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.