Three Judy Genshaft Honors College alumni were recognized with the 2026 University of South Florida Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Zita Fletcher, Paul Johannes, and Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed. Before the awards ceremony on the USF Tampa campus, we had the opportunity to sit down with two of the honorees — military historian Zita Fletcher and U.S. Navy submarine officer Paul Johannes. In this episode of The Honor Roll Podcast, we explore what it means to build a meaningful career on your own terms. Zita and Paul discuss topics such as forging nontraditional career paths, developing as leaders, and finding ways to make a lasting impact regardless of their field. They also reflect on their Honors College experiences, how USF has evolved since they graduated, what life aboard a submarine is really like, and how storytelling can change lives.
Three Judy Genshaft Honors College alumni were recognized with the 2026 University of South Florida Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Zita Fletcher, Paul Johannes, and Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed. Before the awards ceremony on the USF Tampa campus, we had the opportunity to sit down with two of the honorees — military historian Zita Fletcher and U.S. Navy submarine officer Paul Johannes.
In this episode of The Honor Roll Podcast, we explore what it means to build a meaningful career on your own terms. Zita and Paul discuss topics such as forging nontraditional career paths, developing as leaders, and finding ways to make a lasting impact regardless of their field. They also reflect on their Honors College experiences, how USF has evolved since they graduated, what life aboard a submarine is really like, and how storytelling can change lives.
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Guests: Zita Fletcher and Paul Johannes
Hosts: Reva Gandhi and Fabiana Requena
Production: Nicholas Henry, Maya Nikolski, and Professor Tamara Nemirovsky
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