University of South Florida Hosts Fulbright Scholar focused on research about the Great Lakes Region, visit with Dr. Judithanne McLauchlan on the USF St. Petersburg campus

It was a pleasure to host visiting Fulbright Scholar Professor Andrei Valodzkin (hosted by my Department, the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences over on the Tampa campus) in Madeira Beach and at USF St. Pete.

Earlier in the semester Prof. Valodzkin  joined us for the Florida Political Science Association Annual Meeting panel on US-Uganda Relations (April). Panelists were researchers at the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University.  See this post for more about the panel: 

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2026/04/florida-political-science-association.html

Since then, Prof. Valodzkin and I had been trying to find a time in our schedules to meet to discuss future research cooperation. Finally we were able to make arrangements for him to visit me in Madeira Beach in late June.  First, he was able to learn more about local government by attending our Civil Service Commission meeting and visiting with our City Manager Mike Helfrich.

After the Commission meeting, we stopped by the Gulf Beaches Public Library.  Prof Valodzkin was able to "sign" the Declaration of Independence and peruse the America@250 exhibits.  After a beach BBQ dinner and after dinner walk along Madeira Beach, we drove to USF St. Pete for a campus tour.

The professor's research focuses on the Great Lakes region, and I am delighted to note that he will be one of the contributors to our volume about US-Uganda relations (a research collaboration that grew out of my Fulbright award to Makerere University in Uganda). We are both grateful for our Fulbright awards that have furthered our research partnerships across 3 continents (in this case, North America, Europe, Africa).

For more about USF St Pete https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/

For more about the City of Madeira Beach  https://madeirabeachfl.gov/

For more about the Gulf Beaches Public Library  https://gulfbeacheslibrary.org/

For more about the Fulbright Program https://fulbrightscholars.org/

Learning more about local government in Florida, attending the Coty of Madeira Beach Civil Service Commission Meeting (where I serve as a Commissioner)

With the City Manager of the City of Madeira Beach and the Chair of the Civil Service Commission

the City of Madeira Beach Fire Department

visiting the heart of the community, the local public library: Gulf Beaches Public Library in Madeira Beach

at a special exhibit celebrating America@250 one can "sign" the Declaration of Independence - and then ring a bell - to receive a copy of the US Constitution and the US Declaration of Independence 

thanks to my husband for grilling up a summer BBQ at the beach bungalow

quick walk on the beach before heading to USF

made time for a tour of the USF St. Petersburg campus

learning more about the marine life that can be seen on our beautiful waterfront campus

the College of Arts and Sciences on the USF St Pete campus

USF St Pete, waterfront campus that is in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg

USF World Posts about USF Global Excellence Award

The USF World (https://www.usf.edu/world/ ) recently posted on  its facebook page about my USF Global Excellence Award.

I am humbled by this recognition -- and so very grateful for all of the partners that I have had the privilege to work with over the years. 

And I am especially grateful for the Fulbright Program for the opportunities for international exchange. https://fulbrightprogram.org/

Pictured, my colleagues at the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University and my host Dr. Edward Kaweesi. (https://www.mak.ac.ug/)

Youth Engagement in the US and Uganda - USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Program Summer Civics Institute - US Embassy Uganda post

Special thanks to the US Embassy in Uganda for facilitating the exchange between students at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and Makerere University in Kampala!

Here is a post about the exchange on the US Embassy Uganda facebook page: 

Youth Engagement in Uganda and the US - USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Summer Civics Institute - USF World post

 The University of South Florida - USF World - posted about our joint USF-Makerere University joint seminar discussing Youth Civic Engagement in Uganda and the US:

Youth Engagement Uganda and the US - USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Summer Civics Institute -- USFSP Center for Civic Engagement post

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg Center for Civic Engagement posted about our joint seminar -- USF-Makerere University - discussing Youth Engagement in Uganda and the US:

Youth Engagement in Uganda and the US - USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Summer Civics Institute - Guest Speakers Shallon Nyankubito and Amon Byarugaba

As a part of the 2026 programming for the USF YMCA Civic Fellows Program Summer Civics Institute, we organized a session 

Youth Community Engagement and Civic Leadership in Comparative Perspective - UGANDA

The presenters were students from Makerere University: 

Amon BYARUGABA - founder and team leader of the TREASURE CHILDREN'S CHARITY

and

Shallon NYANKUBITO of the Africa Youth Federation

whom I had the pleasure of meeting while a Fulbrighter at the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University (Fall 2025). 

Amon spoke about his inspiring work founding the Treasure Children's Charity -- how he identified the community needs to be addressed - and how he and his supporters were able to make a substantial difference in the lives of the children in his village. https://treasurechild.org/

Shallon talked about her work with the Africa Youth Federation and offered our Fellows practical suggestions for organizing and raising awareness on social media platforms to bring about meaningful change in the community.

One of the overarching themes of the discussion was that none of us has to wait for some other person/organization/government/agency to act. When we see something that needs improvement, we can jump in and start working on the issues.

Most of the Civic Fellows reported that this was their first time interacting with students overseas - and many indicated that they plan to reach out and connect with the presenters from Uganda.

One of our Civic Fellows reflected on our joint seminar:

The US-Uganda conversation was an inspiring experience that reinforced the importance of youth engagement as a pathway to civic leadership and community impact. I learned that young people, regardless of where they live, want meaningful opportunities. What struck me most was how much we have in common - shared concerns about education, employment, leadership development, and creating positive change. The discussion gave me new ideas about empowering youth through leadership opportunities, partnerships, and both traditional and digital forms of engagement. I was inspired by the confidence, optimism, and commitment of the speakers from Makerere University, who demonstrated a strong belief in their ability to make a difference despite facing significant challenges.

For more about the presenters from Makerere University, see my previous blog posts: 

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2026/06/youth-community-engagement-and-civic.html

For more about the 2026 Summer Civics Institute, see this article by 2026 Civic Fellow Sydney EMERY  article about the 2026 USF YMCA Civic Fellows Program

Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the Fulbright Program (US Department of State) for connecting me with the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University - and for the US Embassy in Kampala for facilitating this fruitful exchange between students in the US and Uganda.

Group photo - with the students at University of South Florida in St. Petersburg and the students at the US Embassy American Spaces in Kampala

Student participants at the US Embassy American Spaces in Kampala, Uganda

Amon BYARUGABA presenting about the work of Treasure Children's Charity

Shallon NYANKUBITO presenting about her advocacy with the Africa Youth Federation

Youth Community Engagement and Civic Leadership in Comparative Perspective: UGANDA and the USA; Makerere University students Amon Byarugaba and Shallon Nyankubito will present

I am thrilled that youth civic leaders from Uganda will be presenting during a special session at the 2026 USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Program Summer Civics Institute -- youth civic engagement in comparative perspective -- the US-Uganda.

The featured speakers include Makerere University students Amon BYARUGABA, founder of the Treasure Children's Charity and Shallon NYANKUBITO of the Africa Youth Federation.

We appreciate the US Embassy American Center for facilitating this dialogue between US and Ugandan students.  For more about US-Ugandan partnerships, see https://ug.usembassy.gov/freedom-250/

For more from this blog about Treasure Children's Charity and presenter Amon Byarugaba see:

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/dr-jsm-office-hours-meeting-with.html

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/follow-up-meeting-and-donations-for.html

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/11/from-treasure-childrens-charity-website.html

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/11/treasure-childrens-charity-nansana.html

For more about from this blog about the work of Ugandan youth advocate presenter Shallon Nyankubito, see

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/dr-jsm-office-hours-meeting-with-youth.html

https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/follow-up-meeting-with-youth-advocate.html

For more about the USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Summer Civics Institute programming, see this video about the 2024 Institute

https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2024/civics-program-strengthens-understanding-involvement-government.aspx