MEET THE
Honors Faculty
Michael C. Cross PhD Applied Physics, USF MS Entrepreneurship, USF BS Computer Science, University of Texas at San Antonio
Q. What is your favorite honors class to teach? A. Creativity and Innovation Q. What questions are you asking in your classes? A. What types of problems do you want to solve? How can you best engage societal issues in your local community? Q. What is your goal for students you teach and mentor? A. To best align their activities while in college with their long-term goals. Q. What personal or professional goals are you pursuing? A. As an entrepreneur, I’m focused on advancing the programs and priorities of USF as well as my fledgling biotechnology venture. Q. How are you reaching beyond the classroom? A. In my courses, we work directly with a community partner to support their goals. These partners include organizations such as the Glazer Children’s Museum and the Tampa Innovation Partnership.
Lindy Grief Davidson PhD Communication, USF MDiv Divinity, Reformed Theological Seminary BA Communication Arts, Belmont University
Q. What is your favorite honors class to teach?
Q. What is the best thing about the JGHC?
A. My favorite class is always the one I’m currently teaching. Today, it’s Global Constructions of Disability. In the fall, it will be Health and Culture in the Dominican Republic.
A. The students are amazing!
Q. What is your goal for students you teach and mentor? A. I want students to learn to ask thoughtful and informed questions, think outside the disciplinary box, connect with others who have a different perspective, and continue their curiosity beyond the confines of the classroom and the semester. Q. How are you reaching beyond the classroom? A.. I enjoy building and maintaining relationships with international partners such as the Kerolle Initiative in the Dominican Republic and the Wellcome Centre at the University of Exeter, but I also enjoy relationships with our local community organizations such as the WellBuilt Community, AMRoC Fab Lab, and Soaring City. I love to connect students with these organizations for research, service, internships, and experiences that open up new possibilities for everyone involved. Q. What is the best thing about the JGHC? A. We are an engaged, insatiably curious, creative, and hopeful community of scholars. Our students infuse us with new life and new ideas every day.
22 UNIVERSITY of SOUTH FLORIDA
