Throughout the fall and winter, Saint Leo faculty members shared their knowledge and insights with a variety of media outlets and audiences—from newspapers and television stations to group talks. Here are a few highlights of appearances and media reporting featuring our faculty.
In September, faculty member Dr. Tammy Zacchilli was quoted extensively in three articles on the digital feature news site FamilyMinded.com. As an associate professor of psychology, Zacchilli shared advice for parents on the art of disciplining children, typical fears of toddlers, and what to consider before expanding a family.
In November, faculty member Dr. Gianna Russo appeared on WEDU’s That’s All I’m Saying with Tampa Bay Times columnist Ernest Hooper. Russo talked about nurturing Tampa area authors during the 30-minute program on regional public television. The assistant professor of English and creative writing also will soon release her new book, One House Down, a collection of poems published by Madville Publishing.
Dr. Keith Jones, associate professor of marketing, shared insights on a Saint Leo University Polling Institute survey regarding holiday shopping on Thanksgiving Day and whether stores benefitted from being open (or closed) on the holiday. His commentary appeared in American City Business Journals’ publications across the nation. He also participated in a Facebook live interview for Saint Leo alumni on the same topic.
Dr. Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro, an adjunct faculty member at the Ocala Education Center, participated in a November television interview with WCJB-TV, ABC 20, in Ocala about animal-assisted therapy. Valentine-Bottaro teaches human services courses in the College of Education & Social Services and is the co-founder of the Human-Animal Interconnectedness Institute.
In January, social work faculty member Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall was interviewed by Tampa Bay area television stations WTVT-TV, FOX 13, and WFLA-TV, NBC News Channel 8, about research conducted by the Saint Leo Polling Institute on human trafficking. That same month, Rapp-McCall and colleague Dr. Robert Lucio presented the polling institute’s survey data on human trafficking during a panel discussion hosted by the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
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
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).
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.
Saint 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.
For 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.
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’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.
The 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.
Saint 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.