See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Fri May 28
Florida’s hurricane season starts June 1, and now is the time to familiarize yourself with UCF’s hurricane policies and develop a personal safety plan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict a 60% chance of an above-normal 2021 hurricane season, however, experts say that this year’s storms likely won’t surpass 2020’s historic level of activity.…
Thu May 27
Mistrust of the COVID-19 vaccine is rooted partly in its rapid introduction, the seemingly new technologies involved and the long list of ingredients with mysterious names like “N-ditetradecylacetamide.” But the purpose behind “monobasic potassium phosphate” in the vaccine can be understood with chemistry principles UCF students learn all the time, according to Professor of Chemistry…
Thu May 27
We are all returning to campus soon. There will be adjustments, of course, just like when we had to adjust to working from home. In the beginning, it felt weird to be sitting in front of my computer with my pajamas on, doing actual work. It almost felt like working from home wasn’t enough. Have…
Mon May 24
An online open forum on May 26 will update the campus community on UCF’s Knight Vision initiative to reimagine administrative processes to better serve students, faculty, and staff. Starting at 1 p.m., the 60-to-90-minute session will highlight how Knight Vision will benefit UCF by enhancing campus operations through greater effectiveness and efficiency. In establishing leading practices in higher…
Fri May 21
When Audrey Young â95 was in the eighth grade in her hometown of Sebring, Florida, she interviewed a school-based speech-language pathologist as part of an assignment for career day. As the daughter of an educator, Young was interested in helping change people’s lives and was especially drawn to the field of communication sciences and disorders.…
Wed May 19
A new course for the fall 2021 semester is now available to all undergraduate majors as a restricted elective in the College of Health Professions and Sciences. The course, labeled IHS 4950 Interdisciplinary Projects in Health Professions, provides an opportunity for students to engage in community health outreach projects. Students will participate as members of…
Wed May 19
Humans have a weird fascination with body size. We associate body size with health status, emotional well-being, and self-esteem. We even ascribe worth to individuals based on how large or small their bodies are at any given moment in time. Author and educator Roxane Gay wrote poignantly about this in Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body and…
Tue May 18
New York City expects to reopen on July 1. France announced it would reopen to American tourists beginning June 9. Some national parks have implemented a ticketed entry system to prepare for an influx of visitors. Theme parks have loosened mask requirements for visitors. We’re starting to see signs of tourism’s anticipated comeback this summer…
Tue May 18
Gerald Hector believes that life is about service and sacrifice to others. “My DNA and make up is all about my faith and serving others. I’m a people person at heart.” — Gerald Hector “There’s an old biblical scripture: To whom much is given, much is required. I believe that,” says Hector, who is the…
Mon May 17
The university’s new podcast Knights Do That is now available to download on a streaming platform near you. Produced by UCF Marketing, the podcast will focus on Knights who do incredible things on campus, in the community and around the globe. The idea is inspired by the students, faculty, administrators, staff and alumni who continue to push…
Mon May 17
Anew master’s degree in cyber-security and privacy will be offered beginning this fall at UCF, designed to train professionals who can protect and defend computer systems, networks and organizations from costly cyber attacks. The recent ransomware attack that crippled a southeast regional gasoline supply line has called attention to the impact and cost that cyber breaches have…
Fri May 14
The UCF Recreation and Wellness Center, RWC @ Knights Plaza, and RWC @ Downtown will reopen for normal operating hours starting May 17 as Summer A kicks off for students. The highlights of expanded services include: The reopening of the RWC Leisure Pool (date to be announced pending training of new lifeguards), and sand volleyball…
Wed May 12
The American Revolution is famous for the stirring words traditionally attributed to its patriots. There’s Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death!” And Israel Putnam’s “Don’t fire ’til you see the whites of their eyes!” And Nathan Hale’s “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” This…
Wed May 12
Colleen Thrailkill ’99EdD spent more than 30 years as an educator before she retired in 2010 — an amazing tenure that’s even more incredible considering the curriculum and instruction alum never set out to be a teacher in the first place. After earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology, she worked at a daycare in Atlanta for a period…
Wed May 5
When Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD walks onto the commencement stage this Thursday, it won’t be as a graduate. This time, he will be the commencement speaker for the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s in-person ceremony, to be held at Addition Financial Arena at 1 p.m. on May 6. He will address the largest…
Mon May 3
Chris Pombonyo ’12 views the classroom as a theatrical stage, and he wants Central Florida’s children to know they are the star of the show. With a background in the performing arts, Pombonyo regularly integrated aspects of the arts into his teaching. “Education is my passion,” says Pombonyo, who will be graduating with a master’s of educational…
Mon May 3
Cinco de Mayo is one of the biggest celebrations in the United States, with estimates for beer sales on the holiday outweighing even the Super Bowl. While many people think May 5 is the Mexican Day of Independence, the date actually marks the country’s small, but significant battle against the French in Mexico’s city of…
Thu Apr 29
The dawn of the Information Age and the advent of high-speed internet coincided right around the time Carl Kutsche, Ph.D., ’98, enrolled in the College of Optics and Photonics. “I was all about optical systems—self processing, information storage, 3D holography. You could feel the energy buzzing around the growth of this field,” said Kutsche, the…
Thu Apr 29
University of Central Florida graduate David Kotick ’81 ’83MS has been selected as one of seven inductees this year to the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. The hall recognizes and commends Florida inventors whose achievements have advanced the quality of life for Floridians, the state and the nation. Kotick is one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s…
Thu Apr 29
As anti-Asian incidents have increased during the pandemic — with nearly 3,800 U.S. reports to the Stop AAPI Hate nonprofit from March 2020 through February 2021 — recent American history is reflecting roots of Asian American racism. It’s important to understand how we got here and the longstanding history of Asian American racism in this…