The realization hit him one day on the job. This project’s legacy and impact were going to outlive him.

“When I think back on every cool thing I’ve gotten to do so far in my career, it does all kind of lead back to Orlando Family Stage,” Lowe says.

Lowe was 6 years old when his cub scout troop attended a show at the stage, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary — the last 25 of those years in partnership with UCF.

He eventually went through its Youth Academy, interned as a UCF theatre student on site, made industry connections and now regularly contracts work at the stage as a full-time lighting designer for Clair Global, a tech company that specializes in live production services.

Lowe’s story is just one example of the countless ripple effects that have materialized from UCF’s longstanding, collaborative partnership with a nationally recognized leader in the theater industry.

“I’ve watched kids come in and they’re so shy and they can’t do anything. But by the time they leave, they’re not only signing up for the next show, they’re leading the next show,” says Paul Lartonoix, assistant dean for the College of Arts and Humanities and longtime Orlando Family Stage board member. “Sometimes it’s amazing at what it does. There’s no reason to not be proud of it. It’s doing great things for families. It’s doing great things for kids. It’s doing great things for our students, and it’s awesome that it’s being run by Knights.”

A Partnership That Builds Community

Orlando Family Stage, founded in 1926 as part of the City of Orlando’s Recreation Department, has evolved over the past 100 years while persevering through historic challenges including the Great Depression, World War II, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCF entered the picture in 2000 when former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood and UCF President John C. Hitt formed a community coalition to bring the stage under UCF’s oversight. At the time, the theater needed a major overhaul — both to its physical home at Loch Haven Park and in programming — to ensure it could thrive in the new millennium.

“I know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without UCF on board. We wouldn’t have survived.” — Chris Brown ’05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and UCF theatre alum

“We wanted it because we thought that space was an exceptional, it had tremendous potential, and UCF should be a part of it. That really was the driving force,” says Lartonoix, who served as executive director on-loan and was instrumental in leading the early years of the partnership. “And when things worked, it was fantastic.”

The intervention proved to be a major catalyst for its impact in the community today, and for the world at large through the countless children and UCF graduates who have been affiliated with its programming and education.

“I know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without UCF on board. We wouldn’t have survived,” says Chris Brown ’05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and UCF theatre alum. “To think that leaders came together and said, ‘We don’t want to lose a vital theater organization in our town, and we want to create an active and engaged partnership with the university where we can collectively do good things to serve young people in the world.’ It’s very special.”

Florida’s Only Professional Theatre for Young Audiences

A major part of that partnership is UCF’s MFA in theatre for young audiences program, which launched in 2004. The program has operated for the past two decades as Florida’s only professional theatre for young audiences and is one of the most distinctive programs in the country with its unique graduate-training residency.

In addition to learning from the university’s esteemed faculty, students gain practical experience with opportunities to work with professional artists and teach in Orlando Family Stage’s award-winning Youth Academy, which offers camps, classes and experiences for every age level from infancy through teens.

The MFA program has seen graduates go on to work at some of the most prestigious theaters in the country, become educators at universities as far as Dublin and help run community theaters across the United States.

In addition to his leadership role, Brown teaches theatre management courses on UCF’s campus. He says he believes an important part of his responsibility as an educator is to expand his students’ idea of where a career in the arts can take them.

“We’re helping them recognize that arts administration is creative work,” he says. “Writing a grant narrative, crafting a brand voice, planning a touring route or stewarding a donor relationship all require the same storytelling skills they bring to performance and production roles.”

Instilling Bravery in Children

The stage’s mission is to empower young people to be brave and empathetic.

Sure it sounds good, but more importantly, there’s truth to the claim. Recent research by the UCF Department of Psychology provides evidence to support it.

The Orlando Family Stage’s education team collaborated with associate professor Valerie Sims and senior lecturer Matthew Chin and more than a dozen undergraduate students from the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab along with associate professor of musical theatre Tara Deady ’07MFA on a study, which they are currently working on publishing. The study aimed to determine if the stage’s programming delivers on its promise to promote creative engagement and bravery in children ages 1-5.

Because of the young age of the participants, traditional survey tools and written questionnaires wouldn’t work. The team needed to get creative in a research approach that matched how children experience theatre.

The research team meticulously observed second by second footage of children and parent engagement during performances of Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go! — an interactive, multi-sensory original production created by the stage’s senior director of education Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo ’11MFA.

“We have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids.” — Matthew Chin, UCF psychology senior lecturer

They logged and quantified data through body language and audience responses. Early on, Sims and Chin say, children needed to be prompted by their parents to participate. However, as the show progressed, you can clearly see children initiating the participation on their own and parental involvement decreasing.

“With this study we are able to say that it isn’t just this thing that we think is true — we have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids,” Chin says.

In 2024-25 alone, more than 4,770 audience members attended Theatre for the Very Young productions like Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go!. Multiply those numbers year after year and the impact to the youth in our community is monumental.

The Next 100 Years

As the stage commemorates this special milestone in its history, it also acknowledges the scope of possibilities and impact ahead.

This year, when Gershwin Entertainment Group, who owns the theatrical rights for A Charlie Brown Christmas, needed a national touring partner to bring the show to life on stage around the country, they turned to the Orlando Family Stage to deliver. It became the highest revenue-generating show in the history of the organizatoin’s performances in Orlando —without counting the 32 cities it visited from New York City to Vancouver, Canada.

A partnership with the UCF Department of History is enabling the stage to create an archive of its materials from the last century as part of the RICHES Mosaic Interface, an online resource dedicated to collecting and sharing the stories of Central Florida.

Another is the inaugural Florida Children’s Book Festival in partnership with Writer’s Block Book Store and WUCF, which they hosted in February and plan to host annually to celebrate literature and the link between books, storytelling and live theater.

“We all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this.” — Chris Brown ’05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and UCF theatre alum

They look to expand the reach of Mind Matters, a program the stage initiated with UCF’s psychology department and national playwrights to produce 10 original short plays about geared for teens about depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and other mental health challenges they face today. The plays serve as an educational resource for teachers to spark honest conversations on these topics with their students.

Brown envisions one day expanding the footprint of the building with more theater space, new classrooms and offices to help alleviate their bursting-at-the-seems infrastructure, so they can keep delivering on all the dreams they want to turn into reality and continue creating meaningful experiences for children and the audiences of tomorrow.

“I can’t get past the energy and the faces of busloads of kids coming in here every day,” Brown says. “We all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this.”

Celebrates the Arts Programming

You can catch live performances from the Theatre for Young Audiences program during April’s UCF Celebrates the Arts festival at the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando.

Thursday, April 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Her Universe, HypeFriend!), this concert features performances that span musical styles and theatrical traditions, reflecting the many creative paths that begin at Orlando Family Stage.

*Featuring Micheal James Scott (Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway), Leslie Carrera-Rudolph (Emmy Award-winning performer for Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street), Jack Griffo (Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans), Davis Gaines (Broadway’s longest running Phantom of the Opera), Michael Andrew (Composer and one of America’s greatest interpreters of the American Songbook), Paul Vogt (Broadway’s Hairspray and Chicago). Video appearances by Mandy Moore (This Is Us), Jasmine Forsberg (Broadway’s Six and Here Lies Love), Clayton and Bella Grimm (Blippi), Broadway legend Norm Lewis and more.

*Artist lineup is updating and is subject to change.

Tuesday, April 7 – 10 a.m.
When best friends Squiggle and Square move away from each other, they must find creative ways to keep communicating! Told through clowning, puppetry and music, Pen Pals is a 30-minute interactive play designed for 5 to 10-year-olds.

Saturday, April 11 – 10 a.m.
Yo, Ho, Ho! Let’s Go! is a 30-minute adventure designed especially for children ages 1 to 5 as a multi-sensory experience that invites them to help a pirate navigate the high seas. Together, they follow a treasure map, solve clues and chart the course forward.

The Luminary Awards — established in 2017 — are designed to recognize some of UCF’s brightest stars who shine a positive light on the university and in their respective fields, as well as illuminate a path of discovery for those who will come after them.

Honorees were selected based on nominations by deans, chairs and directors from across the university. The event was attended by the recipients, their close family and friends, as well as former awardees and special guests from the community.

UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Johnson, Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld and Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence Joel Cramer were on hand to recognize each winner.

The 2024 Luminary Award recipients are:

Robertico Croes

Professor, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

For over two decades, Croes has focused his academic career on the critical intersection of socially sustainable tourism, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. In recent years, he has made waves with pioneering research on travel health and infectious disease control. Leading the charge as principal investigator, Croes secured $4.5 million in funding to help mitigate the severe social and economic impacts of pandemics on the hospitality and tourism industry. His work emphasizes the survival of small businesses and the well-being of disabled people, aiming to protect the future of both.

One of the most notable outcomes of this funding is Rosen College’s first intellectual property: a personalized health-based travel app.

Croes’ expertise has also garnered global recognition, leading to his recent invitation by the president of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss sustainable development goals as they pertain to tourism’s role in alleviating poverty.

Croes’ contributions to sustainable tourism have had far-reaching impacts, benefiting UCF, the Rosen College, and impacted populations both in the U.S. and internationally. His commitment to mentoring students and faculty has helped shape the future of the tourism industry while enhancing global economic sustainability.

Craig Crossley

Associate professor, Department of Management, College of Business

Crossley has earned global recognition for his impactful research and leadership, most notably through his prestigious role as the Fulbright-Hanken Distinguished Chair in Helsinki, Finland. Each year, fewer than 30 scholars worldwide receive this distinction, the Fulbright Program’s highest honor designated for eminent figures across all academic disciplines. Despite the demanding nature of this position, Crossley has continued to fully serve UCF while fulfilling his Fulbright obligations over two consecutive summers.

Crossley’s research excellence is well-reflected in his citation count, with more than 6,000 citations, nearly half of which were garnered in the last three years alone. His work puts him in the top 3% of scholars in his field, demonstrating his growing influence in the management discipline. Over the past three years, he has given nine presentations at international conferences, serving as chair or keynote speaker for four of them.

Beyond academia, Crossley’s work has widespread societal impact. He has formed partnerships with organizations such as the Children’s Home Society of Florida and global entities like the Irish and U.K. governments, helping organizations with difficult business environments and business challenges, such as navigating Brexit.

Matt Marino and Eleazar Vasquez

Professors, School of Teacher Education, College of Community Innovation and Education

Marino and Vasquez, leaders of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute in UCF’s School of Teacher Education, have earned national recognition for their impactful contributions to exceptional student research and education. Together, they have transformed the institute into a vital ecosystem serving regional, statewide, and national communities through innovative policy and practices.

As the institute’s director and former interim director, respectively, Vasquez and Marino have created strong collaborations with school districts and stakeholders like Orange County Public Schools, the nation’s eighth-largest district. Their partnerships benefit countless students, educators and families, and extend to supporting students with intellectual disabilities through the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities.

Vasquez’s leadership earned him a White House and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee invitation in May to discuss artificial intelligence and education, and he is part of a team securing several federal research awards, including a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Full Service Community Schools Programs to enhance community partnership schools in Florida.

Marino, likewise, has recently secured several awards, including $6.5 million over five years from the Office of Special Education Programs and a three-year grant from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities to expand the institute’s work. Their collective efforts have positively impacted 1.5 million scholars, 35,000 teachers, and hundreds of families. They consistently publish research studies in high-impact journals, present at key conferences, and have secured more than $82 million in grant funding since 2017. These achievements demonstrate excellence in education, research and societal impact.

Matt Dombrowski ’05 ’08MFA

Associate professor, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities

Dombrowski has demonstrated exceptional dedication to interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching, and impactful service. His contributions to the field of animation and visual art and his role as creative director at Limbitless Solutions have significantly advanced UCF’s mission of fostering creative and scholarly excellence.

His scholarly work encompasses varying fields, with peer-reviewed articles exploring groundbreaking technologies such as electromyographic video game controllers for improving prosthetic outcomes, innovative 3D printing strategies for prosthetic components and control schemes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. His publications often include undergraduate researchers, underscoring his dedication to both mentorship and innovation.

In his role at Limbitless Solutions, Dombrowski has overseen a total of over 500 interdisciplinary students comprised of seven UCF colleges. His leadership has forged partnerships with industry giants like Adobe, Autodesk and Microsoft, securing significant support, including over a quarter of a million dollars in funding from companies like Adobe, Unity, Epic Unreal and Disney. His work also extends to impactful community projects like bionic arm delivery with Arnold Palmer, Orlando Health and Oregon Health & Science ����ֱ�� along with Project Xavier, a hands-free wheelchair initiative with the Mayo Clinic.

Dombrowski’s advocacy for Limbitless has taken UCF undergraduates to prestigious venues such as the United Nations and the Smithsonian. His national recognition, including being named an Adobe Creator to Watch in 2023 by Adobe and Forbes magazine, reflects his transformative contributions to UCF and the broader community.

Mindy Shoss

Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Sciences

Shoss has been instrumental in building and maintaining UCF as a powerhouse of workplace psychology research, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, layoffs and the future of work. This includes helping UCF become selected as a site for a targeted research training program funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Her research has been featured in Harvard Business Review and in leading media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Shoss has also delivered high-profile presentations for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the National Safety Council. Her influence has extended to advising the APA, U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office on workplace mental health.

With over 100 published works, including 32 peer-reviewed articles since 2021, Shoss’ research is highly regarded. She has secured $3.8 million in external funding. Recognized as a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Shoss continues to shape the future of work and workplace well-being.

Mona Shattell

Professor, College of Nursing

Shattell, a distinguished scholar in psychiatric-mental health, has earned an international reputation for her groundbreaking research on the well-being of nurses and long-haul truck drivers. Her extensive work highlights her commitment to advancing mental health and well-being in often overlooked populations.

She has served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services for the past seven years, curating impactful content and co-authoring multiple editorials, including one with a doctoral student. In addition to her editorial duties, she co-authored nine articles in high-impact journals, focusing on workplace mental health issues.

Shattell’s contributions extend beyond academia. She is the lead author of Social Media in Health Care: A Guide to Creating Your Professional Digital Presence, a practical guide that has become a key resource for healthcare professionals. Her strong social media presence, with nearly 9,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), amplifies her influence and thought leadership in the mental health field.

Her expertise is frequently sought by the media, having conducted multiple interviews and appearing as a guest on national podcasts, including a Sirius XM show about mental health in the trucking industry. She has also delivered keynote addresses at international conferences and received the prestigious Melva Jo Hendrix Award from the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses in 2023.

With her national and international recognition, Shattell’s work continues to improve mental health care for populations in need, solidifying her impact on the field.

Ladda Thiamwong

Professor, College of Nursing

Thiamwong has earned international recognition for her innovative aging research and leadership, highlighting her significant contributions to the field. Over the past three years, Thiamwong has secured over $4 million in National Institutes of Health funding, with an additional $4 million pending, and has produced an impressive 76 scholarly works, including 62 peer-reviewed articles. Her research is collaborative and involves disciplines that span engineering, kinesiology, computer science, psychology, and statistics, helping to transform the field of geriatric nursing.

Thiamwong’s work has garnered widespread media attention, including a recent feature on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel. She has delivered 53 international presentations in the past three years, including a keynote address, and serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Public Health. Her expertise is frequently sought locally as well, including as a member of the Orlando Mayor’s Committee on Livability and Healthy Aging.

Among her numerous accolades, Thiamwong was inducted as a fellow in both the American Academy of Nursing and the National Academies of Practice. She also received the Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Research Mid-Career Award and was recently named the Florida Blue Endowed Professor for Healthy Communities.

Her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists and her contributions to aging research are promoting significant progress and innovations that will have long-lasting impacts in the field.

Thomas Wahl

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Wahl has established himself as a leader on the impact of sea level rise and storm surges on the built environment. His work integrates engineering with atmospheric and oceanographic sciences and influences policy at national and international levels.

Since joining UCF in 2017, Wahl has attracted nearly $6 million in research funding, contributing to projects totaling over $55 million. His scholarly output is remarkable, with more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers with over 5,000 Scopus citations. His research has been published in prestigious journals such as Nature, and his excellent ability to communicate the importance of his work to stakeholders and the media elevates UCF’s prominence nationally and globally.

Wahl’s numerous accolades include the Huber Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers and early career investigator awards from both NASA and the U.S. National Science Foundation. He is also a dedicated mentor, having guided students like Javed Ali, a recent Order of Pegasus awardee. His research has gained widespread media attention, appearing in The Washington Post, National Geographic and numerous state and local media outlets.

With his impressive achievements and significant contributions to addressing sea level rise, Wahl continues to push the boundaries of research and innovation.

The selected fellows — Vladimir Boginski, Nichole Lighthall and Dinender Singla — will develop and implement programs that can help improve faculty grant success and accelerate the growth of the research enterprise.

Topics the fellows will focus on include research infrastructure, proposal development and specific research awards.

The fellowship begins in Fall 2024 and will continue through Summer 2025.

Meet the new Research Faculty Fellows:

Vladimir Boginski

Professor of industrial engineering and management systems and co-director of UCF’s Applied Operations Research Laboratory

How does it feel to be selected as a faculty fellow?

I am honored to be selected by the Office of Research as one of the faculty fellows this academic year. I am looking forward to the opportunity to use my experience in conducting interdisciplinary research and participating in large multi principal investigator grants to help UCF reach its strategic goals in terms of research funding and expenditures.

How do you hope to use this fellowship to further your research?

I hope that my experience in this role will be beneficial to my own research program development. I view this fellowship as a “two-way” opportunity. On one hand, I will be happy to offer my experience with various aspects of large grants and use it to the benefit of UCF achieving strategic funding goals. On the other hand, I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the high-level strategic and administrative aspects of sponsored research that the UCF Office of Research deals with. In addition, it would be very interesting to learn about UCF faculty research in various fields and potentially identify new opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Therefore, I believe that this fellowship would be beneficial both to my own academic research career and to UCF.

What is your background in research and what does your work focus on?

My research background and interests are in the broad area of network science and engineering. Networks are everywhere in the modern world: application areas are abundant, spanning the domains of big data and physical/virtual complex systems. Examples of real-world networked systems include communication networks, interdependent infrastructure networks, social networks, biological networks, financial networks and many others. Because everything is connected in one way or another, my research spans a multitude of disciplines. Although specific details of my research may vary depending on the field, the underlying broad goals are often the same: to identify nodes and links that are critical for the integrity of a network, and to optimize the connections so that each system functions more efficiently.

What else should Knight Nation know about you?

Prior to joining UCF, I was a faculty member at the ����ֱ�� of Florida, and during my academic career I have served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on multiple grants for over $16 million. I have always valued the exposure to research disciplines different from my own background, and I was honored be nominated to participate in the Frontiers of Engineering program administered by the National Academy of Engineering, which connects and facilitates collaborations between engineers across different fields. In this fellowship role, I hope to participate in initiatives to promote interdisciplinary research collaborations between UCF faculty.

Nichole Lighthall

Associate professor of psychology, lab director of UCF’s Adult Development and Decision Lab and associate program director of UCF’s Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Ph.D. Program

How does it feel to be selected as a faculty fellow?

I feel honored to be selected — and excited to have the opportunity to train in university leadership. The primary feeling has been joy over getting to work with UCF faculty who want to gain more skills and success in grant development. I’ve already gotten involved in the Office of Research’s Grant Writing Academy and the faculty in that program are so motivated and excited about their research. It’s going to be very fulfilling to help them achieve their goals.

How do you hope to use this fellowship to further your research?

My primary goal for the fellowship is to enhance UCF’s success in securing funding from The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and generally expand its health-related research portfolio. As a cognitive neuroscientist working in cognitive aging, I depend on NIH funding to conduct my research. So, any success toward my fellowship goal will help my research program grow as well.

What is your background in research and what does your work focus on?

I have been studying cognitive aging since I was an undergraduate student at the ����ֱ�� of California, Berkeley over 20 years ago. Over time, my research interest came to focus on how decision-making changes in healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Most recently, my lab has been trying to understand risk factors for financial exploitation in older adults, and how we can better protect seniors from scams and fraud. To address these questions, we use behavioral and neuroimaging approaches, but also consider social and health factors that might make some seniors more vulnerable.

What else should Knight Nation know about you?If you want help with developing your own NIH grants or have ideas for initiatives that we should develop to support NIH-funded research at UCF — please reach out to me. I’m here to help you!

Dinender Singla

Professor of medicine, UCF cardiovascular division leader and Florida Hospital chair in cardiovascular science

How does it feel to be selected as a faculty fellow?

Being selected as a faculty fellow is an extraordinary accomplishment, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. I feel a profound sense of pride in this achievement and am eager to contribute to the institution and its faculty.

How do you hope to use this fellowship to further your research?

This fellowship will enhance my in-depth research knowledge as I meet different faculty members, unit chairs, and deans. I took this position primarily because I want to serve the faculty at large, and I am keen to see their growth. This role allows me to mentor and guide other unit faculty, inspiring them to reach their full potential. The faculty growth is essential and will positively impact the lives of countless postdoctoral fellows and students. These insights and expertise will be highly valuable and will carry weight in shaping the future direction of different colleges, and university, which will ultimately support our community.

What is your background in research and what does your work focus on?

I have over 25 years of research experience in basic and translational research in cardiovascular sciences. I have brought more than $12 million in NIH grant funding to UCF. My major research area is stem cells and their derived exosomes for treating diabetes and anti-cancer drugs-induced cardiotoxicity. We have recently prepared specialized exosomes which can target tumors and kill them. Additionally, we have prepared exosomes to deliver drugs in the heart. This new research will lead to treat cancer patients more precisely. I am head of the Division of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, which is part of UCF’s College of Medicine.

The event, which is sponsored by the Office of Research and , drew more than 40 guests, including Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence Jana Jasinski and Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld.

Schoenfeld spoke about the importance of creativity and scholarship in a thriving academic environment.

“In a time when we see significant emphasis placed on metrics such as research expenditures, it is important to recognize that societal impact is not always reflected in research dollars spent,” Schoenfeld says. “And in particular, scholarship and creative works are core tenants of a high impact academic institution and represent significant value toward society that should be celebrated.”

Pegasus Professor of Luis Martínez Fernández delivered the keynote address that shared insights into his recent book, When the World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture, and the Unimaginable Events of 2019- 2022, that comprises 66 essays drawn from syndicated columns he wrote during that period.

Motivated by significant global events, Martínez-Fernández emphasized the interconnectedness of these events and the need for a more creative approach to historical writing.

The authors and their works honored were:

• Salvador Almagro-Moreno, College of Medicine, Vibrio spp. Infections.
• Mindi Anderson, College of Nursing, Holograms & High Technology: Could Technology Bridge the Gaps in Simulation Education?
• James Bacchus, College of Sciences, Trade Links: New Rules for a New World and Truth about Trade: Reflections on International Trade and Law
• Cori Baill, College of Medicine, Why is Mommy Crying? -Explaining Early Pregnancy Loss to Young Children
• Melody Bowdon, College of Arts and Humanities, Ethical Considerations of Virtual Reality in the College Classroom
• Wayne Bowen, College of Undergraduate Studies, Spain and the Protestant Reformation: the Spanish Inquisition and the War for Europe
• Sarah Bush, College of Community Innovation and Education, Success Stories from Catalyzing Change
• Li-Mei Chen, College of Medicine, Protastin in Human Health and Disease
• Jim Clark, College of Arts and Humanities, Lost Attractions of Florida
• Ilenia Colón Mendoza, College of Arts and Humanities, The Broken Body as Devotional Mediator in Seventeenth Century Spain
• Fayshonda Cooks, College of Nursing, Goal Lean Health and Weight Management Lifestyle Plan (a series)
• Sai Deng, UCF Libraries, Translations of: Sketches of China: with Illustrations from Original Drawings
• Lauryn De George, College of Business, Instructors Manual and PowerPoint Slides for Principles of Management and Multiple Case Studies on Compensation, Customer Expectations, Inclusivity, Ethics, Performance Management, Quiet Quitting, Supply Chain Issues, Employment at Will and Other Pertinent Topics
• Desiree Díaz, College of Nursing, Chapter 8: Holograms and High Technology: Could Technology Bridge the Gaps and Incorporating Concepts of Diversity and Cultural Humility in Simulations
• Erin Doggette, Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today
• Sara Duff, UCF Libraries, Zines in Libraries: Selecting, Purchasing, and Processing
• Chloë Rae Edmonson, College of Arts and Humanities / School of Performing Arts, America Under the Influence: Drinking, Culture, and Immersive Performance
• Martha Garcia ’97 ’00MA, College of Arts and Humanities, Sense and Art of the Textual Pilgrimage. Stories & Auto Sacramental in Bilingual Key.
• Enrique Guerra-Pujol, College of Business, Business Law and Strategy
• Steve Haberlin, College of Community Innovation and Education, Meditation in the College Classroom: A Pedagogical Tool to Help Students De-stress, Focus, and Connect.
• Keith Harrison, College of Business, Circle Inside of a Box: The Business of Hip Hop Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities, A Republic of Scoundrels: The Schemers, Intriguers, and Adventurers Who created a New American Nation
• Elizabeth Brendel Horn ’10MFA, College of Arts and Humanities, Activated Script Analysis: An Integrative Approach to Play Analysis through Creative Expression and Devised Theatre
• Michael Jablonski, College of Arts and Humanities, Dance in Musical Theatre: A history of the Body in Movement Chapter 14
• Bruce Janz, College of Arts and Humanities, African Philosophy and Enactivist Cognition: The Space of Thought
• Christina Kwapich, College of Sciences, The Guests of Ants: How Myrmecophiles Interact with their Hosts and Die Gaste der Ameisen
• Peter Larson, College of Arts and Humanities, Rethinking the Great Transition: Community and Economic Growth in County Durham
• Julia Listengarten, College of Arts and Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts Collaborations in Higher Education: Transdisciplinary Practices
• Luis Martinez Fernandez, College of Arts and Humanities, When the World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture, and the Unimaginable Events of 2019-2022
• Ty Matejowsky, College of Sciences, Smothered and Covered: Waffle House and the Southern Imaginary
• Jonathan Matusitz, College of Sciences, From Child Terrorism to Peace Activism and Fundamentals of Public Communication Campaigns
• Barry Mauer, College of Arts and Humanities, Reimagining the Humanities and Strategies for Conducting Literary Research
• Lisa Nalbone, College of Arts and Humanities, Negotiating Discursive Spaces: Censorship and Woman’s Novels in Spain
• Fevzi Okumus, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Contemporary Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism and Advanced Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism
• Hakan Ozoglu, College of Arts and Humanities, Cumhuriyet’in Kuruluş Savaşları (Foundation Struggles in the Early Turkish Republic) and Decline of the Ottoman Empire and the Rise of the Turkish Republic
• Irene Pons ’00, College of Community Innovation and Education, Why I Encourage my Students to Experience Reality
• Roberto Hugh Potter, College of Community Innovation and Education, Human Trafficking: A Systemwide Public Safety and Community Approach (second edition)
• Cecilia Rodríguez-Milanés, College of Arts and Humanities, Dancing Danny
• Lee Ross, College of Community Innovation and Education, Music Lyrics and Domestic Violence: The Soundtracks of Our Lives
• Deanna Sellnow, College of Sciences, Before Crisis: The Practice of Effective Risk Communication
• Timothy Sellnow, College of Sciences, Before Crisis: The Practice of Effective Risk Communication
• Audra Skukauskaite, College of Community Innovation and Education, Interactional Ethnography: Designing and Conducting Discourse-based Ethnographic Research and Engaging Students in Socially Constructed Qualitative Research Pedagogies
• Laurie Rachkus Uttich ’09MFA, Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning / English department, ChatGPT Assignments to Use in Your Classroom Today and Somewhere a Woman Lowers the Hem of Her Skirt
• Marcy Verduin, College of Medicine, Kaplan & Sadock’s Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry (fifth edition) and Mental Health for Spiritual People
• Kimberly Voss, College of Sciences, Newspaper Fashion Editors in the 1950s and the 60s and Vivian Castleberry: Challenging the Traditions of Women’s Roles, Newspaper Content and Community Politics
• Jennie Wagner, College of Nursing, Conception and Fetal Development
• Linda Walters, College of Sciences, Please Keep Plastics Out of My Lagoon!
• Keri Watson, College of Arts and Humanities, This is America: Re-viewing the Art of the United States and Routledge Companion to Art and Disability
• Shannon Whitten, College of Science, Psychology, Art, and Creativity
• Amanda Wilkerson ’16EdD, College of Community Innovation and Education, Best Practices and Programmatic Approaches for Mentoring Educational Leaders
• Bruce Wilson, College of Sciences, El Agua como Derecho Humano: Reconocimientos y Disputas en Costa Rica
• Kevin Yee, Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Ethical Considerations of Virtual Reality in the College Classroom: Cross-Disciplinary Case Studies of Immersive Technology Implementation and ChatGPT Assignments to Use in your Classroom Today
• Margaret Ann Zaho, College of Arts and Humanities, Art is an Endangered Species: A History of Western Art, Paleolithic-Romanesque (second edition) and Art is an Endangered Species II: A History of Western Art Renaissance-20th Century (second edition)

Library Acquisitions has acquired many of these books, and they can be found either physically on the 4th floor Reading Room of John C. Hitt Library or .

To help address this critical issue and reduce disparities, a team of ����ֱ�� researchers is partnering with the City of Orlando on a $2.3 million project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

The project seeks to address the public health problem and prevent falls with the optimization of technology that is low-cost and portable.

The work will help ensure older adults can “age in place,” and supports the City Beautiful Action Plan 2022-2025, which, as one of its primary goals, prioritizes the development of affordable housing options and services to help older residents safely stay in their homes.

“As the population of our city ages and residents are living healthier, more active and longer lives, it’s important we ensure Orlando is a well-designed, livable community that promotes health and sustains economic growth, creating happier and healthier residents of all ages,” says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We are excited to work with UCF on this grant as it will play a significant part in understanding how we can improve the health and safety of our older adult population and better implement age-friendly initiatives, especially in underserved neighborhoods.”

Innovative Approach

With the new funding, , an associate professor at the College of Nursing and the project’s principal investigator, will work with an intradisciplinary team of experts to roll out a large-scale pilot in low-income, senior communities in Central Florida of an fall assessment intervention they’ve developed and tested.

“The primary goal is to prevent falls,” Thiamwong says. “With this real-world testing, we hope to be able to prove it works and is sustainable in order to scale up and prevent falls in more communities.”

The researchers’ Physio-Feedback and Exercise, or PEER, intervention program was successfully tested as part of an NIH-funded . Their work has also been published in Research in Gerontological Nursing.

The researchers showed that their intervention, which uses technology to help reduce people’s fear of falling and improve their balance, was feasible, safe, and improved balance, muscle strength and fall risk.

The technology resembles a small scale and links to a computer. It can be easily transported to rural or low-income communities to provide immediate physio-feedback.

The immediate part is important, Thiamwong says.

“Older adults trust the results more when it is immediate,” she says. “It begins a conversation and empowers them to do something about it, and with the technology able to show improvement over time, it is also encouraging.”

Perception versus Reality

For more than half of older adults, their perception of their fall risk and actual physical fall risk are not aligned, Thiamwong says.

She says a fear of falling is just as risky as poor balance as it may limit their physical activity.

To address this, the researchers’ intervention includes a fall risk appraisal matrix that categorizes participants into quadrants looking at both their fear and balance.

The objective is to bring all participants to low fear and normal balance by the end of the eight-week intervention.

The program includes cognitive reframing to reduce fear and both a group- and home-based exercise program led by a trained peer coach to improve balance.

“Social support from peers is important to build connections and hopefully continue to keep the physical activity going even after the intervention,” Thiamwong says.

Critical Collaboration

The researchers say collaboration with an interdisciplinary team is critical to address older adults falling and other healthcare challenges.

Thiamwong  began her collaborations with the one of the  project’s co-investigators, , after seeing some of his publications on aging research shortly after she joined UCF.

Stout, who is director of the college’s , says the collaborations have developed into a research partnership that has been very successful.

“There is a great potential for collaboration between programs and faculty expertise in different colleges at UCF,” Stout says. “Interdisciplinary collaboration is important because it allows different fields to share knowledge and ideas, which can lead to new breakthroughs.”

One of the ways UCF fosters interdisciplinary collaboration is through research clusters, such as the Disability, Aging and Technology cluster that Thiamwong and project co-investigator Joon-Hyuk Park, an assistant professor in the , are a part of. The team has been successful in conducting NIH- and UCF-funded studies.

“The cluster is an excellent facilitator to promote interdisciplinary research,” Park says. “The most challenging questions we, as researchers and scientists, seek to address these days can’t be tackled from one discipline, especially when it comes to human science to understand human behavior and study instrumentations. We need expertise from various fields.”

, an assistant professor of and project co-investigator, says that many factors influence older adults’ fall risk, including physical health, socioeconomic status, as well as psychological motivations and feelings.

“In addition, if you want to launch a fall-risk intervention that involves technology, you have to consider factors like older adults’ ability to use the technology and cost effectiveness,” she says.

“It’s easy to see how problems like this require a team of experts that understand each factor and know how to conduct science across traditional disciplinary boundaries,” she says. “It’s a truly excellent team and an important problem we are trying to solve.”

Research Team

Thiamwong received her doctoral degree in nursing from Mahidol ����ֱ�� in Thailand.

She joined UCF in 2016. She’s an expert in healthy aging, fall prevention and gerontological nursing. She is leading a UCF research team in implementing preventive interventions to transform practice, especially for older adults with limited resources.

Stout received his doctorate in exercise physiology from the ����ֱ�� of Nebraska – Lincoln. He joined UCF in 2012. He’s an expert in physical assessments, such as body composition, handgrip strength and physical activity in aging populations, and he has published several studies examining the relationship between psychological and physical variables and the risk of falling.

Park received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from Columbia ����ֱ��. He joined UCF in 2019. He’s an expert in engineering wearable sensors and assistive technologies. His role in the project is to apply his knowledge and experience in wearables-based physical activity monitoring and assessment.

Rui Xie is an assistant professor in the , which is in UCF’s . He received his doctorate in statistics from the ����ֱ�� of Georgia. He joined UCF in 2019.  Xie is an expert in designing study designs that are appropriate for collecting data, while minimizing the risk of bias and ensuring the validity of the results, as well as data analysis and result interpretation.

“I was inspired to join this research team because I was fascinated by the multidimensional and multidomain data the team plans to collect in the project,” Xie says. “I felt that my skills and experience in data analysis and modeling could be of great value to the research.”

Lighthall received her doctorate in gerontology from the ����ֱ�� of Southern California. She joined UCF in 2015. She’s an expert in cognition and emotion across the adult lifespan, with a specific focus on age-related changes to decision processing and behavior. She is helping to determine the cognitive and motivational factors that impact older adults’ fear of falling by guiding the team’s measurement of these psychological factors.

a Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Professor in Oncology and an associate professor in UCF’s College of Nursing, received her doctorate in nursing from UCF. She joined UCF in 2005. She’s an expert in qualitative research and randomized clinical trials, aging populations, and health disparities, with experience in technology-based intervention development and testing.

“Interdisciplinary collaboration is important because one person cannot know it all or do it all,” she says. “You need the different perspectives and experiences from other disciplines to make your own work more complete and more relevant. Without the teamwork of experts from different disciplines, your work and ideas will get stale very quickly.”

That’s why researchers at the ����ֱ�� are spearheading a new, recently funded project to improve the cognition of team members for future space missions.

The project will examine how decreases in cognition — memory, reasoning and problem solving — at the individual level could cascade to the team level and impact team performance, particularly in complex environments relevant to space missions.

The researchers also will examine interventions to counteract potential decreases in team performance, including developing training and technologies such as artificial-intelligence-based assistants.

The three-year, $990,000 project will be led by UCF Professor Stephen Fiore and is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The researchers will begin their work in August.

They will use cutting-edge approaches, such as their Smart Machine-Assisted Responsive Tangible Space, or SMART, room that is equipped with cameras and sensors, which will help the researchers understand how changes in body movement and physiology are related to collaboration. This SMART room capability is based upon research conducted by co-investigator, Joseph Kider, who uses sensor technology for smart buildings. Kider is an assistant professor in UCF’s .

By understanding how observable changes in the team influence problem solving, the researchers can identify what parts of the interactions signal problems. These social signals become targets for technology interventions that can improve collaborative cognition, Fiore says.

Part of the work will also include analyzing recorded, close-call spaceflight events from NASA archives to understand conditions that led to the problems and the collaboration challenges astronauts and mission control faced.

Co-investigators on the project Florian Jentsch and Shawn Burke have previously used historical records of teams to identify interactions targeted for training or technology interventions. Jentsch is department chair and a professor in UCF’s , and Burke is a research professor with UCF’s School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training.

“This research is going to be relevant to any team, not simply to teams in space,” Fiore says. “Important to teams in space, though, is ways to overcome limitations in problem solving.”

These limitations could include lack of access to more people for additional insight or to technology that could aid decision-making, Fiore says.

“Here on Earth, when we solve problems, we have access to many ways to support our cognition,” Fiore says. “When it comes to space missions, though, they can’t take everything with them. We need to understand how to design the technologies needed when their cognitive and collaborative capabilities are limited.”

The award is through the Department of Defense’s Minerva Research Initiative to support research in social and behavioral science. The initiative supports basic research that focuses on topics of particular relevance to U.S. national security. Seventeen university-based faculty teams from around the country received funding this year.

“We live in a dynamic world, and many of the challenges we face are social or have social elements to them,” says Bindu Nair, director, Basic Research Office in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in a recent announcing the funding awards. “The knowledge and methodologies generated from Minerva awardees have improved DoD’s ability to define sources of present and future conflict with an eye toward better understanding the political trajectories of key regions of the world.”

Fiore is the director of UCF’s and is a professor with the UCF’s Cognitive Sciences Program in the —part of the College of Arts and Humanities — and with the School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training. He received his doctorate in cognitive psychology from the ����ֱ�� of Pittsburg and joined UCF in 1998.

She knows from previous studies, that many people relapse after treatment.

“I have seen too many patients who struggle with addiction, and despite going to treatment and reporting that they don’t want to use alcohol or drugs anymore, they find themselves back in the same situation year after year,” Meshesha says. “I want to find ways that can help them escape this unwanted vicious cycle.”

That’s why Meshesha’s research focus is on utilizing brief and easily accessible interventions to help patients achieve better outcomes through technology. Currently, her primary interest lies in developing interventions that patients can access on their digital devices, such as smartphone apps.

Her work was recognized in 2020 when the National Institutes of Health awarded her with a $1 million career grant.

Meshesha was born in Ethiopia and moved to the U.S. as a child. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Williams College, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the ����ֱ�� of Memphis. She completed a clinical psychology residency and postdoctoral fellowship at Brown ����ֱ��.

She has always been interested in clinical psychology and how people cope once they receive psychological treatment. However, she did not start with an interest in addiction. It was after college, she worked on a project with hospitalized patients with opioid dependence. The experience motivated her to focus on this population and improve treatment outcomes for those who need it most.

At UCF, Meshesha also funnels her passion for into teaching while mentoring graduate students in her . She helps her students develop their line of research, work on their master’s thesis and form their dissertation.

“I absolutely love watching them develop and grow their passion for the work we do, whether it is research or clinical work with patients,” she says. “It is an incredible feeling.”

However, not seeing a doctor face-to-face brings its own challenges, such as an increased likelihood of missing a symptom of an illness which can lead to a misdiagnosis, or finding ways to perform tests, such as a blood pressure check, remotely.

That’s why ����ֱ�� researchers are working on a new U.S. National Science Foundation-funded project to improve patient outcomes in telehealth medicine by using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare training and diagnostic reasoning, so signs and symptoms are not missed during remote doctor visits.

Artificial intelligence could help, for example, doctors remember to check for signs that might be hard to see in a telehealth setting, such as a way a person walks or holds themselves.

For the study, the researchers will look at how to best implement AI and new technologies into telehealth by observing doctor and patient communication in telehealth settings. This includes tracking physicians’ and patients’ biophysical responses such as eye movement, heart rate, and verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as recording the accuracy of physician diagnoses and any disruptions in the diagnostic reasoning process.

The researchers will also work with physicians, psychologists, engineers, and industry leaders in artificial intelligence to make recommendations on what is possible in telehealth and what could be on the horizon, such as ways to remotely perform tests, such as blood pressure checks and more using AI-based immersive virtual environments.

The ultimate goal is to use evidence collected from the project to provide recommendations for improving diagnostic reasoning in telehealth and offer ways immersive virtual technologies could improve the process.

“As technology advances in healthcare, it can facilitate ease of use, reduced travel time and more,” says Roger Azevedo, the project’s principal investigator and a professor in UCF’s School of Modeling Simulation and Training. “But there’s also new problems that arise, including the potential for medical errors.”

“We want to use AI to enhance the patient experience, so they get the care they need, and improve the doctor’s experience by facilitating diagnostic reasoning,” he says.

The project’s co-principal investigators are Varadraj Gurupur, an associate professor in UCF’s School of Global Health Management and Informatics; Mark Neider, a professor in and the associate chair of UCF’s Department of Psychology; Mindy Shoss, an associate professor in UCF’s Department of Psychology; and Dario Torre, a professor of medicine and director of Programs Assessment in UCF’s College of Medicine.

The project is scheduled to begin in January 2022.

Azevedo received his doctorate in educational psychology from McGill ����ֱ�� and his postdoctoral training in cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon ����ֱ��. He received his master’s in educational technology and bachelor’s in psychology from Concordia ����ֱ��. Azevedo is the co-lead of UCF’s Learning Sciences Cluster and the director of the Laboratory for the Study of Metacognition and Advanced Learning Technologies. He joined UCF in 2018.

The work will focus on residents of Azalea Park on the east side of Orlando and essential workers who live or work in Orange County and is funded through a CARES Act award received by Orange County.

“The mission of UCF RESTORES is to change the way that post-traumatic stress disorder is understood, diagnosed and treated,” says Deborah Beidel, director of UCF RESTORES. “This global pandemic is a traumatic event and as such, it fits seamlessly into our mission.”

Through the Azalea Park project, UCF RESTORES will provide comprehensive and evidence-based mental health services in Spanish and English at no cost for individuals who live or work in the community.

They are also producing a series of video presentations in Spanish and English that address stress-management skills, such as anger management, relaxation, sleep hygiene, and problem-solving. The videos will be available on the RESTORES website for anyone to view.

“The videos will allow people to learn and practice these skills on their time, not when a clinic is open,” Beidel says.

The project also includes the distribution of iPads and providing Wi-Fi access at places such as schools and community centers to increase residents’ ability to access telehealth services and the videos.

The Azalea Park project has started, and individuals who live or work in Azalea Park and are interested in participating can call 407-823-1805 for more information. The videos will be available in perpetuity on the RESTORES website.

Azalea Park was chosen because it was identified as having a need for these services as residents may be dealing with problems such as job loss and reduced income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The area had also been recognized in the spring as a hotspot for new COVID-19 cases.

The second project will provide behavioral health services to essential workers, such as those in transportation, childcare, and critical trade and retail industries, as well as medical personnel and first responders, who live or work in Orange County.

These services include traditional mental health services as well as a new single-session consultation program that will allow individuals who may not have time to participate in traditional outpatient therapy to receive one session of counseling.  Services are available at no cost and in both Spanish and English.

“During the time of this pandemic, essential workers have been called upon to support the rest of society,” Beidel says. “As this pandemic continues, their physical and emotional resources can become depleted. Our new service will provide support to these workers during this very stressful time.”

The project has started and will run until Dec. 31, with an exception for medical personnel and first responders. There is no set end date for the provision of services at no cost for those individuals. People interested in participating can contact 407-823-3910 or submit a request through the .

UCF RESTORES began in 2011 with the purpose of treating veterans and active-duty military personnel with combat-related PTSD. After the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, services expanded to include first responders and survivors of mass shootings. Since opening, it has treated more than 850 combat veterans and first responders. It also provides services to help survivors of sexual assault.

Beidel received her doctorate in psychology from the ����ֱ�� of Pittsburgh. She is a UCF Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor. She joined UCF’s Department of Psychology, part of UCF’s College of Sciences, in 2007.

“There are a lot of studies that show that our thoughts lead first, then our emotions follow,” says W. Steven Saunders, UCF associate lecturer of psychology and a licensed psychologist. “Given that, establishing positive emotions or wellbeing — even in the face of difficult things happening in your life — by practicing gratitude can psychologically shifts your attention to things that are actually going right in your life.”

Understanding the Benefits

Thanksgiving is a time when people typically express their appreciation for their family, friends, or a delicious meal, but the changes and challenges of this year may make it hard to find this spirit.

“Whether you’re talking to older relatives or younger friends over the holidays, talk with them about if they’ve seen anything good come out of this strange, bizarre year and it might be interesting to see what different generations have to say about that,” says Linda Simmons ’20�Ѵ�, aa staff therapist who supports students through the ’s Counseling and Wellness Services.

“The most reliable research suggests there is an indirect impact on physical health.” — Linda Simmons ’20�Ѵ�, College of Medicine staff therapist

Regardless, gratitude can be a daily practice that has long-term effects. Over the past decade, many studies on gratitude have shown varying advantages, such as improving sleep and mental health, reducing ailments, and even boosting your immune system.

But the benefits may not happen the way you think.

“The most reliable research suggests there is an indirect impact on physical health,” says Simmons, who recently earned a master’s in counselor education from UCF. “Gratitude can help you receive the benefits of greater emotional well-being, psychological health, and social health, which can cause people to be more likely to take care of themselves physically and their medical health needs.”

And while there have been mixed results on gratitude’s ability to influence levels of depression, Saunders notes that positive and negative emotions have a hard time coexisting together.

“When you purposely set up a positive emotion, it cascades and helps you feel good more often,” Saunders says.

Authenticity is Key

Some people are naturally predisposed to a more negative outlook, making it harder to find things to be thankful for than others, Simmons says. Even if you’re a glass-half-full type of person, it may be challenging some days to maintain your gratitude.

“One thing we don’t find very helpful is forced gratitude.” — Linda Simmons ’20�Ѵ�, College of Medicine staff therapist

“One thing we don’t find very helpful is forced gratitude,” Simmons says. “I wouldn’t advise launching into a person for whom gratitude doesn’t come easy or telling someone to ‘Just look on the bright side.’ Oftentimes that actually makes a person feel less positive.”

Instead, take time to truly process whatever you’re feeling, especially if you’ve lost experiences, people or opportunities in the past year. Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone else is to just listen.

“A lot of negativity is fear-based and we’re living in an age where there’s a lot of fear going around,” Saunders says. “What we know about psychology is the more you talk about your feelings and emotions the more they change. So approaching someone with compassion and really listening can really make a difference.”

Once, you’re ready to start focusing on the positive, Saunders says you should develop a ritual or routine around the value that is meaningful to you.

Grow Your Gratitude

Gratitude is a like a muscle and like any muscle consistent exercise is necessary for growth. One common practice is the “The Big Three,” naming or writing a list of three things you’re grateful for each day. Keeping a gratitude journal can benefit you personally, as well as professionally. A study conducted by UCF researchers earlier this year found the habit can lead employees to exhibit less rude behavior and mistreatment of others in the workplace.

Another method is writing a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life. Although gratitude can make a difference even when you keep it to yourself, sharing your appreciating with others can help spread positive feelings and strengthen your relationships.

When giving thanks to a loved one, a new study published in Sage Journals found it’s best to be specific about how they helped support your needs. It also found that you should avoid pointing out sacrifices an individual has made for you since it diminishes their altruistic motivation for doing so.

“Even if you don’t have a spiritual or religious belief, you can still practice gratitude in some simple ways every day.” — W. Steven Saunders, psychology associate lecturer

“Whatever your personal belief system might be, you can incorporate that,” Saunders says. “Even if you don’t have a spiritual or religious belief, you can still practice gratitude in some simple ways every day.”

Simmons, who has experience as a Presbyterian minister and a hospital chaplain, says gratitude is an important value and practice in most major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

“For some people, gratitude is spiritual. For other people, it’s interpersonal. But it’s outside ourselves in some way, something we didn’t make happen, cause, create, or earn — it’s given to us as a gift,” Simmons says. “To me, gratitude is an invitation to say ‘I wonder if that’s the only way we can look at this day, week, month, season or year? Is there a way we can look at not just what we lost or missed, but what we learned, what is new about a circumstance or what brought us closer?’ Most of us have never been through a pandemic before, and we don’t know how to handle it, so however we’ve handled it is OK.”

Students struggling with maintaining their emotional and mental well-being can find support through . UCF employees and their dependents can take advantage of the , which provides confidential, short-term counseling at no cost.