Catalyze 2022: Sean Schrader, USF student government

We’re asking thought leaders, business people and creatives to talk about 2022 and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2022.

Sean Schrader, a senior business major at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and a senator in student government, is passionate about connecting fellow students into the community through local government and business.

Schrader, 20, initially had no desire to become involved in local government. However, as the Covid pandemic swept over the area, he thought he could make a difference by giving students a voice in politics and the surrounding community.

“The youth perspective is often overlooked or not considered when decisions are being made,” he said.

Schrader, also a member of the USF Faculty Council on Admissions, has served as an intern for Senator Charlie Crist and posed questions to city council and mayoral candidates during forums held at the university. He also played an integral role in bringing Mayor Rick Kriseman to campus recently. As a senior, he now realizes the value of community involvement and hopes to create a program to share those benefits with other students in 2022.

“There are networking opportunities, and networking opportunities can lead to internships and things like that,” Schrader said. “But more than anything else, when I got involved in the community I’ve been able to apply what I learned in the classroom into the community and the actual initiatives that are going on.

“I think that would be really beneficial for other students to be able to do the same.”

Schrader said he wants to advance several partnerships within USF and throughout Tampa Bay. Last summer, he said he conducted a tour of several businesses around the region to better understand how they were affected by Covid. His big idea for 2022 builds off of that experience.

Starting in January, Schrader plans to launch an initiative to conduct a series of meetings between local business leaders and students. The discussions will focus on how Covid affected business, and how companies could adapt and pivot to remain open during the pandemic.

“I think that would give students insight into what it’s like to do business in the area,” said Schrader. “But more importantly, it can help them while they’re obtaining their degree and going through business school.”

Schrader said it all starts with connections and hopes to partner with local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Innovation District to bring his idea to fruition. He added the Kate Tiedemann College of Business would help facilitate these meetings. Schrader said the industries most impacted by Covid are the initial focus, such as hospitality, tourism and health care.

“I hope this would be a community partnership,” said Schrader. “So, everybody gets to be involved.”

Schrader said his program would shed light on how local business leaders adapted their business models and teach students the significance of remaining nimble through a rapidly changing environment. He said the program also teaches students how to best support these businesses as members of the larger civic community.

“I’m really hoping this will provide an opportunity for students to understand what it’s like in the real world right now,” said Schrader. “And then being able to apply the principles and practices they’re learning in the classroom to real-world situations …”

Schrader intends to build a bridge between the College of Business and student government, which he thinks will provide a unique perspective. He plans to utilize that perspective while building his program and hopes several of his classmates will take advantage of the opportunity to get more involved with and better understand the St. Petersburg business community.

In addition to connecting students with the surrounding community, Schrader said one thing he is most looking forward to in 2022 is the sea mapping program recently launched by USFSP. He anxiously awaits the results of the remotely-operated surface vessels and believes the program is instrumental to studying sea-level rise.

Schrader said he is also looking forward to how USF navigates through several leadership changes in 2022. The university is currently searching for a new president, a regional chancellor for the St. Petersburg campus and a new provost.

“It’s always sad when these people leave – especially on the St. Pete campus with Dr. Tadlock, who has done a phenomenal job,” said Schrader. “Of course, current President Rhea Law has a lot of institutional knowledge that will be lost. However, I’m excited as well for what it will be like next year.”