City of St. Petersburg Supports USF Efforts to Further Enhance Diversity with New Pledge to College of Marine Science

The City of St. Petersburg has contributed $125,000 to the University of South Florida Foundation to help enhance diversity in the ocean sciences. The gift to the USF College of Marine Science’s “Bridge to the Doctorate” fellowship endowment supports underrepresented students of color who are African American or Black, Hispanic or Latinx, Pacific Islanders, Native American or Alaska Native. The city’s gift will be dispersed over the next five years.

“USF’s College of Marine Science plays a key role in St. Petersburg’s culture of innovation, and serves as a critical component in our Grow Smarter economic strategy,” said Deputy Mayor and City Administrator Kanika Tomalin. “Our pledge is one additional step the city is taking to level the playing field so that students of all races and backgrounds can participate in the college’s rich academic enterprise.”

The city’s gift aligns with its Grow Smarter initiative, which includes a spectrum of equity-focused investments. It complements USF’s broader portfolio of diversity-focused initiatives, commitment to equity in education, and its track record of student success. In recent years, USF has been recognized as a national leader in student success and has been honored for graduating underrepresented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students.

Continue reading on the USF College of Marine Science website.

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