It is a time of growth and upward momentum at USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.

We have strengthened our position in the community with key partnerships and invested in high-demand, high-growth programs including nursing and cybersecurity to serve our students. With the invaluable support of our Campus Board and USF President-elect Rhea Law, we are focused on the future success of our community and this campus like no other time before.

We also have prioritized support for our standing as a nationally recognized research institution. The essential research conducted here and in collaboration with other universities has never been more important.

In this issue of Research: USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus, you will learn how our faculty and student researchers are collaborating to examine the themes of “Building a More Just Society” and “Impact of the Pandemic.”

“Building a More Just Society” focuses on research exposing the ongoing racial divide in K-12 curriculum delivery, the hospitality industry, advertising and more. In addition to better understanding the how and why, USF Sarasota-Manatee campus researchers are developing critical insight and actionable solutions. One example of this is the work of Denise Davis-Cotton, director of the USF Center for Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching (PAInT). She was recently awarded an $8.5 million grant to strengthen arts education on a national level that focuses on cultural history, race and equity. This five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education is the largest awarded to a program or individual in our campus’ history.

In today’s climate, the societal and scientific value of research that examines the current and future impact of the COVID-19 virus cannot be understated. Research presented in “Impact of the Pandemic” reveal the political and geographical factors in COVID-19 safety practices, the climate of fear and the long-term effects of the pandemic on the sales industry. But there also is hope, as hospitality and tourism experts investigate solutions for their hard-hit industries. Our coverage includes insight from Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of Sarasota-Manatee International Airport, who addresses how the travel industry is managing the recent uptick in demand.

In addition to these important articles, there also is an overview of the future of interdisciplinary research and how the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus plays a key role.

As a campus and university committed to an inclusive culture and student success, we deeply value the essential research conducted now and, in the future, to address these topics. I invite you to you enjoy this issue and the important work the articles reflect.