FSU Panama City’s Dean Randy Hanna recently announced that Korhan Adalier has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Provost Sally McRorie Excellence in Teaching and Service Award. 

The award, which was created in honor of former FSU Provost Sally McRorie, is presented annually by FSU PC faculty as part of the celebrations leading up to spring graduation. 

“This award was established by the faculty at FSU Panama City in 2022 as an acknowledgement of exceptional work in the classroom with our students as well as outside in the community,” Hanna said.  

Adalier is the director of FSU Panama City’s engineering programs and serves as a teaching professor. He has been the coordinator of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Program since 2005.  

“I am also deeply honored that this award is associated with former Provost Sally McRorie,” Adalier said. “I have great respect for her leadership and contributions to the university, and receiving an award in her name makes this recognition particularly significant to me.” 

Before joining FSU PC in 2003, he was a civil engineering faculty member at Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

“Teaching, academic advising and mentoring students is the most rewarding part of my profession, and I take great pride in helping prepare the next generation of civil engineers. It is especially meaningful to see a large majority of our graduates remain in Northwest Florida and contribute to the local workforce and economy.” 

— Korhan Adalier, director of FSU PC Engineering Programs

“Teaching, academic advising and mentoring students is the most rewarding part of my profession, and I take great pride in helping prepare the next generation of civil engineers,” Adalier said. “It is especially meaningful to see a large majority of our graduates remain in Northwest Florida and contribute to the local workforce and economy.” 

Adalier’s primary expertise lies in the areas of geotechnical engineering, soil mechanics, earthquake engineering, soil dynamics, ground improvement and forensic engineering in natural and man-made earth structures. He is an author or co-author of more than 100 technical publications in the fields of geotechnical and earthquake engineering. 

“My interest in engineering began with a strong appreciation for mathematics and physics,” he said. “Civil engineering, in particular, represents the application of these foundational subjects to solve real-world problems and improve infrastructure and communities. This natural connection led me to pursue a career in engineering, and ultimately in education, where I could share that passion with students.” 

A member of numerous technical associations and societies, Adalier has been a reviewer for 10 different technical journals and received several professional awards, including the Casimir Gzowski Medal (2005) from the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. He has taught more than 20 different engineering courses over the past 30 years as a college professor. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1992 and 1996. 

“Advances in computational tools, data analysis and modeling have significantly shaped how we teach and apply civil engineering concepts,” he said. “As educators, we continuously adapt our approach to ensure students not only understand fundamental principles, but also develop the skills needed to effectively use modern tools in a rapidly evolving profession.” 

For more information about FSU Panama City, visit fsupc.fsu.edu. 

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Super Bowl LX featuring the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots has plenty of on-field storylines. But already making headlines off the field is the amount of commercials using artificial intelligence for production and storytelling.

As the revolutionary technology impacts everyday life, consumers are already seeing the effects of AI leading up to the Super Bowl. Brands have begun to create a hybrid model where AI is a collaborator in the creative and production process – from script development and director’s treatments to visual effects and animation.

While several ads have already been unveiled on social media leading up to the Super Bowl, much of the consumer reaction is based on what will air Sunday on NBC and Peacock before, during and after the game. The public response, which is expected to be varied across demographics, could be an early indicator of how consumers are embracing the AI-dominant creative process in commercials.

Brian Parker is an associate teaching professor for professional communication at Florida State University Panama City. His research is focused on consumer behavior, brand equity and image, advertisement strategy and response. Parker has extensive field experience as a consumer and market researcher, having consulted as an analyst on projects for companies including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Celebrex, Miller Beer, Budweiser, Nescafé and Florida Power & Light.

Parker believes AI’s heavy influence in advertising represents a new frontier.

“Consumer behavior is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, sociology and economics,” Parker said. “From this perspective, AI is poised to change how consumers engage with Super Bowl advertising in both exciting and cautionary ways, with effects that vary across psychological tendencies, cultural context and generational differences.”

For more analysis on consumer behavior and reaction toward Super Bowl commercials, media may reach out to Associate Teaching Professor Brian Parker via email at bparker@fsu.edu.

Brian Parker, associate teaching professor, Florida State University Panama City

This year’s Super Bowl commercials are expected to see an enormous breakthrough in AI development, from production to accelerated ideation. What kind of impact do you expect this to have on consumer behavior toward these ads?

From a psychological standpoint, AI will likely increase attention and novelty in the short term. AI-driven visuals, hyper-personalized storytelling and rapid creative iteration can produce ads that feel surprising, emotionally resonant and highly tailored. However, consumers are also becoming increasingly persuasion-savvy. When an ad feels overly synthetic or manipulative, audiences may disengage or question its authenticity. In this environment, trust becomes just as important as creativity.

Advertising, after all, operates in the interruption business. If brands fail to interrupt with something relevant, entertaining or meaningful, they simply become part of the clutter competing for attention. AI may help brands break through that clutter, but only if it enhances, rather than replaces, human insight.

Culturally, AI signals a broader shift in which technology is no longer operating behind the scenes but becoming part of the narrative itself. For some audiences, AI-enabled ads will represent innovation and progress. For others, particularly amid concerns about job displacement and ethics, they may trigger skepticism or backlash. Brands that acknowledge AI transparently and use it as a tool rather than a gimmick are more likely to resonate.

From a sociological angle, the Super Bowl functions as a shared, communal ritual. AI will likely amplify this collective experience by accelerating meme creation, social sharing and second-screen engagement. Ads may be designed not simply to be watched, but to be remixed, discussed and debated in real time. Given the influence of social media and creators in shaping culture, this may be the most immediate short-term impact of AI-generated advertising.

Are there any AI commercials that have already been released or will be released on Super Bowl Sunday that you feel could reflect the technology’s enormous impact?

Even before kickoff, several AI-driven Super Bowl commercials have already generated significant buzz, signaling just how deeply artificial intelligence is shaping the advertising landscape. Early releases, teasers and online conversations show that AI is not simply influencing what happens during the game, but also how audiences anticipate and talk about ads in the days leading up to it.

One of the clearest examples is Svedka Vodka, which released a spot that relies heavily on generative AI for its visuals, choreography and character animation. In this case, AI is not just a behind-the-scenes production tool but part of the creative identity of the ad itself. By placing machine-assisted creativity front and center, the brand invites viewers to react directly to the aesthetic and emotional feel of AI-generated content. The mixed reactions it has sparked, with some viewers finding it innovative and others finding it artificial or uncanny, highlight the ongoing tension between novelty and authenticity.

At the same time, major technology companies such as OpenAI, Google and Microsoft are using Super Bowl advertising to position AI as an everyday, consumer-friendly tool. Rather than focusing purely on spectacle, these campaigns emphasize normalization by showing AI integrated into daily life, work and creative tasks. This reflects a broader shift from presenting AI as futuristic to presenting it as practical and accessible. From a consumer behavior perspective, these commercials function as more than product promotions. They also serve as cultural signals that shape how people feel about AI itself.

Ultimately, these early examples demonstrate that AI is already influencing both the creative process and the narrative content of advertising. Its impact is not theoretical or future focused. It is happening now and reshaping how brands capture attention, build relationships and connect emotionally with consumers.

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A new biomedical sciences program at Florida State University Panama City was officially announced Tuesday, offering a major step forward in health care education for Northwest Florida. The Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) program, launching fall 2026, is designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers in health care — from clinical practice and medicine to health care management and policy. 

The program, offered in partnership with the FSU College of Medicine, aims to improve access to high-quality education in the clinical aspects of health care and support workforce development in the region. 

“This new program will serve to improve access to a high-quality education in the clinical aspects of health care — it will be an investment in future health care providers for Bay County and surrounding areas,” said FSU Panama City Dean Randy Hanna. 

The IMS program will be open to first-time-in-college students as well as transfer students from state and community colleges. 

“FSU Panama City is a tremendous resource for the people of Northwest Florida and a great springboard for students wishing to enter the health care professions. I am delighted the College of Medicine has expanded its IMS program, which will help students achieve their goals of preparing for a rewarding career.” 

— Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the FSU College of Medicine

“We are constantly finding ways to address the shortage of health care professionals throughout the state of Florida,” said Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the FSU College of Medicine. “FSU Panama City is a tremendous resource for the people of Northwest Florida and a great springboard for students wishing to enter the health care professions. I am delighted the College of Medicine has expanded its IMS program, which will help students achieve their goals of preparing for a rewarding career.” 

Students in the IMS program will earn a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, combining a rigorous science core with service learning, developmental seminars and a capstone experience. The program is structured to help students discover their most suitable health care career path, build professional skills and mindset and develop a deep understanding of community health needs. 

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Florida State University is set to advance nursing education and health care innovation in Northwest Florida with the support of a $10 million gift from The Fairholme Foundation.

This landmark philanthropic gift — the largest-ever to the College of Nursing — will help FSU expand nursing innovation and its undergraduate nursing program to the university’s Panama City campus with the goal of elevating the quality of health care in Northwest Florida, while addressing a critical nursing shortage in the region.

“We are so grateful for this gift from Bruce and Tracey Berkowitz and the Fairholme Foundation,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “This transformative gift represents an extraordinary commitment to the future of health care in Panama City and Northwest Florida. By supporting the education and innovation of the next generation of nurses, this investment will strengthen our local communities, improve access to care, and ensure that residents receive the highest quality of health services for years to come.”

The gift will directly address health care workforce challenges in the Panama City area by creating undergraduate scholarship opportunities for nursing students from Bay, Walton, and Gulf counties in Florida, who are interested in working in these counties upon graduation. Additionally, this level of philanthropic investment will fund cutting-edge technologies and faculty research that looks to advance health care for aging populations in Northwest Florida.

“This transformative gift represents an extraordinary commitment to the future of health care in Panama City and Northwest Florida. By supporting the education and innovation of the next generation of nurses, this investment will strengthen our local communities, improve access to care, and ensure that residents receive the highest quality of health services for years to come.”

— FSU President Richard McCullough

With Florida expected to face a shortage of 60,000 nurses by 2035, expanding FSU’s nursing program to Panama City aims to reduce the shortage, specifically in Northwest Florida. Nearly 53% of new registered nurses work within 40 miles of their high school, while 76.8% of bachelor’s-prepared nurses practice in the same state as their high school, according to a recent study by the RN Work Project.

“At the FSU College of Nursing, we are boldly rising to lead the future of health care — from pioneering digital health and smart home innovations to expanding access to high-quality nursing education across Florida,” said Jing Wang, dean of the FSU College of Nursing. “This historic gift empowers us to bring that vision to Northwest Florida, preparing exceptional nurses while advancing innovative care models that will shape the health of our communities for generations to come. With the Berkowitz family’s extraordinary generosity, we can provide the care needed today while positioning Florida State as a national and global leader in transforming health care through nursing.”

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Florida State University’s K-12 laboratory schools — The Collegiate School at FSU Panama City, Florida State University Schools in Tallahassee (FSUS) and FSU Pembroke Pines — have each secured an “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year. 

These accomplishments, driven by dedicated faculty, staff and students, reflect FSU’s commitment to creating environments where students thrive. For the schools, these ratings enhance their reputation, attract top talent and strengthen community ties. 

“Not only do these schools provide some of the best education in Florida, but they have an impact on classrooms around the state and country by conducting important research on how to better improve our schools.” 

– Damon Andrew, Anne’s College dean and superintendent

At FSU Panama City, The Collegiate School secured its second consecutive “A” rating, a remarkable feat as the school doubled its enrollment this year. It distinguished itself as the highest-ranked school in Bay County, further amplifying the positive impact FSU is making across the Florida Panhandle. 

Debbi Whitaker, The Collegiate School at FSU Panama City director, emphasized the efforts being made to elevate educational standards. 

“Earning an ‘A’ grade from Florida’s DOE is a great indicator of our school’s continued success, especially considering we earned an ‘A’ last year, our inaugural year,” Whitaker said. “The ‘A’ in both years shows the commitment from students, families, faculty and staff. We were also the highest ranked school in Bay County, demonstrating TCS to be an excellent educational opportunity for students across our area.” 

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Two students in Florida State University Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Program (DNAP) used their clinical skills to make lasting impact on communities in need.

Alonso Martin Arcadia-Reynoso and Daniel O’Malley flew to Mexico in February to volunteer with the AdventHealth Foundation’s “Sharing Smiles” program, a medical charity that provides free corrective surgeries for needy children in Latin America who were born with cleft lips or palates. The students spent a week on site and concluded with a total of 42 procedures benefiting 26 children.

For Reynoso, the experience was a dream come true. As the son of immigrants, he spent a portion of his childhood living in Mexico and his native-level Spanish proficiency helped bridge communication gaps for others on the team. Reynoso’s background also provided an additional level of confidence for patients and their families.

“I witnessed incredible humility and appreciation from every single parent and child that we encountered,” Reynoso said. “It was inspiring to see the collaboration amongst everyone, both local and American, that was a part of the effort to help these children in need.”

Even in cases where surgery was not immediately possible, Sharing Smiles helped to extend aid to patients.

“Unfortunately, some children were not candidates for surgery that week, but the team did everything they could to provide help in other ways, like connecting them with orthodontist services to make the preliminary steps toward having a surgical repair or referring them to a nearby event they were hosting in a neighboring state in a few months,” O’Malley said.

The nationally accredited DNAP program at FSU Panama City is a 36-month doctoral program focused on patient care before, during and after surgical procedures in a variety of settings. The curriculum highlights the use of critical thinking, clear communication and professionalism while conducting various anesthesia techniques. It places an emphasis on analysis, evaluation and decision-making skills in all anesthetic areas.

“The nurse anesthesia program at FSU PC prepared us very well to be detail-oriented and resourceful in the face of complex clinical situations,” Reynoso said. “DNAP instilled a very strong foundation of the principles of nurse anesthesia during our time as students.”

O’Malley and Reynoso were in their final semester of the program working at clinical sites and preparing for board exams when Dr. Chris Dobson, a pediatric anesthesiologist with Sharing Smiles, reached out to Stacey VanDyke, DNAP director, looking for two student volunteers.

“They are making a meaningful impact,” said VanDyke. “I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and professionalism, and it’s an honor that our school was selected to be part of this mission.”

The next Sharing Smiles mission in the Dominican Republic will include DNAP student Rebecca Lisson as a team member.

“I expect this mission trip to be a life-changing experience and I’m very eager to serve those in need,” Lisson said. “Anesthesia is provided the same fundamental way, regardless of location; it all comes down to adapting to the available resources. The DNAP program is extremely rigorous, and it’s designed this way to ensure that graduates are proficient and safe anesthesia providers.”

Sharing Smiles provides corrective surgery and rehabilitation therapy and works in partnership with local public health institutions and private sector leaders to provide comprehensive care for children long after surgery.

For more information about FSU Panama City’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program, visit appliedstudies.fsu.edu.

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Just after sunrise at the Panama City Marina, a team of Florida State University Panama City students geared up for a dive. They unloaded equipment from a truck, walked the length of the pier, and scanned the scene that included a boat docked in still water. Today’s mission: Solve a simulated underwater crime.

The scenario felt real. According to the exercise, a diver working on the boat propeller overnight failed to check in. The team suspected the worst — that the diver was still underwater.

These students are part of FSU Panama City’s Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (UCSI) program, where training dives like this one happen regularly.

Mike Davis, director of operations for FSU’s Advanced Science Diving Program, said the simulations are designed to teach students how to methodically handle underwater investigations.

“They will mark out a search area, search through the area to find evidence and the body,” Davis said. “Once they identify where it is, they’ll mark the body, mark all the evidence and mark the positions based on some reference point, so if the evidence is required at trial, it is accurately depicted — where it was, the depth of the water, all of those references.”

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The Collegiate School at Florida State University Panama City was among those recently recognized as a Purple Star School of Distinction by the state Department of Education. Gov. Ron DeSantis made the announcement Tuesday at Callaway Elementary School in Panama City.

The Purple Star designation indicates that The Collegiate School (TCS) supports the unique needs of military families, helps military-connected students navigate critical challenges and provides resources for military-connected students when adapting to a new school environment.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a Purple Star School of Distinction,” said TCS Director Debbi Whitaker. “We appreciate being able to join all of the other schools in Bay County in receiving this accolade for supporting our military community, and specifically the children of military families.”

DeSantis announced that five districts — including Bay District Schools — and an additional 176 individual schools received the Purple Star designation this year from the Florida DOE.

“Florida is committed to being the most military-friendly state in the nation, and this program supports students as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station,” said Paul O. Barnes, DOE senior chancellor, in a letter announcing the Collegiate School’s distinction.

The Florida Legislature established the Purple Star School of Distinction designation in 2021 and the Purple Star School District program in 2024. The district-level award recognizes districts in which at least 75% of schools are Purple Star Schools.

In 2023, the Legislature expanded the Purple Star initiative to include state universities. Florida State University received Purple Star Campus designation in the same academic year.

“We are pleased to be part of a community that supports our military families,” said Dean Randy Hanna of FSU Panama City. “From top to bottom, the schools here in Bay County have always been very supportive of the military and their family members.”

Each school, district or campus awarded the Purple Star must reapply after three years to maintain its designation.

From its inception, TCS was designed to give preference to student applicants from active military families. Having opened in 2023 as a tuition-free developmental laboratory charter school, TCS offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and technical career preparation.

For more information about The Collegiate School, visit tcs.fsu.edu. For a complete list of Purple Star schools and districts, visit the Family & Community Engagement page at fldoe.org.

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With both Ukraine and Florida experiencing catastrophic damage to cities from war and hurricanes, respectively, students at Florida State University joined forces with peers in Ukraine to develop real-life solutions for reconstruction efforts last month. This collaboration brought students together to address an urgent and tragic crisis – the destruction of cities.

The event, “Hack Disaster: The International Hackathon to Rebuild Cities,” was hosted by the FSU Innovation Hub in collaboration with FSU’s Ukraine Task Force and the Ukrainian-based organization Hackathon Expert Group. The five-day event virtually connected 32 FSU students with 17 students from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) in Ukraine.

Hackathons have become a popular educational tool where interdisciplinary teams compete to solve a real-world problem. This unique hackathon split students into nine interdisciplinary teams, each consisting of four to six students from both Ukraine and the U.S. These binational teams worked together online to respond to the rise of natural and manmade disasters in the 21st century.

The challenge provided an exceptional opportunity for students to use design thinking and advanced technology to assess building damage and estimate reconstruction costs. Over a dozen faculty and experts from FSU and KNU volunteered to support the student teams as mentors and facilitators, offering their expertise across several disciplines, including data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, emergency management, entrepreneurship and communications.

“It was a true partnership from the earliest planning to the emotional conclusion,” said Ken Baldauf, director of the Innovation Hub at FSU. “We blended design methodologies from the FSU Innovation Hub with a hackathon framework from the Ukrainian Hackathon Expert Group. The results were even more impressive and impactful than we had hoped for. Perhaps the most valuable results were the international connections that were formed between all involved.”

The winning team, “Clear Sight Disaster Suite,” included FSU students Calen Sims, Kathleen Ticer, Ethan Long, and Farhana Taiyebah, along with KNU students Kyrylo Bonduryansky and Daniia Kravchuk. Their project focused on using a shipping container as a command-and-control center outside of a disaster recovery zone and establishing a graphical user interface concept.

Sims, the winning team’s project manager and architect, described the event as a “transformative experience.” He earned his undergraduate degree in computer engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering while at FSU Panama City in 2021 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering at the same location.

“The event not only challenged my technical skills, but also expanded my understanding of project management, systems engineering, interdisciplinary problem-solving and the importance of global collaboration,” he said. “Working alongside talented peers at FSU and KNU was particularly inspiring, as it highlighted the value of diverse perspectives in addressing complex issues like disaster recovery. This experience instilled in me a commitment to leveraging my skills to solve real-world challenges, leaving a lasting impression that will continue to guide my academic and career aspirations.”

The idea for the event was born this past summer when Taras Panchenko, head of the computer science department at KNU, spent a month on FSU’s campus through the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program. The program aims to help Ukrainian universities educate and train professionals critical to the country’s recovery and reconstruction through lasting, productive collaboration with U.S. institutions of higher education.

FSU’s Ukraine Task Force hosted Panchenko and three other Ukrainian higher education officials to learn about teacher-training development, combating human trafficking, mental health care, trauma resiliency, intensive English language development, drone applications, closed-circuit television (CCTV), body security innovations and many other areas. The task force was created in 2022 to support Ukrainian colleges and universities, explore areas of possible research or grant collaboration and educate the FSU community about Ukraine. It falls under the purview of the Learning Systems Institute.

During his time on FSU’s campus, Panchenko, who leads the Ukraine-based Hackathon Expert Group alongside peers at KNU, connected with FSU faculty members and discussed how to foster collaborations between students at FSU and KNU. That’s when he pitched the idea for a virtual hackathon where students at both institutions could collaborate virtually to solve a problem.

“All of the BridgeUSA Fellows are spectacular educators,” said Vilma Fuentes, program director of the FSU Ukraine Task Force. “They live in the world of innovation and are trying to find engaging learning opportunities for their students in the midst of Russia’s daily missile and drone attacks. I am delighted to know that we were able to organize this international hackathon just months after Taras Panchenko’s departure. It was a spectacular learning opportunity for all involved. This is just one of the many international projects we hope to implement with our Ukrainian colleagues at KNU.”

In addition to Panchenko, Baldauf and Fuentes, the planning committee for the event included Anna Romanova, researcher at Learning Systems Institute; Gordon Erlebacher, professor in the Department of Scientific Computing and program director of the Interdisciplinary Data Science Program at FSU; Emily Pritchard, assistant provost for health innovation; David Merrick, director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at FSU; Stephen McDowell, assistant provost for international initiatives at FSU; and Paul Marty, associate vice provost for academic innovation and professor in FSU’s School of Information.

To learn more about the Innovation Hub at FSU, visit innovation.fsu.edu. For more information about FSU’s Ukraine Task Force, visit lsi.fsu.edu/fsu-ukraine-task-force.

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Robert Cvornyek, assistant teaching professor in social science at Florida State University’s Panama City (FSU PC) campus, has received the inaugural Provost Sally McRorie Excellence in Teaching and Service Award.

Dean Randy Hanna announced this year’s award on May 2, saying the faculty at FSU Panama City established it in 2022 to acknowledge exceptional work in the classroom and in the community.

“The McRorie Award is most meaningful because it recognizes the intimate connection between teaching and societal uplift,” Cvornyek said. “Courageous teachers never stop thinking about how they can share course content in ways that address collective issues regardless of discipline.”

The award will be presented annually as part of events leading up to commencement and was created in honor of former FSU Provost Sally McRorie.

During McRorie’s tenure, the university brought in its most talented and diverse classes, set records for the number of first-year applications for admission and enrolled the highest number of graduate students in university history. Under her leadership, FSU saw record retention and graduation rates and eliminated disparities among its diverse undergraduate population, nearly a third of whom were Pell Grant recipients and first-generation college students.

Born and raised in Newark, N.J., in a working-class family, Cvornyek was a first-generation college graduate. He credits his upbringing for forming his outlook: “The sacrifices parents make for their children, the value system of working hard and giving to others.”

“Public history always has an element of applied history, going out into the community. A lot of times there is a disconnect about what is written about someone and what the public understands about a person.”

– Robert Cvornyek, assistant teaching professor in social science at FSU PC 

Cvornyek, who joined the FSU PC faculty in 2018, plans to retire in August 2024.

“All teachers put in tremendous emotional involvement in their classes and students, and it’s hard to see them go,” he said. “A lot of the students I teach are first-generation students like myself. It’s hard not to see myself in them.”

Cvornyek received his doctorate in history from Columbia University and is professor emeritus and former chairman of the history department at Rhode Island College. He is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research and specializes in sports history. He edited the autobiography of baseball Hall-of-Famer Effa Manley, and his documentary film, “The Price of Admission,” was screened April 6 at the Rhode Island Black Film Festival at Brown University in Providence.

“Public history always has an element of applied history, going out into the community,” Cvornyek said. “A lot of times there is a disconnect about what is written about someone and what the public understands about a person.”

With that in mind, he recently co-edited two books examining how Black athletes in Boston contributed to social movements, including integration and cultural expression. “Race and Resistance in Boston: A Contested Sports History” (University of Nebraska Press, January 2025) and “Boston’s Black Athletes: Identity, Performance and Activism” (Lexington Books, July 2024) were both co-edited with Douglas Stark, a consultant and museum director at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Cvornyek and his students were integral in the restoration of Covington Cemetery in Panama City, a historically Black cemetery that was damaged by Hurricane Michael and had become overgrown. His efforts, bolstered by students and community members, resulted in the city taking over maintenance of the plot and the placement of a historical marker on the property.

“‘Love’ is not too strong a word here,” Cvornyek said. “It really was a labor of love. Restoring the dignity of a sacred place goes beyond politics. The students felt a sort of deeper connection to the people buried there and the community they represented.”

“Portraits of the Black Experience in Bay County,” spearheaded by Cvornyek’s research, became an ongoing, evolving initiative to document the history of individuals and their communities. The project’s mission is to preserve, reimagine and share stories that otherwise may be lost to history.

For more information, visit pc.fsu.edu.

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