Sincerely, South

Join host Dr. Joe Gaston on this episode of Sincerely South as he sits down with faculty members Dr. Amy Upton and Amanda Donaldson, alongside students Kate Deaton and Zoe Wilcox, from the College of Education and Professional Services at the University of South Alabama.

Together, they explore the transformative power of study abroad experiences in Perugia, Italy. From hands-on learning in hospitality and mental health counseling to adapting to new cultural rhythms and, of course, enjoying authentic gelato, discover how immersive international travel reshapes student perspectives and opens up new career paths.

Go "Where Bold Begins" with this episode of Sincerely, South, featuring Dr. Angela Barlow, Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, and Aimee Meyers, Director of University Development. Learn how you can support the College of Education and Professional Studies building campaign along with the value a new facility will offer students, alumni, and the community as a whole. In their first time joining hosts Dr. Gaston and Dr. Ferguson, they also discuss how you can join the celebration as the college celebrates its 60th Anniversary with a "Strong Legacy" and "Enduring Impact." Learn more about how you can be part of this bold initiative by joining us at gameday tailgates, by giving to the building campaign, and by supporting future educators through scholarship initiatives.

Leading Today, Impacting Tomorrow

Dr. Drew Gossen joins the podcast as a first-time guest, and Dr. Katie McCorrison returns as a regular guest to the show. In this lively episode, Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson discuss research initiatives surrounding motivators for K-12 students to become STEM professionals. NSF S-STEM grant, STEM STARS (Strive, Thrive, Achieve, and Realize goals of STEM careers), building a bridge for low-income students to pursue a math-intensive degree while focusing on school, without having to simultaneously work full-time. This partnership with USA faculty from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Engineering, and the College of Mathematics and Statistics, along with Bishop State and Coastal Community Colleges, reaches out to high-potential secondary students and tracks their progress through the program. Dr. McCorrison provides an update on NSF Noyce programs at the University. Dr. Gaston, Dr. Gossen, and Dr. McCorrison also discuss classroom initiatives in which they have been engaging for several years through grant-funded support in building relationships among STEM professionals and local classrooms.

Join Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson in this episode as they welcome new faculty member Dr. Emily Tanner and return guest Dr. Hannah Szatkowski. Dr. Tanner shares an exciting partnership with Chickasaw City Schools, made possible through a grant from the Alabama State Department of Education. Along with Dr. Szatkowski’s background in the science of reading, the two are planning The Literacy Launchpad, including a focus on literacy with engagement in the arts. The program focuses on extended care literacy enrichment during the summer months and after school, with the funding offering teacher stipends and student teacher support and learning resources as well as participant transportation. Tune in to learn more about these highly engaged faculty in the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education and how they are making strides with summer literacy for students and preservice educators who want to learn about co-teaching.

In this episode, Dr. Joe Gaston is joined by three individuals who have earned (or are earning) their master's degree in educational media & technology. Find out why 6th grade teacher Ginna Johnson, videographer Kevin Morris, and IT guru Ray Pitre chose this degree path and how it has impacted their lives.

National Board Certification (NBC) processes, support, and significance are highlighted as Dr. Joe Gaston is joined in the studio by Dr. Stephanie Hulon, Director of South Alabama Research and  Inservice Center (SARIC), Danette Ballard, Coordinator of Professional Learning for Mobile County Public School System, and Stephanie Pettis, National Board Certified Teacher and Media Specialist at Hutchens Elementary School and South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies Alumni.

With less than 3% of teachers earning National Board Certification nationally, the intense process immerses teachers in rigorous professional development and self-reflection over a multi-year period. MCPSS provides support for cohorts of teachers seeking NBC. The district reimburses about half of the cost for teachers seeking NBC, and SARIC helps support teachers in the monthly cohorts and writing retreats. National statistics demonstrate high student outcomes for students in classrooms where teachers have NBC status.

Alabama is fifth in the nation in total number of National Board Certified Teachers, and in new National Board Certified Teachers (317 new this past year), and in supporting teachers who maintain their certification.

Tune in to learn how teachers in the Southeast Region are making strides to grow their pedagogical practice as lifelong learners while inspiring their students to grow and learn through the process. 

Scholarship Link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18GcrTxwi6xAYwYJUL-BZ7w_as1QItEEYqgC6wQ8nuuA/edit?usp=sharing

Link to Register for the SARIC informational session:

PowerSchool Registration Link

Link to informational sessions for all regional inservice centers:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Ezu7sMpRd2fpUQQ0t0DV7fuINDBHTKpNUT6S2g8QQQ/edit?usp=sharing

Common Read/Common World is a voluntary learning initiative based on a shared learning experience of students, faculty and community members.

The program was developed for all USA students, particularly first-year students, and aims to:

• Improve understanding of differences and commonalities across the world;
• Develop a more sophisticated understanding of values and ethics;
• Increase awareness of global issues;
• Gain an understanding of how to make an impact in society;
• Engage in academic discourse and critical thinking; and
• Create a sense of community among students, faculty, staff, and the greater Mobile area.

Events and speakers are scheduled throughout the academic year. This enables students and faculty to engage critically with the ideas and themes of the book. Common Read/Common World is a university-wide program, and a partnership between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs with special support from the Stokes Center for Creative Writing.

Join Dr. Joe Gaston and Dr. Susan Ferguson as they discuss this year's selection, Late Migrations, by Alabama-Born Author Margaret Renkle. They are joined in the studio by College of Education and Professional Studies Graduate Assistant, Kenneth Germany. Tune in as they discuss activities to promote this year's text, upcoming plans for Spring Semester 2026, and the selection process for next year's Common Read text.

For more information about upcoming programming, University committee members, and ways to participate, visit:

https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/commonread/

Associate Dean and Sincerely, South Producer, Dr. TresStefurak welcomes returning guest College of Nursing faculty Dr. Candace Selwyn and recent Interdisciplinary Studies graduate focused in trauma counseling, Jamie Renee Simpson. Jamie Renee discusses her journey from midwifery to trauma counseling for sex-trafficked victims and victims of child abuse. Connecting to the previous podcast feature on The Heart Project, Dr. Selwyn provides an update of the counseling services provided to student survivors of abuse, as well as internship and volunteer opportunities for exploring avenues of outreach for victim advocacy in the region.

For more information on The Heart Project visit:

https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/studenthealth/heartproject/

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.