alabama.

Maati Ta-Neter, who earned a master's degree in education from South, is currently an 8th grade world history teacher at Denton Magnet School of Technology in Mobile. She is teaching a new elective course in African American History. The course is in it's pilot year, and Ta-Neter designed the curriculum in a way that students can examine the history and impact of African Americans and their contributions in terms of economics, culture, politics and social awareness. Ta-Neter hopes to empower students with the knowledge of self and others. Quarter one covers the history of West African civilizations and the beginning of the Slave Trade. During the second quarter, students learn about slavery in the New World and the Civil War. Third quarter reviews Reconstruction and Jim Crow. Fourth quarter is an overview of the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.

Dr. Caitlyn Hauff, assistant professor of health promotion in the College of Education and Professional Studies, is passionate about mental health issues and athletes. Personally, she has been involved in sports since she was a toddler. Her dad was a collegiate tennis player, and Hauff was a multi-sport athlete growing up, participating in tennis, basketball, volleyball and softball most of her life. It was in college that Hauff realized the importance of the mental health side of sports.​ ​Her current research at South centers on health promotion, mainly through the use of behavior change theory and psychological skills training. She is involved in several projects with the College of Nursing, School of Computer Science, professors in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and fellow professors in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Sport.

This episode features Demetrius Smith, an adjunct professor of psychology and interdisciplinary studies at the University of South Alabama, and Tim Wills, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama. Smith founded a mental health agency and a nonprofit with a focus in providing services for Black and impoverished communities. Smith, who grew up in the Maysville area in Mobile, discusses his journey and how he got to where he is today. Wills served as a mentor to Smith. When Wills came to Mobile from Baltimore, he quickly learned many young people in South Alabama face academic, family and personal trauma. Through the Boys & Girls Club, Wills' focus is to impact and change the opportunity equation for youth and teens in our community. The two have partnered to provide programs and services that will continue to build systems of support to drive youth success.

Terrance DeShaun Smith's path to the City of Mobile's Innovation Team started at the University of South Alabama. He grew up in a housing project in Prichard, Ala., and always had big dreams. Smith earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and master's degree in instructional design and development, both fully online programs at South. He was promoted to the director of Strategic Initiatives and serves as a liaison for ongoing city efforts in Africatown. Smith was appointed to the Leadership Alabama Commission on Race and Equity, and Bloomberg CityLab named him one of "Six Innovators to Watch."

If you're an adult learner at the University of South Alabama, then you have something in common with Bob Charlebois. His nontraditional career includes time as a restaurant manager, video producer and whitewater rafting guide. He's been a transfer student and an adult student. Now he's director for the Office of Adult Learner Services. His last name is pronounced “shar-luh-bwah,” but most people call him Bob. His job is to make it easy for adult students – from exploration and enrollment all the way through graduation. Charlebois is often the first person adult learners meet on campus. He loves hearing their life stories. He tries to be encouraging and helpful. Oftentimes adult learners are intimidated by the admission process, not to mention navigating financial aid, registering for classes and walking into a classroom with younger students. Charlebois helps them consider their options and design a plan to get them to graduation.

In this very first episode of the "Sincerely, South" podcast, Rachel Broadhead and Chasity Collier, director and assistant director of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative at the University of South Alabama, share their educational journeys along with information about AMSTI-USA. Co-hosts for this episode include Dr. Joe Gaston, assistant professor of educational media and technology, and Dr. Susan Ferguson, associate professor and program coordinator of secondary education.