University of Central Florida faculty members are the foundation of the university. They energize students, academic programs, research and service through academic excellence and innovation.
Tue Oct 12
I have worked in education for quite some time, and I am dedicated to using just about anything as an instructional tool. Current events, multimedia clips, song lyrics, memes — these are all ancillary materials that I will use to engage students and make content interesting and relevant. And I love a good object lesson;…
Tue Oct 12
An administrative coordinator for the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, Rodriguez was one of 16 community leaders recognized by Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) during Hispanic Heritage Month. Awardees included business leaders, veterans, journalists and healthcare providers caring for Central Floridians during COVID-19. As part of their recognition, the honorees’ names and accomplishments…
Tue Oct 12
The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have awarded Associate Professor Jascinth Lindo a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to the Bahamas. Lindo is teaching undergraduate nursing students and conducting research at the University of the Bahamas as part of a project to build nurse research capacity in the Caribbean. It is a…
Mon Oct 11
In 1968, the first Hispanic Heritage Week was observed in the United States. Twenty years later, it was expanded to the month-long celebration we now observe from September 15 to October 15. As Stacey DiLiberto and Karina Cespedes see it, Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity for the nation to celebrate the cultural identity of…
Mon Oct 11
Carey Rothschild, a faculty member in the Division of Physical Therapy, has been appointed to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Her four-year term will commence Jan. 1, 2022 and continue through Dec. 31, 2025. The ABPTS is the governing body for the APTA Specialist Certification Program. The 12-member board comprises nine board-certified physical therapy…
Mon Oct 11
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 LGBT History Month — which was created in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher — we celebrate the spectrum of sexuality and reflect on historical…
Thu Oct 7
For 25 years, Mark Brotherton brought heart and humor to the Central Florida theatre community, directing, acting and coaching in more than 90 productions at UCF and its partner organizations. As an associate professor of theatre performance, his heart lay with mentoring the generations of students who were lucky enough to find themselves in his classroom. To them, he was more…
Thu Oct 7
Harriet Elam-Thomas who directed the Diplomacy program at UCF, is retiring from the university. Some of her career accomplishments include serving as U.S. Ambassador to Senegal from 1999-2003; Chief of Mission to Guinea-Bissau; Acting director of USIA; Cultural attaché at the American Embassy in Athens; Country affairs officer for Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus; Director of…
Wed Oct 6
Class name: MMC4303 – Hispanics in Media in the U.S. Course description: Examines history and growth of Hispanics/Latinos in U.S. media, including early depictions in media and current landscape of Spanish and English Hispanic/Latino media. Instructor: Katidia “Katie” Coronado, Nicholson School of Communication and Media associate instructor When is this course offered?: This class is typically offered in the fall…
Tue Oct 5
When Dr. Elona Rrapo Kaso interviewed for a place at UCF’s brand-new medical school in 2008, classrooms were not yet built, the curriculum was still in the planning stages, and the program was not even accredited. Medical City was still a dream, but she knew this was the place she wanted to care for patients…
Fri Oct 1
Kenneth Hanson, professor and program director of Judaic Studies, was invested into the Tess and Abe Wise Endowed Professorship in Judaic Studies on Thursday, September 30 in a virtual ceremony. The endowed faculty position, which was established thanks to generous gifts from Tess and Abe Wise and their family, recognizes Hanson’s accomplishments and will allow him…
Thu Sep 30
When Peter Delfyett first fell in love with science during elementary school, he imagined he would grow up to be a paleontologist. Instead, the Pegasus Professor of optics and photonics has spent his career developing futuristic technology. From lasers that are used to cut Gorilla Glass for Samsung phones to fiber-optic cable technology that allows the internet…
Mon Sep 27
UCF’s founding dean of Libraries brings decades of successful leadership experience and a passion for shaping the future of higher education through libraries. Beau Case joins UCF Nov. 12 from the University of Toledo, where he currently serves as dean of University Libraries and director of the University Press. Case will play a key role…
Fri Sep 24
Dr. Innocent Akujuobi is the College of Medicine’s new director of health equity education, charged with strengthening the medical school’s focus on health equity within the curriculum, and expanding how it addresses healthcare disparities through recruitment, community outreach, research and pipeline programs. He is also an emergency medicine physician at Orlando Health and chair of…
Fri Sep 24
UCF Associate Professor of Chemistry Seth Elsheimer’s journey to running more than 300 marathons starts with “just a little farther.” Elsheimer was an occasional runner when he encouraged two students in his organic chemistry class at UCF to join him on a run, then sign up for a 5K race. The former football players were…
Thu Sep 23
This year’s five UCF National Science Foundation CAREER grant recipients are finding innovative and bold new ways to solve challenges that could be game changers in healthcare and engineering. For example, one researcher is tracking down what triggers harmless microorganisms into going rogue and turning into deadly pathogens such as flesh-eating bacteria. Another faculty member…
Thu Sep 23
Five academic and clinical faculty members recently received funding through the Digital Learning Course Redesign Initiative to collaborate across disciplines on a project to turn existing graduate courses into new blended or online modalities. The team, comprising CSD Carolyn Buchanan, Julie Feuerstein, Nancy Harrington and Nancy McIntyre; and DPT faculty Jennifer Tucker, began the project earlier this year, after receiving notification from UCF’s Division of Digital…
Thu Sep 23
As an associate instructor of management, Gary Nichols ’87 taught thousands of business students during his 15 years at UCF. Nichols, who passed away Aug. 31 at age 56, regularly taught the Strategic Management capstone course, which is typically a business student’s final class before graduating. To students and colleagues alike, he was known for his great storytelling ability,…
Thu Sep 23
Dr. Christine Kauffman is the College of Medicine’s new assistant dean of medical education, leading the curriculum for first- and second-year M.D. students. Dr. Kauffman, a pediatric nephrologist and associate professor, came to UCF in 2011 and, in addition to teaching, cares for patients at Nemours Children’s Health. She is director for the M-1 Practice…
Tue Sep 21
Integrative medicine advocate Dr. Deepak Chopra has joined the UCF College of Medicine as a volunteer faculty member to provide electives and other programs on the mind/body connection for health and well-being. Dr. Chopra has been a regular visitor to Lake Nona, taking part in the annual Lake Nona Impact Forum, which draws worldwide experts…