Meet the New Deans

About this episode

This episode introduces the new deans of USF and discusses their backgrounds and priorities.

USF opens the 2024-25 academic year with two new deans: David Blackwell, the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business, and Elizabeth Spiller, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In this episode, we learn about their backgrounds (spoiler alert: Blackwell struggled in his initial attempt at college as a first-generation student, Spiller wanted to be a corporate tax attorney), what attracted them to USF and their priorities for their colleges.

People in this episode

Guests: David Blackwell, Elizabeth Spiller

Topics covered

• higher education
• leadership
• academic administration
• first-generation students
• college priorities

Keywords

• deans
• USF
• David Blackwell
• Elizabeth Spiller
• academic year
• college leadership

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USF

More episodes of Inside USF: The Podcast

• Reflections · February 6, 2026 · 17 min
• Meet men’s basketball Coach Bryan Hodgson · October 27, 2025 · 27 min
• USF welcomes new College of Engineering dean · August 18, 2025 · 34 min
• Provost focused on shaping what’s next for USF’s bold trajectory · May 5, 2025 · 26 min
• The debut of women’s lacrosse · January 27, 2025 · 25 min
• Meet the new dean of the College of Public Health · November 18, 2024 · 40 min