The stories of alumni are a constant reminder of the power of dreams and hard work. Few journeys embody that spirit more than Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S�21 麻豆精品 S檚, whose path from Rosen College classrooms to Walt Disney Imagineering is one fueled by imagination, determination and a little bit of magic. His most recent achievement 麻豆精品 S� the completion of Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure 麻豆精品 S� highlights not only his success but also the unique relationship between Rosen College and Disney that allows dreams like his to come true.
A Dream Begins at Rosen College
Corey 麻豆精品 S檚 fascination with Disney started long before his time at Rosen, but it was at the college that his dream took shape and found direction.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e always been obsessed with Disney 麻豆精品 S檚 ability to tell stories that transport people to another world, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know how to turn that fascination into a career until I came to Rosen. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know how to turn that fascination [with Disney’s storytelling] into a career until I came to Rosen.” 麻豆精品 S� Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S�21, project coordinator for Walt Disney Imagineering
Graduating with a degree in entertainment management, a minor in theatre studies, and a certificate in theme park and attraction management, Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 academic excellence was undeniable. But his commitment extended far beyond the classroom. Clancy was heavily involved in UCF’s Burnett Honors College, served on the Rosen College Leadership Council, was an undergraduate admissions student ambassador and participated in numerous student organizations while also volunteering outside of school.
His hard work and dedication didn 麻豆精品 S檛 go unnoticed. Clancy earned multiple scholarships, including the Harris Rosen Scholarship, and culminated his undergraduate achievements by receiving the Order of Pegasus, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 highest student honor. After graduation, Clancy was accepted into the themed experience track of the MFA in theatre program, where he is currently continuing his studies.
Like many Rosen College students, Clancy got his start working in the parks at Walt Disney World Resort.
麻豆精品 S淚 worked as a quick service food and beverage cast member, a safari driver at Kilimanjaro Safaris, and even sold balloons in the parks, 麻豆精品 S� he says with a laugh. 麻豆精品 S淭hose roles taught me more than I could have imagined about creating moments of joy for guests. 麻豆精品 S�
What sets Rosen College apart is its deep connection to Walt Disney World Resort, the top employer of Rosen students. With Disney Day events and direct pathways into internships, Rosen College students like Corey have a unique window into the world of Disney. 麻豆精品 S淲orking at Disney while studying at Rosen gave me a perspective that I couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 get anywhere else, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淚 wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 just learning about hospitality in theory 麻豆精品 S� I was living it, every day. 麻豆精品 S�
But the real turning point for Clancy came in the classroom, where he found the tools and mentorship to chart his course toward Walt Disney Imagineering.
麻豆精品 S淐lasses like Theme Park and Attraction Management and Leading in the Entertainment Industry were pivotal for me, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey didn 麻豆精品 S檛 just teach me technical skills; they helped me figure out what kind of leader I wanted to be and how to turn my passion for themed entertainment into something tangible. 麻豆精品 S�
Bringing Hospitality to Themed Entertainment
The lessons Clancy learned at Rosen College went far beyond textbooks and tests.
“At Rosen, I learned that hospitality is about more than just service 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 about people,” Clancy reflects. “That 麻豆精品 S檚 something I 麻豆精品 S檝e carried with me into every role I 麻豆精品 S檝e had at Disney. Whether I 麻豆精品 S檓 working on a small project or something as big as Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure, I always keep the human connection at the forefront.”
Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 time at Rosen was filled with experiences that mirrored the collaborative nature of Walt Disney Imagineering. “Those group projects taught me how to lead, how to collaborate, and how to pivot when things didn 麻豆精品 S檛 go as planned 麻豆精品 S� all skills I use every day at Disney,” Clancy says. “Rosen really prepared me for the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of Imagineering.”
“At Rosen, I learned that hospitality is about more than just service 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 about people,” Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S�21, project coordinator for Walt Disney Imagineering
His professors played a significant role in his development, with Dr. Carissa Baker particularly recalling his blend of enthusiasm and drive.
“[Clancy] has always been immensely enthusiastic about the industry, but he combined that with strong motivation to achieve,” she says. “He is bright and inquisitive, really wanting to delve into industry topics to thoroughly understand them. Clancy is also conscientious and has a positive personality, making it easy to want to collaborate with him. He exemplifies our hospitality core.”
Baker, an assistant professor of theme park and attraction management at Rosen College who also sits on Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 thesis committee, expressed her excitement for Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 role in Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure. “He has always been passionate about The Princess and the Frog, and to see him tasked with this project was amazing. He is an emerging leader in the industry, and I cannot wait to see what he accomplishes next,” she adds.
Bringing Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure to Life
For Clancy, Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure was more than just a job 麻豆精品 S� it was a deeply personal project.
麻豆精品 S淧rincess Tiana has always been my favorite Disney character, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says with a smile. 麻豆精品 S淗er story of resilience and hard work has always resonated with me, so when I found out I 麻豆精品 S檇 be working on her attraction, it felt like everything had come full circle. 麻豆精品 S�
As a project coordinator, Clancy played a crucial role in bringing the reimagined attraction to life, overseeing the installation of cutting-edge technology, including brand-new Audio-Animatronics figures.
The attraction immerses guests in Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 world after the events of The Princess and the Frog, showing her expansion into Tiana’s Foods, where visitors can explore her vibrant gardens and the artistic touches she brings to the bayou. Guests even become part of her Mardi Gras celebration, helping to find the missing band for the party. The audio-animatronic figures, including new critters and familiar faces, showcase some of the most advanced technology ever seen at a Disney attraction.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 not an engineer, but Rosen taught me how to ask the right questions and collaborate with the technical teams, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淭he project was a massive team effort, and my job was to keep the communication flowing between all the different departments. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淸Clancy] always brought enthusiasm and energy to any project, 麻豆精品 S� adds Jessica Richards, associate instructor in the events management program. 麻豆精品 S淗e is a great example of the values we hold at Rosen 麻豆精品 S� professionalism, leadership, and service. 麻豆精品 S�
One of the highlights for Clancy was seeing how the attraction represented a new era for Disney.
麻豆精品 S淭his ride is about more than just fun 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 about representation, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says proudly. 麻豆精品 S淭iana 麻豆精品 S檚 story brings a new voice and new experiences to the parks, and I 麻豆精品 S檓 honored to have been part of something that helps more guests feel seen and celebrated. 麻豆精品 S�
The attraction opened in June 2024 to widespread excitement, and for Clancy, it 麻豆精品 S檚 a career milestone he 麻豆精品 S檒l always cherish.
麻豆精品 S淲orking on Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure has been the highlight of my career so far, 麻豆精品 S� he reflects. 麻豆精品 S淏eing part of something that has such a lasting impact on people is what I 麻豆精品 S檝e always dreamed of. 麻豆精品 S�
Guiding Future Disney Leaders
Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 path from Rosen College to Walt Disney Imagineering wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 just built on passion 麻豆精品 S攊 t was built on taking advantage of every opportunity that came his way.
麻豆精品 S淚nternships were critical, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淲ithout my professional internship at Walt Disney Imagineering, I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be where I am today, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢y advice to current students is to apply for every opportunity, and don 麻豆精品 S檛 be afraid to step out of your comfort zone 麻豆精品 S� you never know what skills you 麻豆精品 S檒l pick up that could help you later on. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淭he relationship between Rosen and Disney is invaluable. It 麻豆精品 S檚 what made my career possible. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S�21, project coordinator for Walt Disney Imagineering
Rosen College 麻豆精品 S檚 deep connection to Disney opens doors that other institutions simply can 麻豆精品 S檛. Events like Disney Day bring Disney leaders to campus, giving students direct access to potential mentors and future employers. 麻豆精品 S淭he relationship between Rosen and Disney is invaluable, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 what made my career possible, and I know it 麻豆精品 S檚 helping so many other students achieve their dreams, too. 麻豆精品 S�
Corey 麻豆精品 S檚 work on Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure is just one chapter in what promises to be a long and exciting career. His journey from Rosen College to Disney is proof that with the right education, opportunities and a little bit of imagination, dreams really do come true.
As Corey looks to the future, he 麻豆精品 S檚 excited about what lies ahead, both for himself and for the field of themed entertainment.
麻豆精品 S淲e create experiences that allow guests to escape, to leave the real world behind for a little while and just have fun, 麻豆精品 S� Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淭o know that I 麻豆精品 S檓 part of that process is incredibly rewarding. I can 麻豆精品 S檛 wait to see what we can accomplish next. 麻豆精品 S�
