Jennifer Aldrich:

Jennifer Aldrich grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin and moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2002.   She graduated from Eckerd College in 2005 with a BA in Visual Arts in the PEL program.  As a professional photographer she has taught photography to children at several local institutions such as the Arts Center and Melrose Elementary. Jennifer lives in the Old Southeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg and enjoys the cultural diversity and history it has to offer.  When she is not hitting the books for the Florida Studies program she can be found biking or kayaking on the waterfront. Jennifer is involved with the arts community and an environmental activist.  Her appreciation for Florida led her to pursue her graduate degree in Florida Studies with the intention of creating a photo documentary and creating a career in the arts.

Hope Black:

Hope Black graduated as an Interior Design major with an Associate in Applied Science degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1955.   Throughout the next four decades, as life intervened, she pursued a B.A. in History at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, taking one course a semester.   Upon establishing residency in Florida in 2001, she enrolled in USF-Sarasota to complete the degree in History in 2004. An abiding interest in her adopted state, its history, political issues and environmental concerns led her to the Florida Studies program. 

Hope is the wife of Robert Black, the mother of four children, and the grandmother of five.   She was employed for twenty-three years in the field of Advertising Research until her retirement.  She currently works at the History Center of Sarasota County and enjoys reading and every aspect of music. Hope graduated in December of 2007.

 

Adam  Carozza:

Adam is a retired U.S. Postal Service, published author (Images of America: New Port Richey, Florida. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2004) and is currently teaching at a local high school (Pasco County).

Adam is currently a member in the following: Phi Theta Kappa Society; Golden Key International Honor Society; College of Arts & Sciences Honor Society; Honor Society for the Social Sciences. He is active in his community as a trumpet player, Richey Concert Band, New Port Richey for 8 years; Board of Trustees: West Pasco African-American Club after school program; West Pasco Historical Society (Vice President);Florida Historical Society (member); Historic Preservation Board, City of New Port Richey. Adam graduated in May 2009.

"It’s never too late to learn."

Michelle Hoffman:

Being married to a Tampa native means one will eventually return to the Bay area.  So in the summer of 1999, Michelle and husband left Atlanta to a make significant career changes. For her, the change meant going from corporate director to high school teacher. While working toward her state certification, she realized that graduate school needed to be a part of her development as a teacher.  

So in 2003, she was awarded a James Madison Memorial Foundation Senior Fellowship that opened doors never imagined.  As part of her Madison requirement, Michelle studied last summer at Georgetown University focusing on constitutional theory and development. Next to the academic rigor, the highlight of the experience was the afternoon she spent with retiring US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. 

Earlier in 2005, Michelle received a Florida Studies Research Stipend to document oral histories of merchant marines who trained in St. Petersburg.  This project led to the publication of a book in May 2006 titled St. Petersburg's Maritime Service Training Base.  When not studying, researching, or playing with her two children, Michelle teaches at Gibbs High School.

Monica Rowland Kile:

I’m a native Floridian, born in Fernandina Beach and raised in Jacksonville. After receiving my BS in Communication degree from Florida State, I moved to Europe where I worked in a youth hostel in Switzerland and for a tour guide company in Germany.  

Upon my return to the States I worked as a Tour Director, taking groups on tours around the U.S., and as a tour guide in St. Augustine, Fl.  I entered the Florida Studies Program to explore avenues for heritage tourism in Florida.  I now work full time for the Florida Humanities Council.

Nevin Sitler:

GI Bill in hand and adventure in his blood, Nevin Sitler - kayaker, student, and former Air Force firefighter, became a Floridian in 1995. The Sunshine State's complex and colorful history has captivated and educated him since.

Nevin received his B.A in Political Science from USF-St. Petersburg in early 2004. Since enrolling in the Florida Studies Program later the same year, Nevin has provided historical review and consultation for several Florida themed books. He recently had an article, "Passages From Ft. Brooke," published in Cigar City Magazine.
Graduating among the top 10% of his class in December 2006, Nevin provides historical writings, review and editing, both in print and electronically. In addition to webmastering for the St. Petersburg Museum of History, Nevin is currently working with several authors on a forthcoming Florida historical guidebook. Nevin can be reached at NSitler@gmail.com.

 

"Support your Community: Volunteer"

Terry Tomalin:

Terry Tomalin is the Outdoors Editor for the St. Petersburg Times. During his 25-year journalism career, Tomalin has written about everything from the Ku Klux Klan to the Summer Olympics. An avid traveler, Tomalin has backpacked through the mountains of New Zealand and the Outback of Australia. During his time in jungles of Suriname and Brazil, he became interested in indigenous peoples.

An avid waterman, Tomalin hopes to combine his love of paddling ocean-going outrigger canoes with his Florida Studies curriculum. In 2003, Tomalin was part of an expedition that paddled an outrigger from Florida to the Bahamas. He hopes to continue his study of the pre-Columbian maritime tradition by paddling to Cuba and Mexico in coming years. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife Kanika and two young children.

Edward Woodward:

Edward Woodward is a former reporter for several daily and weekly newspapers, ranging from the Gadsden County Times to The Tampa  Tribune. He also worked for the Florida Park Service as a member of  AmeriCorps.

A native of Quincy, Florida, he now lives in Tampa with his family, which includes a cat that comes calling to the theme  song of Sanford and Son.

For further information on the Florida Studies Program or to add your profile to this website, please contact :

Florida Studies Program