Biafora, p.1
CURRICULUM VITAE (ABBREVIATED)
FRANK A. BIAFORA, Ph.D.
EDUCATION:
1991Ph.D. Sociology, University of Miami, Florida
1988M.A. Sociology, University of Florida
1986B.A. Sociology, University of Florida
PROFESSIONAL RELATED LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:
2007 – presentUniversity of South Florida St. Petersburg
Professor and Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Serving as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP), a masters comprehensive, separately accredited, public institution serving approximately 6,500 students w/in the USF System. The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of three Colleges (Colleges of Arts and Sciences / Business / Education) comprised of approximately 150 faculty (60% FT, 40% PT), thirteen undergraduate and six graduate programs. Direct reports include: seven department chairs, five graduate program directors, Directors of USFSP Honors Program, Leadership and Civic Engagement programs, science laboratory supervisor, assistant dean, graduate recruiter, plus five office administrative assistants. Primary responsibilities include identifying and establishing academic priorities;development, fundraising and friend raising, managing an annual operating budget of over $8 million plus an endowment of over $5 million in support of these priorities; monitoring program effectiveness inclusive of standards specified by the state of Florida, SACS regional accreditation; delivering and evaluating the general education core curriculum; developing and implementing academic policies in a shared governance environment; appointments of all faculty and staff in the college, tenure and promotion, and annual evaluation of all staff, serving in the absence of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; I continue to remain an active faculty member and teach at least one course annually, inclusive of a summer Study Abroad experience.
Sample of Accomplishments:
Established, in collaboration with the faculty,a departmental and leadership structure, complete with administratively positioned department Chairs and support staff. Prior to my arrival the College was an assembly of degree programs with little formal organizational structure other than the Dean and schedulers of courses.
Created a diverse leadership team and provided professional development opportunities for advancement opportunities.
Prudently led the college through its most challenging budgetary decline, from $8 million to $6 million over a four-year period (2007-11), slowly climbing back towards $8 million base budget.
Strengthened faculty governance through the enhancement of College bylaws and a faculty handbook, and the establishment of new departmental bylaws and procedures.
Led the College and institution out of SACS regional academic probation and helped to facilitate a successful comprehensive on-site visit with no recommendations. As I arrived the university was placed on probation for failing to adequately monitor and assess general education. Implemented successful college-wide assessment model of student learning outcomes.
Re-positioned and strengthened the College with the elimination of two low enrolled degree programs (B.A. in Geography and Master of Social Work) and development of seven new degree programs (B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Health Sciences, B.A. in Modern Language and Culture, BFA in Graphic Design, fully on-line Masters in Digital Journalism and Design, M.A. in Psychology w/ an optional 4+1 fast-track, Master of Liberal Arts). Oversaw the careful growth and support of distance learning from 5% to 30% of total student credit hours. Facilitated successful cross-college and cross-university interdisciplinary educational partnershipsincluding the Professional Teaching Option (PTO) for humanities and sciences students. Collaborated with the faculties of the College of Business and Public Health on creative career professional tracks within the B.S. in Health Science.
Strengthened international education and partnerships through expanded education abroad opportunities (from one to seven per year) inclusive of a summer study abroad to Vietnam that I developed and continue teach annually; established faculty and student exchange agreements with universities in Belgium and Vietnam.
Established six new foundation accounts and raised funds to support academic department priorities and initiatives, including a $1 million gift to establish the Hough Family Endowed Chair in Florida Studies; authored successful grant proposals (three totaling $350,000)to Progress Energy Floridain support of College priorities.
Established a College of Arts and Sciences Community Board of Advisors.
Chaired three senior level searches (Chancellor, Dean of Library, Director of Institutional Research), Chaired the (2009-2013) University Strategic Planning Committee, and served on the Chancellor’s Planning, Effectiveness and Budget Committee; served as founding faculty advisor to the USFSP Debate Club and Chess Club. Serve on the Chancellor’s Senior Management and Leadership Team.
Oversaw construction of the new Science Tech building, a 35,000 sq ft. state-of-the-art research and teaching facility; oversight of renovation of Habor Hall (formerly Dali Museum) in support of programs in English, Professional Writing and Graphic Design.
Serve as Chief of Planning for the Emergency Operations Management Team
Founder and host of monthly community forum highlight faculty research and creativity/innovation in teaching with Dali Museum partner, titled “Genius Next Door.”
1993 – 2007St. John’s University, Queens, New York
Associate Dean, College ofArts and SciencesGraduate Division (1999-07)
Tenured Associate Professor (1999-07)
Assistant Professor (1993-98)
Coordinator, Criminology and Justice Program (2005-07)
Director, Ronald McNair Scholars Program (1999-07)
St. John’s University is one of the nation’s largest, private Catholic (Vincentian Community) institutions comprised with over 20,000 students (25% Graduate). Located in New York City, and with six campuses (Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, Manhattan, Rome, Italy and Paris, France) St. John’s is recognized as a research intensive, doctoral granting institution with Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Pharmacy, Professional Studies, and a School of Law. As a member of the Department of Sociology, Criminology and Social Work, I conducted research (see publications below) and taught courses in support of the undergraduate and graduate programs in sociology, criminology, and Pharmacy. After earning tenure, I was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Division (formerly Graduate School), serving as the senior administrator of the Division (there was no full Dean of the Division).
Sample of Accomplishments:
Provided administrative oversight of 18 master’s and four doctoral degree programs
Developed, in collaboration with the faculty, three new graduate degree programs:
- An innovative tri-university (St. John’s, Hofstra, and Adelphi) doctoral consortium degree in Audiology
- Master of Arts in Criminology, serving as the Program Coordinator
- A unique on-line Masters of Liberal Arts in Global Social Justice
Chaired design/build committee for new building construction for the Center for Speech and Hearing, and Psychological Services and off-site, community based, teaching, research, and full service center, supporting programs in Speech Pathology, Audiology, School Psychology, and Clinical Psychology.
Co-authored and served as the Co-Director of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Scholars Program. The McNair Program is a faculty mentor program, supported by the US Dept. of Ed. Title IV, the primary goal of which is to increasing the diversity among the university professorate.
Served as Co-Chair of the Student Learning Outcomes sub-committee at St. John’s during the Middle-States reaffirmation site visit (2006).
Led College effort to build and integrate Service Learning partnerships into curriculum.
1991 – 1993Research Assistant Professor, University of Miami, Fl.
LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program, accepted into class of 2015-16
Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC):
Off-site reviewer for three universities seeking accreditation reaffirmation (2012)
On-site reviewer for two universities seeking reaffirmation (2013 &14)
Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) (Member 2003–Present)
Chair of Metropolitan and Urban Universities Sub-Committee (2011-12)
Conference Planning Committee (2005)
Harvard University Graduate School of Education:
Institute for Management and Leadership of Education (MLE) (summer, 2011)
Member Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) (Member 2000-07)
Fulbright Senior Scholar, Vietnam (2006). In collaboration with Ministry of Education, led
workshop series on American higher education and accreditation standards.
Northeast Council of Graduate Schools (NAGS) (2000-07)
Association of Catholic Graduate Schools in Graduate Colleges and Universities (2000–07)
American Society of Criminology (ASC) (1993-05)
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) (1998-05)
Association for Equality and Excellence in Education (2002-07; Board Member 2003-07)
RECENT COMMUNITY SERVICE:
American Stage Theatre Company Board of Trustees (2008 to 2013)
Board Chair (2011 – 13), Chair of Development Committee
Pinellas County Urban League Board of Trustees, (2010 to present)
Education Committee; Strategic Planning Committee, Currently Chair Elect
Leadership St. Petersburg Alumni Association Board (2012 to present)
Chair of Professional Development Committee
Soccer Coach for local Summer Children’s League (KidSports)
Adult Mentor to Lakewood Elementary student
Chair, American Heart Association Annual Heart Walk Campaign at USFSP (2009)
SCHOLARSHIP AT A GLANCE:
- 20 Peer Review Articles
- 1 Co-Authored Book
- 7 Book Chapters
- 35 Professional Conference Presentations
- Over $2 million in external grant funding
SAMPLE OF SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS:
Ansalone, G. & F. Biafora (2010). “Tracking in the Schools: Perceptions and Attitudes of Parents.”
Race, Gender & Class, 17 (1-2): 226-240.
Biafora, F. & G. Ansalone (2008).“Perceptions and Attitudes of School Principals Towards School
Tracking: Structural Considerations of Personal Beliefs.” Education, 128 (4): 588-602.
Biafora, F., & G. Warheit (2007)."Self-Reported Violent Victimization Among Young Adults in
Miami, Florida: Immigration,Race/Ethnic and Gender Contrasts." International Review of Victimology, 14: 29–55.
Javier, R., Baden, A., Biafora, F., & A. Camacho (Eds). (2006). Handbook of Adoption: Implications
for Researchers, Practitioners and Families. Sage, CA. (ISBN: 1-4129-2751-X)
Biafora, F. & D. Esposito (2006). Adoption Data and Statistical Trends. In Javier, R., Baden, A.,
Biafora, F., A. Camacho (Eds.). Handbook of Adoption: Implications for Researchers, Practitioners and Families. Sage, CA.
Biafora, F. & R. Zimmerman (1998). “Developmental Patterns of African American Drug Use.” In
Drug Use and Ethnicity in Early Adolescence. Howard Kaplan (Ed.). New York: Plenum.
Biafora, F. (1995)."Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Illness and Wellness: Implications for
Depression." Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 4 (2): 105-129.
Biafora, F., Warheit, G., Gil, A., & W. Vega (1995)."Stressful Life Events and Changes in Substance
Use Among a Multi-Racial/Ethnic Sample of Adolescent Boys." Journal of Community Psychology, 22: 296-311.
Biafora, F., Warheit, G., Taylor, D., Zimmerman, R., & W. Vega (1993). "Racial Mistrust and Deviant
Behaviors Among Ethnically Diverse Black Adolescent Boys." Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 23: 891-910.
Biafora, F., Taylor, D. Warheit, G., Zimmerman, R., & W. Vega (1993). "Cultural Mistrust and Racial
Awareness among Ethnically Diverse Black Adolescent Boys." Journal of Black Psychology, 19 (3): 266-281.
SAMPLE PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:
- “Bullying in Academia.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS), Jacksonville, 2013.
- “Building and Sustaining a Culture of Assessment on Campus.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Orlando, 2011.
- “Why do African Americans Say ‘No’ to Drugs?: The Influence of Religion on Abstinence.” Presented at the American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. 2006.
- “Enhancing Student Preparedness with Learning Outcomes.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS), Boston, 2006.
- “Strategies for Excellence in Higher Education in Vietnam.” Invited keynote speaker by the Ministry of Education and Culture at the Annual Meeting of School Counselors, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2006.
- "Exposure to Violence Among Miami's Immigrant Latinos: Has the Chicago School Met its Match?" American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, Toronto, 2005.
- "Assessment! Assessment! Assessment! : Liberal Arts Dean's Role in Balancing Pressures and Realities of Learning Outcomes." Paper presented at the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, 40th Annual Meeting, Vancouver, 2005.
- "Exposure to Violence and Victimization Among a Multi-Ethnic Sample in Miami, Florida." International Congress of Psychology Annual Meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2005.
- "Risk Factors for Violent Behaviors Among Ethnically Diverse Urban Adolescents: Beyond Race/ Ethnicity." American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, Chicago, 1996
- "Racial Mistrust and Deviant Behaviors Among Ethnically Diverse Black Adolescent Boys." American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, 1992.
SAMPLE OF GRANT EXPERIENCE:
Awarded 2015Florida Humanities Council High School Summer College Experience Grant
$15,000USF St. Petersburg
Awarded 2003U.S. Department of Education, Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Program at
$837,000St. John’s University.
Awarded 1999U.S. Department of Education, Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Program at
$795,000St. John’s University.
Awarded 1998 Center For Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Targeted Capacity Expansion
$605,000and Evaluation of Samaritan Village Outpatient Drug Treatment Program
SAMPLE OF AWARDS AND HONORS:
- Invited to serve as sole Moderator of four televised Mayoral Debates, 2013
- One of 20 selected to participate in the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE) Diversity Abroad Future Leaders Summit, March, 2014, San Diego.
- Selected into Leadership St. Petersburg, Class of 2008
- Recipient of Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, by the J. William Fulbright Board, 2006
- Recipient of the Outstanding Administrator Award by the President of St. John’s, Spring 2005
- Recipient of the St. Vincent DePaul Founder’s Week Award, 2000
- Honorary Induction into Sigma Delta Pi, International Spanish Honor Society, Spring, 2000
- Selected into Leadership Miami, Class of 1991