{"id":321385,"date":"2026-06-27T00:46:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T00:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/321385\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T00:46:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T00:46:12","slug":"usf-alumnus-chad-mallo-returns-to-campus-as-summer-camp-leader-25-years-post-graduation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/321385\/","title":{"rendered":"USF alumnus Chad Mallo returns to campus as summer camp leader 25 years post-graduation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>Chad Mallo, a high school teacher in Pasco County, earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in finance from USF in 2001. Now, he is leading summer camps for finance and entrepreneurship. ORACLE PHOTO\/LUIZA CAMPOS<\/p>\n

Nearly 25 years after graduating from USF with a finance degree, Chad Mallo returned to the Tampa campus \u2014 this time as a summer camp instructor.<\/p>\n

Mallo graduated from USF in 2001 and said he spent roughly 20 years working in banking before becoming a high school teacher.<\/p>\n

He teaches in Pasco County and leads the entrepreneurship pathway at the Angeline Academy of Innovation, where he teaches four entrepreneurship classes \u2014 business entrepreneurship, financial literacy, accounting and business law.<\/p>\n

Mallo said the transition from banking to teaching came from a desire to find a career where he could have a more direct impact on people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was asking myself, \u2018How am I helping others?\u2019 he said. \u201cIn banking, you do help others, but I wanted to ask myself, how can I give back and be able to make a positive influence in someone\u2019s life in the future, and so I was like, teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Mallo is teaching nearly 65 high school students about financial literacy through the Bulls Finance<\/a> and Bulls Startup<\/a> summer camps at USF Tampa and St. Pete.<\/p>\n

He said the financial literacy camp, which ran last week, teaches students the fundamentals of stocks through lectures and hands-on research at USF\u2019s Lasher Center for Financial Markets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The entrepreneurship camp in July will teach students how to turn ideas into business plans, sell the idea and showcase their business in a competition, he said.<\/p>\n

For Mallo, coming back to USF is a \u201cfull-circle moment\u201d and offers him an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI walk around this school, and I was a student here, and it\u2019s like, you know, I\u2019m a little older, and I know that I have a lot of knowledge, and it\u2019s just, it\u2019s surreal,\u201d he said. \u201cIt really is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: 70 years of USF: A university shaped by community and developments<\/a><\/p>\n

Mallo said his teaching method incorporates real-world experiences into the classroom and is also open about showing students his own practices and engaging them with practical financial situations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI show the students my credit card statements, I show them my balance sheet, I show them my bank account, I show them how I have direct deposit,\u201d Mallo said.<\/p>\n

Mallo said he\u2019s also used this method to help students create opportunities outside the classroom.<\/p>\n

He said he developed a program for high school students to take an adult-level financial exam based on their mandatory<\/a> financial literacy<\/a> class. Students\u2019 exam performance can also place them in paid summer internships with Achieva Credit Union.<\/p>\n

Mallo added that one of the biggest lessons he took from USF \u2014 and makes sure to teach his students \u2014 is the importance of networking.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing I believe is it\u2019s not just what you know in this world, it\u2019s also who you know, and I always tell students, if you got a who you know and a what you know, you\u2019re dangerous in a positive way,\u201d Mallo said.<\/p>\n

Related: USF Muma College of Business faculty, students welcome plans for new building<\/a><\/p>\n

As the lead at the entrepreneurship pathway at the Angeline Academy of Innovation, Mallo has also motivated students to create and compete with business ideas for entrepreneurship competitions.<\/p>\n

Mallo said three of his students placed first in the Pasco Young Entrepreneurship District Competition, including ninth-grade student Eva Livingston.<\/p>\n

Livingston said she developed a product designed to prevent raccoons from opening trash cans \u2014 a problem her family experienced firsthand in their neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were using bungee cords a lot of time, and it was just really annoying, because we had to take them off before, like, trash men actually came by,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s when I came up with the idea of creating a weighted trash can sleeve that could still stay on when trashmen come by.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mallo said Livingston\u2019s presentation stood out because she combined creativity, marketing skills and comedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer project actually caught me by surprise, and how she presented it so confidently, being] just only in ninth grade,\u201d he said. \u201cThe cool thing about it was she brought humor to her presentation, so it was a very unique, different type of presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Livingston said Mallo\u2019s mentorship in his entrepreneurship class helped her feel confident presenting her project.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really just been a good mentor,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s helped to motivate me and guide me, and just make sure that I\u2019m feeling encouraged, and he\u2019s just very supportive throughout the whole process.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that Mallo spent additional time helping her practice and prepare her presentation and delivery before meeting the judges.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe dedicated a lot of his time to me and to help me prepare to present to the judges,\u201d she said. \u201cHe wanted to make sure that I was feeling confident before I spoke with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the competition, Livingston said Mallo has encouraged her to continue exploring new projects and entrepreneurship through motivation and support.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a very kind-hearted person,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s very devoted to his students and even his staff. He\u2019s very encouraging, and he does a lot for our school, and he\u2019s just very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t