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Community Engagement

See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.

A Look Back on 50 Years of UCF Homecoming

As UCF celebrates its 50th anniversary of Homecoming, we’re welcoming back the return of the traditional Spirit Splash and reminiscing about some of the most memorable moments spanning the last five decades. Read more about 2021 Homecoming Week Events. History of Homecoming UCF’s first Homecoming was held in 1971, three years after the first classes were…

Texts and Technology Alumna Explores How Humanities Research Can Save Lives

It’s no secret that the humanities play an important role in society and in our lives, but to Linda Garrison ’21PhD, a graduate of the Texts and Technology program, it goes much deeper than that. For her dissertation, she looked into whether elementary school libraries in west-central Florida provide diverse, inclusive collections of LGBTQAI+ material, and…

WUCF Earns 4 Regional Emmy Nominations

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Suncoast Chapter honored WUCF TV, Central Florida’s PBS station, with four Suncoast Regional Emmy nominations. The awards ceremony will be held virtually December 11, 2021. List of Nominees Meet the Helpers (category: Children/Youth (12 and under) Short Form Content) Grr-ific Neighbors special (category: Children/Youth (12 and under) Long Form…

What Is Gender Identity? And Other Questions You May Have

Cisgender, non-binary, gender-fluidity — it seems that every day, we’re hearing about more and more about aspects related to gender identity. Gender identity as a concept was popularized by John Money in the 1960s. He founded the Gender Identity Clinic at Johns Hopkins University and formulated, defined, and coined the term “gender role” and later…

UCF Grad Helps Bring Visions to Life for FX Network

It started with a dream of becoming an automotive designer. Blending creative and technical work is something that Michael Viscione ’08 has been drawn to for years. “I fell in love with the artistry complemented by the technical side of automotive design work,” says Viscione. “My passion is turning concepts into reality.” And while he doesn’t build…

CSD Alumna Earns Prestigious Certification, ASHA Award

Daniela Berrios ‘15 ‘17MA was recently selected as a Distinguished Early Career Professional by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, the national organization for the profession. In addition to the award, she recently became certified as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS), a rigorous designation for speech-language pathologists to obtain. There are currently 36 LSLS registered…

Speaker Event Showcased AAC in Rehabilitation

Guest speaker and occupational therapist Michael Braun from Brooks Rehabilitation joined via hologram an expert panel convened at the CHPS Innovation Center on Oct. 18 in celebration of International AAC Awareness Month. Braun discussed interdisciplinary augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) service-delivery approaches to assist patients with severe speech disorders. Additional panel members included Assistant Professor Julie…

Space Game Means Something Extra for UCF Football Player, Mother

Sharlene (Wendel) Martin ’86 ’93MS cradles a UCF football helmet in her hand as her son Stephen, a redshirt freshman wide receiver on the team, huddles next to her closely examining it. “There it is: Sharlene Wendel Martin,” Stephen says proudly as he points to the name listed on the center stripe of this year’s space game…

Daniel Jones Remembered as Dedicated Member of UCF, Orlando Arts Community

Daniel M. Jones, who served as Theatre UCF’s costume shop manager for more than 15 years, died over the weekend. He leaves behind a legacy of friendship, beautiful music and acclaimed work. Jones’ work as a costume designer was celebrated by the national theatre community, receiving numerous commendations from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre…

Self Healing Begins with Loyalty to You

As we near the end of 2021, we close the chapter to another year of struggle, challenges and disappointments. We also close the chapter on new achievements, cleared goals and celebrated hurdles. Soon, we will have another new year to consider resolutions, analyze past mistakes and raise the bar for personal objectives. Now consider this:…

UCF Recognized with Award for Curriculum Alignment Initiative

As UCF celebrates its 50th anniversary of Homecoming, celebrations are back in person — including Spirit Splash — for the campus community. Knights are expected to wear face coverings during in door gatherings. UCF also encourages attendees of in-person events to get vaccinated, if they have not already. The UCF Student Health Center is currently offering the Pfizer vaccine to…

UCF Alum Advocates for Education Research That Centers Community Homegrown Ideas

Deshawn Chapman ‘11MEd ‘16EdD has always been passionate about addressing disparities. In Tampa, she entered her freshman year as a business major, with plans for a career helping to grow small business ownership in historically marginalized communities. However, she kept feeling a draw towards teaching, and soon changed her major to social science education. What she…

Getting to Know UCF’s Andrea Guzmán

Growing up in Detroit as the only daughter of Puerto Rican migrants who didn’t have a high school education between them, Andrea Guzmán never envisioned going to college let alone one day rising to a position of leadership in higher education. Para la versión en Español, oprima aquí. When she was a child, she hoped…

14 Knights Named Among Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful People of 2021

Orlando Magazine selected 14 Knights to its 50 Most Powerful People of 2021 list announced Oct. 1. Meet the alumni, leadership and faculty singled out in various industries. Education Barbara Jenkins ’83 ’86MEd ’96EdDSuperintendent, Orange County Public Schools Degrees: Bachelor of Science in elementary education; Master of Educational Leadership; Doctorate of Educational Leadership Alexander N. Cartwright UCF president Read more…

PHOTOS: Celebrate National Coming Out Day with UCF’s oSTEM

Founded in 1988 by psychologist Richard Eichberg and gay rights activist Jean O’Leary, National Coming Out Day raises awareness for LGBTQ+ community and encourages support for individuals within the community. Oct. 11 was selected in recognition of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which included about half a million participants.…

New Chief Information Security Officer Named

UCF’s information technology teams must continuously maintain and improve our cybersecurity capabilities with the most up-to-date technologies and experienced personnel to cope with the ever-increasing threats from criminal enterprises and nation-state actors against the University of Central Florida, our students, staff, and faculty. Keeping with this commitment, I will be appointing UCF’s Deputy Chief of…

UCF Celebrates World Space Week All October Long

Today kicks off World Space Week, the largest annual space event that spans the globe. The United Nations designated the week in 1999 to help build enthusiasm for the space workforce of tomorrow. The goal is to inspire the youth of today to pursue careers that support worldwide efforts to explore and learn about our…

UCF to Use National Award to Elevate Women-owned Businesses

Through UCF’s collaboration with the Florida High Tech Corridor, the university will be implementing an initiative funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration to support women entrepreneurs. The Corridor was selected as one of eight winners for the Administration’s first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Catalyst Competition, which recognizes model partnerships addressing the gaps for…

CREOL Degree Provides Launchpad For Career at MIT Lincoln Labs

A chance encounter in the workplace is what led Rebecca Venegas, M.S ’20, to find her purpose as an electro-optics engineer. Venegas, a scientist who specializes in integration and characterization of EO systems, was looking for meaning in her work after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in Astronautics and Aeronautics.…