USF mental health research center to be named after Darryl Rouson, thwarting a would-be snub

The University of South Florida is naming its mental health research center after state Sen. Darryl Rouson, a former drug addict who now advocates for various recovery and treatment programs.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law establishing a new center at USF, which included Rouson as its namesake. But that recognition wasn’t always certain. An amendment from Sen. Ed Hooper added Rouson’s name, but the House scrubbed it, leading to a back-and-forth with members coming to Rouson’s defense.

The naming was eventually added back in, and DeSantis signed off.

Mental health has been a cornerstone of Rouson’s tenure.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics