When João Dapper arrived in Tampa from Brazil, he had never visited USF and did not know a single person on campus. What he brought instead was a willingness to show up and figure things out as he went.
He quickly immersed himself in Student Government, serving as deputy supervisor of elections and helping lead a campus-wide election for nearly 50,000 students.
The effort resulted in record turnout, with 5,260 ballots cast, reflecting months of coordination and a focus on strengthening student participation. He later continued this work in the advising, training and operations department, where he automated internal processes, reducing manual workload by 60% and policy errors by 30%.
His impact extended beyond campus. At StoneCo in Brazil, he developed a labor forecasting model for more than 160 business units, improving accuracy and supporting projected annual savings of $1.2 million. At Jacobs Solutions, he now contributes to supply chain operations for major infrastructure programs tied to the Florida Department of Transportation.
In recognition of his leadership, former USF President Rhea Law selected him as one of four inaugural student members of the President’s Global Leadership Council, advising on the university’s global strategy.
He also serves as head of logistics for BRASA Connect, the largest Brazilian student conference in Florida, coordinating hundreds of attendees, speakers, and sponsors. For students arriving far from home, that work helps create something he once lacked: a sense of belonging.