Griffin named USF board chair, Horton vice chair
TAMPA — The University of South Florida Board of Trustees has unanimously elected Mike Griffin to a two-year term as board chair. Griffin has been acting chair since April when Will Weatherford announced he was stepping down as chair but would remain on the board.
Griffin, a USF alum who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, served two terms as student body president and was the student representative on the first USF Board of Trustees in 2001. He is the first former USF student body president to become BOT chair.
Griffin has served as BOT vice chair since 2021 and chaired the last two presidential search committees, including the search that concluded with Moez Limayem’s selection in 2025 as the ninth president in USF history.
Griffin is vice chairman and co-head of the Florida region for Savills, an international real estate services company.
The BOT also elected Oscar Horton to serve a two-year term as vice chair. Horton, who joined the board in 2018, is president and CEO of Sun State International, a commercial transportation organization.
USF names new pharmacy college dean
TAMPA — Janice C. Zgibor has been named the new dean of the USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy following a national search. A pharmacist and epidemiologist, Zgibor has served at USF for more than a decade and brings over 20 years of academic leadership experience to the role.
Zgibor joined the USF Health College of Public Health in 2015, where she is professor of epidemiology and has held a series of leadership roles, including senior associate dean for academic and student affairs and director of both the PhD program in epidemiology and the Doctor of Public Health program.
Since March 2025, Zgibor has also been closely involved in advancing the Taneja College of Pharmacy’s academic programs. Serving as special advisor to the interim dean, she worked with pharmacy faculty to analyze the curriculum and implement educational changes to enhance student success and preparation for board exams and career placement.
Zgibor received her BS in pharmacy from the University of Pittsburgh and began her professional career as a practicing pharmacist. Her experiences helping patients access medications and medical devices sparked her interest in the broader systems that shape health care, leading her to earn an MPH and PhD in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She also completed an NIH postdoctoral fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Pittsburgh. Before coming to USF, Zgibor held several faculty and research leadership positions at her alma mater.
As a researcher, she has conducted multiple studies that have contributed to improved models of chronic disease care, resulting in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and research support from the National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association and other organizations. She has also served as editor and editorial board member for several journals and on multiple review panels and advisory boards, including the NIH and ADA.
She will officially begin her new position as dean of the USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy on July 3.
VA cautions on scam about free athletic shoes
BAY PINES — Bay Pines VA Healthcare System is warning of a fraudulent flyer currently circulating that falsely claims veterans can receive free athletic shoes from VA at no cost.
“This is NOT an official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program,” the agency said in a press release.
Anyone receiving the flyer is urged to not respond, share, or forward it. Do not provide personal, financial or health information to anyone promoting the offer.
“Be cautious of any unsolicited offers that appear too good to be true,” the VA says.
All-American 50 at 250 celebration to mark historic anniversaries
LARGO — Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources will host the All-American 50 at 250 Bash Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage Village Museum and Park.
This family-friendly festival honors Heritage Village’s 50th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Key highlights of the day include honoring the four-legged finalists of the Patriotic Dog Costume Contest, a historic postcard improv comedy show, and a community reading of the Declaration of Independence. Food trucks and cooling stations will be on site to satisfy appetites and give relief from the summer heat.
Cassie Jean and the Fireflies will perform on the Patriots Plaza Main Stage, alongside traditional acoustic songs performed by Jonesboro Station. Families can also gather at the historic Harris School for a special time capsule ceremony, which will seal local community memories and messages away for 25 years.
The day also unveils two major exhibitions: the brand-new permanent display, 50 Years of Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing in the Roy Helms gallery, and the opening of the Many Voices, One Nation: Stories of Democracy in Our Parks exhibition at the Madeira Beach Cottage.
The park is located at 11909 125th St. N.