University of Tampa Buys Prime Site Near Oxford Exchange
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
March 24, 2025
University of Tampa has purchased land near Oxford Exchange, but has not yet disclosed what they plan to build there. “We have not finalized or announced plans for the property,” Eric Cárdenas, assistant vice president for communications and public affairs, told the Business Journal.
The U.S. Has a Long, Ugly History of Alcohol-Related Tariff Fights. They Don’t End Well.
Wine Enthusiast
Kate Dingwall
March 21, 2025
When President Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products, E.U. officials fought back, declaring a 50% excise on American whiskey and other products. Reacting to the reaction, Trump’s team proposed a 200% levy on European wine and other spirits. “There are lots of examples of alcohol tariffs in American history,” says Abigail Hall Blanco, associate professor of economics. “Even the U.S. Tariff Act of 1789 included a tax on imported alcohol, among other goods.”
Swapping Champions League Dreams for the American Dream
BBC
Alex Hoad
March 21, 2025
Senior soccer player Alex Hare played in a junior professional league in England as a teenager before opting to play for universities in the U.S. “The America route seemed great because I get a degree, and I can set my future up in a better way off the pitch. It's still full-time football for four years — a lot of lads who end up dropping into non-league don't get that — and I get the experience of living and going to university in America,” said Hare. “I felt it would be a better move for me and my life and it has been, I'm very glad I did it.”
Historians Examine JFK Files Rekindling Speculation of Tampa Connection
10 Tampa Bay
Eric Glasser
March 19, 2025
Journalists and historians are delving into thousands of newly declassified documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Among the revelations, some suggest there’s a chance of a possible connection to Tampa, where Kennedy visited just four days before his death in Dallas. While historians continue to analyze the files for new insights, it remains uncertain whether Tampa will feature prominently in the findings. For locals like Soultan El-Ajou, sophomore biochemistry major at UTampa, the revelations offer a chance to better understand history. Reflecting near the JFK memorial at the entrance to the UTampa campus, El-Ajou remarked, “You’ve got to learn what happened…our generation knows more about it than boomers do now.”
Regime Uncertainty: Another Substantial Cost of Tariffs
RealClear Markets
Abigail Hall Blanco
March 17, 2025
Abigail Hall Blanco, associate professor of economics, uses her professional expertise to break down the many implications of the newly imposed tariffs and the uncertainty that comes with them.
Jacob Hamlin Obliterates Another Division II Record With 14:51.81 1650 Free in Indianapolis
SwimSwam
Sean Griffin
March 15, 2025
Sophomore swimmer Jacob Hamlin broke his third NCAA DII record in one week at the 2025 NCAA Championships. His winning performance also represents a sweep of his events at this competition, meaning he’s gone 4-for-4 over the weekend.
UTampa Club Hockey Team Wins First National Title
Yahoo! Sports
Sean Barie
March 14, 2025
For the first time in program history, the UTampa men's ice hockey team won the Amateur Athletic Union Div. I National Championship. The team went 5-0-0 at the tournament at Community First Igloo in Jacksonville, defeating Farmingdale State College 5-2 in the championship, and before that defeating Auburn University (AL), Fairfield University (CT), St. Bonaventure University (NY) and the University at Buffalo (NY).
Steak ’n Shake Was Struggling. It Turned To Beef Tallow — And MAGA.
The Washington Post
Daniel Wu
March 13, 2025
Amid struggling finances, Steak ’n Shake announced its plan to substitute usual cooking oils with beef tallow to improve food quality and align with health official Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s suggestions. Mark Lang, associate professor of marketing, believes positioning Steak ’n Shake so closely to Kennedy, who has courted some of the most controversy out of those in Trump’s administration, runs the risk of staking the brand too far on the fringe of political opinion. “I’m surprised that in order to gain some new customers and sales, you would alienate an equal number of customers on the other side,” he said.
New CPI Report Shows Inflation Cooled More Than Expected
ABC Action News
Larissa Scott
March 13, 2025
The Consumer Price Index, which measures price changes across commonly purchased goods and services, showed a cooling of inflation to 2.8% compared to 3% the month prior. “The inflation numbers actually came back pretty good this month… This probably means that the Federal Reserve is going to hold interest rates steady next month,” said Thomas Stockwell, assistant professor of economics. He and other experts said inflation eased a little more than they expected.
Over Half of Americans Who Don’t Own a Home Fear They Never Will—but They’re Wrong
Realtor.com
Julie Taylor
March 11, 2025
People across various generations share the same sense of pessimism about homeownership. “The cliche thing to say is that younger generations can't afford homes because we've spent too much of our income on avocado toast,” Abigail Hall Blanco, associate professor of economics. “I do believe homeownership is feasible for younger generations — but it may look different than it did for our parents.”
Cracks Are Emerging in the Idea of America’s Economic Exceptionalism
The Hill
Vivekanand Jayakumar
March 11, 2025
Vivekanand Jayakumar, associate professor of economics, points out the flaws of the U.S. economy in its current state, despite earlier sentiments that the U.S. was outperforming countries of similar standing.
Free Art Shows in Largo Feature Dazzling Local Stars Sam Modder and Iboms
ABC Action News
Sean Daly
March 5, 2025
The Gallery at Creative Pinellas in Largo is running a large-scale show featuring artwork by Sam Modder, assistant professor of art and design. Her show, "Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks," is described as a fantastical storybook come to life’ a Black woman escaping to an “Other World” where anything and everything is possible.
Economists Warn Tampa Residents of Price Spikes From New Tariffs
FOX 13
Kylie Jones
March 4, 2025
Trump has stated that the tariffs he’s proposed are meant to punish Mexico, Canada and China for the flow of illegal drugs and migrants over U.S. borders. "There is this idea that it's going to harm the country that it's being imposed on without harming U.S. producers or U.S. consumers. And that's just simply not the case," said Abigail Hall Blanco, associate professor of economics. Blanco says Americans could be affected by not only the retaliatory tariffs but also the U.S.-imposed tariffs.
Tampa Professors Break Down How Tariffs Will Impact Your Wallet
10 Tampa Bay
Anjelicia Bruton
March 4, 2025
Local economy experts project tariffs will impact multiple industries and consumers, but it could take six months or longer. “It makes foreign goods more expensive with the idea that people are going to substitute or switch to buying U.S.-produced products,” said Abigail Hall Blanco, associate professor of economics.
America’s Designs on Annexing Canada Have a Long History − and Record of Political Failures
The Conversation
Patrick O’Brien
March 3, 2025
Patrick O’Brien, assistant teaching professor of history, geography and legal studies and historian of early U.S.-Canadian relations, penned this piece to give context to President Trump’s desire to annex Canada. As Trump is not the first American leader to propose this plan, he notes that previous northern expansion efforts have indicated “weakness and simmering division inside the United States,” rather than power.
This story also appeared on Yahoo! News, Houston Chronicle, CT Insider, SF Gate, Big Rapids Pioneer (MI), Conroe Courier (TX), Manistee News Advocate (MI) and Shelton Herald (CT).
UTampa Launches Hybrid Master’s Program To Meet Growing Demand for Skilled HR Professionals
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Jim Molis
March 1, 2025
According to data compiled by UTampa, employment in human resources management is increasing by 7-10% annually, making it the right time to launch the University’s Master of Science in Human Resources Management program, which starts this fall. “HR management is a growing field at all levels, from entry positions to the managerial level. There’s great demand and it’s hard to fill the pipeline with the right combination of hard and soft skills,” said Susan Steiner, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship.
Will Florida’s DOGE Plans Lead To Savings? Economists Aren’t Sold
Newsweek
Ewan Palmer
Feb. 27, 2025
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' recently announced state-level Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) task force has been met with skepticism by economists. Abigail Hall Blanco, associate professor of economics, said there is a “certain irony” in DeSantis ordering the “creation of a government bureaucracy to try and cut government bureaucracy.” She added, “This order scores obvious political points, but the economic score will be determined later.”
This story also appeared on BellingHam Herald (WA), Miami Herald, Rock Hill Herald (SC), Wichita Eagle (KS), The Olympian (WA), Mahoning Matters (OH) and Myrtle Beach Sun News (SC).
Push To Allow Guns on College Campuses
WFLA
Feb. 20, 2025
Florida senators have filed a bill that would allow concealed weapons, including guns, on college campuses. Two UTampa students were asked for their opinions on the idea, with one student saying they “would definitely be scared, especially with all of the school shootings going on,” while another student said they “would feel okay with it if it was definitely an extensive process, and not just something you could go and grab in a day’s notice.”
Is the Trump Administration Fighting the Wrong Economic Battle?
The Hill
Vivekanand Jayakumar
Feb. 19, 2025
Vivekanand Jayakumar, associate professor of economics, breaks down the longtime debate of how rapid technological evolution has polarized the job market and displaced many middle class workers, and how new policies and advances could exacerbate the issue.
How Trump’s Mass Deportations Could Lower the Social Security Trust Funds
U.S. News & World Report
Maryalene LaPonsie
Feb. 18, 2025
President Trump’s executive order mandating the deportation of undocumented immigrants could lead to unintended financial consequences. Michael Coon, associate professor of economics, asserts that the immigration system needs to be fixed to make it easier on immigrants to become citizens. “There is no reason why these people should not be allowed to live and work here in the U.S. Most undocumented immigrants live and work in the U.S. and have normal lives like everyone else,” said Coon.
Area Coaches Say Women’s Hoops in ‘A Great Place’ as Final Four Looms
Tampa Bay Times
Joey Knight
Feb. 14, 2024
Women’s professional basketball is the most popular it’s been in 25 years. “Gosh, I think we couldn’t be in a better place right now,” longtime University of Tampa women’s head coach Tom Jessee said. “I think the game has really taken on a lot of eyes. It’s a great time to be in women’s basketball.”
Best Capital One Credit Cards
WalletHub
John Kiernan
Feb. 13, 2025
WalletHub asked Jennifer Burton, associate professor of marketing, for her expert opinion on Capital One. Burton spoke on Capital One’s marketing strategies, how they are able to offer cards to all credit levels, and which credit card benefits consumers prefer.
Changes in Inflation by City
WalletHub
Adam McCann
Feb. 12, 2025
Patrick Luce, part-time economics faculty, provided his expert insight on inflation to WalletHub. Luce was asked what the main factors driving inflation are, what can be done to slow it down, and how interest rates affect inflation.
What To Make of Donald Trump’s Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum
Deutsche Welle World (Germany)
Nik Martin
Feb. 11, 2025
Many economists, however, disagree that Trump's tariffs mark the beginning of a new “Golden Age” for the United States and reject his assertion, while signing the proclamations, that foreign exporters — not ordinary Americans — would bear the brunt of the tariffs. “The literature on this is abundantly clear,” Abigail Hall Blanco, an associate professor of economics at the University of Tampa in Florida, told DW. “Tariffs mean major losses, for all parties involved.”
Dean Looking To Finish Stellar Career With Second National Title
The Enquirer Journal (Monroe, NC)
Michael Wayne O’Neill
Feb. 10, 2025
Senior swimmer Kenan Dean’s hometown newspaper recaps his most recent season, in which he won a national title, ahead of his final season at UTampa.
What is a Budget?
WalletHub
Adam McCann
Feb. 5, 2024
Thomas Stockwell, assistant professor of economics, used his expertise to explain the benefits and downsides of personal budgeting, and shared some tips on creating and sticking to a plan.
University of Tampa Economist Shares How Trump’s Tariffs Could Impact Floridians
FOX 13
Jordan Bowen
Feb. 3, 2025
America's three biggest trading partners – Canada, Mexico and China – are now firing back after President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, and a 10% tariff on goods from China. Associate Professor of Economics Abby Hall Blanco says, “Economics teaches us that trade is remarkably beneficial and that things which limit our trading capacities make us worse off. They make us poorer.” Blanco explains it may take time before Americans feel the strain on their wallets. “So maybe when we're talking about going back to school in July or August and you're buying those school supplies for your kids or next year, when you are looking at buying toys for your kids for Christmas or Hanukkah, those things are going to be more expensive," Blanco said.
Local Reaction to Tariffs on Canada and Mexico
ABC Action News
JJ Burton
Feb. 1, 2025
Amidst the public’s reaction to the introduction of tariffs on consumer goods, Michael Coon, associate professor of economics, doesn’t “recommend that people panic.” He explains that price increases won’t be reflected for at least six months, so if the masses buy as much as they can now with the “lower prices,” it will increase prices even faster.
There’s Still a Real Threat That Inflation Makes a Comeback
The Hill
Vivekanand Jayakumar
Feb. 1, 2024
Vivekanand Jayakumar, associate professor of economics, reviews the trends of inflations over recent years and theorizes how President Trump’s policy agenda will affect it in the near future.
Zoe Piller’s Bay Area Birthright fulfilled at University of Tampa
Tampa Bay Times
Joey Knight
Jan. 31, 2024
Senior Zoe Piller felt destined for Tampa after being born during the 2003 Superbowl game when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored their first Superbowl win. Now, she is the top scorer and rebounder on UTampa’s basketball team. “She’s the strongest kid. She could be an Olympic weightlifter maybe,” head coach Tom Jessee said. “I mean, when she posts up and seals you, you’re not moving her. And she’s very, very nimble for her size; she’s got good quickness. She can put the ball on the deck, go around you. She’s not just a power player, although that is her strength.”
UTampa Baseball Begins Title Defense with Retooled Line-up
ABC Action News
Kyle Burger
Jan. 29, 2024
UTampa’s baseball program is coming off a ninth Division-II National Championship season in 2024. “All year, it's championship or bust around here,” head coach Joe Urso said. “That’s what we signed up for and we are very happy with that.” “We’re here to win championships,” starting pitcher Skyler Gonzalez added. “This club has a lot of history. A lot of national titles, a great head coach.” Urso was busy this offseason assembling a squad to compete for a tenth title this season after many standout players graduated last year.
UTampa President Trains with ROTC
WFLA
Jan. 29, 2025
President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg took part in ROTC personal training workouts. Dahlberg completed battalion runs and the “Spartan Circuit,” which includes deadlifts, kettle bell swings, push-ups and a buddy team sled drag.
Longtime University of Tampa Athletics Director To Retire
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Breanne Williams
Jan. 28, 2025
Larry Marfise, UTampa’s athletic director for the last 26 years, has announced his retirement, effective in November. “I cannot overstate the profound impact Larry has had on UTampa’s co-curricular experience and on the hundreds of student-athletes who have competed on our fields and courts,” said President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg. His legacy at the University includes creating gender equity plans, increasing athletics fundraising, improving athletic facilities on campus, creating new teams for the university and leading the charge on ensuring Spartan athlete GPAs were at or above UTampa’s overall student GPAs.
Best Online Loans
WalletHub
John Kiernan
Jan. 28, 2025
Sridhar Gogineni, associate professor of finance, was tapped as an expert to give insight on the best online loans.
Power 100: Tampa Bay’s Most Influential Business Leaders of 2025 Named
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Pam Huff
Jan. 27, 2025
President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg was named to Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Power 100, which celebrates Tampa’s most influential business leaders who significantly impact the community. Former president Ronald Vaughn was previously named to the list, and is now labeled as a “2024 Legend.”
Best & Worst States To Start a Business
WalletHub
Adam McCann
Jan. 20, 2025
Bert Seither, manager of operations for the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, was tapped as an expert to give insight on the best and worst states to start a business.
The Strong Dollar Conundrum Facing the Trump Administration
The Hill
Vivekanand Jayakumar
Jan. 19, 2025
In this opinion piece, Associate Professor of Economics Vivekanand Jayakumar says that economists predicted the dollar to weaken in 2024, but that is rose sharply instead. Now, with President Trump sown in and planning to implement trade tariifs and restrictive immigration policies, both of which are likely to be inflationary, signal a further strengthening of the dollar.
Massive New Trump Tariffs Are Looming. Here’s How These Import ‘Taxes’ Work and Who Pays for Them
Bankrate
Sarah Foster
Jan. 16, 2025
One of President Trump’s main campaign promises was to create a “universal baseline tariff,” believing that it will bring jobs back to communities hurt by globalization and increase government revenue. But economists, including Associate Professor Michael Coon, say that tariffs aren’t a reliable tool for either of those objectives. “One of the few things that most economists unanimously agree on is trade is good,” said Coon. “If you implement a world that’s super protectionist by putting in a lot of tariffs, it’s going to raise prices on consumers and effectively make everybody poorer.”
UT Professor Reveals Worst Thing You Can Say to a Cancer Patient
Bay News 9
Jeff Butera
Jan. 5, 2025
Colter Ray, assistant professor of communication, has studied how people communicate with cancer patients for more than a decade. When talking to patients ages 18-39, two-thirds of the population had experienced a lack of support from a friend or loved one they expected to hear from. “The most common thing is, ‘I don’t think what to say’ or ‘I’m afraid I’m going to say the wrong thing.’” Ray said. While there are unhelpful things that people can say to a patient, the worst thing is nothing at all.
Does a Lack of Faith Lead To Suicide? One Study Says Yes. Scholars of Secularism Say No.
Religion News Service
Bob Smietana
Jan. 3, 2025
A recent academic paper drew on crime-tracking data on college campus and religious affiliation surveys to show that states with higher percentages of so-called “nones” — people who claim no religious affiliation in surveys — have higher rates of sexual assault on campus as well as higher suicide rates overall. Ryan Cragun, sociology professor at UTampa, reviewed the paper and said that while it does show a correlation, the paper’s author fails to prove that disbelief causes those higher rates. Cragun also said the paper ignores other data, such as that showing that states with higher murder rates are correlated to higher per-capita populations of evangelicals. “If I were to use his logic, then I should be able to argue that evangelicals are more likely to kill people,” said Cragun.
