Community Engagement
See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Tue Jun 7
As a teenager, David Smith ’98 ’00MPA aspired to become either a federal law-enforcement professional or a stand-up comedian. And although his ability to crack a good joke is evident, Smith recently marked 20 years of service with the United States Secret Service with the transition to a new role. In March, he was named the 28th assistant…
Mon Jun 6
In the 1960s America’s sexual revolution marked the shift in public awareness and acceptance for sexual and romantic relationships outside of the then traditional, heterosexual relationships. Each year during Pride Month — which was initially inspired by the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and works to achieve equal justice and opportunity for LGBTQ+ Americans — we reflect…
Mon Jun 6
Every so often, Professor Martha Brenckle thinks about a group of people she never met who gathered at Bill Federick Park at Turkey Lake more than 40 years ago. This group of ordinary people organized Orlando’s first pride picnic. “It’s just amazing to me that they did that — these regular, everyday people who had…
Mon Jun 6
Aquestion looms larger for every time Selina Mullenax ’12 says, “I love my job.” She repeats the phrase three times in the first five minutes of a conversation about her work at CORT Events. Mullenax uses words like “exciting” and “fun” to describe how she personalizes furniture and decor for clients. “We have to be creative,” she…
Thu May 19
On May 13, the India Center welcomed Principal Binoy Joseph, Ph.D. and Vice Principal Fr. Saju Madavan, Ph.D. from the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, in Kochi, India. Rajagiri College, located in the southwest state of Kerala in India, opened in 1955 with a social work certificate program. It has grown to seven departments with…
Thu May 19
Since graduating from UCF, Harry Carroll ’07 ’17 has worked as a firefighter, paramedic and emergency room trauma nurse. In March, he opened a psychiatry practice in Brevard County, where he lives with his wife Melissa and daughter Claire. We spoke with Carroll about his time at UCF, his journey from firefighting to nursing, and how…
Thu May 19
In episode 24 — the tenth episode of season two of the UCF podcast, Knights Do That — we speak with Adrian R’Mante ’96, UCF theater alum and Hollywood actor, shares his journey at UCF to landing his hit role as Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa RamÃrez on The Suite Life of Zack…
Thu May 19
A new clinic has opened at UCF to best support Huntington’s disease (HD) patients and their families. The UCF clinic and its sister site at the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute is designated as a partner site to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence at the University of South Florida. UCF’s clinic offers multidisciplinary…
Thu May 19
The College of Community Innovation and Education, in partnership with the CCIE Alumni Board, recognized outstanding alumni and community partners during the inaugural CCIE Celebration Knight Thursday, May 12. Congratulations to all 2022 honorees. Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in their career, as well as show a…
Wed May 11
UCF is joining forces with another major employer to offer access to a high-quality education to more students across the region. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida announced a new, pre-paid tuition program that will cover the cost of college or vocational school for its employees. Luis Diaz, a junior at UCF studying forensic psychology, is…
Mon May 9
A $75,000 donation to UCF from Duke Energy Florida will provide critical resources to support the transformation of engineering and computer science students into professionals and future leaders in their fields. The funds will be used towards priority areas in the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science, specifically in programs designed to build leadership…
Wed Apr 27
Rooted in a government transparency mission, the Winter Park Sunshine Podcast provides UCF journalism students a wealth of leadership and professional experiences. One of those students, UCF junior Jackie Cardentey, says serving as the podcast’s executive producer gave her real-world experience that was integral in guiding her career’s path. “This podcast is all about keeping the citizens…
Wed Apr 27
UCF offers one of the best returns on investment in the nation. Recognizing factors such as affordability and student debt, Princeton Review again placed UCF on its Best Value Colleges Rankings. For 2022, UCF ranked 49th amongst all public universities. The annual ranking names the public and private institutions that have earned the Princeton Review’s…
Thu Apr 21
Florida’s economic recovery must weather a “monetary policy hurricane” as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates and shrinks its balance sheet, writes Sean Snaith, nationally recognized economist and director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, in his latest forecast for the Sunshine State. With the Federal Reserve making its first interest rate hike in three…
Wed Apr 20
Family, friends and UCF Police Department officers and staff welcomed seven new members to the department at a swearing-in ceremony earlier this month. The six new patrol officers include prior law enforcement experience, military veterans and even a current UCF student, along with a few alumni. Deputy Chief Robin Griffin-Kitzerow was sworn in with the group but…
Tue Apr 19
The residency, which recently received initial ACGME accreditation, is the third UCF/HCA graduate medical education program at the hospital — Obstetrics/Gynecology and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation began last year. With the latest addition, the UCF/HCA consortium has 33 accredited residency and fellowship programs across Florida, training almost 520 doctors to meet the state’s physician shortage.…
Tue Apr 19
The residency, which recently received initial ACGME accreditation, is the third UCF-HCA graduate medical education program at the hospital — obstetrics/gynecology and physical medicine and rehabilitation began last year. With the latest addition, the UCF/HCA consortium has 33 accredited residency and fellowship programs across Florida, training almost 520 doctors to meet the state’s physician shortage.…
Thu Apr 14
With more than 3.8 million registered nurses nationwide, nursing is the nation’s largest healthcare profession and one of the largest segments in the U.S. workforce. It’s also the nation’s most trusted profession for an impressive 20 years in a row. “We may all come from different political viewpoints, but in nursing we all must have…
Mon Apr 11
Students from various health-related programs are once again teaming up to provide health screenings and resources to a population of underserved farmworkers in Apopka, Florida. By working together, students learn what it means to put the patient at the center of care and to rely on various health professionals to bring their area of expertise…
Mon Apr 11
The University of Central Florida is one of only 156 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by Exercise is Medicine (EIM) for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Events such as the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science Conference helped UCF earn Silver designation from the Exercise is Medicine On Campus…