operational excellence Archives | ֱ News Central Florida Research, Arts, Technology, Student Life and College News, Stories and More Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:23:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/2019/05/cropped-logo-150x150.png operational excellence Archives | ֱ News 32 32 How One Student Started a Sustainable Cycle of Wins /news/how-one-student-started-a-sustainable-cycle-of-wins/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:39:56 +0000 /news/?p=152503 Mason Clewis scaled a simple idea for the Great Navel Orange Race into a network that will help students save money and keep UCF’s campus beautiful long after he graduates.

]]> At 7:30 a.m. on April 17, the first of 481 little handmade boats attempted to circumnavigate UCF’s Reflecting Pond. Crafted by first-year engineering students, the armada included classic wood monohulls, catamarans designed with soda bottles and even a few submarines. Each boat will carry an orange as its passenger, as the event’s name, the Great Navel Orange Race (GNOR), suggests.

“Some boats make it around the pond, some spin around in little circles and some sink — designing, building and racing an autonomous (self-guided) vessel is quite difficult,” says Jacqueline Sullivan ’87 ’91MS, instructor of the Introduction to Engineering course that culminates with this final project.

Beyond a passing grade, a coveted grand prize is up for grabs for the team of the fastest vessel: a four-year McGraw book, e-book and software scholarship for each team member.

Male student with curly brown hair in pink shirt and khaki pants kneels at edge of pond, holding a small constructed boat above clear water.
This year’s Great Naval Orange Race stipulated students could not use foam in the design of the autonomous vessels they built as part of their semester-long project in the Introduction to Engineering course. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

The race, in its 29th year, has all the components for innovation and potential for a mess. The classes of budding engineers have grown to nearly 2,000 students who form hundreds of teams. They’re using advanced technology and more components.

With this in mind, perhaps the most amazing aspect of the event is that it has become more orderly than ever, with races starting every 10 minutes for nine straight hours. There is no waste, in terms of time or materials.

“Sustainable engineering,” Sullivan calls it, before admitting, “but it wasn’t my idea. Race day used to be a bit chaotic until Mason [Clewis] came along.”

It’s been only two years since Clewis, a senior photonic science and engineering student, recognized an opportunity to create a perfectly tuned e-waste recycling system, a timeline even he can hardly believe.

Blonde male wearing bright blue shirt and sunglasses holds yellow bin under a tailgate tent, surrounded by tools and recycled materials.
Mason Clewis coordinates recycling on site at the Great Naval Orange Race. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

“The students are doing at this level what SpaceX and NASA are doing at the highest level — reusing and recycling.” — Jacqueline Sullivan, instructor

“At first, I thought I’d run a recycling booth by myself and maybe reuse the boat parts or sell them on eBay,” he says. “But it’s grown beyond me, to multiple departments and a network of volunteers. It’s all happened fast and naturally.”

The magic begins as each race ends. Participants who don’t advance to the final rounds take their boats to a tent where students disassemble each craft with the speed of NASCAR pit crews. They pull out batteries, computer chips and servomotors. Stainless steel screws and hardware are also collected. Whatever is left of the hulls is crushed and deposited into recycle bins.

The oranges are saved for other races.

As the day progresses through dozens of races, the lawn around the Reflecting Pond never changes from its original condition: a green carpet, in perfect spring form.

“The students are doing at this level what SpaceX and NASA are doing at the highest level — reusing and recycling,” Sullivan says. “That’s why I say Mason is my hero.”

A photo collage of three boat designs floating in clear water
Engineering students construct their vessels for functionality but are also encouraged to show off their creativity in their design. (Photos by Antoine Hart)

A Village Beyond the Tent

Clewis watched his first GNOR as a curious freshman. He’d been working on his own capstone project — developing a temperature-controlled fan. During the races, a few of his internal wheels started turning when he noticed boat carnage spilling from trash cans and onto the lawn.

“Some of the parts on the boats were the same parts I needed for my own project,” he says. “I know plenty of students like me who don’t want to shell out $100 for the same perfectly good batteries, chips and sensors that are being thrown away. Plus, I’m interested in entrepreneurship and keeping the environment clean. So, I took the basic idea for a recycling booth to Miss Sullivan.”

“That’s the most rewarding aspect for me: the lasting impact — a positive, mutually beneficial impact. The campus looks better. Students can access free parts for their projects. Everyone has fun. There is no downside.” — Mason Clewis, student

The power of organic growth took root when Sullivan put Clewis and his project partner, Chris Lesniak, in touch with Jim Essad, manager of the machine shop sciences program. When students from UCF’s Robotics Club found out, they offered to disassemble boats on race day and organize parts for future reuse. Word then spread to College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Facilities Operations Manager Pete Alfieris, who offered recycle containers and golf carts. Don Harper ’88, manager of the Texas Instruments Innovation Lab, said he’d gladly take the discarded wood and barely-used hardware for the next cohorts to access for free.

“I never thought so many people would want to be involved,” Clewis says, “but we’re helping others and there’s something inherently attractive about that.”

Two male students in black T shirts hold constructed boat at table under tailgate tent
Two engineering students visit the recycle tent at the Great Naval Orange Race. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Students want to be involved. Faculty and staff want to be involved. In the past 24 months, the savings in money and materials has been incalculable. The cycle feeds itself with the rare combination of sustainability and scale.

“Mason started doing the right thing about a need when no one was looking,” Sullivan says. “Now everyone is looking.”

E-Cycling into the Future

Clewis was in the recycling booth again for this year’s GNOR, but with a slightly different purpose: Teaching freshmen how to run the show.

“I won’t be here in a couple of years, but someone else will keep it going,” he says. “That’s the most rewarding aspect for me: the lasting impact — a positive, mutually beneficial impact. The campus looks better. Students can access free parts for their projects. Everyone has fun. There is no downside.”

Four college students wearing yellow shirts and jean shorts hold a yellow vessel with "SS Minion" written on body of boat
Created by Professor Manoj Chopra, the Great Naval Orange Race has been a tradition for engineering students at UCF for nearly 30 years. (Photo by Dana Weisman)
]]> great-naval-orange-race-reflecting-pond-ucf (Photo by Antoine Hart) Mason Clewis-recycle-great-naval-orange-race (Photo by Antoine Hart) 2026 great naval orange race Engineering students construct their vessels for functionality, but are also encouraged to show off their creativity in their design. (Photos by Antoine Hart) ucf-parts-recycling-orange-race Two engineering students visit the recycle tent at the Great Naval Orange Race. (Photo by Antoine Hart) Great Navel Orange Race-minions The Great Naval Orange Race has been a tradition at UCF for nearly 30 years after it was first created by Professor Manoj Chopra. (Photo by Dana Weisman) UCF Receives $50 Million Gift to Establish the Barry S. Miller College of Business /news/ucf-receives-50-million-gift-to-establish-the-barry-s-miller-college-of-business/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:03:53 +0000 /news/?p=152377 The largest gift in university history positions UCF to lead the future of technology-driven business education.

]]> The ֱ today announced a $50 million gift fromfinanceܳԳܲBarryMiller’95— the largestsinglephilanthropic investment inthe university’shistory — toestablishthe Barry S. Miller College of Business.

“UCF is being trusted to lead, and Barry’s investment reinforces that UCF is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don’t just succeed in the world — they come back to help build what’s next.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF President

The investment will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will position UCF as a national leader in emerging fields that prepare students to lead with the skills the marketplace demands.

“This is a defining moment for UCF and for the College of Business,” says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA. “As an alumnus, I have seen firsthand how UCF transforms lives by opening doors to opportunity, and this extraordinary gift takes that mission to an entirely new level, giving future generations of Knights access to a world-class business education and an opportunity to achieve their full potential.”

“We are deeply grateful to Barry for his extraordinary belief in this university and in the impact our students make. This is a defining moment for UCF and a powerful signal of who we are and where we are going,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “UCF is being trusted to lead, and Barry’s investment reinforces that UCF is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don’t just succeed in the world — they come back to help build what’s next.”

“UCF gave me the opportunity to build my future,” Miller says. “This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others — and ensuring students are prepared for a world where technology and business are constantly evolving.”

Three people holding a framed rendering
UCF Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA (left) and UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright (right) present alumnus and entrepreneur Barry Miller ’95 (center) with a rendering of the Barry S. Miller College of Business, which the philanthropist established through a historic $50 million gift. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

A Defining Moment for UCF

Few universities of UCF’syoungagehave alumni giving back at this level.

At the center of thismilestoneis longtimesupporter and entrepreneur Barry S. Miller,president ofthe Florida-basedandVoloridgeHealth.Miller isa first-generationcollegegraduate whose early partnership and belief in the university helped accelerate UCF’s trajectory.

His leadership and commitment to wideningopportunity helped lay the groundwork for a future-focused strategy that will transform how students learn, innovate and launch their careers. Miller’slatestinvestment reflects UCF’s ability toproducetalent that succeeds at the highest levels and inspiresthat talent to returnnot just with pride, but with capacity and conviction to shapewhat’snext.

Building the Future of Business Education

“UCF gave me the opportunity to build my future. This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others.” — Barry Miller ’95, Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health president

willoperateas a hub for technology-driven business leadership where students, faculty and industry collaborate in real time to solve complex challengesin emerging fields like artificial intelligence,fintechand digital risk.

The focus is not simply on technical skills, but on empowering graduates to take action to address organizational obstacles and lead in fields fueled by rapid technological change.

This vision is grounded in the region UCF calls home.

Orlando has rapidlyemergedas one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology hubs,withdemand for talent in fintech andAI continuingtoevolve.Across Florida, one of the largest clusters of banking and insurance firms in the country is fueling new opportunities in financial technology,riskand data-driven decision-making.

UCF sits at the center of this momentum,uniquely positioned to develop the talent and ideas that will powerthe future.

The investment will supporta multi-phase strategy designed to position UCF asthedestination for business and technology education, including:

  • Five endowed faculty chairs in fintech, AI strategy, cyber risk,trustand disinformation
  • A newmaster’sintechnologyleadership andinnovation
  • Expanded access to applied learning, including internships, simulations, Bloombergtrainingand industry-led projects
  • Growth of UCF’s corporate partnership ecosystem.

Together, these investments will create a learning environment that mirrors modern workplaces — fastmoving, datadriven and deeply connected to industry.

“Technology is advancing rapidly, and the real opportunity is in how organizations use it to perform,” saysCollege of Business DeanPaulJarley. “This investment allows us to build a business school focused on how the work actually gets done—–where students learn to apply judgment, navigate ambiguity, and lead in environments shaped by technology, data, and organizational complexity.”

Accelerating Momentum

Miller’s leadership giftmarks a milestone in— a$3.5 billioncampaign toexpandopportunity,advancediscovery,and drive impact across the university.

It sets the tonefor what comes next,accelerating the pride and vision that will inspire others to invest in UCF’s future.

“This is what momentum looks like,” saysRodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. “It reflects confidence in UCF’s vision and signals to partners, alumni and investors that this university is building something meaningful and worth being part of.”

Together, talent, opportunity and partnership are converging,positioningUCFtobe a leading force in shapingwhat’snext in business,technologyand innovation.

“UCF is not waiting to be recognized. We are being chosen, invested in and trusted to lead,” Cartwright says. “This milestone gift reflects a growing sense of pride across the university and signals the momentum others will want to help build — and it is only the beginning.”

]]> UCF_Barry-Miller-Rendering-Presentation UCF Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA (left) and UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright (right) present alumnus and entrepreneur Barry Miller '95 (center) with a rendering of the Barry S. Miller College of Business, which the philanthropist established through a historic $50 million gift. (Photo by Antoine Hart) 5 Unique Funds to Support on UCF Day of Giving /news/5-unique-funds-to-support-on-ucf-day-of-giving/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:48:17 +0000 /news/?p=152216 On Thursday, April 9,UCF Day of Givingwill supportstudents, research and programs shaping the future— including these five unique areas across the university.

]]> Knight Nation’s singlelargest day of impact—— takes place Thursday, April 9.As a united Black & Gold community, wewillBounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer our way toward major wins for UCF students, faculty, programs, research endeavors and more.

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth — we’re counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this UCF Day of Giving.

As Knights, we challenge status quo. We charge boldly ahead toward industry evolutions and technological advancements. We dare to build a future the world has only begun to imagine. And it’s all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together,we’relaunching Knights to new heights.

UCF mascot Knightro forms heart with his hands
UCF is committed to supporting and offering relief resources for our students. (Photo by Nick Leyva ’15)

When the unexpected arises,helpsometimescomes in the form of .Created to supportKnightsfacinghardship that mayhindertheir education,this fundprovidesfinancial supportfor textbooks,feesand other education-relatedexpensesfor qualifying students.

Your gift ensures thatwhenlife’strialstest ourKnights,theypasswith flying colors,securingthe educationand futuretheydeserve.

Three people wearing military uniforms standing on a commencement stage
From left to right: military officers and College of Medicine graduates Leeann Hu ’24MD, Tovah Williamson ’24MD and Asanka Ekanayake ’24MD.

The  provides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at UCF.

helps ensurethatthose who have served and their connected students are fully supported as they pursue their educational and career goals.

UCF has been recognizedwith aGold Awardon theMilitary FriendlySchools list, as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a Best Military-Friendly Online College and on the Military Times’ 2025Best for Vets Colleges List.Help uscontinue that legacyofserving thosewho’veserved.

UCF’s Aphasia House uses the latest clinical research to create a personalized course of therapy for everyone they serve.

offers an intensive, comprehensive therapy programto thosenavigating Aphasia, alanguagedisorder that can arise fromhealth challenges such asstroke,braincancerand brain injury,andaffectsan individual’s ability toread, write,speakandcomprehendlanguage.

Through the program,individuals areempowered tomake progress on their long-held goals, like talking with their grandchildren or ordering their favorite restaurant meal.

on UCF Day of Givingsupports the continuation of thisimportantservice for our community, as well as the hands-on experience UCF student cliniciansreceive.

Man with dark hair and wearing a white lab coat and blue latex gloves inspects a glass beaker in a lab setting

Support UCF College of Medicine researchers as theybreakinto new realms ofunderstandingaroundthecountry’ssecond leading cause of death— cancer.Throughinnovative science,they’reexploring keyavenues of discoveryincludingthe role thatgenes playindetermininga person’s cancer risk, what causes cancer to spreadand how to harness the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells.

The goal: to prevent cancer and find new therapies that improve quality of lifefor patients. bringsus onestep closertolives saved,families unburdenedand a curerealized.

Six male and female college students dressed in suits hold plaques while standing in front of glass doors
UCF’s nationally ranked moot court team competes in a simulated court room setting against schools including Virginia, Yale, UT-Dallas and more.

Did you knowthat UCF has one of the top Moot Courtteams in the nation, rankingamong the top 15overallby the American Moot Court Association?Supervised by the , these student advocatesare challengedwith arguingmock supreme court caseson constitutional amendments.

andnationalleadershipbymaking a gift on UCF Day of Giving.Helpcovercompetition travel expenses, as well asthecost oftheannual tournamenthostedat UCF Downtowneach fall.

It’stime for launch, Knight Nation! Join usaswe rally aroundour favorite causes, andmaybe evenuncover somenewones, during UCF Day of Giving.Findmore areas of supportbyexploringthe, andsave the date toon Thursday, April 9.

]]> Knightro-love UCF is committed to supporting and offering relief resources for our students and employees. (Photo by Nick Leyva '15) UCF_College of Medicine_Spring 2024 Commencment_2 From left, military officers Leeann Hu, Tovah Williamson and Asanka Ekanayake aphasia house UCF's Aphasia House uses the latest clinical research to create a personalized course of therapy for everyone they serve. COM research moot court-ucf the on-campus courtroom and join UCF’s nationally ranked teams — Mock Trial, Moot Court, or Mediation — supported by faculty and local legal professionals who judge competitions and mentor students. UCF Students take on competitors from UVA, Yale, UT Dallas and more. Founders’ Day 2026: Faculty Recognized for Excellence /news/founders-day-2026-faculty-awards/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:30:00 +0000 /news/?p=152007 The annual event spotlights approximately 280 faculty for excellence, years of service, and other contributions that drive what’s next at UCF.

]]> UCF will highlight approximately 280 faculty members for academic excellence and service at Wednesday’s annual Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom.

Recipients will include this year’s awardees of some of the highest honors the university bestows, including: Pegasus Professor; the Medal of Societal Impact; the Reach for the Stars Award; the Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year Award; and the Champion of Student Success and Well-Being.

Also being honored are university excellence award winners; those who recently reached milestone years of service; Faculty Senate service awardees; faculty granted 𳾱ٳܲ ǰ 𳾱ٲ status; and retired or retiring faculty members.

This year’s celebration includes recognition of Chuck Dziuban, one of the longest-serving and most trailblazing faculty members in school history. His remarkable 55-year-career includes being UCF’s inaugural Pegasus Professor and founding director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Starting this year at Founders’ Day, the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching will be given to underscore the talented faculty behind UCF’s nationally renowned reputation as a leader in in online teaching and learning.

Here are this year’s faculty honorees.

2x2 grid of portraits of Hassan Foroosh (upper left), Carmen Giurgescu (upper right), Annette Khaled (bottom left) and Matthew Marino (bottom right)
Hassan Foroosh (upper left); Carmen Giurgescu (upper right); Annette Khaled (bottom left); and Matthew Marino (bottom right) are the recipients of the 2026 Pegasus Professor Award. (Photos by Antoine Hart)

Pegasus Professor Award

HassanForoosh,College of Engineering and Computer Science

CarmenGiurgescu, College of Nursing

Annette R. Khaled, College of Medicine

Matthew Marino, College ofCommunity Innovation and Education

3 x 3 grid of portraits of six Reach for the Stars award winners
Reach for the Stars Award winners: Hao-Zheng (top left), Ana Carolina de Souza Feliciano (top right), Soyoung Park (middle left), John Bush (middle right), Kevin Moran (bottom left), and Shyam Kattel (bottom right).

Reach for the Stars Award

John Bush, College of Business

Ana Carolinade Souza Feliciano, Office of Research

Shyam Kattel, College of Sciences

Kevin Moran, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Soyoung Park, College of Community Innovation and Education

Hao Zheng, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences

Zhihua Qu

Medal of Societal Impact Award

Zhihua Qu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award

Suha Saleh,College of Health Professions and Sciences

Deborah Beidel
Deborah Beidel

Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year

Deborah Beidel, College of Sciences

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

College Awardees

Tanvir Ahmed, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Norine Blanch, College of Community Innovation and Education

Matthew Bryan, College of Arts and Humanities

Peter Delfyett, College of Optics and Photonics

Nyla Dil, College of Medicine

Katia Ferdowsi, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Murat Hancer, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Deborah Horzen, College of Arts and Humanities

Richard Jerousek, College of Sciences

Betsy Kalin, College of Sciences

Evelin Pegoraro, College of Arts and Humanities

Richard Plate, College of Community Innovation and Education

Alfons Schulte, College of Sciences

Nicholas Shrubsole, College of Arts and Humanities

Daniel Stephens, College of Community Innovation and Education

Wei Sun, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Danielle Webster, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Sara Willox, College of Business

Xiaohu Xia, College of Sciences

Widaad Zaman, College of Sciences

ֱ Winner

Norine Blanch, College of Community Innovation and Education

Excellence in Graduate Teaching

College Awardees

Shaurya Agarwal, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Kim Anderson, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Christopher Blackwell, College of Nursing

Shannon Carter, College of Sciences

Sasan Fathpour, College of Optics and Photonics

Murat Hancer, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Dana Joseph, College of Business

Magdalena Pasarica, College of Medicine

Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities

Vassiliki Zygouris-Coe, College of Community Innovation and Education

ֱ Winner

Christopher Blackwell, College of Nursing

Excellence in Research

College Awardees

Sarah Bush, College of Community Innovation and Education

Zixi (Jack) Cheng, College of Medicine

Enrique Del Barco, College of Sciences

Romain Gaume, College of Optics and Photonics

Nan Hua, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Kevin Mullally, College of Business

Matthew Stock, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Ladda Thiamwong, College of Nursing

Subith Vasu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Cyrus Zargar, College of Arts and Humanities

ֱ Winner

Enrique Del Barco, College of Sciences

Brunette woman wearing glasses, green shirt and plaid skirt stands in conference room with large table and yellow chairs
Nicole Lapeyrouse ’16MS ’18PhD (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching

Nicole Lapeyrouse, College of Sciences

Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising

Emily Proulx, College of Arts and Humanities

Excellence in Professional Service

Linda Walters, College of Sciences

Excellence in Librarianship

Katy Miller, UCF Libraries

Excellence in Instructional Design

Amy Sugar, Division of Digital Learning

ֱ Award for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students

Engineering, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences

Subith Vasu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Art and Health

David Boote, College of Community Innovation and Education

ֱ Award for Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars

Kausik Mukhopadhyay, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Thomas Wahl, College of Engineering and Computer Science

20 Years of Service

Haiyan Bai, College of Community Innovation and Education

Brian Barone, College of Arts and Humanities

Aman Behal, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Corinne Bishop, UCF Libraries

Joseph Brennan, College of Sciences

Mark Calabrese, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Li-Mei Chen, College of Medicine

Baiyun Chen, Division of Digital Learning

Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences

William Crampton, College of Sciences

Richard Curcio, College of Business

Donovan Dixon, College of Sciences

Martin Dupuis, Burnett Honors College

Michelle Dusseau, College of Sciences

Dorin Dutkay, College of Sciences

Kirk Gay, College of Arts and Humanities

Deborah German, College of Medicine

William Hagedorn, College of Community Innovation and Education

Joseph Harrington, College of Sciences

Fayeza Hasanat, College of Arts and Humanities

Bobby Hoffman, College of Community Innovation and Education

Elizabeth Hoffman, College of Community Innovation and Education

Alisha Janowsky, College of Sciences

Abdelkader Kara, College of Sciences

David Kwun, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Stephen Lambert, College of Medicine

Peter Larson, College of Arts and Humanities

Joseph LaViola Jr., College of Engineering and Computer Science

Edgard Maboudou, College of Sciences

Kevin Mackie, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Iryna Malendevych, College of Community Innovation and Education

Jonathan Matusitz, College of Sciences

Holly McDonald, College of Arts and Humanities

Florin Mihai, College of Arts and Humanities

Olga Molina, College of Health Professions and Sciences

George Musambira, College of Sciences

Nina Orlovskaya, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Talat Rahman, College of Sciences

25 Years of Service

Laura Albers-Biddle, College of Community Innovation and Education

Steven Berman, College of Sciences

Tarek Buhagiar, College of Business

Melissa Dagley, College of Sciences

Sabatino DiBernardo, College of Arts and Humanities

Mark Dickie, College of Business

Ivan Garibay, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Anthony Grajeda, College of Arts and Humanities

Bari Hoffman, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Steven Hornik, College of Business

Anna Jones, College of Arts and Humanities

Mikhail Klimov, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Stefanie Mayfield Garcia, College of Business

Rudy McDaniel, College of Arts and Humanities

Rachel Mulvihill, UCF Libraries

Christopher Niess, College of Arts and Humanities

Eugene Paoline, College of Community Innovation and Education

Sumanta Pattanaik, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Tison Pugh, College of Arts and Humanities

Walter Sotero, College of Sciences

Suren Tatulian, College of Sciences

Nizam Uddin, College of Sciences

Lei Wei, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Graham Worthy, College of Sciences

Shin-Tson Wu, College of Optics and Photonics

30 Years of Service

Charlie Abraham, College of Arts and Humanities

Helen Becker, College of Business

James Campbell, College of Arts and Humanities

Karl X. Chai, College of Medicine

Ratna Chakrabarti, College of Medicine

Jill Fjelstul, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Barbara Fritzsche, College of Sciences

Nora Lee García, College of Arts and Humanities

Linwood Jones, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Alexander Katsevich, College of Sciences

Kuotsai Tom Liou, College of Community Innovation and Education

Lisa Logan, College of Arts and Humanities

Humberto López Cruz, College of Arts and Humanities

Eric Martin, Office of Research

Kevin Meehan, College of Arts and Humanities

Charles H. Reilly, Office of the Provost

Timothy Rotarius, College of Community Innovation and Education

Peter Spyers-Duran, UCF Libraries

Alexander Tovbis, College of Sciences

Laurence von Kalm, College of Sciences

Linda Walters, College of Sciences

Bruce Wilson, College of Sciences

Hong Zhang, College of Arts and Humanities

Ying Zhang, UCF Libraries

35 Years of Service

Issa Batarseh, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Alain Kassab, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mansooreh Mollaghasemi, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Robert Peale, College of Sciences

Chung-Ching Wang, College of Sciences

40 Years of Service

Ahmad Elshennawy, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Michael Georgiopoulos, College of Engineering and Computer Science

David Hagan, College of Optics and Photonics

Anna Lillios, College of Arts and Humanities

Mubarak Shah, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Kalpathy Sundaram, College of Engineering and Computer Science

45 Years of Service

Robert Rivers, College of Arts and Humanities

55 Years of Service

Chuck Dziuban, Division of Digital Learning

Faculty Emeritus and Emerita

Lynn Casmier-Paz, College of Arts and Humanities

James Clark, College of Arts and Humanities

Teresa Dorman, College of Sciences

Chuck Dziuban, Division of Digital Learning

Amy Giroux, College of Arts and Humanities

Glenda Gunter, College of Community Innovation and Education

Michael Hampton, College of Sciences

Richard Hofler, College of Business

Robin Kohn, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Piotr Mikusinski, College of Sciences

Ram Mohapatra, College of Sciences

Donna Neff, College of Nursing

Alice Noblin, College of Community Innovation and Education

Robert Peale, College of Sciences

Trey Philpotts, College of Arts and Humanities

Robin Roberts, College of Business

Sherron Killingsworth Roberts, College of Community Innovation and Education

Lisa Roney, College of Arts and Humanities

Sybil St. Claire, College of Arts and Humanities

Terry Ann Thaxton, College of Arts and Humanities

Deborah Weaver, College of Arts and Humanities

Retired Faculty

Ahlam Al-Rawi, College of Sciences

Donna Breit, College of Nursing

Martha Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities

Chinyen Chuo, Student Success and Well-Being

Therese Coleman, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Robertico Croes, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Juli Dixon, College of Community Innovation and Education

Teresa Dorman, College of Sciences

Chuck Dziuban, Division of Digital Learning

Philip Fairey, Office of Research

John Fauth, College of Sciences

Amy Giroux, College of Arts and Humanities

Glenda Gunter, College of Community Innovation and Education

Michael Hampton, College of Sciences

Roger Handberg, College of Sciences

C. Keith Harrison, College of Business

Randall Hewitt, College of Community Innovation and Education

Rebecca Hines, College of Community Innovation and Education

Richard Hofler, College of Business

Charlie Hughes, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Alvaro Islas, College of Sciences

Mourad Ismail, College of Sciences

David Jenkins, College of Sciences

Michael Johnson, Office of the Provost

Dayle Jones, College of Community Innovation and Education

Denise Kay, College of Medicine

Gary Leavens, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mary Little, College of Community Innovation and Education

Humberto López Cruz, College of Arts and Humanities

Michael Macedonia, Office of Research

Wasfy Mikhael, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Piotr Mikusinski, College of Sciences

Roslyn Miller, Division of Digital Learning

Ram Mohapatra, College of Sciences

Vicki Montoya, College of Nursing

Brian Moore, College of Sciences

Donna Felber Neff, College of Nursing

Alice Noblin, College of Community Innovation and Education

Peggy Nuhn, UCF Libraries

Joyce Nutta, College of Community Innovation and Education

Jeffrey O’Brien, College of Business

Bendegul Okumus, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Fevzi Okumus, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Robert Peale, College of Sciences

Trey Philpotts, College of Arts and Humanities

Brian Plamondon, Office of Research

Michael Proctor, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Enrique Puig, College of Community Innovation and Education

Pedro Quintana-Ascencio, College of Sciences

Mark Rapport, College of Sciences

Sherron Roberts, College of Community Innovation and Education

Kelly Schaffer, College of Community Innovation and Education

Elzbieta Sikorska, College of Sciences

Jo Smith, Division of Digital Learning

Sybil St. Claire, College of Arts and Humanities

Mark Steiner, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Raymond Surette, College of Community Innovation and Education

Terry Ann Thaxton, College of Arts and Humanities

Patti Thielemann, College of Nursing

Cheryl Van De Mark, College of Community Innovation and Education

Martine Vanryckeghem, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Jane Vaughan, College of Arts and Humanities

Scott Warfield, College of Arts and Humanities

Debbie Weaver, College of Arts and Humanities

Philip Wessel, College of Community Innovation and Education

James Whitworth, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Boguslawa Anna Wolford, College of Community Innovation and Education

Laine Wyatt, College of Arts and Humanities

Cherie Yestrebsky, College of Sciences

Martin Klapheke, College of Medicine

Stephen Lambert, College of Medicine

Olga Molina, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Euripides Montagne, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Darlin’ Neal, College of Arts and Humanities

Michael Pape, College of Business

Tison Pugh, College of Arts and Humanities

David Young, College of Sciences

]]> FoundersDay-ucf-2026 Hassan Foroosh (upper left); Carmen Giurgescu (upper right); Annette Khaled (bottom left); and Matthew Marino (bottom right) are the recipients of the 2026 Pegasus Professor Award. (Photos by Antoine Hart) UCF reach for the stars awards 2026 Reach for the Stars Award winners UCF_Zhihua-Qu_2026_3 UCF_Deborah-Beidel_2025 Deborah Beidel ucf-Nicole Lapeyrouse-online-award Nicole Lapeyrouse ’16MS ’18PhD (Photo by Antoine Hart) Founders’ Day 2026: Employee Excellence, Years of Service Awards /news/founders-day-2026-employee-awards/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:22:12 +0000 /news/?p=151962 The annual event spotlights nearly 600 staff members for their commitment, dedication and relentless work that powers UCF everyday.

]]> UCF honored approximately 580 staff members on Founders’ Day, our annual celebration of employees, faculty and students who fuel UCF’s excellence and impact.

The university recognized employees who reached milestone years of service, along with those recently retired or about to be. UCF also presented a Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award and excellence awards in recognition of employees who made exceptional contributions to benefit the campus community.

“We celebrate your service, your dedication, and the impact you make across this university. But behind that recognition is something even more powerful: the daily commitment, the steady work, and the consistency that build momentum over time,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “The future we talk about at UCF is not something that begins someday. It is already taking shape in the work you do, in the systems you support, and in the experiences you create for our students.Thank you.”

UCF this year brought a new category of Employee Leadership Excellence Awards, recognizing non-faculty administrative leadership at the director level and above. They joined the expanded Employee Excellence Awards, which highlighted the remarkable contributions of full-time employees up to an associate director level.

The employee event kicked off a Founders’ Day celebration that also included faculty and student celebrations. Combined, more than 900 honorees were recognized during the three ceremonies this year.

Here are the honorees from this year’s Employee Honors Celebration.

Excellence Awards

Employee Excellence Awards for Operational Excellence

Arijeta Kavaja, Public Safety

Cecily McCoy-Fisher, Office of Research

Anna Nye, Office of Risk and Safety

Cindy Prophitt, Facilities and Business Operations

Employee Excellence Awards for Student Success

Cynthia Almanzar, Student Success and Well-Being

Laura Czerkies, Burnett Honors College

Michael McKee, College of Optics and Photonics

Donna Mercado, College of Nursing

Employee Excellence Awards for Community Well-Being

Jodi Reinhart, College of Sciences

Lorna Rodriguez, College of Engineering and Computer Science

David Stoneburner, Office of Institutional Resources

Mykhael Walker, Analytics and Integrated Planning

Employee Excellence Awards for Service and Partnership

Drew Barnes, College of Graduate Studies

Faith DeLorenzo, Digital Learning

Lovelyn Findley, Advancement and Partnerships

Antoine Hart, ֱ Strategic Communications

Employee Excellence Awards Nominees

Sadia Afrin

Cynthia Almanzar

Michelle Anchel

Otto Argibay

Anthony (Joey) Asti

Drew Barnes

Alexandra Barraza-Oliphant

Davalda “Dee” Bellot

Jim Bennett

Miryana Blesso

Monique Carter

Laura Czerkies

Faith DeLorenzo

Lovelyn Findley

Amanda Greaves

Antoine Hart

Christina Hussey

Alexis Hutchins

Erica Hutton

Kat Jones

Arijeta Kavaja

Marsha Kernica

Melina Kinsey

Keanna Machado

Jay Malcolm

Chuck Mannella

Samantha Mason

Cecily McCoy-Fisher

Michael McKee

Donna Mercado

Traci Mibuta

Anna Nye

Steven Pardo

Diana Perez

Anthony Piazza

Cindy Prophitt

Frances “Fran” Ragsdale

Matthew Rall

Jodi Reinhart

Lorna Rodriguez

Ashley Samson

William Self

Maricel Soto

Jennifer Stalzer

Emily Stettner

David Stoneburner

Jeremiah Taylor

Rebecca Underhill

Mykhael Walker

Denise Whiteside

Maria Williams

Employee Leadership Excellence Awards

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for Strategic Execution

Andre Watts, Analytics and Integrated Planning

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for People Leadership and Talent Stewardship

Andrea Withington, College of Community Innovation and Education

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for Advancing Collaboration and Partnership

Germayne Graham, Student Programs and Outreach

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for Innovation, Improvement, and Bold Action

Kim Smith, Office of Research

Employee Leadership Excellence Awards Nominees

Drew Andrews

Morgan Bauer

Austin Bott

Brian Boyd

David Canova

Megan Carrigan

Shafaq Chaudhry

Sherri Dixon

Madi Dogariu

Michael Duong

Amy Ellis

Gerard Flood

Steven Freund

Andrea Gandy

Delia Garcia

Germayne Graham

Stephanie Heron

Dana Juntunen

Kerlene King

Ashley Longoria

Ayanna Lopez

Carla McCabe

Rudy McDaniel

Amy Perry

Charlie Piper

Candida Richards

Elizabeth Richner

Cesar RiveraCruzado

Rex Roberts

Anastasia Salter

Wendy Sarubbi

Basma Selim

Kim Smith

Meghan Truhett

Suzzette Turner

Michael Wainstein

Tyler Walsh

Andre Watts

Danta White

Andrea Withington

Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award

Rosemarie Mendoza, Facilities and Business Operations

Emerita Status Awardee

Amy Giroux, College of Arts and Humanities

Employee Service Awards

45 Years of Service

Donna Hickson

35 Years of Service

Tina Maier

Michael Reed

Patricia Trovillion

30 Years of Service

Sharon Bady

Travis Cain

Adrianne Demetry

Francisco Dionisi

Joel Lavoie

Elizabeth Rivera

25 Years of Service

Herlinda Bedoya

Michael Bell

Abdulbaset Benwali

Terri Bigham

Bruce Boutwell

Olivia Bridges

Amy Buford

Cristina Caamano

Carlos Chardon

Keith Coelho

Janny Colon

Elizabeth Costello

Al Davis

Steven Dick

Rafael Durand

Sira Giron

Rebecca Hammond

Jonathan Hanie

Keith Honaker

Davina Hovanec

Latchmin Jaggernauth

Susan Jefferson

Georgia Kent

Michelle Matthews

Andrew O’Mara

Jennifer Opper

Naya Ramirez

Gail Raymond

Brenda Rodrigues

Timothy Ryan

Maria Santiago

Heather Simeon

Carl Truesdell

Meena Turner

Maria Williams

Dela Williams

Andrea Withington

20 Years of Service

Michael Aldarondo-Jeffries

Lindsay Archambault

Gloria Bastidas

Renee Bence

Eric Brewington

Daren Caine

Michael Callahan

Marc Cassidy

Robin Chan

Karen Cox

Kelley Dietrich

Matthew Dunn

Scott Eberle

Cecilia Elias

Samuel Ensenat

Marelis Figueredo Garcia

Matthew Fitzgerald

Scott Freeman

Glenn Gaborko

Tyniesia Gandy

Kelly Gill

Lindana Gomez

Brian Graham

Timothy Haduch

Jenny Hartman

Elizabeth Herrera

Sarah Hunt

Tamara Jomarron

Carreen Krapf

Ellaine Leodones

Marlene Lugo

Carlos Martinez

Deysi Mercedes

Heather Murphy

Uday Nair

Perla Ongy

Robert (Bob) Opdahl

Haresh Patel

Rachel Perry

Omesh Persaud

Sandy Pouliot

Christine Pugh

Luz Quintero

Maria Quintero

Christopher Rains

Tim Reid

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Terrance Rooth

Diana Santiago

Saul Santiago

Kathy Sapp

Basma Selim

Romeo Sibayan

Jeff Smith

George Taylor

Lynda Toussaint

Shreya Trivedi

Reina Vazquez

Tonya Walker

15 Years of Service

Marlene Agostini

Jose Arce

Lucy Bautista

Randy Beck

Aiza Beguez

Miryana Blesso

Carolyn Castro

Silvia Cerro

Lorinda Clark

Patricia Colyer

Theresa Davis

Dani Draper

Jennifer Elliott

Tamara Gabrus

Ernie Gemeinhart

Jessica Glaspie

James Grant

Lisa Haas

Allison Henderson

Maribel Herrera

Jason Kennedy

Ann Kershner

Usha Lal

Dora Laureano

Hank Lewis

Ujjwala Magdum

Jennifer Mark

Jessica Matos

Meghan McCollum

Amanda Miller

Tracey Morrison

Kimberly Nassoiy

Beth Nettles

Hoang Nguyen

Jorge Olmedo

Minh Phan

Rhett Proctor

Elida Prophete

Michael Pugh

Ligia Ramirez

Rebeca Richards

Maria Rodriguez

Daniel Sagendorf

Kimberly Sargent

Wendy Sarubbi

Nick Schenk

Dave Schreier

Lori Shuff

Jacob Skinner

Terri Smith

Suzanne Stalvey

Brian Strickland

Christy Tant

Freddie Tirado Jr.

Joanne Toole

Roger Tripp

Matthew Vaccaro

Tamara Vassallo Soto

Martha Wiggins

Wanda Wint

10 Years of Service

Danielle Adams

Terrell Alexander

Julissa Alicea

Lindsey Anderson

Nadine Arentz

Jose Ayala Torres

Morgan Bauer

Shaun Black

John Boehm

Kate Brinister

Danilo Canlas

Megan Carrigan

Melissa Choinski

Madhavi Chokshi

Lorine Cisch-Taylor

Lisa Clendenning

Shannon Colon

Robert Connors

John Cooke

Todd Coon

Richard Cortez-Satterlee

Joanna Couch

Brandon Couts

Meghan Crowther

Summer Davis

Katherine Del Cid

Vanessa Delgado

Gerald Dillon

Kerri Drylie

Mirvate El Jerdi

Shajira El Masri

Amy Ellis

Jerad Engel

Damian Fagan

Marites Falkenhausen

Sarah Farrell

Jessica Fasano

Ben Fauser

Melissa Fawcett

Janet Feliciano

Valentina Fernandez

Jason Francis

Neftali Garcia

Eileen Garner

Christopher Gase

Kristina Gomez

Agustin Gonzalez

Adriel Gonzalez Gutierrez

Ryan Goodwin

Liz Gordian Olmo

Walter Gordon

Rhonda Granger Gomez

Josh Haupt

George Hayner Jr.

Rita Higgins

Katherine Hoefer

Elizabeth Hughes

Erica Hutton

Renee Johnston

Nathanael Jones

Megan Kellogg

Brian Kelly

Mike Kilbride

Maureen Landgraf

Daniel Lee

Missy Lesnewski

Ian Levy

Sarojben Limbachia

George Lopez

Ricardo Lopez

Juan Lugo

Karemah Manselle

Kristy McAllister

Justin McGill

Pamela McGlinchey

Oliver McSurley

Rebecca Meadows

Nelson Mendez

Pamela Mills

Mike Minutelli

Eli Mizell

Angela Moreira

Rebecca Mowrer

Lauren Murray-Lemon

David Neese

Lucas Noboa

Loida Olivas

Jeffrey Panter

Steven Pardo

Juana Pasco

Laura Patterson

Deborah Pease

Miguel Pellot

Ryan Pendry

Karen Peterson

Wanda Pruett-Butler

Abner Ramos Piñero

Erica Recktenwald

Samantha Redlund

Elizabeth Richner

Carlos Rivera

Victor Rivera

Lisa Roberts

Jacob Scholtz

Skender Shehu

Mari Sievinen

Kiela Sims

Aaron Smart

Liza Smith

Casey Smith

Esperanza Soto

Calvin Soto

Tenley Sterkel

Timothy Sullivan

Jackson Thevenin

Danielle Traylor

Wanda Tummons

Anna Velocci

Brian Villar

Stephen Villiotis

Paul Werden

Jonathan White

Barbara Wilson

Dylan Yonts

5 Years of Service

Lidya Abdelmalak

Elna Andreeva

Dana Archer

Linnette Aviles

Jessica Banos

Arismir Barreiras Peralta

Kristy Beitler

Summer Bernini

Abby Bertrand

Mayra Bonilla Torres

Melissa Braillard

Drew Bryant

Barbara Busch

Jess Camacho

Alexander N. Cartwright

Maria Ceku

Gianna Cifredo

Wilfredo Cornelio

Mario De Vera

Franco Del Pino

Mark Durbin

David Edgar

Lori Fiandra

Steven Fournier

Amoy Fraser

Raquela Garcia-Valenzuela

Melissa Gilliland

Luis Gonzalez

Marisela Guillen

Kathleen Hawkins

Robert Herr

Donna Jackson

Chase Jicha

Justin Kardach

Jamie Kaynan

Scott Langdon

Sarah Lardizabal

Kristeena LaRoue

Angela Lehman

Lucy Leon

Lawrence Lipe

Alex Lucchi

Marc Maheu

Alli Maiorano

Martha Martin

Reyner Martinez

Kate Mascheri

Angelica Mateo

Stephanie Mederos

Christopher Miller

Sarah Moore

Mindy Mozena

Lisa Myles

Iris Neil

Veronica Pak

Evgenia Pamer

Neelam Patel

Tran Pham

Cat Puckett

Monica Quimbayo

Michael Rivera

Marvecia Robinson

Leslie Rogers

Mary Rush

Luis Sanchez Artavia

Kyle Sindelar

Monica Smith

Yulisney Sotolongo

Garrett Spurlin

Jennifer Stalzer

Kimberly Stangle

Kenneth Steele

Lorenzo Stefko

Shari-Ann Stewart

Jane Stump

Elizabeth Tammaro

Jason Taningco

Raquel Toro-Espinal

Pia Valenciano

Thaina Velez

Danta White

Roksana Zak

Recognition of Retirees

Rafael Abreu

Yousef Ayoub

Pam Barkman

Suzette Batka

Emily Bennett

Richard Berwanger

Jeanne Blank

Patrick Blount

Parri Bolinger

Marcus Bowan

Deborah Bradford

Roanne Brice

Gary Burkhart

Rose Carpenter

Rick Catasus

Edgar Chavez

Willis Chico

Eunice Choi

Diane Claudio

Theresa Collins

Debra Copertino

Laura Crouch

Carol Davella

Karen Dlhosh

Debbie Doyle

Carol Ann Dykes Logue

Larry Eflin

Joseph Finnigan

Perry Fraser

Catherine Gholson

Amy Giroux

Robert Goater

Mariela Gonzalez

Tracy Griffith

Mark Gumble

Tania Gutierrez-Catasus

Martha Hamann

MJ Herbert Fuerst

Bethsy Hernandez

Ana Hernandez

Cherie Herrin

Michael Herring

Cathy Hill

Jane Ingalls

Wayne Jackson

Larry Jaffe

Daniel Kidder

Lee Kirkpatrick

Phyllis Kornegay

Melinda Kramer

Donna Leavitt

Ruben Lopez

Dennis Maddox

Kelli Marini

Janice Matley

Marcia Maukonen

Oscar Mauricio

James “Jim” McCully

Carrie McDowell

Linda Milner

Bruce Mink

Michele Monteith

Abderrahim Mouhassin

Christine Mouton

Jesus Munoz

Chuck Nicholas

Stephen OConnell

Leonardo Pascua

Esther Pennepacker

Rosario Pizarro

Brenda Posey

Michele Pozdoll

Odus Radford

Frances Ragsdale

Cindy Rahrle

Robert Reed

Wayne Regilio

Stella Restrepo

Kayonne Riley

Iris Rios

Charles Roberts

Norma Robles

Aimara Rodriguez

James Roop

Rosalba Ruiz

Eileen Ryan

Judith Samuels

Nicolas Santos

James Schaus

Jeanette Schreiber

Susan Schroen

Alison Schultz

Elena Sequera

Kelly Shilton

Michael Shumack

Shela Siegrist

Liza Smith

Karen Smith

Kathleen Snoeblen

Terry Stein

Peter Stephens

Patty Stroupe

Timothy Sullivan

Randolph Sulter

Jeffrey Ulmer

Lisa Vaughn

Luis Velozo

Rebecca Vilsack

Vicki Vitale

Deborah Walker

Kerry Welch

Maria Jocelyn Wick

Scott Wiles

Elena Wilson

Robert Wong

]]> Joshua Colwell Leads UCF’s College of Sciences as Dean /news/joshua-colwell-leads-ucfs-college-of-sciences-as-dean/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:21:14 +0000 /news/?p=151883 UCF has appointed Pegasus Professor of Physics Joshua Colwell as dean of the College of Sciences, ushering in a new chapter of leadership for the university’s largest college.

]]> The search for a new dean for the UCF College of Sciences has concluded with the appointment of Joshua Colwell, a Pegasus Professor of physics who has been at UCF for 20 years.

Following a competitive national search and rigorous interview process, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter selected Colwell on March 13, citing his steady leadership during his nine-month tenure as interim dean.

“Under his leadership, the college fostered an environment where students, faculty and staff can thrive, while strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding research and community impact,” Buckwalter says.

UCF's College of Sciences
The UCF College of Sciences is the university’s largest college, comprising three schools, six departments and nine research centers, and serving more than 16,000 students.

As interim dean, and now as dean, Colwell oversees the university’s largest college, serving more than 16,000 students across a wide range of disciplines, including the physical, biological, social, behavioral and computational sciences. The College of Sciences plays a central role in advancing UCF’s research enterprise and preparing graduates to address complex global challenges through scientific discovery and innovation.

Colwell’s bold vision for the College of Sciences builds on UCF’s reputation as Florida’s Technological ֱ.

“We have cutting-edge research ranging from human-machine communication and interaction to new materials for clean energy, as well as the societal and political aspects of space exploration,” Colwell says. “We are uniquely positioned to prepare students for a rapidly evolving technological landscape and the economy of the 21st century.”

Among his key focuses are improving student preparedness after graduation, ensuring students have the knowledge and skills to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market shaped by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“It’s a top priority to make sure our researchers understand the rapidly changing technological landscape so they can carry out transformative work.” — Joshua Colwell, COS dean

“It’s a top priority to make sure our researchers understand the rapidly changing technological landscape so they can carry out transformative work,” Colwell says. “We also want to ensure our faculty have the support needed to deliver a world-class education.”

Colwell emphasizes the importance of keeping key stakeholders informed and including them in decision-making when appropriate.

“I’ve found that transparency and strong communication among all parties go a long way toward building trust and commitment to a shared vision,” Colwell says. “I want to make sure my team and I are available and actively engaging with faculty, students, staff and the community to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how to navigate them.”

Colwell joined UCF as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics in 2006. He later served as chair of the Department of Physics and associate dean for research for the college. In these roles, he was instrumental in advancing academic planning, supporting research growth and leading initiatives that strengthen student success. His leadership contributed to expanding faculty capacity, modernizing instructional laboratories and enhancing research opportunities across the college — experience that has shaped his approach as a leader.

“The breadth of those experiences has given me valuable insight into the challenges our faculty and staff face and how administration at the college level can support their work,” Colwell says. “I’ve also taught both large and small classes and supervised undergraduate and graduate students, so I feel very connected to the UCF student experience.”

“I’ve also taught both large and small classes and supervised undergraduate and graduate students, so I feel very connected to the UCF student experience.” — Joshua Colwell, COS dean

Colwell says the multidisciplinary nature of the college’s work, which touches every part of the human experience, makes it an exciting place to be.

“From transforming energy production and human-computer interaction to shaping entertainment, managing information, and coexisting with our environment, our work is exciting, impactful, and innovative,” he says. “Above all, we are preparing our students to thrive and make a positive impact in the world.”

Colwell earned his doctoral degree in astrophysical, planetary and atmospheric sciences from the ֱ of Colorado Boulder and his bachelor’s degree in physics from Stetson ֱ. In 2019, he was named a Pegasus Professor, UCF’s highest faculty honor. His research on planetary rings, comets and the evolution of planetary systems has supported experiments flown on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. He also served as a co-investigator on Cassini–Huygens and has worked closely with students on spaceflight experiments in collaboration with commercial partners such as Blue Origin.

]]> Photos 1200×800 – 2 The UCF College of Sciences is the university’s largest college, comprising three schools, six departments and nine research centers, and serving more than 16,000 students. Founders’ Day 2026: Celebrating Student, Faculty and Staff Knights /news/founders-day-2026-celebrating-student-faculty-and-staff-knights/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:00:05 +0000 /news/?p=151495 Employees, faculty and students will be recognized at three separate ceremonies in the Pegasus Ballroom on April 1.

]]> Every year on the first Wednesday of April, UCF honors the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of our people on Founders’ Day, our annual celebration of the employees, faculty and students who keep reaching for the stars.

Our entire UCF community was invited to join us at these special events, held April 1in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union, as we recognize fellow Knights for their pursuit of excellence and impact.

Employee Honors Celebration
9 a.m.-noon

During the morning ceremony, staff employees will be honored for their excellence and service.

Faculty Honors Celebration
3-5 p.m.

During the afternoon ceremony, faculty will be honored for their outstanding contributions to research and academia.

Student Honors Celebration
6:30-8 p.m.

During the evening ceremony, students will be recognized for their impact in areas like academics, research and community.

]]> Honoring UCF Public Safety’s 2025 Achievements /news/honoring-ucf-public-safetys-2025-achievements/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:46:05 +0000 /news/?p=151432 The annual awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of officers, staff members and community partners.

]]> UCF Public Safety honored standout officers, professional staff members, and community partners during its annual awards ceremony, hosted by News 6 Traffic Expert “Trooper Steve” Montiero. The event celebrated recipients of the department’s Lifesaving Awards and its annual “Of the Year” honors, while Chief Robin Griffin‑Kitzerow presented the prestigious Chief’s Award to two deserving recipients.

The ceremony also recognized achievements in professional development, academic milestones, physical abilities, commendations and community partnership efforts — highlighting accomplishments across every division of Public Safety.

Award recipients were nominated and voted on by their peers, with final selections reviewed by a designated awards committee, ensuring a process rooted in fairness, transparency and the values of the department.

2025 Chief’s, Of the Year and Lifesaving Award Winners

Two police officers posing for a photo

Chief’s Award: ScottFreeman’11
With more than two decades of service to UCF, Deputy Chief Scott Freeman ’11 is widely regarded as the embodiment of loyalty, reliability and hard work. He began his career with the UCF Police Department as a civilian community service officer and steadily worked his way up — earning sponsorship to attend the police academy, progressing through the ranks and ultimately becoming deputy chief. His rise reflects an unmatched work ethic and a deep commitment to serving the university community.

As his responsibilities grew, so did his professional accomplishments. Freeman went on to graduate from the prestigious FBI National Academy, becoming — at the time — only the second UCFPD member ever selected for the program, an honor reserved for roughly 1% of law enforcement professionals nationwide.

Though he rarely seeks the spotlight, Freeman is known across campus for being available at any hour and for consistently putting others first. His humor and quick wit bring levity to public safety operations, and his passion, compassion, and dedication continue to make the department a stronger and more supportive place to work.
Police officers and people posing for a photo

Chief’s Award:UCFPD’s Emergency Response Team
The second Chief’s Award recognizes a unit whose exceptional coordination, discipline and professionalism have set a new standard for campus safety. In 2025, UCFPD’s Emergency Response Team was called into action 24 times — often with little warning — to manage complex multi‑agency operations across UCF and Central Florida.

Despite the size and unpredictability of these events, the team delivered extraordinary results: not a single major incident, no arrests and no use of force. Their success was no accident. It was the product of rigorous training, meticulous planning and seamless communication, all anchored in a steadfast commitment to safety and de‑escalation.

Three police officers posing for a photo

Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year: Allison Sienkiewicz ’17
Supporting the mental health and well‑being of students is one of UCFPD’s highest priorities, and Officer Allison Sienkiewicz ’17 exemplified that commitment throughout 2025. During one crisis response, she helped a student who had engaged in self‑harm by creating a calm, supportive environment, and guiding both the student and their parent through the Baker Act process with empathy and clarity. In another call, she assisted a student experiencing suicidal ideations, taking the time to build trust, validate fears, and ensure the student felt safe and heard. Because of Sienkiewicz’s steady presence, compassion, and exceptional crisis intervention skills, both students received the critical, life‑saving support they needed.

Dispatcher of the Year: Nattia Lawrence ’24
Dispatchers play a crucial role in every incident, serving as the steady voice callers rely on in their most stressful moments. Nattia Lawrence ’24 embodies that responsibility each day through her friendly, approachable demeanor and her willingness to assist at any moment. She has taken clear initiative to expand her knowledge and impact within the department — participating in the mentorship program, joining the Public Safety Events Committee and pursuing her master’s degree while working full time. Her positive attitude, responsiveness, and reliability make her someone both colleagues and the community depend on, earning her this well‑deserved recognition.


DUI Officer of the Year: Adriel Rivera Aponte and Isabella Sanchez
DUI enforcement plays a vital role in keeping our roads safe, and even a single impaired‑driving arrest has the potential to prevent a tragedy. This year, Adriel Rivera Aponteand Isabella Sanchez share this recognition, each recording four DUI arrests. While the numbers may be smaller due to UCFPD’s limited jurisdiction, their work demonstrates strong initiative in this critical area and the department’s frequent participation in countywide operations led by partner agencies. Their efforts underscore the continued importance of DUI enforcement and set a positive example for proactive policing across the department.


Field Training Officer of the Year: Jonathan Mattingly
UCFPD sets high expectations for new officers, offering a comprehensive training program that includes six weeks of classroom instruction followed by three months of paired, on‑the‑road training. In 2025, Officer Jonathan Mattingly trained two new officers through all three phases of the program, drawing on both his UCF experience and prior agency knowledge to support their growth. His trainees and his peers consistently praised his approach, noting his ability to adapt training techniques to each officer’s individual needs. His patience, insight and strong leadership mindset set a high standard for those entering the profession, making him a well‑deserved choice for Field Training Officer of the Year.

Officer of the Year: Jeffrey Hopkins ’22
Corporal Jeffrey Hopkins ’22 is being recognized for his exceptional leadership, professionalism and commitment to mentoring the next generation of officers. Known as one of the most proactive and knowledgeable members of the agency, he approaches every situation with confidence, patience and genuine care. As a field training officer, he guided multiple new hires through their early months on the job, taking the time to explain complex situations, build their confidence and model the highest standards of policing. His colleagues consistently praise his ability to make others feel supported and welcomed, strengthening teamwork and fostering a healthy, positive culture across the department. His strong decision‑making, steady demeanor and dedication to excellence have left a lasting impact on his squad and the agency, contributing to his well‑earned promotion in 2025.

Partner of the Year: Millicent Downer
Though much of her work happens behind the scenes, the entire employee lifecycle —especially for UCFPD’s sworn officers — relies on Downer’s leadership, expertise and attention to detail. She oversees all human resources functions for Public Safety and, together with her team, supports the broader Administration and Finance Division. From recruitment, hiring, and onboarding to retention, professional development, and offboarding, she guides every step with clarity, professionalism, and steady poise. Her commitment to excellence and her advocacy for employees make her an invaluable partner to the department.

Professional Staff Member of the Year: Jennifer Floyd
Stepping into an expanded role this year, Jennifer Floyd quickly established herself as a driving force behind several major security initiatives at UCF. She played a central role in advancing key projects, including the commissioning of the new College of Nursing building and the campus‑wide upgrade of more than 500 security cameras — an effort that significantly strengthened the university’s safety infrastructure. Amid significant staffing transitions, Floyd helped maintain steady operations while coordinating hundreds of maintenance requests and pursuing advanced professional training to support the department’s evolving needs. She also led nearly 50 training sessions for teams across the university, ensuring that critical security systems remained reliable and well‑managed.

Professional Staff Supervisor of the Year: Benita Harrison ’25MPA
Benita Harrison ’25MPA supports the chief of police in daily operations, helped guide the department through organizational changes in 2025 and is a trusted source of knowledge on university processes. She chairs multiple committees with fairness and precision, oversees department events with outstanding organization, and consistently creates positive experiences for staff and partners. She also mentors her work‑study student and provided significant support to the Central Florida Criminal Justice Association’s executive board last year. Dependable and dedicated, Harrison exemplifies excellence in supervision.

Rookie of the Year: Kamila Otero ’24
Officer Kamila Otero ’24’s journey with the department began as an intern, later becoming UCFPD’s first police cadet — a role that helped establish a pathway now used to develop future officers. After graduating from the academy at the top of her class academically, she transitioned seamlessly into patrol and quickly proved herself dependable, capable, and deeply committed to serving the campus community. In just one year, she has handled a wide range of calls with confidence and compassion, actively seeks feedback, supports her squad, and represents the department with enthusiasm through outreach and engagement. Her positive attitude, initiative and early impact truly set her apart.

Senior Leader of the Year: Laura Valle ’17MA
Laura Valle ’17MA consistently stepped beyond her responsibilities to support her team—taking on extensive on‑call duties to prevent burnout and ensure uninterrupted crisis‑response services for the campus community. Her expertise reached national and statewide levels through her authorship in a crisis‑response manual and her training of new crisis responders. She also secured major grant funding to expand the threat management team, led extensive campus outreach and successfully rebuilt and staffed her unit during a challenging period. Through it all, she led with integrity, compassion and a steady presence that earned the trust of colleagues and partners across UCF.

Sworn Supervisor of the Year:Danielle Adams ’13 ’20MS
Danielle Adams ’13 ’20MS leads the Threat Management Team through some of the department’s most sensitive and high‑risk cases, approaching every situation with calm judgment and compassion. She manages a demanding workload with remarkable organization and focus, while also bringing valuable expertise from her task‑force work, which strengthens partnerships and improves the department’s overall preparedness. She advocates for officer wellness and mental health, ensuring officers receive vital crisis intervention training and provides support whenever needed. She played a key role in implementing the department’s new threatmanagement software and continues to lead confidently during Emergency Response Team deployments. Respected, trusted and consistently steady under pressure, she embodies what it means to be a strong and thoughtful leader.

Team of the Year: Department of Security (Steven Freund, Jarrell Odom ’18 ’23MS, Jennifer Floyd and Nick Cottone)
The Department of Security works tirelessly behind the scenes to support not just public safety, but the entire UCF community. They collaborate daily with Facilities, Athletics and colleges across campus while managing access control, license plate readers, guard services, and UCF’s complex camera system. Their work has a campus‑wide impact. The cameras they maintain are essential to criminal investigations and help keep students, faculty, staff and visitors safe at major events like Spirit Splash, football games, and free expression events. In 2025, they met the task of replacing 500 cameras before the end of the fiscal year — an achievement that secured leadership’s support for additional funding to continue modernizing the system.

Lifesaving Award: Andres Uzcategui and Ethan Temperato ’24
When a call came in reporting a woman unconscious and not breathing, officers Andres Uzcategui and Ethan Temperato acted immediately. Upon assessing her condition, they discovered she had no pulse. Uzcategui began lifesaving CPR while Temperato secured the scene to ensure responders had space to work. The patient stopped breathing multiple times, but the officers’ persistence brought her back each time and kept her alive until medical personnel arrived. Because of their quick action and unwavering determination, the woman survived.

Lifesaving Award: Mike Rivera and Hayden Bonas
Upon arriving at the scene of a medical emergency, Officer Michael Rivera immediately began CPR and rescue breaths on a student who had fainted and was unresponsive. Officer Hayden Bonas quickly cleared the room and retrieved an AED to assist. Working together, they stabilized the student until medical personnel arrived. In addition to this incident, Rivera administered lifesaving Narcan in a separate medical emergency and now teaches CPR and first aid to future law enforcement recruits — further extending his impact beyond the calls he responds to.

]]> UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCFPD Awards 2026 UCF Libraries Launches Digital Exploration Center, Expanding Opportunities for Research and Creative Production /news/ucf-libraries-launches-digital-exploration-center-expanding-opportunities-for-research-and-creative-production/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:32:08 +0000 /news/?p=151083 Located on the fourth floor of the John C. Hitt Library, the space includes a podcast studio, high-performance computers, an immersive projection studio, collaborative spaces and more.

]]> UCF Libraries has officially opened the a 7,000-square-foot experiential hub designed to empower Knights to create innovative digital projects through experimentation and cutting-edge technology.

Join UCF Libraries on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the (registration required) in the Digital Exploration Center.

Located on the fourth floor of the John C. Hitt Library, the DEC serves as a premier space for immersive technologies, digital scholarship and creative production at UCF, Florida’s Technological ֱ. The DEC is the latest enhancement to the main campus library, which is serving more students, faculty and staff than ever.

“The 80% growth in library usage we have seen [since 2019] reflects the success of our strategic investments in technology, learning spaces and expert support,” UCF Library Dean Beau Case says. “It affirms that when we innovate with purpose, our community responds.”

A podcast studio
The podcast studio in the Digital Exploration Center on the fourth floor of the John C. Hitt Library. (Photo by Kadeem Stewart ’17)

What the Digital Exploration Center Offers

The DEC contains a comprehensive suite of resources, including immersive technologies, a fully equipped podcast studio, production workshops, collaboration spaces and high-performance computing. These resources are available to the full spectrum of the UCF community — from undergraduates creating their first podcast to faculty developing complex, data-driven research projects.

A projection of Apollo landers on the moon
A projection simulating an Apollo 17 mission technical demo in the Immersion Studio. (Photo by Kadeem Stewart ’17)

A centerpiece of the DEC is the Immersion Studio, which includes a three-wall, 270-degree projection experience with surround sound, and touch-enabled walls that allow users to interact with projected content, transporting people anywhere in the world, through time and space, all without ever leaving campus.

“The Digital Exploration Center represents UCF Libraries’ continued commitment to innovation, student success and academic excellence, creating a dynamic environment where technology, creativity and expertise converge,” Case says.

A computer lab
A computing workspace in the Digital Exploration Center. (Photo by Kadeem Stewart ’17)

Supporting the Campus Community’s Creative and Scholarly Works

Through workshops, consultations, and collaborative opportunities, UCF Libraries staff at the center provides access to the tools and guidance needed to bring research, podcasts, and other creative ideas to life.

“This is a space [that] furthers the conversation about what ‘digital’ means at UCF and expands the role of the library as a genuine partner in research and education,” says Rachel Vacek, associate dean for digital strategies, impact and visibility at UCF Libraries. “Yes, we have cutting-edge technology, but what we really have is possibility — a team of experts ready to consult, collaborate and help turn ideas into impactful digital scholarship.”

The DEC builds upon the success of earlier digital initiatives that were housed on the second floor of the library, including the former Hitt Maker Podcast Studio, which opened in 2024 thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the late UCF President Emeritus John C. Hitt and his family. Alongside the podcast studio, the former second-floor production studio for video and photography at the library helped amplify voices across campus. Those early successes laid the foundation for the expanded vision now realized in the DEC, Case says.

For more information about the Digital Exploration Center, visit Join UCF Libraries on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the (registration required) in the Digital Exploration Center.

]]> UCF Libraries DEC_Podcast Studio The podcast studio at the Digital Exploration Center on the fourth floor of the John C. Hitt Library. UCF Libraries DEC_Immersion Studio 2 A projection simulating the Apollo 17 mission technical demo in the Immersion Studio. (Photo by Kadeem Stewart '17) UCF Libraries DEC_Computers UCF’s Commitment to Affordable Learning /news/ucfs-commitment-to-affordable-learning/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:00:18 +0000 /news/?p=150904 How our Affordable Instructional Materials initiative is lowering costs, equipping faculty to elevate instruction and transforming the student learning experience — one course at a time.

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A college education should provide lifelong benefits — not lifelong debt.

At UCF, that belief extends beyond tuition costs to the often-overlooked costs that add up fast: textbooks, access codes and digital platforms that can cost hundreds of dollars per course.

Faced with those expenses, students make compromises. Buy the materials or pay for essentials. Get the book late — or not at all. Those choices can jeopardize academic success before classes even begin.

Through the , UCF is supporting faculty in replacing those obstacles with free or low-cost instructional materials, ensuring students start each semester prepared to succeed academically.

And the impact is undeniable.

Since 2019, AIM has saved UCF students over $50 million in instructional materials costs — money that can go toward expenses such as housing, groceries and transportation.

A ֱ-Wide Effort

AIM isn’t the work of a single office or program. It’s a university-wide collaboration that brings together the Division of Digital Learning, UCF Libraries, the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs, the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, the UCF Bookstore and other university stakeholders — all aligned around one shared goal: support faculty so that they can better support students.

In 2025 alone,18,878 course sections — representing76.5% of all sectionsoffered — utilized low- or no-cost course materials.

Formally established in 2019 under the provost’s sponsorship, AIM was created to bring structure and cohesion to affordability efforts already happening across campus. What emerged is a strategic, student-centered movement that proves affordability, innovation and academic excellence aren’t competing priorities, but complementary ones.

“Our faculty are leading in ways that make access real for students,” says Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter. “The numbers tell one part of the story, but behind every savings figure is a student whose experience is shaped by faculty care, creativity and commitment. That’s the kind of impact that lasts and is worth investing in.”

At its core, AIM focuses on efforts in four areas: First day, open educational resources, library-sourced materials and affordability counts. Together, these efforts remove blocks to required educational content while giving faculty the flexibility to design courses that are more interactive, accessible and connected to real-world relevance.

In practice, that means more dynamic learning experiences — curated readings, videos, case studies and instructor-created materials that meet students where they are.

Honoring Faculty Advancing Affordable Learning

That work was celebrated on Feb. 3 during the , which recognized faculty and staff across UCF who arecommittedto keeping course materials affordablefor students.

The awards do more than acknowledge past efforts — they highlight what’s possible and encourage more faculty to participate. This year,1,519 faculty memberswere honored, the most ever recognized in a single calendar year, signaling just how deeply AIM has taken hold across UCF.

Award nominations are grounded in real outcomes and incorporate student feedback and impact stories. Faculty may be nominated by peers or self-nominate, with categories honoring use of affordable instructional materials for more than two years (Legacy) or fewer than two years (Rising). Students across UCF nominate faculty members for the Knights’ Choice Award based on their courses and experience, and the nominees are evaluated by officers of the Student Government Association.

Read on to learn more about the outstanding work of this year’s honorees.

UCF Assistant Professor Debaleena Majumdar and Provost John Buckwalter stand side by side in front of a black backdrop.
Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Debaleena Majumdar (left) and Provost John Buckwalter (right) at the 2026 AIM High event. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Individual Rising Award

Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Debaleena Majumdar received recognition for developing EVR 3733: Introduction to Sustainable Design in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, a course that covers topics ranging from the sustainable built environment and ecological design to resilience and decarbonization.​

Majumdar curated a mix of zero-cost resources — including 14 library eBook chapters, six scholarly articles, 14 videos, and 12 web-based resources — organized through Leganto, a Canvas tool supported by UCF Libraries.

The result: eliminated course material costs across multiple semesters while maintaining high standards for quality, accessibility and engagement. Her course earned both the Affordability Counts medallion and Quality Online course designation within the State ֱ System of Florida.​​

Beyond her own classroom, Majumdar is helping other faculty adopt similar approaches by presenting her course at the Technology Expo and including her insights in a case study that demonstrates how Leganto can help organize affordable course reading lists.​

UCF Associate Professor of Engineering Samar Younes and Provost John Buckwalter stand side by side in front of a black backdrop.
Associate Professor of Engineering Samar Younes (left) and Provost John Buckwalter (right) at the 2026 AIM High event. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Individual Legacy Award

Associate Professor of Engineering Samar Younes was recognized for her innovative use of open educational resources, UCF Library resources, first day materials, and instructor-created content across multiple civil, environmental, and construction engineering courses.

During the submission period, her work benefited 1,776 students by providing free or discounted access to course materials and generated approximately $371,061 in cost savings. But what set her nomination apart was how intentionally she redesigned learning itself.​

Younes created a free YouTube instructional channel featuring step-by-step problem-solving videos, LinkedIn Learning micro-courses and artificial intelligence-generated interactive practice tools, giving students multiple ways to master complex engineering concepts without added expense.

“Professor Younes is by far one of the best professors I have had the honor of learning under at UCF,” says a student who took her Construction Equipment and Productivity course during the Spring 2022 semester. “She … does so much to personalize and create her own learning material.”​​

As her department’s accreditation coordinator, Younes champions these practices beyond her own courses through presentations and collaborative leadership, building a culture in which colleagues look to her example to adopt accessible, affordable instructional materials.

A group of faculty members in UCF's College of Arts and Humanities stands with Provost John Buckwalter in front of a black backdrop.
UCF faculty members who contributed to the First-Year Composition Program were recognized with the Group Legacy Award at the 2026 AIM High event. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Group Legacy Award

The First-Year Composition Program (ENC 1101 and ENC 1102) in the College of Arts and Humanities demonstrated what affordability looks like at scale.

Between Spring 2023 and Fall 2025, the First-Year Composition Program served more than 17,700 students and generated over $2.6 million in cumulative textbook cost savings.

By partnering with UCF Libraries, associate instructors Stuart Dees and Lissa Pompos Mansfield, Instructor Meeghan Faulconer, Associate Lecturer Pamela Baker and Associate Professor Shane Wood replaced traditional textbooks with no-cost, accessible materials delivered through Canvas. Their efforts have reduced course material costs to $0 per student.​

To support consistency and quality across the program, faculty also created a shared hub in Canvas where readings aligned with course learning outcomes are available to all instructors, enabling access to high-quality, affordable materials. They also meet regularly with a librarian to curate materials and develop discipline-specific library collections.​

Knights’ Choice Award

Nicholson School of Communication and Media lecturer Joseph Wachowski was nominated by his students for his commitment to providing free, accessible course materials.

Shivani Vakharia, academic affairs coordinator for UCF’s Student Government Association, sits at a table holding a microphone during a student-faculty panel.
Shivani Vakharia, academic affairs coordinator for UCF’s Student Government Association, spoke during the student-faculty panel at the 2026 event, sharing her perspective alongside honorees and students. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

During the award ceremony, Shivani Vakharia, academic affairs coordinator for UCF’s Student Government Association, highlighted Wachowski’s forward-thinking approach to course design and the tangible impact his work has had on students.

“Professor Joseph Wachowski is being honored for his dedication to developing and supporting affordable course materials, helping remove financial obstacles for students and fostering collaboration across the academic community,” Vakharia says. “The university and its students recognize and appreciate his lasting contributions to innovation, equity and student success.”

Together, these awardees represent the heart of AIM: faculty innovation backed by institutional support, all in service of student success.

Faculty interested in learning more about AIM or seeking support can email affordable@ucf.edu.

]]> UCF Today_Affordable Instructional Materials Debaleena-Majumdar_Jhn-Buckwalter Samar-Younes_John-Buckwalter 2026 Group Legacy Award winners Shivani-Vakharia_SGA Shivani Vakharia, academic affairs coordinator for UCF’s Student Government Association, spoke during the student-faculty panel at the 2026 event, sharing her perspective alongside honorees and students. (Photo by Antoine Hart)