Frank Biafora

Frank Biafora is a Professor of Sociology at the University of South Florida (St. Petersburg Campus) within the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Miami and has over 30 years of academic leadership experience, including serving as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (2007-2018). His research focuses on youth development, delinquency, substance use, adoption, and community-engaged methodologies. Biafora has led international collaborations, notably with Vinh University in Vietnam, and pioneered the USFSP Brewing Arts Program. He has secured $2 million in grant funding and authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles. Awards include the 2025 USF Excellence in Global Teaching Award and a Fulbright Senior Scholar designation (2006).

Research interests include: community-based research methods, workforce mindset analysis, and deviance studies. He teaches courses like Social Inequality and Medical Sociology, and has mentored students in global fieldwork (e.g., Tanzania energy projects). Leadership roles include Florida Humanities Council Board membership and Chair of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk Campaign.

Key grants include a 2025 City of St. Petersburg project on youth workforce engagement and a 2021 community conversational leadership initiative. His work bridges academia with civic engagement through programs like OPEN@USFSP and the Equity Index Project. He has presented at international conferences, including the Organizational Development Network and Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences.

Biafora’s career highlights interdisciplinary collaboration, policy impact, and global education outreach. His recent focus on marginalized youth populations aligns with his commitment to social justice and urban development initiatives in St. Petersburg.