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Choosing Wellness, a required course offered each semester at University Campus, teaches students just that—how to make choices for wellness. The course was developed by Dr. Joanne Crossman (pictured), professor of education, who is entering her 30th year of teaching in higher education.

Dr. Crossman found her way to Saint Leo University after about 23 years of teaching education and research at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. Intrigued by Saint Leo for a number of reasons, she most loved that it is a teaching institution that focuses on students, active learning, and creating a realistic and utilitarian curriculum.

When interviewing at Saint Leo, she was asked to teach the existing two-credit version of the course. Seeing lots of potential and an opportunity to put her passion for curriculum development to work, she was encouraged by Dr. Candace Roberts, then chair of the Education Department, to re-create the course. Dr. Crossman developed it into a three-credit course, primarily meant for freshmen and sophomore students, that provides a comprehensive understanding of the physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and interpersonal aspects of wellness.

Now in its fifth year, the course emphasizes the view of the body as a process rather than an object, as well as the importance of taking ownership of and responsibility for individual health. Students come to understand that the choices they make now can affect their health in the future, such as mitigating diseases that run in their families.

“There’s so much choice in the course,” explained Dr. Crossman. “When a student says, ‘I have to do this anyway so let me do something I care about,’ that’s when the class matters.”

Students typically see the course’s relevance as they mature. Dr. Crossman hears from former students who have made connections and applied what they learned in the course to their own lives, or who have engaged their family and friends with what they’ve taken from the curriculum.

“The growth comes from students recognizing that they know themselves best, what might motivate or hinder them, and then being willing to implement strategies for a more healthful lifestyle,” Dr. Crossman said. “Through the development of SMART* goals and holding themselves accountable for working toward or achieving those goals, students realize that they can’t fool themselves when it comes to their improved health.”

Dr. Crossman shared that she has noticed the impacts of the course around campus in students eating more healthfully and discovering fun ways to stay active. Additionally, she told the story of a former student informing her that he had recognized his own anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) because of symptoms he learned about in Choosing Wellness, and knew to seek immediate help.

Going beyond health and nutrition, Choosing Wellness courses are all attended once by a representative from Green Dot, a Saint Leo-affiliated program aimed at ending personal violence. Dr. Crossman hopes that introducing students to causes such as Green Dot will feed their passions and encourage them to become “health ambassadors.”

In the future, she hopes to help students identify health problems on campus and give them the opportunity to create mini-campaigns as a class project. Another future goal is to develop a course dedicated to women’s health, delving into confidence, image, and physiology.

*SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-limited.

BC-RegUniversities-South

best-colleges-RU-Best-Value_2018In the 2018 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges list, Saint Leo was ranked 61st among Regional Universities–South. In addition, the university was named as one of the Best Value Regional Universities–South.

 


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In the 2018 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs edition, Saint Leo was ranked high in the Best Online Programs for bachelor’s degrees (tied for 88th) and was named to the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans list (51st).


TopCollege_LOGO-JPG

For the fifth consecutive year, Saint Leo University earned recognition as a Top School in the 2018 Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) Guide to Colleges & Universities. The honor recognizes Saint Leo as a leader in the nation for providing education to those who are serving or who have served in the armed forces.

 


2018_BFV_COLLEGES_COIN

Saint Leo University was selected as one of the Military Times Best: Colleges 2018. Formerly known as Best for Vets, this rankings survey is the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement.

 


Faculty Spotlight

Aefsky,-Fern_2017_verticalLast Fall, Dr. Fern Aefsky, head of the Education Department in the School of Education and Social Services, was recognized by U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis of Florida for her extensive volunteer work with a program that helps teens stay in public high schools. She was among about 60 people who received a special certificate of recognition and a “Coin of Excellence – Outstanding Service” with the seal of the U.S. Congress. Bilirakis represents the 12th Congressional District, which includes Florida’s Pasco County, where University Campus is located.

 

Gianna-Russo_1_20172 In Fall 2017, Gianna Russo, assistant professor of English and creative writing, won the Best of the Bay – Best Local Poet from Creative Loafing: Tampa Bay.

Iconic children’s TV host Fred Rogers often quoted his mother as saying in tough situations or emergencies, “Look for the helpers. There’s always someone who is trying to help.” Saint Leo alumnus Marlon Knight is one such helper.

At age 6, Knight became a caregiver. His great-grandmother came to live with him and his mother. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and her condition progressively declined to the point that she was bedridden. Young Knight came to her aid. “I would get her up, help her use a bedpan, clean her,” he said. In addition, when he was 11, he helped care for his grandfather, who had suffered a stroke.

A desire to help others led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in human services from Saint Leo University’s Savannah Education Center in 2016. “I have a giving heart,” he said. “I want to make a difference.”

Knight grew up helping older neighbors, getting them groceries and doing chores. “They said, ‘You have a spirit of discernment at an early age and a spirit to communicate with people,’” Knight recalled. His helpfulness was not limited to seniors, as he volunteered and worked with children, teens, and young adults. “At the daycare [center] my children attended, I would go and read stories, acting them out,” Knight said. “And I was Santa Claus for three years in a row.”

He was enrolled at Savannah Technical College, and friends there kept encouraging him to pursue a bachelor’s degree. “Some of my classmates were going to classes at Saint Leo at night,” he said. “When I walked in the door [of the Savannah Education Center], the staff was so welcoming. They were so helpful. I said, ‘I need to do this!’ I never stopped until I walked across the stage [at commencement].”

Human services was a good fit for Knight. As a child, his mother coached him, was strict about his penmanship, and the way in which he spoke and carried himself. She encouraged him to help others. “It was that upbringing,” he said, that led him to a degree based on aiding those in need.

He completed his internship at Park Place Outreach Inc. in Savannah, GA, working with at-risk youths. Park Place operates an emergency shelter for children ages 11 to 17, who may be runaways, placed there by the court, or in other vulnerable situations. That “real world” experience coupled with volunteer work with the Human Services Club, his classmates, and the Saint Leo faculty and staff was eye-opening. “We went out in the summertime, and the kids [from Park Place Outreach] were doing volunteering, passing out food, brown bag lunches, snacks, juices, and personal care items,” Knight said. “In human services, we were seeing the homeless, and we would count the homeless and pass out blankets. We would see babies in shelters. It was just so heartbreaking, but it was just a great experience.

“You are out in the community, and you get to see the less fortunate,” Knight continued, ‘those who look like me and you, who are going through a rough time.”

Since February 2017, he has been a probation officer with the Chatham County Juvenile Court, continuing to help youths. He recently finished working with a pilot program of Homeboy Industries. The eight-week work-readiness program paid young people a stipend and taught them work and life skills. “Their conversations were about their struggles, hardships, drugs, guns, life on the streets, life behind bars, and the people who they know who have died,” Knight said.

His key to reaching them was poetry. In addition to helping others since a young age, Knight has put pen to paper to write. He wrote rap songs at 12. Sharing those raps with young gang members helps break the ice.

In December, he spoke at the 3-on-3 basketball jamboree sponsored by the City of Savannah.

Addressing a gymnasium filled with boys and girls, he performed “Problems”, a rap song he wrote as a teen.

“I started off with that poem to show that I can relate to them,” Knight said of his rap. “Poetry is how I get people to listen.”

Problems
So many problems are chasing me,
I’m stuck with nowhere to turn,
Nobody’s concerned,
who’s the blame if I never learn,
I’m full of a lot of stress,
nobody seems to know why,
I’m pressured by pain—so I get high,
hoping I can get by,
’cause on these streets ain’t nothing to do but violence-so I try to chill,
’cause if I’m caught in the crossfire—it’s so easy to be killed,
and if I die—some gonna cry,
but still life goes on . . .

His writing led him to attend the Sandhill Writers Retreat at University Campus. Encouraged by Dr. Susan Kinsella, now dean of the School of Education and Social Services, Knight submitted his poem “My Gifts” to Gianna Russo, assistant professor of English and creative writing. “What really motivated me was in the break area [of the Savannah Education Center], there is a picture of the campus,” Knight said. “I was intrigued by the beauty of the campus. I said, ‘I want to go there.’ It was one of the most beautiful sights. I wanted to get more involved with the writing, meet more writers, and learn techniques. I was excited to do something different.”

In downtime while he is sitting in court, Knight writes. “I write about life, love, spiritual growth,” he said. “The work inspires it, too.”

He translates what he sees and the stories of the young people he helps into poetry. He uses his gift of poetry to change young lives, still being the helper.

Helping-out-(1)-(2)
Marlon Knight’s children, Christopher and Christiana, are shown with Dr. Susan Kinsella, dean of the School of Education and Social Services, volunteering with the Savannah Education Center’s Human Services Club at Second Harvest Food Bank. Not pictured, Knight’s son, Marlon Jr.

Header photo: Marlon Knight ’16 and daughters Marlaya and Chistiana (wearing tiara)

At Saint Leo University, we have much to be proud of. Here is just some of the good news from recent months.


Lion's Roar (3)Saint Leo University was named one of the best regional universities and best values in higher education in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges. Saint Leo ranked 62nd among regional universities in the South, which marks a rise from its previous ranking of 71st. In addition, the university was named one of the Best Value Regional Universities-South


Lion's Roar (2)Saint Leo was also ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs for Bachelor’s Degrees (tied for 59th) and was named to the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans list (tied for 37th).


MFS17_Designation-(1)Saint Leo University earned the 2017 Military Friendly® School designation by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs®, STEM Jobs, and Military Spouse. Each year, the list of Military Friendly® Schools is provided to servicemembers and their families, helping them select the best college, university, or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career.


MFS17_Top10-1.jpgSaint Leo was also named a Top 10 Gold-level Military Friendly® School Award recipient in the category of large, private institutions for 2017. Victory Media, originator of the family of Military Friendly® employment, entrepreneurship, and education resources for veterans and their families, published its special awards for 2017 Military Friendly® Schools and Employers. Saint Leo was ranked No. 3 in the nation in its category and one of the “best of the best,” according to Victory Media.


CaptureFor the fourth consecutive year, Saint Leo University received recognition from Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) as a leader in the nation for providing education to those who are serving or who have served in the armed forces. Saint Leo earned the designation of Top School in its 2017 Guide to Colleges & Universities, measuring best practices in military and veteran education.


Lion's Roar (1)Saint Leo University was selected as one of the Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 by Military Times. The eighth annual Best for Vets rankings factor in the results of Military Times’ comprehensive school-by-school survey of veteran and military student offerings and rates of academic achievement.

Saint Leo ranked eighth in the country in the Online & Nontraditional School category, which recognizes the university’s commitment to educating military personnel, veterans, and their families wherever they may be—even if they are deployed.


Lion's Roar (4)Saint Leo’s commitment to community service recently garnered national honors as the university was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 2015 for measurable acts of community service by students, faculty, and staff. The honor roll is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service’s strategic commitment to engage millions of college students in service and celebrate the critical role of higher education in strengthening communities, according to its website.


For the fifth consecutive year, Saint Leo University’s online MBA Sport Business program has been recognized as one of the top online sports management programs in the world by the prestigious industry publication SportBusiness International.


 

Our alumni, students, faculty, and staff enjoy a variety of special events throughout the year. Take a few moments to experience Saint Leo in Pictures. Click on any photo below to learn more.

Robotics

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Teens, parents, and mentors from 28 robotics teams rocked the Marion Bowman Activities Center on February 13, as Saint Leo University hosted the Florida statewide FIRST® Tech Challenge for the second consecutive year.

At Saint Leo University, we have much to be proud of. Here is just some of the good news from recent months.


Student

Ed WeekThe School of Education & Social Services was cited by Education Week as an example of a college that successfully equips future teachers to employ technology skillfully and effectively in public school classrooms.


Jesse Goolsby

In Spring 2016, Saint Leo University announced the launch of a new, low-residency Master of Arts in Creative Writing program. To earn this Master of Arts degree, students complete 36 hours of graduate study in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. In an option unique to the Saint Leo program, those who are interested in writing about war experiences will select one of those genres, but instead of taking generalized writing courses within their specialty, they will enroll in courses in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry that reflect wartime or postwar experiences. U.S. Air Force officer and novelist Jesse Goolsby (above) was a guest speaker during the program’s eight-day residency at University Campus in July. He is the author of the novel I’d Walk with My Friends If I Could Find Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), winner of the Florida Book Award for Fiction.


2016 Top Work Places

For the fifth consecutive year, Saint Leo University was included as a Top Workplace in the annual survey published by the Tampa Bay Times. This year, Saint Leo ranks 15th in the category of large employers, meaning those with more than 500 employees.


DHSNSASaint Leo University’s Bachelor of Science in computer science met the standards needed for Saint Leo to be considered a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The new recognition is jointly sponsored and approved by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has been awarded to Saint Leo through the year 2021.


Calling on You

As university president, Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., receives many invitations to presidential inaugurations and convocations at peer institutions. When he is unable to attend, alumni are often called upon to represent Saint Leo. The university would like to extend appreciation to the following people who have represented the university at recent inaugurations.

Robert L. Padala ’73
Adelphi University–Garden City Campus

Kevin B. Reynolds ’94
Rollins College

John J. Sullivan ’77
Tulane University

Frank A. Trilla ’84
The Benedictine University

 

Being a parent is a tough job, but being a single mom taking college classes is even tougher. Yesenia Shaffer ’14, age 26, was one of those moms who juggled and multi-tasked, finally earning her bachelor’s degree in social work in Spring 2014.

It took lots of planning,” Shaffer remembers. “I knew I had to limit how long I was gone from my son.”

Her son, Gavin-Anthony, now 4, was 2 when Shaffer began taking courses toward her bachelor’s degree. Prior to that, she earned her Associate of Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, FL (now Pasco-Hernando State College, PHSC).

Gavin-Anthony was foremost in Shaffer’s mind as she began her education journey. “When I first went to school, I didn’t have him in day care,” she says. “So I went to night school. As I went through school, I got a little smarter, and I gained more strength to let go a little bit of my son. I worked nights at the Generations Christian Church in Trinity so I could afford small things, and my son was always with me when I worked in the day care area. I didn’t take on anything where I couldn’t take care of him. I was figuring out what was best for him.”

In addition to getting a college degree, Shaffer also wanted to become a pilot. When she first started her junior year at the Adult Education Center at the New Port Richey Office-PHSC, she only worked nights so that her son could accompany her. “My last semester, I got a job at the flight school and it was two hours both ways in traffic,” she recalls.

Dr. Marguerite McInnis, department chair of social work at Saint Leo, was impressed that her student wanted to be a pilot. “At first she was living in New Port Richey and commuting to Lakeland,” Dr. McInnis says. “And she still did her field placement. I was just amazed at everything she was handling. She maintained a positive attitude, but she was tired. She was juggling everything for her child’s future and for her future.”

Shaffer pursued a bachelor’s degree in social work from Saint Leo’s Adult Education Center at PHSC after not knowing what she wanted to study. It all became clear when she took her first human services class. “During the class, our teacher talked about if you wanted to be a counselor, you should get a social work degree rather than psychology,” Shaffer explains. “I had taken psychology, nursing, and education classes; I actually have my massage therapy license. I always enjoyed helping people, but didn’t know what way was going to be my way.”

Her own life mirrored what she was studying. “I happened to be in every situation,” she says. “I’m a young, Hispanic single mother, recently divorced, trying to go back to school, [with a] home that I can barely pay the mortgage for, and supporting a son.”

After some soul searching, she realized she wanted to help other people by majoring in social work. “I felt so empowered,” she says. “I was at the lowest time in my life, but I felt like I could build myself up to be anything. I had a clean slate. Everyone was so encouraging. I felt strong.”

Shaffer chose Saint Leo because family members and friends had studied at the university. “I grew up right off Old St. Joe Road and did a summer camp at Saint Leo,” she says.” I always knew it was really a great university. It was convenient. It had everything. And I could afford it. It fit all my requirements.”

Shaffer wants to combine flying with humanitarian interests. “I love, love, love to help people and fly and get to places that don’t have a lot of people coming by to help,” Shaffer explains. One of her future goals is to fly to the Caribbean islands and bring supplies. “I want to help people, meeting them where they are and helping them how I can.”

Now she is director of sales and marketing at Kingsky Flight Academy in Lakeland, a five-minute drive from her home. Gavin-Anthony attends a day care at the airfield and is proud of his mother. “He’s so vocal about it,” Shaffer said. “Maybe it comes from being my kid! He’s very verbal—every emotion is expressed. He’s always telling me how he is feeling. He knows that Mommy has worked hard.”