Submarines, Socrates and Saturday Math Class: The Bold Journey of Chris P. Tsokos

By Gregory Bowers, University Communications and Marketing

When Chris Tsokos first stepped onto the University of South Florida campus in 1972, the landscape was a far cry from the bustling, high-tech research hub it is today. In those early years, the Tampa campus was a small, sandy place where professors might spend their lunch hours picking oranges from the groves that dotted the grounds. At the time, USF was 16 years old and had only been holding classes since 1960. The inaugural class of the medical school had just completed its first year. It was against this backdrop of citrus trees and youthful academic ambition that Tsokos began a tenure that would span more than half a century, eventually making him the university's longest-serving employee.

In 1951, Tsokos migrated to the United States from Greece. A few years later, while living in Rhode Island, he was presented with a life-changing opportunity. "The coach in high school told me I was 'rough' in physical education classes," Tsokos explains, "and that if I came out to play football, he'd get me a scholarship. So, I went on a football scholarship at the University of Rhode Island where I studied engineering and mathematics."

By the early 1960s, Tsokos was pursuing his doctorate while working on nuclear submarines for General Dynamics, where he earned a government award for identifying a substance to help submarines evade detection. This period marked the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the U.S. government. Tsokos is one of the few individuals to have worked as an advisor or contractor for every branch of the American government, including the CIA and FBI.

As a distinguished university professor of mathematics and statistics, Tsokos has had a front-row seat to the changing tides of higher education. Now 88 years old, he reflects on how the student body has evolved since the 1970s. He notes that today's students navigate a world of intense external forces, including a complex communication structure and the prevalence of misinformation, which can make it difficult for young scholars to evaluate the information they receive. "We always look to improve our thinking, our philosophy. I stress three important things to my students," Tsokos says. "No. 1, critical thinking. No. 2, communication skills. And No. 3, be able to write what you think. Those are the most important things."

Tsokos believes the essence of a university remains anchored in the philosophies of Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. Despite the digital age's distractions, he maintains that the fundamental responsibility of a professor is to the student, creating and conveying new knowledge rather than simply following a textbook, even the textbook with his name on the cover. He treats his role as a mentor with sacred duty, having guided 80 doctoral students to their degrees.

Beyond the Pentagon and the classroom, Tsokos has dedicated much of his time, talent and treasure to serving the broader community. For 22 years, he operated a free Saturday program teaching mathematics to underserved children, a project born from his belief that education should serve the community's quality of life. He was also a founder and president of the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture, raising funds for five endowed professors at USF to ensure the study of Western civilization's roots remained vibrant.

Tsokos' life has not been without its own dark times. About a decade ago, he faced two types of cancer, including a rare hard-palate cancer that required an innovative surgery, and he happened to know the physician who was practicing within this narrowly focused, emerging specialty. This brush with mortality didn't slow him down. He has secured 10 U.S. patents in recent years, including in cybersecurity and medical technology. He currently has four more under review.

As USF celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026, Tsokos remains driven to learn more every day. His philosophy of life is distilled into a single, daily question he poses to himself and his students: "What did I learn today that I did not know yesterday?"

"If you can't answer that question," he says, "then you wasted a day."

Chris Tsokos' story is not just about academic achievement; it is a testament to the American dream and the belief that a university is a place where logic, service and tenacity can transform the world. It's clear that Tsokos, like so many members of the USF community, approaches every day with an unapologetic, unwavering and downright relentless pursuit of excellence.

That's bold.