In a commemorative ceremony on August 6, 2024, the 91社区 Judy Genshaft Honors College unveiled the Silverman Walkway, dedicated to Dean Emeritus Stuart Silverman鈥檚 27 years of service to USF's Honors students. Over 100 Honors alumni and university members gathered for the unveiling of the walkway and small monument in Silverman鈥檚 honor and remarks from university leaders.
鈥淚t all began with Stuart鈥檚 passionate commitment to build an exemplary program. One that supported and nurtured talented and bright students, and really pursuing all types of academic and creative heights,鈥� said USF President Emerita Judy Genshaft during her ceremony remarks.
Silverman joined USF in 1970 as a professor in the College of Education. He started as the interim director of the Honors program when it was founded in 1983 and became its first official director in 1987. Silverman was later named the inaugural dean when the USF Honors College was officially created in August 2002.
鈥淒ean Silverman made the Honors College the true gem of USF,鈥� said Genshaft.
From an initial cohort of just 20 students, the Honors College has grown into a thriving academic community providing unique courses and programming designed specifically for high-ability students on all three USF campuses. Once housed in Cooper Hall, the Student Services building, and the John and Grace Allen Administration Building in Tampa, the college moved into the first dedicated Honors facility in USF history in 2023, the stunning Judy Genshaft Honors College building on the USF Tampa campus.
When Dr. Genshaft and her husband, Steven Greenbaum, donated $20 million in support
of the new building, one of their key stipulations was that a space be reserved in
honor of Silverman.
鈥淚t was just so obvious to us that the Honors College would not deserve this facility
without Stuart鈥檚 long-term leadership and mentorship,鈥� said Greenbaum.
During the event, Silverman expressed his gratitude while also praising Honors students,
faculty, and staff for their contributions to the growth of the college.
鈥淚 was in the right place at the right time and that鈥檚 why I became Honors director.
But what made all of this work was really not so much me, what made it work were the
people in the university who said this will work,鈥� said Silverman.
A LASTING LEGACY
A commemorative monument in honor of Silverman is located near the north entrance to the Honors College building, fittingly situated on a grassy seating area bordered by a tranquil, rock-lined path. The decision to place the sign here derived from Silverman鈥檚 habit of spending mealtimes outdoors during his tenure as dean of the Honors College.
鈥淲e have created a lasting tribute in an outdoor area where he would have felt at
home, enjoying a quiet lunch, savoring the outdoors, with a spectacular view of this
building, and also thinking through the issues that kept this college and its students
going strong,鈥� said Greenbaum.
Silverman retired in 2014, passing the torch to the current dean of the Honors College,
Charles Adams.
鈥淎ll the growth and change over the past decade has been built on the solid and inspired
foundation laid by Stuart Silverman,鈥� said Dean Adams. 鈥淲e were thrilled to be able
to welcome Dr. Silverman and many of our alumni back to the new building. It was a
joy to recognize the lasting impact Dean Silverman made and to celebrate the continued
successes of the outstanding community he helped build.鈥�