See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Wed Jun 3
As more of us start to return to on-site work spaces, UCF mental health expert Katherine Daly stresses that having realistic expectations about your work routine in your first weeks back will help you readjust. Theme parks have announced reopening dates. Restaurants are enticing us with open-air seating. Barber shops can schedule the grooming your…
Tue Jun 2
So many members of our community are hurting right now, shattered by recent deaths that echo the long history of racial injustices that have plagued our country. As I write this, I realize words are inadequate to address this pain. But I share in the horror of George Floyd’s murder and understand the pain and…
Mon Jun 1
Now, more than ever, it is critical for employees to take care of themselves. Several experts in the College of Health Professions and Sciences at the University of Central Florida share advice and tips on exercise, diet, sleep, work-life balance and other health and wellness tips to help employees maximize their overall health: Getting Enough Sleep Keith…
Fri May 29
COVID-19 has exposed societal inequities and impacted us all in some way, and recent high-profile instances of bias and racism just add to the difficulties so many of us are already facing. From the deaths of Breonna, Ahmaud and George to our brothers and sisters of Asian descent who are being unfairly discriminated against in…
Thu May 28
The greatest good to society is to serve those with the least,” says Assistant Professor Michael Valenti, a mental health nursing provider, researcher and current president of the board of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Florida Chapter. In his Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing course, Valenti prepares undergraduate nursing students to care for people of all ages with mental…
Thu May 28
Timothy Hawthorne, Ph.D, and his team at Citizen Science GIS in the Department of Sociology have received a $36,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the inclusion of two K-12 teachers into their U.S. Pacific Coast eelgrass drone work. This will supplement the $1.3 million collaborative grant awarded to the UCF team…
Thu May 28
The unpredictability and stress of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the mental health of many. With so many issues in the mix, the situation is a good reminder that mental healthcare is not âone-size fits all.’ We spoke with UCF School of Social Work Associate Professor Reshawna Chapple and Professor Sophia Dziegielewski to gain a…
Thu May 28
Antibodies and antibody testing are in the news frequently – UCF and Aventus Labs are starting drive-through COVID-19 antibody testing on campus this week. What are antibodies, what do they do and what role do they play in diseases like the unique coronavirus causing this pandemic? For answers, we’re turning to Jane Gibson, an expert in…
Thu May 28
According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, one in five people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Mental health and mental illness are growing topics of concern in today’s culture. Awareness and advocacy for more mental health resources is becoming a major focus. This is particularly evident during the month of May,…
Wed May 27
Columnist Peter Telep says that while we’re waiting for a vaccine and even a cure, we need to write our own prescriptions for laughter. It’s easy during this global pandemic to become depressed. I’ve watched my daughter reduced to tears because she couldn’t attend her college graduation ceremony at UCF. I’ve heard from friends struggling…
Wed May 27
Starting Thursday, May 28, antibody testing will be added to the COVID-19 testing site at Garage A at UCF’s main campus as part of an ongoing partnership with Aventus Biolabs. Antibody tests will tell people whether they have been exposed to COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is currently unclear whether antibodies provide immunity…
Wed May 27
The shuttle Atlantis is readied for rollover at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the late 1980s. Metzger, back row, third from right, worked on the shuttle program from 1985 to 1992 before switching over to the International Space Station. He retired in 2014 after 30 years at NASA and joined UCF as a planetary scientist.…
Mon May 25
The Crew Dragon sits atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (Photo courtesy of NASA/Kim Shiflett) The Space X mission scheduled for May 27 has captured the nation’s imagination, because it is the first launch from U.S. soil to carry astronauts into space since the Space Shuttle Program ended in 2011.…
Thu May 21
UCF is soliciting feedback and guidance from faculty, staff, students and the Board of Trustees as the university plans for the return of Knights to campus. Teams from across UCF have been working on a phased-in return to the workplace for employees this summer and for students to return to campus in the fall semester.…
Thu May 21
Victoria Orindas (center), Daniela Vulpe (right) and their Orlando Against Coronavirus volunteer crew have created and distributed masks, personalized cards and food packages for the homeless, and have organized book drives and online tutoring. When the coronavirus hit Central Florida, Daniela Vulpe and Victoria Orindas saw that many charitable organizations had to slow down or…
Thu May 21
William Hanney, associate professor of physical therapy at UCF’s College of Health Professions and Sciences, discusses tips for dealing with three different kinds of back pain. How many of us are using our dining room table and chair as a remote home office? That may be why your back hurts. So we’re turning to William…
Thu May 21
As we are all adjusting to the different realities of COVID-19, my attention has been on ensuring that UCF’s mission of serving our students, scholars and state continues unabated. In navigating the uncertainties of the pandemic and focusing on achieving operational excellence across the institution, strong and consistent leadership of our academic enterprise will be…
Wed May 20
With COVID-19 confining us to our homes for the majority of our days, binge-watching is at an all-time high. And while you should definitely be taking breaks and move around between episodes and movies, there’s no reason you shouldn’t continue to take in as many cinematic masterpieces as you can during this period of heightened down…
Wed May 20
The upkeep of a native wildflower garden could be less taxing than maintaining a well-manicured lawn, says postdoctoral fellow Nash Turley. (Photo courtesy of Nash Turley) Whether you’re searching for an educational activity to do with your children or spending time landscaping while social distancing, UCF’s new Lawn to Wildflowers program out of the College…
Wed May 20
We’ve all heard “April showers bring May flowers,” a favorite quote that reminds us that a new season is upon us and the possibilities of brighter days are just around the corner. But this year is different. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and during this unprecedented time we should all take assessment of our…