To celebrate Red Ribbon Week for 2020, we decided to have a virtual parade of champions. We will focus on a different member of the community each month and dedicate our social media channels to sharing their work. Our first champion is Allison Dinsmore, Assistant Director for Student Success on the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus. She was nominated by Dr. Sandra Stone and is truly an asset to the campus and the students. Her excellent leadership has helped many students, and her efforts do not go unnoticed.
“Allison Dinsmore is the Assistant Director for Student Success on the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus. She coordinates accessibility services for students who need academic support, as well as health and wellness services for those with physical and mental health needs, including substance abuse issues. She has helped promote our Good Samaritan initiative on campus and works closely with faculty and other student services staff for early identification of students who may be having difficulty to help connect them to appropriate services as soon as possible. She serves on the intervention team that handles referrals for students of concern, and she has been instrumental in establishing our campus food pantry and helping identify resources for students who are or are at risk of homelessness. She is a tireless advocate for student health and well-being and the “go to” person on our campus to connect students with the appropriate resources for care. Allison is definitely a “Champion of Prevention” for students at USF Sarasota-Manatee, which is especially important at the present time, given the increased stresses students are experiencing with COVID-19 and the uncertainties in their lives.”
