Community Voices: Happy Dr. Martin Tadlock Day!

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When a person garners the respect and admiration as University of South Florida St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Dr. Martin Tadlock has from peers, City and State elected officials, community members, staff and faculty, and most importantly, from students, they get a day named after them!  In case you didn’t see it on St. Pete TV, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch honored Tadlock on with a proclamation of recognition, which formally recognized May 5, 2022 as Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock Day.

I have never worked for someone who was as humble as he was leaderly, and can tell you that across our campus, he will be fondly remembered and celebrated. As we wait to see who will lead our campus into its bright future as a center of excellence in environmental and oceanographic sciences and as a hub for FINTECH, it’s also fitting to look back and recognize where we have been and how much has been accomplished. Below is a reading of the proclamation, outlining some of Tadlock’s impressive achievements in the less than four years since he took the chancellor role.

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Tadlock was appointed as Regional Chancellor of USF St. Petersburg in August 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tadlock instituted a forward-looking vision for the campus, prioritizing the needs of students and identifying three pillars that highlight the campus’ unique identity: Research and Innovation; Diversity and Inclusion; and Sustainability; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tadlock led the creation of innovative, student-centered initiatives including the Chancellor’s Leadership Council, which provides high-achieving students with mentoring, small group sessions and leadership opportunities; the Innovation Scholars program, where first-year and second-year students gain valuable job-shadowing experience; and USF Pearls, which provides support for students emerging from the foster care system; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tadlock was recognized for his efforts with the 2021 President’s Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), which is presented to a college or university president or chancellor who has, over a sustained period, advanced the quality of student life on campus by supporting the institution’s student affairs staff and initiatives and is the highest honor NASPA bestows on a college or university president or chancellor; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tadlock oversaw the construction of several important facilities, including the 375-bed Osprey Suites residence hall; and the Nest, a full-service dining facility; as well as the renovations of Davis Hall and the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library; and

WHEREAS, The students, faculty and staff of USF St. Petersburg and the citizens of St. Petersburg will continue to benefit from Dr. Tadlock’s vision and leadership for generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kenneth T. Welch, Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim May 5, 2022 as Regional Chancellor Dr. Martin Tadlock Day and urge all citizens to join me in recognizing his many contributions to the campus and to our city.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official Seal of the City of St. Petersburg, County of Pinellas, and the State of Florida to be affixed this 5th day of May 2022.

Kenneth T. Welch

Mayor

Caryn Nesmith is director of community relations at USF, a position jointly funded by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, the St. Petersburg Innovation District, the City of St. Petersburg and USF. This is a series focused on USF and its role in our community, serving to strengthen the prosperity of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. You can contact Caryn at carynn@usf.edu