The UF Gulf Scholars Program is expanding its course offerings with new and revised classes that highlight the unique challenges and cultures of the Gulf region. From public health and sustainability to hip hop and democracy, these courses will give students interdisciplinary perspectives on the environmental, social, and historical forces shaping Gulf communities.
“The challenges facing the Gulf and its communities are complex, and we will rely on a wide variety of skill sets to adapt and plan for the future,” said Becca Burton, UF Gulf Scholars program coordinator. “We’re excited to team up with these dedicated faculty members to help students from a wide variety of disciplines build a strong connection to the Gulf and a shared mission to protect the region for future generations.”
These new courses form a key part of the curriculum for students pursuing the UF Gulf Scholars medallion. Funded by criminal settlement funds from the companies involved in the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the program allows students to earn their degrees while engaging in meaningful work that promotes stewardship, resiliency, and innovation in communities around the Gulf.
The following faculty members will receive $2,000 for the revision of existing courses.
- Erta Cenko, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, will revise PHC2100 Introduction to Public Health. This course aims to emphasize Gulf Coast environmental and health challenges, including topics covering rising sea levels, hurricanes, and coastal erosion in the Gulf region, along with assignments analyzing Gulf-specific public health initiatives. Through guest speakers, localized case studies, and a final project addressing Gulf community resilience, students will gain a deeper understanding of public health’s role in tackling environmental challenges. This course will be offered starting Fall 2025.
- Hal Knowles, instructional assistant professor and BSSBE undergraduate program coordinator in the College of Design, Construction & Planning, will revise DCP1241 Introduction to Spatial Thinking. This course, to be retitled Introduction to Sustainability and the Built Environment (SBE): Wicked Problems in Space and Time, introduces students to the fundamental concepts of spatial and temporal thinking that inform the planning, design, construction, occupancy, and management of built environments and nurture cultural heritage along the natural-to-urban transect. Course concepts are considered through sustainability and community resilience frameworks, exemplified through select Gulf region social-ecological systems (SES). Starting in Fall 2025, this course will include the Gulf revisions and be offered every Fall and Summer semester going forward.
The following faculty will receive $4,000 for the creation of new courses.
- Christine Davis, instructional professor in the Department of Biology, will teach a new course, BSC2930 Gulf Coast Flora: A Changing Landscape. This field-based course explores the beauty and diversity of Gulf Coast plant communities, focusing on the impacts of climate change and human activity on ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and coastal forests. Through field experiences, readings, and reflective writing, students will analyze how these dynamic landscapes are evolving and their significance for human communities. The course will first be offered in Spring 2026.
- Victor Del Hierro, assistant professor of Digital Rhetoric and Technical Communication, will teach a new course, Hip Hop and Young Adult Literature on the Gulf Coast. This course explores the cultural and entrepreneurial impact of Gulf Coast Hip Hop, examining artists like UGK, Master P, and T-Pain through a lens of regional identity, innovation, and resilience. Students will analyze music, mixtapes, and literature to uncover themes of community, environmental storytelling, and intercultural competence. Open to all majors, this course will be offered beginning in Fall 2025.
- Kevin Bird, lecturer and experiential learning coordinator at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, will teach a new course, IDS 4930 Reviving Democracy: Florida and the Gulf South from Reconstruction to the Present. This course examines the Gulf South’s pivotal role in shaping American democracy, from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Movement. Students will engage with primary sources, reflective discussions, and experiential projects to explore themes such as democratic coalition building, broad-based civic engagement, and the counter-organizing movements that anti-democratic groups pursued in response. The course will first be offered in Spring 2026.
- Matthew Uttermark, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, will teach a new course, Public Management and Gulf Communities. This course introduces students to the principles of public administration by examining governance challenges unique to Gulf Coast communities, including disaster preparedness, coastal erosion, and intergovernmental negotiations. Students will explore the values of transparency, equity, and accountability in public management through projects such as regulatory memorandum writing and policy analysis. Designed for students interested in public service, the course will be offered in Fall 2025.