Pictured Above: Chelsea Creaturo (left), is a research analyst at Eckerd College, remains optimistic through consolidation’s perils. Brittany Bandy (middle), is a middle school science teacher in Pinellas County; in 2019, she won teacher of the year at her campus. Charlie Justice (right), is a representative on the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, worked to facilitate funding for the Science and Technology Building following his time at USF St. Petersburg.
Left Image Courtesy of Chelsea Creaturo
Middle Image Courtesy of Brittany Bandy
Right Image Courtesy of Patrick Tobin | The Crow’s Nest
By Catherine Hicks
USF St. Petersburg alumnus remember a campus different from the one we know today, before residence halls or consolidation. But the spirit of St. Petersburg remains strong in alumni.
“Through all the changes, USF St. Pete has maintained the integrity of being a small campus,” said Charlie Justice, a USF St. Petersburg alumni who graduated with a B.A. in geography in 1993.
After graduating, Justice served in the Florida Legislature and was then elected to the county commission where he currently serves. He has worked to facilitate funding for the Science and Technology building, the development of the University Student Center and participated in the naming of Heller Hall.
“That is remarkable considering the growth of campus, the changes in staff, the growth of downtown,” Justice said. “Years ago, the campus used a slogan of something like ‘USF St. Pete, the world will know your degree, your professor will know your name’ (and) I know that remains pretty true even today.”
Other alumni shared the sentiment, valuing the tight-knit community that the St. Petersburg campus provides.
“USFSP has so many wonderful options including the beautiful waterfront views, clubs and organizations, kind professors and resources available to help students succeed,” said Brittany Bandy, an environmental science and policy major that graduated in 2012, before returning for a master’s degree in middle school stem education which she completed in 2019.
Bandy began teaching middle school science after receiving her degree and in 2019 was recognized as her school’s teacher of the year.
“As a student at USFSP, I really gained valuable lessons from my professors and many of them I am still in contact with today,” Bandy said. “I am so grateful for their compassion, knowledge and kindness.”
“What drew me to USFSP was its small college vibe,” said Chelsea Creaturo, an interdisciplinary social sciences major with concentrations in anthropology and psychology who graduated in 2013. “The kind of place where you get to know all your professors really well, enjoy small class sizes, yet there’s all these resources and research opportunities that a large university has to offer.”
Creaturo has worked for Eckerd College for nearly 5 years, spending the last 2 as a research analyst, and facilitated the founding of the First-Generation Students Club.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned at USFSP is the power of an interdisciplinary approach and collaboration when it comes to problem solving and innovation,” Creaturo said. “I take that approach in the work I do every day.”
Unified in their view that USF St. Petersburg is unique and special, alumnus still express concern over what consolidation will mean for their beloved campus.
“The most significant concern is that really big decisions that impact funding, capital construction, class offerings will be made in Tampa,” Justice said. “There will be a natural tendency for Tampa campus leadership to make Tampa a priority.
“Losing that authority means losing that decision making ability, that ability to truly control your own destiny as a separate institution. There are current commitments and have been some benefits to St. Pete but there are no guarantees for the future.”
Bandy’s aunt, who attended both USF Tampa and St. Petersburg in the early 2000s “always said … how different the campuses felt and I definitely agree,” Bandy said.
“I’m not sure how consolidation will affect students but I’m wondering if funding and approval of projects/clubs might be impacted.”
Bandy also shared the positives she’s seen, including the addition of more majors in the science and education field, more scholarships and financial aid opportunities, expanded clubs and organizations and new residence halls.
Some alumni chose to remain optimistic about the future that consolidation spells for the St. Petersburg campus.
“I began at USFSP in the Fall of 2009, so the independent accreditation was still really fresh,” Creaturo said. “I remember hearing the staff saying ‘This is USFSP’ during orientation and everyone being really proud of that St. Pete distinction.
“I understand it’ll be a huge adjustment for faculty, staff and students to work and learn within this new structure. I also recognize that with the unknowns, especially in terms of budget allocations and funding, can come with many fears. It’s certainly a tough spot for students.
“I think in this moment of great change for the campus, it’s important to remember everything that makes USFSP so unique: our ability to quickly adapt to changes, our strengths in interdisciplinary collaboration and our desire to be continually innovative in our community.
These are qualities which will keep USFSP distinguishable from other campuses for years to come. Independent accreditation or not, we’re still USF St. Pete.”
