The University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities is excited to introduce the Gulf Coast Culture Series, an evolution of our longstanding Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. This new series broadens our focus beyond public lectures, becoming an immersive celebration of the rich and distinctive culture of the Gulf Coast Region that aims to deepen our community’s connection to its unique history and vibrant present.
As a cultural hub within our region, our college is committed to enhancing Gulf Coast life. The Gulf Coast Culture Series reflects our dedication to fostering curiosity, creativity, communication, and compassion in ways that enrich and unite our community. With each event, we invite the public to join us in celebrating the traditions, stories, and creative expressions that make the Gulf Coast an extraordinary place to call home.
Every academic year, the Gulf Coast Culture Series explores a single theme across multiple events, offering perspectives from a variety of disciplines to illuminate our community.
Future Installments
We look forward to continuing to offer scholarly, creative, and intellectual dialogue opportunities. Please visit this page regularly for updated information on upcoming seasons.
If you would like to receive email notifications about upcoming events, please opt-in below. Emails go out no more than a few times per semester.
2025–2026 Gulf Coast Culture Series: Pensacola Noir
The University of West Florida’s College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH) is proud to announce this year’s Gulf Coast Culture Series theme: Pensacola Noir.
Prepare yourselves to learn about the dark side of Pensacola! This year’s GCC theme, Pensacola Noir, is inspired by gritty crime novels, film noir traditions, forgotten history, crime scene investigation, cemetery walks, and an exploration of Southern Gothic photography, all presented through a mix of conversations, tours, and lectures. Bookmark this page. Additional updates forthcoming for each event.
Murder, She Investigates
Thursday, November 13, 2025 | Reception 5:30 PM | Event 6–8 PM
The University of West Florida’s College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH) invites you to join us for the third installment of this year’s Gulf Coast Culture Series: Pensacola Noir.
Dr. Allysha Winburn, a biological anthropologist specializing in forensic and bioarchaeological research, and Dr. Cate Bird, missing persons & forensic manager for the International Committee of the Red Cross (United States & Canada), will examine the lasting cultural impact of the television series “Murder, She Wrote.”
The discussion will explore how the show shaped public fascination with forensic evidence and influenced popular understandings of crime-solving. Drawing on their own expertise, Winburn and Bird will connect the fictional world of Jessica Fletcher to the realities of forensic anthropology, investigative work, and human rights, revealing how cultural narratives intersect with science and justice.
This event is free and open to the public. Please register at the link below.
This installment of the Gulf Coast Culture Series is sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the John C. Pace Symposium Series.
*For ADA Accommodations, please advise UWF at 850.474.2694 or 850.857.6158 (TTY), or visit uwf.edu/ADAforEvents.
Register for Murder, She Investigates, Here
Save the Date - Straight into Darkness: Southern Gothic Photography
Thursday, January 29, 2026 | Reception 5:30 PM | Event 6–8 PM
The University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities invites you to join us for an evening with Richard McCabe, Curator of Photography at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, as part of the 2025–2026 Gulf Coast Culture Series: Pensacola Noir.
McCabe’s presentation, Straight into Darkness: Southern Gothic Photography, traces the development of Southern Gothic imagery from the 1930s to the present. Highlighting the work of photographers such as Clarence John Laughlin, William Christenberry, E.J. Bellocq, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, William Eggleston, Sally Mann, Mike Brodie, and RaMell Ross, McCabe examines how light and shadow shape our understanding of the South’s beauty and complexity.
Drawing from his background as a photographer, writer, and curator, McCabe connects Southern photography to its literary and cinematic roots in the works of Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and films such as Deliverance and Cape Fear. His talk explores how the region’s stories of darkness, contrast, and redemption continue to shape its artistic identity.
Since 2011, McCabe has curated more than forty exhibitions for the Ogden Museum, including New Southern Photography and Memory is a Strange Bell: The Art of William Christenberry. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Time, and NPR.
The evening will begin with introductory remarks from Dr. David Earle, Dean of the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, on the Gothic’s enduring presence in Southern art and literature.
This event is free and open to the public. When Registration opens, you will find a link below.
This installment of the Gulf Coast Culture Series is sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the John C. Pace Symposium Series.
*For ADA Accommodations, please advise UWF at 850.474.2694 or 850.857.6158 (TTY), or visit uwf.edu/ADAforEvents.
Past Installments
Information and media from past installments of the Gulf Coast Culture Series and the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series are available below.
Stories in Stone: A Twilight Walking Tour of St. Michael’s Cemetery
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SOLD OUT!
The University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH) brought history to life with Stories in Stone: A Twilight Walking Tour of St. Michael’s Cemetery, a sold-out success, as part of this year’s Gulf Coast Culture “Pensacola Noir” Series.
"St. Michael’s Cemetery remains one of the most powerful symbols of our community’s past and is a reflection of our shared commitment to the present and future," shared Nicole Grinnan, Assistant Director of the UWF Archaeology Institute, adding, "We are so grateful to our event participants for joining us and hope they left inspired by what they learned and motivated to become active stewards of this beautiful outdoor museum at the heart of our city."
Guests enjoyed an immersive evening of storytelling led by guides from the UWF Archaeology Institute, Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), and the St. Michael’s Cemetery Foundation, Inc. All four tours filled quickly, with participants exploring Pensacola’s earliest stories, gothic symbolism, and the lives of those who shaped our community.
“Programs like ‘Stories in Stone’ bring our partnership to life, offering an engaging way for our community to connect with the remarkable lives found here,” said Mike Thomin, FPAN Director of Education and Interpretation.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event such a memorable success!
This installment of the Gulf Coast Culture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, the John C. Pace Symposium Series, the University of West Florida Archaeology Institute, the Florida Public Archaeology Network, and the St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation, Inc.
Pensacola Crime Writers Roundtable
Crime Writers Round Table Kicks Off Pensacola Noir
The 2025–2026 Gulf Coast Culture Series launched on Wednesday, September 16, 2025, with an outstanding turnout for the Pensacola Crime Writers Roundtable at the Museum of Commerce. The event, which opened with a lively reception, brought together three of Pensacola’s leading authors: Mike Papantonio (Middleman), Rick Outzen (City of Grudges), and Corbett Davis Jr. (Dead Man’s Fingers).
The discussion was both engaging and insightful, as the authors shared stories about their writing methods, the habits and traditions that shape their creative process, and the inspirations behind their work. They explored questions such as how often they write, whether their characters are based on real people or events, and how noir themes influence Gulf Coast storytelling.
The evening concluded with an enthusiastic Q&A, followed by a well-attended book signing. Guests had the chance to speak one-on-one with the authors, and each writer signed many copies of their works, often more than one title per guest. Between the reception, the roundtable, and the book signing, the event fostered meaningful connections between readers and writers, while also shining a spotlight on Pensacola’s vibrant literary talent.
The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities looks forward to continuing the Pensacola Noir series with more thought-provoking events throughout the year. Please find information on the next event in the series in this newsletter.
*For photos of this event, please use the button link below.
Photos from Pensacola Crime Writers Roundtable
Rescheduled: April 15, 2025 | True South: A Conversation with John T. Edge
On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities hosted the inaugural Gulf Coast Culture Series event, True South: A Conversation with John T. Edge, at the Pensacola Little Theatre in downtown Pensacola.
The event showcased an engaging conversation between John T Edge, host of TrueSouth on SEC Network, ESPN, and Hulu, and T.S. Stickland, morning edition host and producer with WUWF. John T. Edge is also a columnist for Garden & Gun magazine, founding director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, author of the memoir House of Smoke (September 2025); and author of the critically acclaimed The Potlikker Papers.
John discussed how food and media tell the stories of our region’s distinct culture and identity. This event was the perfect start to a series that’s all about celebrating what makes this region such an extraordinary place to call home. This event was an impactful opportunity to hear from a distinguished author, storyteller, and cultural historian who continues to shape conversations on food and the South.
This installment of the Gulf Coast Culture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities and the John C. Pace Symposium Series.
April 1 | After Liberalism - Patrick J. Deneen
The UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government recently hosted the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series with Professor Patrick J. Deneen at the Museum of Commerce in downtown Pensacola.
The event was a huge success, with attendees from all walks of life engaging in a thought-provoking and timely discussion about the future of political theory. Professor Deneen, a renowned political commentator and author of Why Liberalism Failed and Regime Change, delivered a fascinating lecture on "After Liberalism." He criticized the current political theory that has been the backbone of the international order for the last 500 years and sparked a conversation about what could emerge to take its place.
The event began with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by Prof. Deneen's lecture at 6:00 p.m., and concluded with a Q&A and book signing. Attendees had the opportunity to purchase and have their copies of Deneen's recent books signed.
This event was free and open to the public and was also live-streamed and recorded.
This installment of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Reubin O’D. Askew Department of Government, the John C. Pace Symposium Series, the Askew Lecture Series, and the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club.
*The Askew Lecture Series is a downtown community talk on current political issues and public policy topics. The lecture honors the legacy of the late Governor of Florida, Reubin O’D. Askew, the department’s namesake. Governor Askew was a champion of civic engagement known for tackling vital public policy issues of the day.
March 14 | Freedom’s Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power - Jefferson Cowie
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On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the University of West Florida hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jefferson Cowie at the REX Theatre, downtown Pensacola as the guest speaker for Experience UWF Downtown.
Jefferson Cowie, the James G. Stahlman Chair in American History at Vanderbilt University, is an accomplished scholar and author whose work has received numerous awards and recognitions for shedding light on the complex intersections of American politics, labor, and society. In 2023, he won the Pulitzer Prize for History for his book Freedom's Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power. The book covers local fights against the federal government that support a version of American freedom that allows for oppression.
In addition to his academic work, Cowie's writing has been featured in popular outlets such as the New York Times, TIME magazine, and Foreign Affairs. Cowie shared his expertise in American history and politics through his book discussion.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A and a book signing of Freedom's Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power for interested audience members.
This event was free, open to the public, and recorded.
This installment of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series was sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Department of English, the John C. Pace Symposium Series, and the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club.
March 5 | Police Militarization and America’s Punitive Turn: Lessons from the Field - Peter Kraska
On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the University of West Florida hosted Experience UWF Downtown featuring Dr. Peter Kraska at the Museum of Commerce, downtown Pensacola.
Peter Kraska, Ph.D., is an eminent professor in the School of Justice Studies at Eastern Kentucky University and adjunct faculty at the University of West Florida. He is a leading scholar in police and criminal justice militarization, criminal justice theory, and mixed-methods research. With seven books and numerous articles to his name, his work has appeared in leading academic journals and media outlets worldwide, and his expertise has been sought after by academic and policy audiences alike.
Kraska’s lecture, “ Police Militarization and America’s Punitive Turn: Lessons from the Field,” began at 6:00 p.m., following a reception at 5:30 p.m. The event concluded with a Q&A.
This installment of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series was sponsored by the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies, the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club, and is funded in part by the John C. Pace Symposium Series.
This event was free and open to the public and was recorded.
Reporting on the New Censorship: How to Stop the Internet from Killing Free Speech - Alex Berenson
The University of West Florida hosted Experience UWF Downtown with Alex Berenson on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Museum of Commerce, downtown Pensacola.
Alex Berenson was a reporter for the New York Times from 1999 to 2010. Berenson now writes the Unreported Truths Substack and has written 13 novels and three nonfiction books.
Berenson has emerged as one of the most prominent advocates of First Amendment principles against 21st-century modes of censorship. In his lecture “How to Stop the Internet from Killing Free Speech,” he told the story of his experience in the courts and what has come to light because of his case.
Berenson rose to prominence during the pandemic as a dissenter who was de-platformed by social media companies. He challenged this censorship in the courts. During discovery, evidence emerged that several federal administrative agencies had been involved in the efforts to remove his voice from the public discourse. His court victories helped pave the way for the more prominent challenge to censorship by government agencies before the Supreme Court this term in Murthy v. Missouri.
*The Seligman First Amendment Lecture Series fosters dialogue on campus and in the community about the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech, press and association. It is made possible by a generous gift from the Jane G. and Fred K. Seligman Endowment.
This event was free and open to the public and was recorded.
October 24, 2023
An evening with StarWound, an Athens, Greece-based Anglophone band, presenting “Interiors.”
The show’s theme, “Interiors,” grew out of the isolation spawned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme has also expanded thematically to include a range of connotations related to “interiors.”
Through their “rock cabaret” style, StarWound presented a philosophical and social reflection on the current human state. In the spirit of collaboration, the band based their lyrical compositions on modern-day poetic works.
The October 24th show included poetic collaborations with UWF faculty and students and work from previous collaborations on StarWound’s tour of U.S. universities.
View Acoustic Interlude Session: StarWound
November 16, 2023
An Evening with David Earle, "Where all Good Flappers Go"
Vivacious, charming, and irreverent, the flapper is a girl who knows how to have a roaring good time while simultaneously assailing the norms of society. She’s both a glittering object of delight and a woman embracing a newfound independence.
UWF Professor and Chair of the Department of Art & Design, David Earle, discussed flapper authors of the 1920s and Where All Good Flappers Go, his recent collection of flapper stories principally sourced from jazz age magazines. The book -- the first ever collection dedicated to flapper stories -- includes favorite authors such as F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, but also recovers lost female authors published in the pulp magazines of the 1920s.
Copies of David M. Earle’s book, Where All Good Flappers Go, are available for purchase at all major booksellers.
September 16, 2022
An Evening with Clyde Butcher, Photographer & Conservationist
View the recorded experience here.
September 30, 2022
An Evening with Shannon Taggart, artist of “Séance”
October 15, 2022
Pensacola Historic Bike Tour
March 9, 2023
‘A Stór Mo Chroí, O’ Love of my Heart,' An Evening of Irish Song and Poetry
View the recorded experience here.
April 1, 2023
April 13, 2023
Jason Kelly Johnson, STEAM
April 14, 2023
"The Art of Fieldwork" with Claudia O'Steen, STEAM
April 14, 2022
"An Evening with Jad Abumrad, Creator of Radio Lab"
March 31, 2022
"An Evening with Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer Prize Winner and Author of 'Maus'" - Virtual Event
March 8, 2022
"Finding Focus: The History, Use, and Benefits of the Labyrinth" - UWF Student Commons Auditorium
November 18, 2021
"Forensic Science Unearthed: Exploring Crime Scene and Laboratory Casework with a UWF Forensic Anthropologist"
October 7, 2021
"How Does the Pandemic End (and What Have We Learned)? Perspectives on COVID-19 and Beyond from Public Health, Medical Anthropology and Health Communication"
Installment Sponsors and Partners
The Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series is presented and sponsored by the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. It is also funded, in part, by the John C. Pace Symposium Series.