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Insights: CASSH News

Welcome to Insights: A new chapter for the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities at UWF. Formerly known as Vantage Points, this platform is transforming to better celebrate the vibrant accomplishments, events, and stories that make CASSH a cornerstone of our university. Our college is not only a place of learning but also a community of dreamers, doers, and changemakers. This space will spotlight the remarkable journeys of our students, faculty, and alumni as they change the future.

From E-Commerce to Photography—A Blind Artist’s Journey at UWF

December 5, 2025 | By River Fundock, Student Intern, Department of Communication | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Lawrence Lazare’s journey from a long career in e-commerce to pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography at the University of West Florida (UWF) is nothing short of remarkable. A retired professional who had worked in e-commerce for decades, Lazare’s life took a transformative turn when he was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease, a condition that gradually leads to blindness. Forced into early retirement, Lazare found himself navigating a new path, on

From Stage Management to Event Coordination at Pensacola State College

November 19, 2025 | By Aimee Farmer, Student Intern, Department of English | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Emily Spears, a 2021 graduate of the University of West Florida (UWF), has found her passion at the intersection of theatre, administration, and communication. Earning a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities with a concentration in Arts Administration, along with minors in theatre and communication, Spears’ educational journey at UWF has shaped her successful career as the Foundation Event Coordinator at Pensacola State College (PSC).

From UWF Art Graduate to Part-Time Professor and Full-Time Artist

October 30, 2025 | By Aimee Farmer, Student Intern, Department of English | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Christian Dinh, a 2016 graduate of the University of West Florida (UWF) with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, has carved out a successful career as both a full-time artist and a part-time ceramics professor at Xavier University. Dinh’s journey into the world of visual arts was unexpected, as he did not come to UWF with a background in the field.

From Intern to Crime Intelligence Analyst at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement

October 14, 2025 | By River Fundock, Student Intern, Department of Communication | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Heidi Hinson, a 2024 graduate of the University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH),  credits her success in law enforcement to the solid foundation provided by the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies, and the valuable experiences gained through the department’s internship program.

UWF Political Science Major to Florida State University Law Student

September 30, 2025 | By River Fundock, Student Intern, Department of Communication | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Steven Wiktorski, a 2023 graduate of the University of West Florida (UWF), is currently a second-year law student at Florida State University College of Law. His journey from political science pre-law major to aspiring lawyer has been shaped by his experiences at UWF and his involvement in extracurricular activities that fostered both personal and professional growth.
Graphic design proclaiming the name of a faculty art exhibition

The Art Gallery at UWF presents “This Moment Together: A Faculty Show for John Markowitz”

September 30, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida presents “This Moment Together: A Faculty Show for John Markowitz.” Honoring the legacy of the late UWF art and design lecturer John Markowitz, the show features faculty works that speak to his influence on their artistic journeys. “This Moment Together: A Faculty Show for John Markowitz” will run Oct. 2 through Nov. 20.

From Military Service to Hollywood Stardom

September 3, 2025 | By Aimee Farmer, Student Intern, Department of English | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

William Shannon Williams’ remarkable journey from a U.S. Navy veteran to an accomplished actor in Hollywood is a testament to the power of following one's passion, no matter the age or life stage. After dedicating 20 years to the U.S. Navy, Williams never imagined he would be stepping onto film sets alongside A-list celebrities like Denzel Washington and playing characters in major films like Green Lantern and Laws of Man.

Student in lab coat

UWF student selected for Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency paid internship

September 2, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

Phoenix Farnham, a graduate student in the University of West Florida’s Department of Anthropology, was selected for a paid internship with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, a highly competitive program focused on forensic anthropology. Farnham was one of only six students nationwide chosen for this prestigious opportunity out of a pool of 135 applicants. The internship is funded by the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research through partnership with DPAA.

UWF Art Graduate’s Ceramic Quilt Chosen for NCECA’s 2025 Student Juried Exhibition

August 19, 2025 | By River Fundock, Student Intern, Department of Communication | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Alyssa Zavocki, a 2024 graduate of the University of West Florida (UWF), has received significant recognition for her work in ceramics. Her ceramic quilt, displayed at the Pensacola Museum of Art for the 2023 SynThesis exhibition, was selected for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) 2025 Student Juried Exhibition at the 59th Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Luna the Cat Children's Book with Michael Thomin and Nicole Grinnan

UWF archaeologists turn real discoveries into children’s book series

August 6, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

Two University of West Florida archaeologists have transformed their passion for public outreach and historical storytelling into a new children’s book inspired by real archaeological discoveries made off the Florida coast. “Luna the Cat,” follows a feline protagonist on board a Spanish ship in the 1500s and is based on a real-life cat whose remains were uncovered at the site of the 1559 Emanuel Point shipwrecks excavated by UWF archaeologists.

From UWF to Broadway and Beyond – A Journey of Flexibility and Musicality

August 5, 2025 | By Aimee Farmer, Student Intern, Department of English | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Rocky Sansom, a 2003 graduate of the University of West Florida (UWF), credits his time in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH) for shaping his diverse and successful career as an actor, voice coach, and professor. With a BFA in Acting, a BA in English, and a minor in Music, Sansom took an unconventional route through UWF, one that he now sees as key to his achievements.

A ceramic reproduction of sunken objects from a shipwreck.

UWF invites community to Sunken Series art exhibit

July 28, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

The University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities announces "After Hours with the Artist: Sunken Series," a compelling cross-disciplinary collaboration between the Florida Public Archaeology Network and The Art Gallery at UWF that blends art, archaeology and public engagement in a novel way. This after-hours event highlights the work of artist Jenna Zydlo, whose Sunken Series exhibit reimagines maritime archaeology through intricately crafted ceramics inspired by a f

From Student to Published Author and Adjunct Instructor

June 24, 2025 | By River Fundock, Student Intern, Department of Communication | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

June Wolfman, a 2025 graduate with an MA in English/Creative Writing, has made remarkable strides as both a published author and a future adjunct instructor at the University of West Florida (UWF). Wolfman, a resident of Miami, credits the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH) and its faculty for helping refine her writing and teaching skills, which she considers key to her success.
UWF faculty Nicholas Buker standing in front of a police vehicle with a local police officer. with local

Applied research project with Pensacola Police introduces innovative patrol planning tool to enhance community safety

June 23, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

An applied research project led by Dr. Nicholas Hasan Buker, chair and professor in the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies at the University of West Florida, has produced a new evidence-based approach to designing police patrol beat borders. The goal of the project is to enhance the efficiency of police patrols and bolster community safety.
An Okaloosa County Sheriff's Captain in uniform.

Leading with Insight: Michael Rader’s Story of Growth at UWF and Beyond

June 9, 2025 | By River Fundock, Student Intern, Department of Communication | Edited by Karen Tibbals, CASSH Communications Coordinator

Michael Rader, a UWF alumnus and current Captain at the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Psychology in 2003, and returned to UWF to pursue a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. His experiences in law enforcement, along with the critical thinking skills developed at UWF, have shaped his career.
UWF student posing with her realistic illustration of human anatomy.

UWF to add bachelor’s degree in graphic design and digital media this fall

May 7, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

The University of West Florida announced the addition of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Digital Media degree program, with a specialization in illustration, on May 6 at an artwork unveiling event at the Darrell Gooden Center on UWF’s Pensacola campus. The program, currently being offered as a specialization track in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, will launch as a stand-alone degree this fall.
Students sitting at tables in a classroom.

A $500,000 gift establishes the John W. Merting Family Office of Research and Intellectual Growth at UWF

April 2, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

A $500,000 gift from the Merting Family has established the Merting Family Fellowship Support Endowment, which will fund the John W. Merting Family Office of Research and Intellectual Growth at the University of West Florida. The program will be based in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and recruit and prepare students and faculty universitywide to compete for prestigious fellowship and scholarship opportunities.
Three people stand in front of a Japanese shrine holding a banner.

UWF student selected for prestigious Japanese cultural exchange program

February 18, 2025 | UWF Newsroom

University of West Florida junior Aidan Enfinger was selected to spend a week in Japan for the Kakehashi project, a Japanese government-sponsored program that aims to promote mutual understanding between Japan and other nations by fostering personal connections and cultural exchange. An electrical engineering major who successfully completed Japanese 1 and 2, Enfinger was one of five young Hispanic leaders selected for the prestigious program.
A person is speaking to a class.

CASSH Welcomes Criminology, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

August 16, 2023 | Brandy Gottlieb

The UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities is proud to welcome the Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. The new department will house three undergraduate programs, four undergraduate minors, two undergraduate certificates and a graduate program. These will include Criminal Justice, B.A.; Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, B.A. in Child & Society; Legal Studies, B.A.; Minor in Criminal Justice; Minor in Juvenile Justice; Minor in Forensic Studies; Minor in
Deja Gamble standing outside

“Wishful Thinking”: A Student Production

March 13, 2023 | Hailey Castrence

A young fairy named Ollie Petal was just awarded her first human wish to grant. However, her rival, July Evergreen stole the human’s wish. Now, Ollie and her best friend Bumble Willow must search through the land to find it before time runs out. “Wishful Thinking,” an original theatre production by English major Deja Gamble, teaches us that only we can forge our own destinies and not let others define who we are.

Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy's performance at premier event for “The U.S. and the Holocaust”

September 16, 2022 | Dr. Brian Hood, Interim Chair, UWF Dr. Grier Williams School of Music

When WSRE, the local PBS member television station, invited Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy to participate at a public presentation of the new documentary film, “The U.S. and the Holocaust” at the WSRE Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College on Thursday, September 8th, 2022, he readily volunteered to perform at the event.

Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney

Grant-funded cooperative will feature UWF faculty Taney research 

January 30, 2020 | Brandy Gottlieb

Roger Brooke Taney (1777 - 1864) played a significant role in shaping American politics for more than three decades. Thanks to a large grant, faculty research on Taney’s contributions will be made available on an open-source digital platform. Drs. David Ramsey and Kelly Carr offer insight into the significance of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney's role in shaping the American political landscape.

“Makers” unite for inaugural, creative experience

November 6, 2019 | By Brandy Gottlieb, with contributions by Thomas Asmuth 

Thomas Asmuth, UWF associate professor of art, has worked to inspire his students to create innovatively and collaborate artistically across disciplines. On November 16, Asmuth’s initial encounter with the Maker Faire will come full circle with the launch of the inaugural Pensacola Mini Maker Faire. Asmuth and Dr. Joe Piacenza, UWF assistant professor of mechanical engineering, along with a strategic planning team and more than 90 ‘makers,’ will bring the Pensacola Mini Maker Faire to life.

Bringing Ireland home - UWF students exhibit "The Irish Experience Exhibition"

September 24, 2019 | Nicholas Croghan, UWF Art Instructor and Pensacola Museum of Art Director

"I aspire to capture moments of wonder and beauty so they felt, at least a little, through a still photograph in time," said participant Rachel Oliver. The Art Gallery at the University of West Florida is pleased to present "The Irish Experience Exhibition," which is on display at The Art Gallery at UWF through September 28.

"Banned and Forbidden - Prohibited Musical Masterpieces" and Prohibited Speech

September 10, 2019 | Brandy Gottlieb

"Today, we customarily take freedom of artistic expression for granted, but there were periods in recent European history when such freedom was denied," Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy. "Banned and Forbidden - Prohibited Musical Masterpieces" features music and poetry banned from performance and publication by oppressive regimes: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Join for the performance Thursday, Sept. 12, noon at Old Christ Church, Pensacola.

Arts and Sciences Gather for "Daily Life in Ancient Rome"

April 9, 2019 | Hannah Gainer

"Daily Life in Ancient Rome" was a student-produced, two-day multidisciplinary event that was supported by the University of West Florida’s Department of History. The event welcomed student involvement from disciplines within the arts, sciences and humanities, making it a STEAM-inclusive event. Some of the represented disciplines included marine biology, art, mechanical engineering, history, digital art and bioarchaeology.

two students digging on deluna site

Looking for Clues: Archaeology students contributed to Luna Settlement research during summer field school

| By: Jordan Ardoin

In 1559, Tristán de Luna y Arellano led 1,500 Spanish colonizers to settle in Pensacola on their way to South Carolina. Spread across a rectangular stretch of flat land measuring 300 by 250 meters, the settlement included soldiers and a few of their families. This summer, a Division of Anthropology and Archaeology field school gave graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to get their hands dirty—literally and figuratively—at the Luna site
students and faculty pose in germany during study abroad program

Study abroad students experienced history and culture firsthand during trip to Germany

| By: Jordan Ardoin, Photo Credit Dr. Derek Zumbro

When International Studies student Gabriella Valenti saw the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany with her own eyes, she felt the visceral reality of history in a way she never had before. Valenti said, “You can hear about the Holocaust all you want from lectures, and you can see the graphic pictures that send a message, but you won’t get the gut-dropping feeling that you get when you're actually stepping on the grounds of a concentration camp.”

The UWF Singers with Eric Whitacre conducting, performed two selections during the gala.

UWF Summer Festival Chorus brings students, alumni and community members together

June 25, 2018 | By: Jordan Ardoin

Jennifer Adkins is a UWF alumna who graduated in 2008 with an M.A. in Public History and spent a few years as an adjunct professor in the UWF Department of History. She also loves to sing. This year, Adkins is one of many participants, including students, alumni and community members, of UWF’s Summer Festival Chorus, which will hold “Hayden Lord Nelson Mass,” its final performance, June 30, at 7:30 PM at UWF.
UWF students take part in Cubed Mural Exhibition in Downtown Pensacola.

2017-18 Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series stimulated critical thought on art’s role in society

June 18, 2018 | By: Jordan Ardoin

From October 2017 to June 2018, the University of West Florida’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities presented seven installments of the Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. The series, made possible by generous donors and the PACE funding promotes the value of liberal arts in building and sustaining contemporary culture. The 2017-18 installments did so by opening thought-provoking dialogues about how public art operates in the current social and political moment.
Communications students working in the department on assignments

Editing suite opens for University of West Florida Department of Communication

May 1, 2018 | By: Mary Stucko

The UWF Department of Communication has taken a step toward growth with the addition of a new editing suite. The suite is specialized toward video editing for TV production classes and UWF Argo News. Erica Dukes, a communication major focusing on telecommunications stated, “The new editing bay is an excellent way to get to know, help, and learn from your peers. I can see with this editing bay that the major will be able to grow more.”

Two students viewing artworks in TAG at UWF CFPA

The Art Gallery at UWF moves from foundations to faculty exhibitions

February 7, 2018 | By: Mary Stucko

On Jan. 1, The Art Gallery (TAG) at the University of West Florida, held its closing reception for the “Points of Departure, a Foundation-level Student Art Exhibition.” The exhibition ran from January 8 – January 25 and featured over 168 pieces of student artwork ranging from drawing, ceramics, painting, photography, digital art and graphic design. On Feb. 8 TAG reopens a new exhibit with the artwork of New Orleans based artist Michael J. Deas and UWF faculty member Gregory B. Saunders.