麻豆精品 S淭he Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚 leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences

The first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation is housed within the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, ranked No. 1 nationally. With the addition of Universal 麻豆精品 S檚 new school and the college 麻豆精品 S檚 School of Hospitality Leadership, students now have access to a dual-school model that brings together experience-focused education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership.

麻豆精品 S淭he Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚 leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences, 麻豆精品 S� says Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences Mark Woodbury.

麻豆精品 S淯CF was built to power what 麻豆精品 S檚 next for our students, for industry, and for the State of Florida, 麻豆精品 S� UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淭his collaboration with Universal Destinations & Experiences represents our mission at its best, creating an environment where students are learning in direct connection with the people and ideas shaping the future of immersive experiences. 麻豆精品 S�

A First-of-its-Kind Model for Experience Education

The Universal and UCF partnership will also support research through a new Hospitality Technology Lab, designed to be a creative sandbox for students to collaborate, test ideas, and gain practical hands-on experience working alongside UCF faculty, Universal professionals, and industry stakeholders. Students will gain timely insight that reflects industry needs as part of their education. Built around innovation and interdisciplinary teaming, the lab embeds coursework, student projects, and faculty research in a shared space, equipping graduates with both current skills and the adaptability to lead in a constantly evolving technology ecosystem.

The new school 麻豆精品 S檚 research will build on 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 existing strengths, applying university expertise to one of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 most dynamic industries. Focus areas for teaching, learning, and research will include:

• Service robotics and human-centered approaches to shape guest and employee interactions
• AR and VR simulation technologies for training, operations, and immersive environments
• AI and digital twins for optimizing and personalizing the guest experience

This work extends a decades-long partnership between UCF and Universal rooted in collaboration and shared success. For more than 20 years, Rosen College has served as a key talent pipeline for Universal, with thousands of graduates contributing across its parks, experiences, and operations, alongside hands-on learning opportunities like the UCF/Universal Creative Lab.

麻豆精品 S淭ogether with UCF we have opened doors for students and helped strengthen our industry with valued talent 麻豆精品 S� and the next chapter will be even better, 麻豆精品 S� Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences John Sprouls says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e creating a distinctive academic home that will expand pathways into fulfilling and dynamic careers. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淩osen College has long been a global leader in hospitality education, and this next step reflects how our industry is evolving, 麻豆精品 S� says UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Dean Cynthia Mejia. 麻豆精品 S淏y strengthening our relationship with our longtime partners at Universal Destinations & Experiences, we are creating a first-of-its-kind two-school model that blends creativity, technology and leadership, preparing students to lead the future of guest experiences. 麻豆精品 S�

Pegasus Partners: Scaling Impact Through Collaboration

As 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner, Universal Destinations & Experiences joins a group of industry leaders working with the university to solve real-world challenges, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the workforce talent pipeline. Universal is also the first Pegasus Partner to enter into a master research agreement with UCF, enabling collaboration at scale and unlocking new opportunities for applied research.

The Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy, and co-location at UCF.

As the first Pegasus Partner since the start of , 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact, Universal 麻豆精品 S檚 commitment is a powerful model that combines philanthropy and strategic industry investment to drive innovation, expand opportunity, and fuel shared success.

UCF School of Visual Arts and Design students earned all four scholarships awarded at Creative South, a testament to the university 麻豆精品 S檚 growing reputation as a hub for emerging creative talent.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檝e built such a strong community that when one person succeeds, we all do, 麻豆精品 S� says Vanessa Mor谩n, a senior graphic design student and treasurer of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Graphic Design Student Association. 麻豆精品 S淭hat’s something Associate Professor Victor Davila 麻豆精品 S�97 麻豆精品 S�07MFA has always instilled in us. 麻豆精品 S�

For Brianna Rodriguez, a junior graphic design student who received a $1,000 grant, the scholarship is validation for where she 麻豆精品 S檚 heading.

麻豆精品 S淚t felt like a message that my work has potential, and that I need to start seeing it that way, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Building Industry Connections

The students 麻豆精品 S� takeaways from Creative South went well beyond scholarship awards. Known for its welcoming environment, the conference gave students direct access to industry professionals, hands-on feedback, and real-world insight.

The access stood out to AJ Sibul, a senior graphic design student, who says Creative South made the industry feel more human.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 no separation between attendees and speakers, 麻豆精品 S� Sibul says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey emphasize people first, titles second. 麻豆精品 S�

From portfolio reviews to keynote presentations to late-night networking events, students built meaningful connections with working creatives, leading to mentorship, internships, and future job opportunities.

UCF emerging media alumnus Josh Alonso 麻豆精品 S�25 understands that firsthand. Alonso first attended Creative South as a student, where he earned a scholarship from Heyo, a design and development agency, which included a yearlong mentorship with a professional from the company.

That experience led to his current full-time role, demonstrating how connections made at Creative South can translate directly into opportunities.

麻豆精品 S淭hat mentorship really grew into a friendship, which led to a job offer later down the road, 麻豆精品 S� Alonso says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey helped me understand the importance of being someone people wanted to work with, rather than just having the best-looking portfolio. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淢y career essentially got its 麻豆精品 S榡umpstart 麻豆精品 S� from the people I met at Creative South. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Josh Alonso 麻豆精品 S�25

Alonso 麻豆精品 S檚 journey reflects what many UCF students are beginning to experience: real pathways into creative careers.

麻豆精品 S淢y career essentially got its 麻豆精品 S榡umpstart 麻豆精品 S� from the people I met at Creative South, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

As UCF continues to invest in the next generation of creatives, experiences like Creative South equip students with the connections and confidence needed to succeed in the industry after graduation.

During UCF Celebrates the Arts 2026, Legally Blonde took the stage with a twist audiences didn 麻豆精品 S檛 see coming 麻豆精品 S� one that blurred the line between performance and possibility.

The story still delivered the heart: College student Elle Woods chases love, faces doubt and ultimately discovers her own strength along the way. But this production layered something new into that journey: state-of-the-art robotics. At UCF, Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Technological University, innovation shows up in unexpected places 麻豆精品 S� even onstage.

The result was a show that felt both nostalgic and forward-looking, where dynamic musical theater met emerging tech.

Musical theatre major Lyric Stratton played the perfect protagonist, Elle Woods, whose dreams of settling down after college graduation are cut short when her boyfriend, Warner, breaks up with her to attend Harvard Law School. Devastated and determined to get him back, Woods pulls together an unconventional application and charms her way into Harvard Law.

High-energy dance numbers powered the production from start to finish. In one standout scene titled 麻豆精品 S淲hat You Want, 麻豆精品 S� Woods turns her Harvard application into a full-scale performance, trading a traditional essay for a show-stopping number alongside the UCLA cheer team.

The number featured 25 students on stage and took 13 hours to stage.

Three characters led a Harvard admissions conference room scene, delivering sharp dialogue as they debated Woods 麻豆精品 S� fate.

From left: Joey Fields as Winthrop, Tristan Haberland as Lowell and Jasper Allen as Pforzheimer.

Just as the audience settled into the story, two robot dogs stepped into the spotlight. During the nine-minute number 麻豆精品 S淲hat You Want, 麻豆精品 S� they appeared in a Harvard campus scene where engineering students 麻豆精品 S� played by theatre majors Mia Freeman and Isabel Ramos 麻豆精品 S� walked them around as UCLA cheerleaders looked on in awe. In a brief but striking moment, technology wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 just a prop 麻豆精品 S� it became part of the story.

Operated live on stage, the robots transformed the moment into a seamless blend of performance and engineering. Freeman and Ramos were trained by Mohsen Rakhshan, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and his graduate teaching assistant, Chinmay Dhanraj Nehate.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e seeing the incorporation of robotics into different things at an accelerated rate, including art. It’s exciting, 麻豆精品 S� says Rakhshan, who closely collaborated with the production 麻豆精品 S檚 director to bring the robots into the show.

The electrical and computer engineering department houses 15 state-of-the-art robot dogs, nine of which are in Rakhshan 麻豆精品 S檚 Laboratory for Interaction of Machine and Brain. There, he and his graduate teaching assistant use them for both instruction and research 麻豆精品 S� teaching an Introduction to Robotics course and training the robots to navigate the uncertainties of real-world environments.

During last year 麻豆精品 S檚 annual UCF football Space Game, Michael Jablonski, assistant professor of musical theatre in the College of Arts and Humanities, watched the ECE department 麻豆精品 S檚 robot dogs in motion across the field. At that moment, he saw more than entertainment 麻豆精品 S� he saw the potential for storytelling. A way to take something typically confined to classrooms and labs and give it emotion and meaning.

When planning聽Legally Blonde, a story rooted in breaking expectations, the idea came naturally: why not let innovation share the stage?

Even with its high-tech twist, the show stayed true to its roots 麻豆精品 S� including Bruiser, Woods 麻豆精品 S� loyal (and stylish) Chihuahua, brought to life by a real dog named Marty McFly.

During 麻豆精品 S淲hipped Into Shape, 麻豆精品 S� fitness guru Brooke Wyndham, played by theatre major Isabel Ramos, led her cellmates through a relentless workout. Accused of murder, Wyndham refused to reveal the truth when Woods visited 麻豆精品 S� unless she could keep up 麻豆精品 S� turning the moment into a high-energy number where actors sang while performing intense jump rope choreography.

In the climactic courtroom scene, Woods took the lead, defending Wyndham and using sharp instincts, wit and confidence to expose the real culprit. It was a defining moment where she proved she belongs, blending intelligence, intuition and boldness to win the case.

Front row from left: Lyric Stratton as Elle Woods, Isabel Ramos as Brooke Wyndham and Jaxon Ryan as Emmett Forrest.

Along the way, Woods stops chasing approval and finds her confidence, purpose and voice. This central theme drew Jablonski, Legally Blonde production director, to the female-driven story.

麻豆精品 S淭his story showcases how a very strong, intelligent woman [Elle Woods] finds her way in a male-dominated world. She initially follows love, but through it, she finds a space where she fits perfectly, 麻豆精品 S� Jablonski says. 麻豆精品 S淭hrough being misjudged and stereotyped, we come to see that she 麻豆精品 S檚 far above the people around her in her thinking and in the way she brings humanity into her work as a lawyer. 麻豆精品 S�

What audiences saw was only part of the story. Behind every scene change, lighting cue, and musical number is a network of students, faculty, and staff working in sync 麻豆精品 S� often just out of sight. Behind the curtain, more than 50 people managed lighting, sound and scene transitions in real time.

The music didn 麻豆精品 S檛 just support the story 麻豆精品 S� it drove it. Legally Blonde, presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, featured music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, with 23 total musical numbers. The book is by Heather Hach.

Projection-mapped animations and imagery 麻豆精品 S� created with QLab software and delivered through two high-brightness front projectors 麻豆精品 S� were precisely timed to the music, blending seamlessly with choreography and lighting to shape the show 麻豆精品 S檚 visual rhythm.

麻豆精品 S淓ach scene had its own visual identity, with projections adding specific details that help it stand out, 麻豆精品 S� says Tim Brown, associate professor of theatre design and technology. 麻豆精品 S淭he goal is to support the show 麻豆精品 S檚 fun, colorful world in a clear and energetic way. 麻豆精品 S�

Costuming defined each character with bold color and precise detail. Huaixiang Tan, professor of costume and make-up design in the School of Performing Arts, led the design, with support from assistant costume designers Sabrina Cervilla and Aisha Bader-Ortega. The production featured more than 100 costumes, each the result of hundreds of hours of craftsmanship.

In the Theatre UCF scene shop, students began using hands-on technical skills to build and refine set pieces in January.

Built through layers of paint, planning and precision, the set came together as a large-scale collaboration among more than 40 students.

Designed for transport, much like a touring production, the set added an extra layer of complexity and was built to be assembled at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. It was completed and delivered on March 30.

That 麻豆精品 S檚 because every dollar ripples far beyond a single day. Every gift opens doors: for students to chase a dream, create unforgettable memories, boldly invent the future and be recognized for their hard work. And every donor does more than give 麻豆精品 S� they ignite potential, spark inspiration and elevate Knights for generations.

With UCF Day of Giving 2026 right around the corner 麻豆精品 S� Thursday, April 9 麻豆精品 S� we 麻豆精品 S檙e reflecting on the transformational effects and personal stories of triumph that emerged from last year 麻豆精品 S檚 show of support, knowing that shortly, our collective contributions will set another wave of Black & Gold breakthroughs, successes and discoveries into motion.

Prioritizing Unique Opportunities

Area of Support: College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean 麻豆精品 S檚 Excellence Fund
Amount Raised: $67,421
Impact: Learning experiences

Growing up in rural Ohio, Jordan Hires, an aerospace engineering major and Burnett Honors College Scholar, often gazed at the boundless night sky, inspired by the astronauts from her home state of Ohio. Moving 1,000 miles away for college was daunting, but manageable. With her sights set on becoming a chief engineer for deep space flights, UCF offered two key benefits: a renowned aerospace engineering program and proximity to NASA.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 the best decision I 麻豆精品 S檝e made, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Since becoming a Knight, she 麻豆精品 S檚 done backstage tours at NASA, met with industry leaders from Mitsubishi, Siemens Energy and Lockheed Martin, and even talked to a former astronaut at an awards ceremony. This past summer, she worked alongside Professor Kareem Ahmed in the Propulsion and Energy Research Lab as a U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) fellow, testing a solution to remove heat from engines 麻豆精品 S� research that could make hypersonic aircraft safer and cheaper. It was her second research experience as an undergrad.

麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 know if it 麻豆精品 S檚 every little girl 麻豆精品 S檚 dream to work on classified projects with military and civilian applications, but it definitely was this little girl 麻豆精品 S檚 dream, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hanks to UCF, I 麻豆精品 S檝e had experiences that most students don 麻豆精品 S檛 get until graduate school. 麻豆精品 S�

Many of those opportunities are made possible by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean 麻豆精品 S檚 Excellence Fund, which supports hands-on learning, cutting-edge research equipment and innovative initiatives.

Supporting Lasting Memories

Area of Support: Marching Knights Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $14,067
Impact: Multiple scholarships for band members

For UCF Marching Knights President Zoie Taverna, two moments define her UCF experience: the rush of running onto the field for her first game and the bittersweet joy of singing the alma mater song alongside her best friend for their final game before graduation.

麻豆精品 S淔or three whole years, we stood next to each other in the stands, screaming, feeding off each other 麻豆精品 S檚 energy, 麻豆精品 S� Taverna says. 麻豆精品 S淔or her last game, we went all out. We couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 even talk by the end of it. We cried while singing the alma mater. 麻豆精品 S�

Taverna is among the Marching Knights whose experiences at UCF are bolstered by the Branen Band Endowed Scholarship, which helps cover essentials like textbooks, meals and rent that her Bright Futures scholarship does not. As a mechanical engineering major, band leader and corresponding secretary for the national chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, she packs her days with coursework, practice and student engagement.

During the summers, she works full-time at a summer camp for kids, and she spends her weekends and evenings at Panera Bread to save up enough to cover the expenses to allow her to stay focused while in school.

麻豆精品 S淲ithout scholarships, I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have the time to do extracurriculars, such as Marching Knights, where I get to represent UCF in Central Florida and around the world, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淎nd I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 get to spend every Saturday in the Bounce House with all of my friends, immersed in the band life we love. 麻豆精品 S�

Illuminating Pathways

Area of Support: College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL)
Amount Raised: $54,880
Impact: $4,880 Went Toward Supporting 19 scholarships for attendees

This summer, high school student Chloe Phung left the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to spend a week immersed in the study of light on 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 campus. As part of the third Laser and Photonics Summer Camp hosted by CREOL, she joined more than 50 high school students from across Central Florida 麻豆精品 S� and around the world.

麻豆精品 S淚 had the chance to learn many things, to learn more about optics, lenses and lasers, 麻豆精品 S� Phung says.

In addition to learning opportunities, the camp shines a light on the photonics industry, where more than 10,000 jobs open each year in the U.S., despite only 80 to 100 students in the nation graduating with bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in photonics annually. A third of those graduates come from CREOL.

Paying it Forward

Area of Support: Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $1,780
Impact: $1,500 scholarship for one communication major, awarded annually

Beatrix Alerte transferred to UCF in Spring 2024 with a plan: build community on campus, explore a career in media, stay active in service and say yes to every opportunity.

The first three goals came naturally. She enrolled in classes, mentored two freshmen as part of the UCF chapter of Big Sister Little Sister mentoring program and served as a trip coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break Program. Alerte also gained work experience as a marketing ambassador for Project BEST, a Student Support Services project that supports first generation students, and as an intern with UCF Athletics.

Her final goal was made easier this summer when Alerte was named the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship, created this past year by longtime the College of Science‘s Nicholson School of Communication and Media faculty member Michelle Dusseau.

麻豆精品 S淭his scholarship has given me the freedom to say yes to career-building opportunities, many of which are unpaid, while worrying less about covering

personal living expenses, 麻豆精品 S� Alerte says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat support makes all the difference. 麻豆精品 S�

This UCF Day of Giving, we 麻豆精品 S檙e launching Knights to new heights! Save the date to on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Check out the to maximize your impact. And get ready to join your Knight Nation family as we Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer our way to more impact than ever before.

In 2026, we celebrate the United States of America 麻豆精品 S檚 250^th birthday 麻豆精品 S� also known as the semiquincentennial (a word so convoluted that spellcheck doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 recognize it, so we have decided America250 is simpler). As we do so, we should take some time to reflect on what we think we know about our bold declaration of independence and the American Revolution that followed.

Here are some common misconceptions about the revolutionary era that show popular memory doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 necessarily reflect reality.

麻豆精品 S淭he British(?) are Coming! 麻豆精品 S�

Legend has it that in Boston on the evening of April 18, 1775, silversmith and now folk hero Paul Revere watched for flashing lanterns from the Old North Church 麻豆精品 S� one if by land and two if by sea 麻豆精品 S� and when he saw the two flashes, he jumped onto his horse for his midnight ride through the Massachusetts countryside yelling the 麻豆精品 S淏ritish are coming! 麻豆精品 S�

This shout brought out the militia in Lexington and Concord and also warned Sam Adams and John Hancock, two revolutionaries who some believed were the target of this secret British military mission. Armed and ready for the British soldiers to enter their villages, early the next morning, the militia fired the first shots of the American Revolution and pushed the Redcoats back to Boston. A fighting war had begun.

If one ponders the date for long enough, one might see the problem with the words that Revere allegedly shouted. In April 1775 (and for 14 months thereafter), Revere, the militia, and everyone he woke up were still British. Most likely, he shouted 麻豆精品 S渢he Regulars, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S渢he Redcoats, 麻豆精品 S� or 麻豆精品 S渢he king 麻豆精品 S檚 men, 麻豆精品 S� were coming, which all have less catchy rings to them.

Washington 麻豆精品 S檚 (Perilous?) Crossing.

If we can 麻豆精品 S檛 believe our ears regarding Paul Revere 麻豆精品 S檚 Midnight Ride, we also cannot believe our eyes about one of the most famous images of the American Revolution, Washington Crossing the Delaware. The giant (12 feet by 21 feet) painting depicts Christmas evening 1776 when the United States 麻豆精品 S� independence hung in the balance.

General George Washington and his army traveled from Pennsylvania where they would surprise Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey.聽 After a tough few months which included the evacuation of New York City, these victories helped restore the Americans 麻豆精品 S� morale.

German American artist Emanuel Leutze painted the image in Germany almost 75 years later. Meant to inspire German revolutionaries more than serve as an exact depiction of the event, the painting is filled with inaccuracies. It contains a flag that did not yet exist, ice bergs that did not appear in the Delaware River, Washington positioned in a manner which unnecessarily courted the danger of falling overboard, too much light for the crossing, and far too small a boat (in 2011, Mort Kunstler painted a more accurate version).

Yet, at the same time, others have praised Leutze 麻豆精品 S檚 version for sacrificing precise details for a larger truth. His painting has a wide cross section of Americans including farmers, riflemen, a Scotsman, two future presidents (Washington and James Monroe), men from a variety of states, an African American, and perhaps a woman. Thus, it is the archetypal American melting pot and conveys Americans 麻豆精品 S� determination in the time that tried men 麻豆精品 S檚 souls.

All Colonists were not Team Rebel.

We know that 13 original colonies revolted against British rule. In 1776, however, Britain had more than 30 colonies stretching from Canada through the Caribbean. Among those was Florida. Technically, Florida was two colonies (East Florida and West Florida). One would think that the two Floridas would have excitedly joined their neighbors to the north in rebellion as they had only been British colonies for 13 years (having been under Spanish rule from 1565 麻豆精品 S�1763).

Yet, when news of the Declaration of Independence reached St. Augustine, instead of embracing the document, the settlers reaffirmed their loyalty to the king and hung effigies depicting two leading revolutionaries that Revere had warned: John Hancock and Sam Adams. The former was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence and the president of Continental Congress, and the latter was a Boston radical, better known today as a brewery owner.

Why didn 麻豆精品 S檛 the Floridas revolt? Frankly, they disliked the British colonies more than they disliked England. They saw themselves as connected to the British Caribbean colonies, which also remained loyal to the king.

The Legend Behind A Cherry Tree.

In myth busting about the American Revolution, one can also tackle George Washington 麻豆精品 S� he did tell lies, he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 chop down a cherry tree (that anecdote was invented by 19th-century bookseller Parson Weems), and the once commander-in-chief didn 麻豆精品 S檛 win many major battles in the early years of the revolution. However, Washington, if anything, is underestimated for his contributions to American history.

Washington did what many of his contemporaries considered to be unthinkable 麻豆精品 S� he gave up power. Not once but twice.

When the war ended in 1783, Washington was a conquering hero who could have asked for anything. Instead, he simply requested retirement to Mount Vernon. Later, he returned to politics at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and then was elected the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 first president in 1789. After serving two terms, he retired again (the constitutional provision limiting a president to two terms didn 麻豆精品 S檛 come until the 22^nd amendment in 1951).

Thus, he set a precedent that president would not serve for life but instead would rotate regularly out of office.

A Day to Celebrate 麻豆精品 S� But Which Day?

None of the above should stop you from celebrating in July. After all, as one of the declaration 麻豆精品 S檚 authors and our second president John Adams wrote in letter to his wife about Independence Day, it 麻豆精品 S渨ill be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. 麻豆精品 S擨 am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival . . .聽 It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other. 麻豆精品 S�

Other than omitting hot dog eating contests, this sounds fairly accurate. Alas, nothing is ever simple. Adams wrote this prediction on July 3, 1776, about future July 2s (not July 4s).

On July 2, the Continental Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, on July 4, its members adopted the Declaration of Independence with John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, putting his John Hancock on the document.

Historians just have to ruin everything, don 麻豆精品 S檛 we?

Supported by a gift from Meta, the two-year project uses electromyographic (EMG)-based human-machine interface technology as a platform for investigating motor learning through gamified training systems. While EMG systems are often studied in the context of prosthetic limb control, the broader goal of the project is to understand how adaptive interfaces can become more intuitive and embodied over time.

麻豆精品 S淭his Meta support will enable my lab to work on real-world problems that can have an immediate impact on neurotechnologies. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Mohsen Rakhshan, assistant professor

UCF was selected through Meta 麻豆精品 S檚 competitive funding initiative, in part because of its interdisciplinary approach pairing engineering with philosophy and ethics.

Mohsen Rakhshan, an assistant professor in 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Disability, Aging and Technology (DAT) faculty cluster initiative, and Jonathan Beever, a professor of philosophy and director of the UCF Center for Ethics, will lead the project.

麻豆精品 S淭his Meta support will enable my lab to work on real-world problems that can have an immediate impact on neurotechnologies, 麻豆精品 S� Rakhshan says. 麻豆精品 S淭he impact ranges from individuals using augmented and virtual reality for entertainment to individuals with amputation or paralysis seeking to improve their quality of life. It also gives my engineering students the opportunity to integrate ethics research into their technical work. 麻豆精品 S�

Advancing Motor Learning Through EMG

EMG-based interfaces translate electrical signals generated by muscle activity into digital commands, allowing users to control devices through subtle physical gestures. In immersive environments, these systems can enable more natural interaction with virtual objects. In rehabilitation settings, they can assist in training neural prostheses.

The UCF team is using this technology to examine how people learn new motor skills in digital environments, particularly through gamified interaction tasks designed to strengthen human-computer coordination. By training both the participant and the signal-processing algorithm (often called a 麻豆精品 S渄ecoder 麻豆精品 S�) simultaneously, through a process known as co-adaptation, researchers aim to create systems that improve alongside the user.

麻豆精品 S淎 significant challenge for most of these systems is that they require constant retraining or calibration of the decoder, 麻豆精品 S� Rakhshan says. 麻豆精品 S淩etraining after each use can discourage individuals from using these devices long term. The human nervous system is plastic 麻豆精品 S� it can adapt and improve performance over time. But if the decoder is constantly reset or kept static, it may prevent the nervous system from leveraging that plasticity. We aim to develop a co-adaptive loop between the human and the device. 麻豆精品 S�

Rather than focusing solely on stable decoding, the project investigates how adaptive systems can enhance motor learning, improve user confidence and promote a stronger sense of embodiment in human-machine interaction.

If successful, the research could inform next-generation EMG systems used in immersive computing, rehabilitation technologies and assistive devices.

Embedding Ethics Into Engineering

A defining feature of the project is the integration of ethics alongside engineering from the outset.

麻豆精品 S淚nterdisciplinary collaboration between ethics and technical experts is the best path forward for responsible innovation. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jonathan Beever, professor

Longitudinal EMG studies can reveal subtle motor signatures that uniquely identify individuals, raising questions about privacy and data protection. Adaptive systems may also influence a user 麻豆精品 S檚 sense of agency, whether individuals feel genuinely in control of the interface. For example, if an EMG system begins adjusting its interpretation of muscle signals automatically, users may feel the device is responding to them intuitively or, in some cases, acting unpredictably. Researchers want to better understand how these dynamics affect trust, confidence, and long-term use.

To address these questions, Beever will be embedded within the UCF Laboratory for Interaction of Machine and Brain (LIMB), contributing directly to experimental design and evaluation. The team will conduct structured assessments of agency and embodiment while examining potential privacy leakage from EMG signal data.

麻豆精品 S淚nterdisciplinary collaboration between ethics and technical experts is the best path forward for responsible innovation, 麻豆精品 S� Beever says. 麻豆精品 S淭echnological advancement must be guided toward good ends. Our work emphasizes not only ethical research practices but also deeper questions about autonomy and agency in human-machine interfaces. 麻豆精品 S�

A Three-Phase Study

The longitudinal study will involve 30 participants completing 10 sessions over two months, allowing researchers to measure both short-term and long-term motor learning outcomes.

The project will occur in three phases:

Phase 1: Standardizing muscle signal data so artificial intelligence systems can more accurately interpret user intent.

Phase 2: Training both participants and machine learning models simultaneously 麻豆精品 S� a co-adaptive process designed to improve human-computer interaction through gamified tasks.

Phase 3: Conducting structured evaluation of agency, embodiment and privacy risks while developing a publishable ethics framework for adaptive EMG-based systems.

麻豆精品 S淭here has been a significant increase in industry interest in using biological signals such as EMG, from muscles, and EEG, from the brain, to interact with virtual and augmented reality, consumer electronics, prostheses for individuals with amputation and robotic systems for individuals with paralysis, 麻豆精品 S� Rakhshan says.

This research is supported by a gift from Meta. The project is conducted by faculty, staff and students in 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Disability, Aging and Technology research cluster and the UCF Center for Ethics.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 texts and technology program has received a 2026 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to launch 麻豆精品 S淏uilding a Digital Humanities Generative AI Learning Community, 麻豆精品 S� a 24-month initiative designed to help faculty and graduate students thoughtfully integrate AI into humanities teaching.

This year, UCF is leading one of only 84 projects funded by the NEH and is the only institution in Florida to be selected for the award.

Associate Professor and Professor will lead the initiative, which focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration, curriculum redesign and hands-on experimentation with emerging AI tools.

Coding for Creativity

Salter, director of graduate programs in the College of Arts and Humanities, says the project builds on a long tradition in digital humanities of teaching creative problem-solving through technology.

麻豆精品 S淚n a lot of humanities programs, when we teach people how to build digital projects, we 麻豆精品 S檙e teaching them some level of code, 麻豆精品 S� Salter says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut often we 麻豆精品 S檙e working with low-code tools 麻豆精品 S� interfaces designed for a specific purpose, like building a certain kind of game. Once students learn how to navigate those tools, what really matters is their ideas, the design, the story they want to tell. 麻豆精品 S�

She explains that generative AI tools function in a similar way. Rather than replacing creativity, they can expand it.

麻豆精品 S淲hen we look at agentic AI, it 麻豆精品 S檚 essentially a low-code computational interface, 麻豆精品 S� Salter says. 麻豆精品 S淭he better you can define and plan a concept, the more the system can assist with the underlying technical work 麻豆精品 S� especially in the creative applications. 麻豆精品 S�

Reimagining Humanities Work

Stanfill says the grant will fund course redesign efforts over the next two years. Faculty and graduate student participants will adapt existing undergraduate digital humanities courses to meaningfully incorporate AI in ways that align with humanistic expertise. Stanfill 麻豆精品 S檚 scholarship has recently received national recognition. In 2025, they were awarded the National Communication Association’s Diamond Anniversary Book Award for their book 麻豆精品 S淔andom Is Ugly: Networked Harassment in Participatory Culture 麻豆精品 S�.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 about integrating AI in a way that makes sense for each course and for what humanities already bring to the table, 麻豆精品 S� Stanfill says. 麻豆精品 S淭he goal is to enhance 麻豆精品 S� not replace 麻豆精品 S� the core strengths of humanities scholarship. 麻豆精品 S�

The funding will also support stipends that allow participants in the program to experiment with advanced AI tools that are expensive to access.

麻豆精品 S淭hey are more cost-intensive, 麻豆精品 S� Salter says. 麻豆精品 S淧art of what this grant allows us to do is give students real access 麻豆精品 S� not just a limited sandbox version 麻豆精品 S� so they can fully understand what these tools can do. 麻豆精品 S�

The implications extend to areas such as archival transcription and preservation. Advances in handwriting recognition and large-scale document analysis could help students work with under-digitized collections in new ways.

麻豆精品 S淚f you can bring a class into an archive that 麻豆精品 S檚 been underappreciated and use these tools, you can build searchable databases and identify patterns in ways that used to require years of manual labor, 麻豆精品 S� Salter says.

The grant strengthens 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 position as a leader in digital humanities education, the researchers say. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and encouraging thoughtful AI integration, the texts and technology program aims to model how humanities scholarship can evolve alongside technological innovation.

The 麻豆精品 S淏uilding a Digital Humanities Generative AI Learning Community 麻豆精品 S� 聽project has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The realization hit him one day on the job. This project 麻豆精品 S檚 legacy and impact were going to outlive him.

麻豆精品 S淲hen I think back on every cool thing I 麻豆精品 S檝e gotten to do so far in my career, it does all kind of lead back to Orlando Family Stage, 麻豆精品 S� Lowe says.

Lowe was 6 years old when his cub scout troop attended a show at the stage, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary 麻豆精品 S� the last 25 of those years in partnership with UCF.

He eventually went through its Youth Academy, interned as a UCF theatre student on site, made industry connections and now regularly contracts work at the stage as a full-time lighting designer for Clair Global, a tech company that specializes in live production services.

Lowe 麻豆精品 S檚 story is just one example of the countless ripple effects that have materialized from 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 longstanding, collaborative partnership with a nationally recognized leader in the theater industry.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e watched kids come in and they 麻豆精品 S檙e so shy and they can 麻豆精品 S檛 do anything. But by the time they leave, they 麻豆精品 S檙e not only signing up for the next show, they 麻豆精品 S檙e leading the next show, 麻豆精品 S� says Paul Lartonoix, assistant dean for the College of Arts and Humanities and longtime Orlando Family Stage board member. 麻豆精品 S淪ometimes it 麻豆精品 S檚 amazing at what it does. There 麻豆精品 S檚 no reason to not be proud of it. It 麻豆精品 S檚 doing great things for families. It 麻豆精品 S檚 doing great things for kids. It 麻豆精品 S檚 doing great things for our students, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 awesome that it 麻豆精品 S檚 being run by Knights. 麻豆精品 S�

A Partnership That Builds Community

Orlando Family Stage, founded in 1926 as part of the City of Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 Recreation Department, has evolved over the past 100 years while persevering through historic challenges including the Great Depression, World War II, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCF entered the picture in 2000 when former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood and UCF President John C. Hitt formed a community coalition to bring the stage under 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 oversight. At the time, the theater needed a major overhaul 麻豆精品 S� both to its physical home at Loch Haven Park and in programming 麻豆精品 S� to ensure it could thrive in the new millennium.

麻豆精品 S淚 know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without UCF on board. We wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have survived. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Chris Brown 麻豆精品 S�05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and UCF theatre alum

麻豆精品 S淲e wanted it because we thought that space was an exceptional,聽it had tremendous potential, and UCF should be a part of it.聽That聽really was the driving force, 麻豆精品 S� says Lartonoix, who served as executive director on-loan and was instrumental in leading the early years of the partnership. 麻豆精品 S淎nd when things worked, it was fantastic. 麻豆精品 S�

The intervention proved to be a major catalyst for its impact in the community today, and for the world at large through the countless children and UCF graduates who have been affiliated with its programming and education.

麻豆精品 S淚 know with great confidence we would not be sitting here today without UCF on board. We wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have survived, 麻豆精品 S� says Chris Brown 麻豆精品 S�05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and UCF theatre alum. 麻豆精品 S淭o think that leaders came together and said, 麻豆精品 S榃e don 麻豆精品 S檛 want to lose a vital theater organization in our town, and we want to create an active and engaged partnership with the university where we can collectively do good things to serve young people in the world. 麻豆精品 S� It 麻豆精品 S檚 very special. 麻豆精品 S�

Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Only Professional Theatre for Young Audiences

A major part of that partnership is 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 MFA in theatre for young audiences program, which launched in 2004. The program has operated for the past two decades as Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 only professional theatre for young audiences and is one of the most distinctive programs in the country with its unique graduate-training residency.

In addition to learning from the university 麻豆精品 S檚 esteemed faculty, students gain practical experience with opportunities to work with professional artists and teach in Orlando Family Stage 麻豆精品 S檚 award-winning Youth Academy, which offers camps, classes and experiences for every age level from infancy through teens.

The MFA program has seen graduates go on to work at some of the most prestigious theaters in the country, become educators at universities as far as Dublin and help run community theaters across the United States.

In addition to his leadership role, Brown teaches theatre management courses on 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 campus. He says he believes an important part of his responsibility as an educator is to expand his students 麻豆精品 S� idea of where a career in the arts can take them.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e helping them recognize that arts administration is creative work, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲riting a grant narrative, crafting a brand voice, planning a touring route or stewarding a donor relationship all require the same storytelling skills they bring to performance and production roles. 麻豆精品 S�

Instilling Bravery in Children

The stage 麻豆精品 S檚 mission is to empower young people to be brave and empathetic.

Sure it sounds good, but more importantly, there 麻豆精品 S檚 truth to the claim. Recent research by the UCF Department of Psychology provides evidence to support it.

The Orlando Family Stage 麻豆精品 S檚 education team collaborated with associate professor Valerie Sims and senior lecturer Matthew Chin and more than a dozen undergraduate students from the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab along with associate professor of musical theatre Tara Deady 麻豆精品 S�07MFA on a study, which they are currently working on publishing. The study aimed to determine if the stage 麻豆精品 S檚 programming delivers on its promise to promote creative engagement and bravery in children ages 1-5.

Because of the young age of the participants, traditional survey tools and written questionnaires wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 work. The team needed to get creative in a research approach that matched how children experience theatre.

The research team meticulously observed second by second footage of children and parent engagement during performances of Yo, Ho, Ho! Let 麻豆精品 S檚 Go! 麻豆精品 S� an interactive, multi-sensory original production created by the stage 麻豆精品 S檚 senior director of education Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo 麻豆精品 S�11MFA.

麻豆精品 S淲e have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Matthew Chin, UCF psychology senior lecturer

They logged and quantified data through body language and audience responses. Early on, Sims and Chin say, children needed to be prompted by their parents to participate. However, as the show progressed, you can clearly see children initiating the participation on their own and parental involvement decreasing.

麻豆精品 S淲ith this study we are able to say that it isn 麻豆精品 S檛 just this thing that we think is true 麻豆精品 S� we have evidence that theater participation really is beneficial to these very young kids, 麻豆精品 S� Chin says.

In 2024-25 alone, more than 4,770 audience members attended Theatre for the Very Young productions like Yo, Ho, Ho! Let 麻豆精品 S檚 Go!. Multiply those numbers year after year and the impact to the youth in our community is monumental.

The Next 100 Years

As the stage commemorates this special milestone in its history, it also acknowledges the scope of possibilities and impact ahead.

This year, when Gershwin Entertainment Group, who owns the theatrical rights for A Charlie Brown Christmas, needed a national touring partner to bring the show to life on stage around the country, they turned to the Orlando Family Stage to deliver. It became the highest revenue-generating show in the history of the organizatoin 麻豆精品 S檚 performances in Orlando 麻豆精品 S攚ithout counting the 32 cities it visited from New York City to Vancouver, Canada.

A partnership with the UCF Department of History is enabling the stage to create an archive of its materials from the last century as part of the RICHES Mosaic Interface, an online resource dedicated to collecting and sharing the stories of Central Florida.

Another is the inaugural Florida Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Book Festival in partnership with Writer 麻豆精品 S檚 Block Book Store and WUCF, which they hosted in February and plan to host annually to celebrate literature and the link between books, storytelling and live theater.

麻豆精品 S淲e all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Chris Brown 麻豆精品 S�05, Orlando Family Stage executive director and UCF theatre alum

They look to expand the reach of Mind Matters, a program the stage initiated with 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 psychology department and national playwrights to produce 10 original short plays about geared for teens about depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation and other mental health challenges they face today. The plays serve as an educational resource for teachers to spark honest conversations on these topics with their students.

Brown envisions one day expanding the footprint of the building with more theater space, new classrooms and offices to help alleviate their bursting-at-the-seems infrastructure, so they can keep delivering on all the dreams they want to turn into reality and continue creating meaningful experiences for children and the audiences of tomorrow.

麻豆精品 S淚 can 麻豆精品 S檛 get past the energy and the faces of busloads of kids coming in here every day, 麻豆精品 S� Brown says. 麻豆精品 S淲e all need to be aware of how special this place is. And we need to be so proud that our community has something like this. 麻豆精品 S�

Celebrates the Arts Programming

You can catch live performances from the Theatre for Young Audiences program during April 麻豆精品 S檚 UCF Celebrates the Arts festival at the Dr. Phillips Center in downtown Orlando.

Thursday, April 2 麻豆精品 S� 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Her Universe, HypeFriend!), this concert features performances that span musical styles and theatrical traditions, reflecting the many creative paths that begin at Orlando Family Stage.

*Featuring Micheal James Scott (Disney 麻豆精品 S檚 Aladdin on Broadway), Leslie Carrera-Rudolph (Emmy Award-winning performer for Abby Cadabby, Sesame Street), Jack Griffo (Nickelodeon 麻豆精品 S檚 The Thundermans), Davis Gaines (Broadway 麻豆精品 S檚 longest running Phantom of the Opera), Michael Andrew (Composer and one of America 麻豆精品 S檚 greatest interpreters of the American Songbook), Paul Vogt (Broadway 麻豆精品 S檚 Hairspray and Chicago). Video appearances by Mandy Moore (This Is Us), Jasmine Forsberg (Broadway 麻豆精品 S檚 Six and Here Lies Love), Clayton and Bella Grimm (Blippi), Broadway legend Norm Lewis and more.

*Artist lineup is updating and is subject to change.

Tuesday, April 7 麻豆精品 S� 10 a.m.
When best friends Squiggle and Square move away from each other, they must find creative ways to keep communicating! Told through clowning, puppetry and music, Pen Pals is a 30-minute interactive play designed for 5 to 10-year-olds.

Saturday, April 11 麻豆精品 S� 10 a.m.
Yo, Ho, Ho! Let 麻豆精品 S檚 Go! is a 30-minute adventure designed especially for children ages 1 to 5 as a multi-sensory experience that invites them to help a pirate navigate the high seas. Together, they follow a treasure map, solve clues and chart the course forward.

H

ome to UCF, Orlando has long been a global center for themed entertainment. As immersive attractions, museums and themed entertainment experiences continue to grow in scale, complexity and cultural impact, the industry faces a critical challenge: preparing the next generation of professionals with the real-world skills needed to bring immersive experiences to life.

Spanning storytelling, architecture, engineering, media, operations and production, today 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experiences and attractions demand skills that rarely live within a single academic discipline.

For many aspiring professionals, the pathway into themed entertainment remains unclear, with limited visibility into professional workflows, real-world timelines and the cross-functional dynamics that ultimately determine a project 麻豆精品 S檚 success.

A new partnership between UCF and AOA 麻豆精品 S� a leading immersive experience design, production and project management company 麻豆精品 S� aims to change that to better support the future of the industry.

Ideal Partnership

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience graduate programs at the College of Arts and Humanities and AOA have launched the AOA Scholars Program, a hands-on practicum designed to give graduate students direct exposure to the real-world processes behind themed entertainment design and production.

UCF introduced a theatre Master of Fine Arts聽track in themed experience in 2018. In 2021, the university offered a stand-alone degree program in themed experience. Both programs are聽 the first of its kind at a public university.

The program 麻豆精品 S檚 focused curriculum in themed experience and attractions makes it an ideal partner for AOA.

The scholars initiative will address a common challenge in the field: while demand for immersive attractions, museums and experiences continues to grow, there is an expanding need for practical training and field work for emerging talent.

麻豆精品 S淔lorida is home to some of the most sophisticated themed entertainment work in the world, but the way people enter the industry hasn 麻豆精品 S檛 kept pace, 麻豆精品 S� says Tom Acomb, co-founder and chief creative officer of AOA. 麻豆精品 S淭his program is about opening the door earlier and giving students a clearer view of how these projects actually come together. 麻豆精品 S�

Each semester, a select cohort of students will participate in workshops led by AOA professionals, visit active project sites and production facilities, and learn how creative, technical and operational decisions intersect in real projects.

麻豆精品 S淎OA has always believed in investing in early-career talent, starting with a strong internship program that 麻豆精品 S檚 been part of our culture since the early days, 麻豆精品 S� says Mike Ostendorf, co-founder and CEO of AOA. 麻豆精品 S淭his partnership with UCF is an evolution of that long-standing commitment 麻豆精品 S� because seeing the full lifecycle of a project up close matters. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Peter Weishar, UCF director of themed experience

What 麻豆精品 S檚 Next

UCF will oversee academic structure and accreditation, while AOA will contribute funding and industry expertise.

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership gives students access to professional workflows with one of the top firms in the themed entertainment industry with diverse project and a global reach 麻豆精品 S� says Peter Weishar, director of themed experience at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淚t strengthens Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 role as a global talent pipeline for themed entertainment. 麻豆精品 S�

The AOA Scholars Program is expected to begin Fall 2026, reinforcing Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 position as a training ground for the next generation of immersive experience professionals.

This year, UCF honored 84 faculty members during the fifth biennial Faculty Authors 麻豆精品 S� Celebration, held Feb. 17 in the Solarium Room at the John C. Hitt Library on the university 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus. The event celebrates faculty whose published books 麻豆精品 S� from novels and poetry to textbooks and manuals 麻豆精品 S� contribute to scholarly excellence and creativity in their respective fields.

The event, which is sponsored by the聽Office of Research听补苍诲听, drew many guests, including Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter and Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld.

Professor of English and Director of Graduate Programs Anastasia Salter delivered the keynote address. Salter is the author or co-author of 10 books on digital culture and electronic literature, including most recently Undertale: Can a Game Give Hope, which invites readers to rethink their relationship with gaming and game characters.

2026 Faculty Author Honorees

• Yara Asi 麻豆精品 S�07MA 麻豆精品 S�15PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jonathan Annand,
• Greg Autry, College of Business Administration
• William Ayers, College of Arts and Humanities
• James Bacchus, College of Sciences
• Morris Beato, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• James Beckman, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Martha Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities
• Andrea Borowczak 麻豆精品 S�92, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Wayne Bowen, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sarah Bush, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jessica Campbell 麻豆精品 S�12MA 麻豆精品 S�20PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Shannon Carter, College of Sciences
• Robert Cassanello, College of Arts and Humanities
• Necati Catbas, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Thomas Cavanagh 麻豆精品 S�06PhD, Center for Distributed Learning
• Karl Chai, College of Medicine
• Baiyun Chen 麻豆精品 S�07PhD, Center for Distributed Learning
• Amy Cicchino, College of Arts and Humanities
• Brian Collins,
• Ilenia Col贸n Mendoza, College of Arts and Humanities
• Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences
• Aimee Denoyelles 麻豆精品 S�00, Center for Distributed Learning
• Taseen Desin, College of Medicine
• Ahmad Elshennawy, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Katia Ferdowsi, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Julie Feuerstein, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Scot French, College of Arts and Humanities
• Martha Garcia 麻豆精品 S�97 麻豆精品 S�00MA, College of Arts and Humanities
• Amrita Ghosh, College of Arts and Humanities
• Carolyn Glasshoff 麻豆精品 S�11MA 麻豆精品 S�21PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Donita Grissom 麻豆精品 S�14PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Gulsah Hancerliogullari Koksalmis, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Kenneth Hanson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Duncan Hardy, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities
• Bari Hoffman 麻豆精品 S�96 麻豆精品 S�98MA, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Emily Johnson 麻豆精品 S�15PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
• Naim Kapucu, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Lauren Kehoe,
• Haidar Khezri, College of Arts and Humanities
• Nolan Kline, College of Medicine
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