Liz Bird, Professor of Anthropology; Erin Kimmerle, Assistant Professor of Anthropology; Fraser Ottanelli, Professor and Chair of History; and Charles Massucci, Adjunct Instructor of Anthropology
Location: Nsukka, Nigeria, Africa

This summer, CAS faculty continued their research for the Asaba Memorial Project by returning to Nigeria. During a civil war in 1967, troops terrorized Asaba civilians for two days, killing many at random. The Asaba Memorial Project seeks to provide a scholarly assessment of this historical event, to break the silence of those affected, and honor the dead and their descendents. The Asaba Memorial Project is a collaboration among researchers in the anthropology and history departments, as well as the USF Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The USF research team blogged about their trip to Nigeria.

Ping Wang, Associate Professor of Geology
Location: Pensacola Beach, Fla.

Dr. Ping Wang is researching the effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. He has found oil below the surface of the sand on Pensacola Beach. His findings have been featured on National Geographic Online.

Vadrika Etienne, Gilman Scholar
Location: Dominican Republic
Major: Communication
Year: Senior

Vadrika is studying in the Dominican Republic during the fall semester. She will be conducting research for her undergraduate thesis. Vadrika is using this opportunity to begin working toward her goal of becoming a professor in sociology and/or anthropology with the Caribbean as her area of focus.

Sam Van Ginhoven, Gilman Scholar
Location: Japan
Major: International Studies
Year: Senior

Sam is studying in Japan during 2010-11 school year. His goal is to become fluent in Japanese so one day he can become an interpreter, teacher and/or embassy worker with the U.S. or Japanese government.

Misty Sirine
Location: Tianjin, China
Major: International Studies
Year: Senior
Misty is attending Nankai University, where she hopes to improve her Chinese language ability. While living in Tianjin, she hopes to study and learn a performance genre of folk tradition and immerse herself in the Chinese culture.

Victor Florez
Location: Tianjin, China
Major: International Studies
Year: Junior
Hometown: Miami, Fla.

Victor Florez finished in first place in the annual Chinese Bridge Competition in August 2010, which earned him a year-long scholarship to study in China (does not include this year).
Victor will be blogging about his experiences throughout the 2010-11 school year.

Rick Wilber, head of the magazine option in the School of Mass Communications, has been leading student travel-study tours to Ireland, England or Scotland since 1982. USF students spent 20 days in Ireland this summer. Students studied Irish literature and visual media while they wrote travel stories, short fiction and poetry in the professional writing course. A course in Irish and European media systems also was offered, along with a course in Directed readings which also incorporated Irish film. The participants earned six hours of academic credit from USF’s School of Mass Communications. Senior Daylina Miller blogged about the group’s experiences.

Location: San Jose, Costa Rica

College of Arts and Sciences students enrolled in IDH 4200/IDH 4000, which is offered by the Honors College, have spent the past two months learning the history, economy, culture and religion of Costa Rica. During Spring Break, our students will blog about their experiences in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Location: New Orleans

USF students were in New Orleans, La., March 3-6 studying the impact of Hurricane Katrina and will volunteer with Project Rebirth. The students are part of Dr. Mike Weaver's class, Katrina and Environmental Health in the Black Community. The class is sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies

Marissa
Location: Bangalore, India
Course: Yoga and Healing Traditions of India (INR 3955) Year in school: Junior Major: Psychology and Religious Studies Hometown: Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Alicia
Location: Florence, Italy
Course: Italian, and Italian Food and Culture
Year in school: Junior
Major: Philosophy, and Women's and Gender Issues
Hometown: Puerto Rico