This year 麻豆精品 S檚 tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations 麻豆精品 S� United States, Canada and Mexico 麻豆精品 S� and the first to include an expanded field of 48 teams from across the globe. Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches June 11 麻豆精品 S� July 19, including the championship match in New York and third place playoff in Miami.

This historic event coincides with the United States 麻豆精品 S� 250th anniversary听and marks the first time since 1994 the country has hosted the men 麻豆精品 S檚 World Cup.

Here 麻豆精品 S檚听a look at some of the Knights bringing this event to life.

Izzy Angel 麻豆精品 S�23

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Role:听惭别诲颈补听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍诲听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉
FIFA location: Atlanta

I will be supporting media logistics, guiding photographers and press to designated areas, and facilitating press conferences and interviews. One of the biggest ways UCF prepared me for this opportunity was through its emphasis on networking, collaboration and real-world experience. That mindset opened doors to internships, jobs and experiences that helped me gain confidence in putting myself out there and connecting with people.

It 麻豆精品 S檚 been really fulfilling to meet people with completely different backgrounds and life experiences who are all coming together over a shared passion. Being part of something on such a global scale and feeling that sense of community has been incredibly special.

Brendon Boseja 麻豆精品 S�25

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in听integrated听business

Role:听Senior听coordinator,听Client Group Management听Accreditation
FIFA site: Miami

At UCF, I learned to network and make many connections in the industry and to continue these relationships. This has especially helped me throughout FIFA, especially since my main job is to communicate with every stadium involved in the tournament. Working for a sports organization as big as FIFA has been a dream of mine, and to be involved with an event like the World Cup is surreal to think about.

Taylor Culver 麻豆精品 S�23 麻豆精品 S�26MSBM 麻豆精品 S�26MBA

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in kinesiology
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Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in business administration

Role:听Event听executive, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Houston

麻豆精品 S淏ecause of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry. 麻豆精品 S�

My role is to help create and execute large-scale fan experiences that bring the energy of the World Cup to life outside of the stadium. Being able to contribute to an event of this magnitude is both humbling and motivating, and I know it will be one of the most impactful experiences of my career. UCF prepared me for this opportunity by putting me in real-world sports environments early and constantly challenging me to grow as a leader. Through the program and my experience as a recruiting assistant for UCF Athletics with the football team, I learned how to operate in fast-paced environments where organization, communication and adaptability are critical. Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.

Daniel Garzon 麻豆精品 S�23 麻豆精品 S�24MSBM 麻豆精品 S�24MBA

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惭补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in business听administration

Role:听Workforce听integration听senior听coordinator,听Tournament Operation Center Services
FIFA site:听Miami

I started my journey at FIFA as an intern with the volunteer management team shortly after graduating from the DeVos Sport Business Management program in 2024. As a recruitment coordinator, I spearheaded communications and recruitment strategy while sourcing and scheduling thousands of candidates. Now in my new role, I will be in the heartbeat of the headquarters of the tournament, fulfilling operational needs for all departments while manipulating data to make informed decisions for all the venues during the World Cup.

Risako Karasawa 麻豆精品 S�21

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in entertainment management
Graduate student majoring in sport business management

Role: VIP Tour Coordinator/Translator
FIFA site:听Dallas

I serve as the primary point of contact for a VIP delegation from Japan. My responsibilities include coordinating transportation and logistics, providing interpretation and translation support, and ensuring a seamless experience throughout the visit. Combining my passions for sports, entertainment and hospitality, this opportunity feels like the perfect intersection of everything I love. Through both the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the DeVos Sport Business Management Program, I have gained practical experience through hands-on opportunities working with professionals across the industries in event planning, guest experience, sponsorship and stakeholder management that prepared me for this incredibly exciting opportunity.

William Mendez 麻豆精品 S�26MSBM 麻豆精品 S�26MBA

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Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in business听administration

Role: Team protocol liaison officer
FIFA site:听Miami

I will provide operational support as a main point of contact for the teams 麻豆精品 S� protocol representatives, managing VIP/VVIP seating, ticket distribution and logistics. I 麻豆精品 S檓 truly excited to be part of an event of this magnitude because FIFA 麻豆精品 S�26 goes beyond sports by bringing people together across cultures from all over the world. 麻豆精品 S疶he DeVos Sport Business Management program at UCF has played a major role in preparing me for this moment, giving me the hands-on experience and confidence I need to contribute to an event of this scale.

Colin O 麻豆精品 S橳oole 麻豆精品 S�26MSBM 麻豆精品 S�26MBA

惭补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master 麻豆精品 S檚听in business听administration

Role: Accreditation center coordinator
FIFA site:听Boston

I grew up watching the World Cup and always dreamed of being part of the most watched sporting event in the world. My experience in the soccer industry through both professional and volunteer roles gave me a strong foundation, and the DeVos program broadened my perspective. It exposed me to the business side of the industry, while simultaneously connecting me with incredible mentors and peers, ultimately giving me the confidence and network to land this opportunity with FIFA.

Connor Pank 麻豆精品 S�17

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in听management

Role:听罢别补尘听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉听惫别苍耻别听辞蹿蹿颈肠别谤
FIFA site: Tampa, Florida

The sport business management minor at UCF offered plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in the industry. My junior year, I was fortunate enough to land a season-long internship at Orlando City Soccer Club in the game day operations department, which then turned into a full-time position with seven amazing seasons of constant growth and experiences that I am forever grateful 麻豆精品 S痜or.

Being involved in a FIFA World Cup has been a personal goal of mine since my early days with Orlando City SC, when we hosted a U.S. Soccer vs.听Panama World Cup Qualifier听ahead of the听2018 FIFA World Cup.听Every team听participating听in the World Cup chooses a designated home base,听which includes the team hotel, training听site听and other operational support facilities as needed. My role is centered around acting as FIFA 麻豆精品 S檚 primary operational lead on-site for Cabo Verde 麻豆精品 S檚 home base in Tampa to ensure a seamless, world-class experience.

Annie Quaile 麻豆精品 S�06

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听尘补谤办别迟颈苍驳

Role:听Venue听manager,听FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Atlanta

I act as the bridge between FIFA, Atlanta and the commercial and operational partners delivering the Fan Festival experience. My role focuses on coordinating event听logistics, operations, guest experience, VIP and talent management, and partner integration while ensuring FIFA brand standards are upheld throughout the event.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience at UCF was learning how to balance creativity,听leadership听and problem-solving under pressure, which is听essentially the听foundation of live event and operational management.听The FIFA World Cup is one of the few truly global experiences that brings together people from every background,听culture听and country around a shared passion.听All of听迟丑别 planning, coordination and operational work happens behind the scenes for months, so finally seeing people from around the world听gathering together, celebrating and creating memories is incredibly rewarding.

Andres Sifontes 麻豆精品 S�24

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in communication

Role:听Coordinator, Accreditation Documentation and Training Operations
FIFA site: Houston

I joined the FIFA team in September 2024, supporting preparations for both Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026. In my role now, I oversee Accreditation Center operations in Houston, assist volunteers, and ensure that key stakeholders 麻豆精品 S� including partners like Coca-Cola, Adidas and Visa 麻豆精品 S� receive proper credentials. UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 communication program, and especially my听Communication Research Methods听笔谤辞蹿别蝉蝉辞谤 , equipped me with the tools I continue to apply every day in my role at FIFA by teaching me how to communicate effectively, carry myself professionally, and think strategically.

Since graduating, my goal has been to contribute to the growth of soccer in the United States. This passion has always been part of who I am, and UCF helped me build the foundation to pursue it professionally. After graduation, I worked with Inter Miami CF, and now with FIFA, I 麻豆精品 S檝e been fortunate to play a role in supporting the continued development of the sport. I truly believe we are about to witness unprecedented growth for the game in this country. I hope that at the end of my career, I can look back and say I contributed to that growth 麻豆精品 S� and that it all started at UCF.

Dennis Sprenkle 麻豆精品 S�01

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Role:听Director of听workforce听补苍诲听human听resources
FIFA site:听惭颈补尘颈

My team oversees the employee journey from recruitment to offboarding across the three host countries (Canada, Mexico and the U.S.) and 16 host cities. We are responsible for everything from workforce planning, training, visa management, benefits, payroll, employee uniforms and just about every other aspect of human resources.

I have always had a keen interest in global political and business affairs, which is why I studied political science with an emphasis on international relations at UCF. Working for a governing body like FIFA in many respects is akin to working for the United Nations. 麻豆精品 S� In order to be a successful leader in a global organization like FIFA, it is critical to have an open mind to effectively collaborate, plan and execute the largest sporting event in human history. My education and experience at UCF as a leader in Student Government certainly laid the foundation and has helped prepare me for this opportunity.

Ryan Taheri 麻豆精品 S�24

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蹿颈苍补苍肠别

Role:听奥辞谤办蹿辞谤肠别听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听尘补苍补驳别谤
FIFA site: Dallas

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family. Now, I occasionally stop for a second and realize how special it all is to be working behind the scenes on the operational side of the tournament. A big part of what I do in my role is coordinate with different functional areas like transportation, catering, accommodations, uniforms and venue operations to ensure the workforce is supported and operations run smoothly.

麻豆精品 S淯CF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. 麻豆精品 S�

A lot of the role comes down to staying organized, communicating clearly and solving problems quickly. UCF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. Looking back now, I don 麻豆精品 S檛 think I realized at the time how much of my experience at UCF directly prepared me for working on something as large and complex as a 麻豆精品 S疐IFA 麻豆精品 S�26.

Alejandro Tarazona 麻豆精品 S�22

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in integrated business

Role:听惭补苍补驳别谤,听罢谤补颈苍颈苍驳听厂颈迟别听痴别苍耻别听罢谤补苍蝉辫辞谤迟
FIFA site: Miami

I 麻豆精品 S痮versee transportation operations and 麻豆精品 S痩ogistics 麻豆精品 S痑t all 75 training sites across U.S., Canada and Mexico 麻豆精品 S� including shuttles, loading zones, team busses and their fleets, and parking lots for media, volunteers and guests. I grew up in Lake Nona and had an opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a Division II school in Florida, but financially, it just didn 麻豆精品 S檛 make sense for my family and me. Instead I enrolled at Valencia College and earned my degree through the .

UCF gave me the technical skills I needed for my managerial position now, like creating financial analysis for labor rates across 16 stadiums that 麻豆精品 S痺e 麻豆精品 S檒l 麻豆精品 S痓e using in U.S., Canada and Mexico. As a former soccer player and as someone 麻豆精品 S痺ho is 麻豆精品 S痮bsessed with the sport, working for one of the biggest and best sports organization in the world has been a lifelong goal. 麻豆精品 S疶his experience has taught me to consider redefining what 麻豆精品 S檚 possible and keep setting goals.

Tomas Upegui 麻豆精品 S�22

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Role:听贵濒别别迟听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍补濒测蝉迟
FIFA site: Miami

Growing up playing soccer, being involved with FIFA in any capacity is something I never imagined would become reality, especially this early in my career. I am supporting transportation and depot operations across all 16 host cities, contributing to transportation operations involving VIPs and trophy movements. Studying business taught me how to work efficiently in fast-paced environments and quickly adapt while balancing multiple responsibilities at once, which directly translates to my role.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been realizing the true scale of the FIFA World Cup and seeing firsthand how much coordination happens behind the scenes to make an event of this magnitude successful.

At 16, he opened his first brokerage account听in 2008, with his grandmother 麻豆精品 S檚 help, during the Great Recession because he saw a market that had no place to go but up.

When cloud accounting platforms were just starting to become viable in the early 2010s, he was an early adopter, eventually building a firm that served clients remotely.

Now as听artificial intelligence (AI)听reshapes听迟丑别 business landscape, Hubenthal decided to embrace this听latest inflection point by enrolling in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚听.

麻豆精品 S淯CF is ready for every Knight who dares to lean in. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淯CF听doesn 麻豆精品 S檛听just educate you. It finds you. It amplifies who you are and prepares you to make a difference, 麻豆精品 S� says Hubenthal, who is from Elon, North Carolina. 麻豆精品 S淪ometimes听I 麻豆精品 S檓听amazed that this small-town kid has ended up consulting with business leaders in boardrooms across the globe. Somewhere out there, another teenager is watching the world shift and feeling that pull. UCF is ready for every Knight who dares to lean in. 麻豆精品 S�

Leading With a Spirit of Innovation

It 麻豆精品 S檚 Knights like Hubenthal who inspired Barry S. Miller 麻豆精品 S�95 to invest a transformational $50 million gift into the College of Business to further strengthen UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

A graduate of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚听听program in the听,听Hubenthal听initially came to UCF to study听听补苍诲听engineering. But听after听witnessing听迟丑别 impact of the听Great Recession听on听families, including his own,听he听switched听to business and finance.

麻豆精品 S淚听made it my mission to听understand what happened, why it happened and how to help prevent it, 麻豆精品 S澨鼿ubenthal says.

Early听in his career,听Hubenthal听worked in corporate听finance,听gaining听hands-on experience听补苍诲听learning听how established organizations manage their financial infrastructure.

In 2015,听just two years after听earning his bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree,听he听co-founded听a data analytics firm with fellow UCF graduates,听bringing听enterprise-grade听big听data and听analytics听services听to local businesses at an accessible price point.听That听venture earned Hubenthal听recognition听as part of听Business听North Carolina听magazine 麻豆精品 S檚听cover story听on听innovation听in听2016.

Building on Success

He听has since founded firms rooted in data analytics, accounting and finance 麻豆精品 S� including his firm Bookscaping 麻豆精品 S� started a financial literacy podcast to share his expertise with small businesses, and published a book, The Simple Fiscal Method: 17 Financial Lessons for Every Small Business Owner to Succeed in Life.

In 2022, he signed on as vice president of finance for ryco.io, an educational startup where he built and still leads the company 麻豆精品 S檚 financial strategy and operations.

He is currently beta听testing听an automated system for the company, which almost fully manages its payable function with safeguards, audit trails and authorizations built in. He envisions this empowering ryco.io to scale its financial operations.

Hubenthal wanted to fully immerse himself in this new era of business and tech, so he is turning to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 fintech program to prepare him for what 麻豆精品 S檚 ahead.

麻豆精品 S淔or me, the real world is the lab. And thanks to UCF, I 麻豆精品 S檓 just getting started. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭he program put me in a room with nearly 30 students from four continents who felt like family within the first month, 麻豆精品 S澨鼿ubenthal听says. 麻豆精品 S淛ust weeks ago,听I built a portfolio optimization tool for my own retirement account 麻豆精品 S斕�1听million simulated market days听补苍诲听almost听4,000听years of data, solved by a听supercomputer听in under three seconds 麻豆精品 S� using what I learned in this program.

麻豆精品 S淔or me,听迟丑别 real world is the lab, 麻豆精品 S� he continues.听 麻豆精品 S淎nd thanks to UCF,听I 麻豆精品 S檓听just getting started. 麻豆精品 S�

What was your vision for the College of Business听when you arrived in 2012?

When I arrived, UCF听had experienced听tremendous growth, particularly coming out of the recession. But that growth made the college feel transactional. Faculty were stretched听thin,听technology had replaced听in-person听interaction听and there听wasn 麻豆精品 S檛听a strong sense听of community.

What struck me most was that while we had excellent individual scholars, we听didn 麻豆精品 S檛听yet have a true community of scholars. People听didn 麻豆精品 S檛听know each other well, and without that,听it 麻豆精品 S檚听very difficult听to build a shared vision.

So,听I听started by听listening. I met one-on-one with every听faculty听and staff member and asked three simple questions: What do you think about UCF? What would you do if you were me? And what is your role here?

What听emerged听was powerful. Many of our faculty were first-generation college graduates, just like our students, just like Barry and just like me. They听are听here because they wanted to听help build something different. That became the foundation for our vision: creating a culture of engagement that would transform the听college听experience听for everyone.

Faculty,听students听and staff here are expected to interact with each other and with people in industry and the community at large.听This has helped make听us fiercely听practical. Faculty learn what is going on at the forefront of business. The college has a relevant curriculum with hands-on听experiences听for students.听This helps听students discover their path, develop听professionally听and fully engage with their future.

How would you describe the college 麻豆精品 S檚 culture today?

Today, that culture of engagement defines us.

There 麻豆精品 S檚听a quote听from听English听philosopher Herbert Spencer听we often reference:听 麻豆精品 S�The great aim of higher education isn 麻豆精品 S檛 knowledge, it 麻豆精品 S檚 action. 麻豆精品 S澨齀t 麻豆精品 S檚听not enough for students to learn concepts;听迟丑别y need to know how to apply them.

You see that in the building itself.听It 麻豆精品 S檚听full. Students are here, working together, interacting with faculty, and engaging with corporate partners and alumni. That connection to the real world has become part of the fabric of the college, and听it 麻豆精品 S檚听what makes the experience more meaningful听and more transformative.

Changing culture is one of the hardest things a leader can do. It requires people to see a future they听haven 麻豆精品 S檛听experienced yet. But over time, our faculty,听staff听and students have seen the value of what听we 麻豆精品 S檝e听built together,听补苍诲听that 麻豆精品 S檚听what makes it sustainable.

贬辞飞听does听迟丑别听叠补谤谤测听惭颈濒濒别谤听investment听accelerate that future?

麻豆精品 S淕reat universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating the conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that. 麻豆精品 S�

This investment allows us to recruit leading scholars at the intersection of business and technology听 麻豆精品 S斕齠aculty who are working on the most pressing challenges facing industry and society.

They 麻豆精品 S檒l help us tackle critical questions around trust in technology, cybersecurity, the concentration of power and how humans and intelligent systems interact. They 麻豆精品 S檒l also help prepare our students to lead in that environment.

At the end of the day, great universities win by attracting great people听(faculty and students)听and creating听迟丑别 conditions听for them to succeed. This gift helps us do听exactly that.

What will听distinguish听迟丑别 college over the next decade?

Our differentiation will come from听deepening our engagement with industry听and technology.

We want to be known as a place where innovation happens first,听where companies come for talent and insight, and where students gain access to real opportunities.

Ultimately, it 麻豆精品 S檚听about outcomes. If we do this right, our graduates will be exceptionally well-prepared for high-impact, high-growth careers. That return on investment will set us apart.

What gives you optimism about the future?

I grew up during the听Space听Race,听补苍诲听at the time, the race to the moon was a sign of hope for people.听Technology was seen as the path to a greater future. With the recent Artemis II launch, I would like听to see听us听instill in our students, and in our leaders, a return to that kind of optimism around what technology听can do. I think those flights are the definition of how technology can enhance the human experience, rather than replace it.

麻豆精品 S淚 want students to come to UCF knowing they can participate in an industry that 麻豆精品 S檚 about to take off, no matter what field they 麻豆精品 S檙e interested in. This is the place to launch the next stage of your career. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Greg Autry, 听UCF’s associate provost for space commercialization

A national leader in online education, and the top supplier of talent to the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 aerospace and defense industries, UCF launched a in Spring 2026. It aims to meet the expanding needs of the booming industry on Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Space Coast and around the world. Graduates will emerge ready to shape a fast-growing, high-impact global industry, applying their skills across aerospace, commercial space, government, startups and emerging tech.

麻豆精品 S淲e have world-class researchers, direct connections to the space industry and the very best location, 麻豆精品 S� says Greg Autry, creator of the pioneering program and associate provost for space commercialization and strategy at UCF. 听 麻豆精品 S淚 want students to come to UCF knowing they can participate in an industry that 麻豆精品 S檚 about to take off, no matter what field they 麻豆精品 S檙e interested in. This is the place to launch the next stage of your career. 麻豆精品 S�

The space MBA merges the university 麻豆精品 S檚 excellence in both space and online education to develop forward-thinking leaders ready to shape the future of the space sector. This part-time, fully online graduate business program spans 24 months and blends core MBA courses with four specialized electives in space entrepreneurship, governmental and commercial space finance, space leadership and the global space domain. With its flexible, asynchronous format, students can learn from anywhere on Earth 麻豆精品 S� or even in orbit.

At the forefront of this future-ready pathway is Zaheer Ali, a new instructor in the College of Business, and program director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 space commercialization and strategy initiative. He spent more than a decade at NASA and previously led space efforts across the defense and national security enterprise.

“The space industry isn 麻豆精品 S檛 the future. It 麻豆精品 S檚 happening now. Our new space MBA will put talent at the center of that movement. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Paul Jarley, UCF College of Business dean

Ali is ready to guide the next generation of space business leaders at SpaceU 麻豆精品 S� and he 麻豆精品 S檚 hoping to recruit students from every major to find their place in space. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 here helping build what I think is the greatest program in the world for space

business, 麻豆精品 S� Ali says. 麻豆精品 S淥ur students are 麻豆精品 S� given direct access to leaders in every aspect of space, creating a space network for them that will be unmatched by graduates of any other program. 麻豆精品 S�

Through more than 25 years of providing highly ranked online degrees, UCF is a trusted source for innovative academic programs and pathways, and is recognized among the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 leaders in online education. Courses across more than 130 fully online degree programs are led by world-class faculty with extensive industry and academic experience, equipped to prepare students to succeed in their

careers and advance their fields. 麻豆精品 S淭he space industry isn 麻豆精品 S檛 the future. It 麻豆精品 S檚 happening now. Our new space MBA will put talent at the center of that movement, 麻豆精品 S� says Paul Jarley, dean of the College of Business, which houses the program. As the business school at Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Technological University, our goal is not just to fuel the talent pipeline, but to help shape the market 麻豆精品 S� even if it 麻豆精品 S檚 in space.

UCF is the leading producer of talent among Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 universities, awarding nearly 19,000 degrees annually to Knights who go on to work in high-demand industries. About 85% of our alumni stay in Florida because of the ample opportunity to thrive as part of our state 麻豆精品 S檚 workforce.

Graduates will hear from six esteemed speakers whose leadership and impact span some of Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 most influential industries:

• Barry Miller 麻豆精品 S�95, president of Voloridge Investment Management
• Brian Adams 麻豆精品 S�04MBA, president and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division
• Gloria Caulfield, vice president of strategic alliances, Tavistock Development Company
• Barbara Gellman-Danley, president of Higher Learning Commission
• Maj. Gen. James Smith, commander, space training and readiness command at Patrick Space Force Base
• Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Science

Commencement Festivities

Held in the Addition Financial Arena, spring commencement will take place over six ceremonies spanning Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.

All guests, including children and infants, 麻豆精品 S痭eed a ticket for admission. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate will receive five commencement ceremony tickets when they pick up their regalia packet.

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the 麻豆精品 S痩ive ceremony via a simulcast viewing 麻豆精品 S痠n the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed .

Commencement Photo-ops Across UCF

Graduating Knights are unable to take photos at the Acrisure Bounce House Stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.

Grad Walk

On Thursday, May 7, 2:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.), spring graduates are invited to a photo-op 麻豆精品 S� Grad Walk 麻豆精品 S� within the Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. 麻豆精品 S疓raduates are required to .

Commencement Schedule

Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony dates and streaming links:

Friday, May 8

9 a.m.

College of Business

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

2 p.m.

College of Health Professions and Sciences

College of Medicine

College of Nursing

7 p.m.

College of Arts and Humanities

Nicholson School of Communication and Media

Saturday, May 9

9 a.m.

College of Community Innovation and Education

2 p.m.

College of Sciences (excluding Nicholson School of Communication and Media)

7 p.m.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Graduate Studies

College of Optics and Photonics

For more details and FAQs about Spring 2026 commencement celebrations, visit ucf.edu/graduation.

Commencement Speakers

Barry Miller 麻豆精品 S�95

President of Voloridge Investment Management

Barry Miller 麻豆精品 S�95 serves as president of Voloridge Investment Management, quantitative hedge fund manager, and Voloridge Health, a data science-based health tech company, both Florida based.

Miller, who graduated with honors from UCF with a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in finance, recently made a transformational $50 million gift this spring to establish the Barry S. Miller College of Business at UCF. The largest single philanthropic investment in UCF history, the gift will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable.

Miller, also a member of the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame, brings years of executive experience, having previously served as CEO of LASAS Technologies, a finance and insurance company that he co-founded in 1998. His career experience includes financial analysis, capital raising, financial markets, actuarial experience, software development and in-depth company infrastructure formation.

After gaining valuable experience as an entrepreneur and chief executive officer, Miller 麻豆精品 S檚 ambition led him to join and invest in Voloridge Investment Management and then Voloridge Health. For both companies, he is responsible for many facets of leadership, including trading, back-office operations, compliance, sales and marketing, vendor relationships and strategic planning.

Brian Adams 麻豆精品 S�04MBA

President and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division

Brian Adams is president and CEO of AdventHealth 麻豆精品 S檚 Central Florida Division, one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 largest faith-based health systems, whose 37,000 dedicated team members provide care for more than 3 million patients.

Known for building high-performing teams and ensuring the organization grows to meet the care needs of the community, Adams has led efforts to expand access to care, elevate quality and bring innovative solutions to rapidly growing communities. His leadership has continued to position AdventHealth as a trusted and innovative partner in Central Florida.

As a part of AdventHealth for more than 24 years, Adams has held senior leadership roles across the organization, including CEO positions in Tampa and Polk County, where he oversaw major expansions, facility investments and quality improvements.

He earned his master 麻豆精品 S檚 of business administration from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree from Union College in Nebraska. Originally from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Adams and his wife have two teenage sons.

Gloria Caulfield

Vice president of strategic alliances, Tavistock Development Company

In her multifaceted role as vice president of strategic alliances at Tavistock, Gloria Caulfield manages business development and corporate partnerships, collaborates with national and global stakeholders to advance health innovation, and leads the development of cutting-edge strategies for the Lake Nona community.

She is the chief architect and creative force behind the Lake Nona Impact Forum. The revered global health innovation summit brings together many of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 most preeminent thought leaders and serves as a signature event of the Tavistock Group.

Caulfield serves on boards that reflect her passion for advancing the future of human health, including the StartUp Health Impact Board, which focuses on mobilizing entrepreneurs to solve the biggest health challenges of our time, and the LFE Capital Advisory Board, which supports female founders and impactful, wellness-oriented companies.

Prior to joining Tavistock, she had a distinguished career at AdventHealth. As senior executive director for community development, she provided strategic leadership for corporate partnerships and spearheaded critical community initiatives across Central Florida. Caulfield is an alumna of the University of Arizona and brings visionary leadership to every aspect of her work.

Barbara Gellman-Danley

President of Higher Learning Commission

Barbara Gellman-Danley is president of the Higher Learning Commission, which accredits colleges and universities to ensure they meet high-quality standards and continuously improve.

Prior to beginning this role in 2014, she was president of the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. She previously served as vice chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, president of Antioch University McGregor, vice president at Monroe Community College and vice chancellor at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Gellman-Danley sits on the boards of Credential Engine, which she chairs, and GlobalMindED. Her career includes previous board and commission memberships with the Association of Governing Boards Council of Presidents, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, the American Council on Education 麻豆精品 S檚 Education and Attainment group and the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning.

Gellman-Danley holds degrees from Syracuse University, Simmons University, Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma. She did post-graduate work at New York University, Cornell, Harvard, the University of Chicago and MIT.

An honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, she is a professional certified coach, certified executive coach and certified life coach. She holds certifications in change management, Agile and Lean Six Sigma, a professional credential validating expertise in data-driven process improvement aimed at reducing waste and defects.

Maj. Gen. James Smith

Commander, space training and readiness command at Patrick Space Force Base

As commander, Maj. Gen. James E. Smith is responsible for preparing the U.S. Space Force and more than 14,000 military and civilian guardians to prevail in competition and conflict through innovative education, training, doctrine and test activities.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Maj. Gen. Smith commissioned in 1997 as the top graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His career spans numerous space operations and acquisition positions, including command at the squadron, group, wing, garrison and Field Command levels.

Maj. Gen. Smith has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Smith served as the vice director, Joint Force Development, J-7, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Virginia.

Peter Lee

President of Microsoft Science

Peter Lee is president of Microsoft Science, where his responsibility is to accelerate the pace of discovery in the physical, biological and medical sciences through the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Previously, he led the world laboratories of Microsoft Research. Before joining Microsoft in 2010, he established a new technology office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense, creating operational capabilities in machine learning, data science and computational social science.

From 1987 to 2010, Lee was a professor and the head of the computer science department at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the boards of several institutions in AI and medicine, including the board of trustees of the Mayo Clinic and the board of directors of the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine. He served on President Obama 麻豆精品 S檚 Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and has testified before both U.S. House and Senate committees.

He is the co-author of the book, The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond. In 2024, Lee was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in health and life sciences.

Over the course of nearly a full academic year, peers, departmental and college leadership, and the university promotion and tenure committee engaged in a rigorous, multi-stage review to ensure candidates met UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 high standards in teaching, research, and service. Ultimately, they recommended 100 faculty members for promotion, including 23 for tenure.

Following the review process, the president and provost make final decisions on promotions, while the UCF Board of Trustees provides final approval for tenure candidates. These decisions directly advance UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 strategic plan and its focus on recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty 麻豆精品 S� especially those who elevate student success, accelerate discovery and research, and strengthen the talent pipeline that drives innovation and economics for the state of Florida.

麻豆精品 S淎t UCF, promotion and tenure reflects a thoughtful, rigorous review process and the high standards we set as an institution and state, 麻豆精品 S� says John Buckwalter, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a significant moment for these faculty, not just for the years of hard work it recognizes, but for what promotion and tenure represents: a sustained commitment to excellence, a deep dedication to student success, research that boldly improves lives, and the future we 麻豆精品 S檙e building together. 麻豆精品 S�

Promotions and tenure conferrals annually take effect on Aug. 8.

The faculty members recognized below represent the continued strength and momentum of UCF.

Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

• John Gardiner, College of Arts and Humanities
• Tadashi Ishikawa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sara Raffel, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jeffery Redding, College of Arts and Humanities
• John Bush, College of Business
• Seongho An, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Cynthia Williams, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jiannan Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Chinwendu Enyioha, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ozlem Garibay, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yao Li, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Miguel Bandres, College of Optics and Photonics
• Robert Fitak, College of Sciences
• Shyam Kattel, College of Sciences
• Kelsey Larsen, College of Sciences
• Kangsang Lee, College of Sciences
• Xialing Lin, College of Sciences
• Emily Zavodny, College of Sciences
• Kayode Aleshinloye, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Carissa Baker, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• YunYing Zhong, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine with Tenure

• Taj Azarian, College of Medicine
• Thomas Kean, College of Medicine

Promotion to Professor (Tenured)

• Thaddeus Anderson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Ann Gleig, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lanlan Kuang, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sandra Sousa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities
• Melanie Guldi, College of Business
• Xin He, College of Business
• Laurie Campbell, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Eric Merriam, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Woo Hyoung Lee, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Thomas Wahl, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yang Yang, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacqueline Towson, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Romain Gaume, College of Optics and Photonics
• Jacopo Baggio, College of Sciences
• Matthieu Baudelet, College of Sciences
• Karin Chumbimuni Torres, College of Sciences
• Geoffrey Cook, College of Sciences
• Amy Donley, College of Sciences
• Hsin 麻豆精品 S慔siung Huang, College of Sciences
• Brigitte Kovacevich, College of Sciences
• Arkadiy Lyakh, College of Sciences
• Peter Smith, College of Sciences
• Xiaohu Xia, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine

• Maria Farooq, College of Medicine

Promotion to Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine

• Naziha Slimani, College of Medicine
• Sharon Wasserstrom, College of Medicine

Promotion to Clinical Professor of Medicine

• Mariana Dangiolo, College of Medicine

Promotion to Research Associate Professor

• Crystal Maraj, Office of Research

Promotion to Associate Lecturer

• Jonathan Barker, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sara Willox, College of Business
• Elizabeth Yost, College of Business
• Michael Gilbrook, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Alison Redd, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Redd, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Chetta, College of Sciences
• Heather Edwards, College of Sciences
• Seongchun Kwon, College of Sciences
• Adam Parrish, College of Sciences
• Jamie Vega, College of Sciences
• Tong Wan, College of Sciences
• Rong Zhou, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

• Christy Flanagan 麻豆精品 S慒eddon, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities
• Deborah Leitch, College of Arts and Humanities
• Amanda Snyder, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jeanine Viau, College of Arts and Humanities
• Constance Goodman, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Daniel Stephens, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Shane Trenta, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Marino Nader, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sudeshna Pal, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Rachid Ait Maalem Lahcen, College of Sciences
• Cynthia Bayer, College of Sciences
• Martha Hubertz, College of Sciences
• Tamra Legron 麻豆精品 S慠odriguez, College of Sciences
• Hyung Park, College of Sciences
• Widaad Zaman, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Instructor

• Meeghan Faulconer, College of Arts and Humanities
• Yukari Nakamura, College of Arts and Humanities
• Carolina Salazar, College of Arts and Humanities
• Punam Desormes, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Jorri Bright, College of Sciences
• Richard Hall, College of Sciences
• Nicholas Zuccarello, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Instructor

• Rita De Luca Guerriero, College of Arts and Humanities
• Steven Ton, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Todd Fix, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Julie Matura, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Lance Speere, College of Sciences
• Abigail Ferreira, UCF Global

Promotion to Associate Instructional Designer

• Rebecca McNulty, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Senior Instructional Designer

• Amy Sugar, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Associate Librarian

• Renee Montgomery, UCF Libraries

Promotion to University Librarian

• Sai Deng, UCF Libraries
• Sarah Norris, UCF Libraries
• Andrew Todd, UCF Libraries

Miller was impressed by our reputation as an early leader in technology and STEM fields, our connection to the space program and our success expanding into other areas. In fact, UCF boasted one of the highest certified public accountant (CPA) pass rates of any public university 麻豆精品 S� impressive to an aspiring accountant.

So Miller applied, was accepted and committed to UCF sight unseen. It was the beginning of a journey that would change his family 麻豆精品 S檚 trajectory, along with the university 麻豆精品 S檚.

Today, he committed a transformational $50 million gift 麻豆精品 S� the largest single philanthropic investment in the university 麻豆精品 S檚 history 麻豆精品 S� to position UCF as a global leader in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and business innovation by establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

First-Generation Student

Miller is president and co-founder of both Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health. He also founded and sold another successful business in his entrepreneurial career.

But back when Miller was attending UCF, he was paving the way as the first in his family to go to college. His dad, a self-taught contractor and developer and a single father, saw the value of higher education for his son.

麻豆精品 S淢y father had a deeply ingrained work ethic that he passed on to me, 麻豆精品 S� Miller says. 麻豆精品 S淚n the summer, he would get me out of bed early and have me carrying lumber and working on roofs. I learned to work hard, but I also learned that [it] was a tough job to do for 50 years. I wanted to try a different path. 麻豆精品 S�

Once he started on that path, there was no stopping him.

Building Foundations

At UCF, Miller became a star student. He excelled in accounting, learned numerical analysis and had a knack for understanding financial markets. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance.

麻豆精品 S淚 learned how to really study and apply myself academically at UCF. Essentially, I was learning strategy and project management as I made my way through school, 麻豆精品 S� Miller says. 麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know how impactful those habits would be until later in life. I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success. 麻豆精品 S�

“I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success. 麻豆精品 S�

Outside of class, Miller became a student-athlete, playing football when he initially came to UCF. That 麻豆精品 S檚 where he met then-quarterback Darin Hinshaw 麻豆精品 S�90 麻豆精品 S�94MBA, who encouraged him to join his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), and became his big brother.

麻豆精品 S淚nitially, I wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 interested in joining a fraternity. I had this idea that fraternities weren 麻豆精品 S檛 serious about school or life, and I was, 麻豆精品 S� Miller says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut my experience in PIKE ended up being formative. It 麻豆精品 S檚 where I learned about being a gentleman, dressing for success, networking and more. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭o this day, so many of my friends are former fraternity brothers, including one of my best friends, Sean Hayes 麻豆精品 S�95, who has also been my business partner for nearly 30 years, 麻豆精品 S� Miller continues. 麻豆精品 S淎s I look back, everything in my life has a connection to UCF 麻豆精品 S� my friends, my business partners, my career and even my wife Rosie 麻豆精品 S�95, since we met in college. 麻豆精品 S�

Leaving a Legacy

As he built his career and found success in the business and financial world, Miller wanted to give back to UCF. Over time, he has invested in first-generation and STEM student scholarships, UCF Athletics 麻豆精品 S� Knights Leadership Academy, the John T. Washington Center mural and more.

Each gift has been based on a personal connection or conviction.

麻豆精品 S淏eing a first-generation student myself, having that opportunity to support students who are the first in their families to go to college is personal to me, 麻豆精品 S� Miller says.

As his capacity to give grew, Miller wanted to make a transformative gift that would have an impact today and for generations to come. That led to conversations with university leaders about the opportunity to establish as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

To help bring that vision to life 麻豆精品 S� and to build early momentum for , UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 comprehensive campaign to fuel bold ideas and build its future 麻豆精品 S� Miller has committed to a $50 million gift, establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

The investment will accelerate an innovative new model of business education听designed for a world听where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will prepare听students with the skills the marketplace demands.

麻豆精品 S淲e are at a seminal moment in business, and AI and new technologies are creating fundamental shifts at a dramatically faster speed than ever before, 麻豆精品 S� says Miller, who was inducted into the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame in 2022. 麻豆精品 S淚 want UCF to become the leader in business education, paving the way for everyone else. 麻豆精品 S�

Inspiring Others

麻豆精品 S淔inding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money. 麻豆精品 S�

Until recently, Miller has made most of his gifts to UCF anonymously. But as UCF unveiled Go For Launch, he saw a powerful opportunity to step forward and encourage others to do the same. By sharing his commitment more openly, Miller hopes to help build momentum and invite broader participation in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 vision.

麻豆精品 S淚 hope this gift inspires people to be part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 mission to create a bold new future and give at whatever level they can. Maybe it 麻豆精品 S檚 $10, $100 or $1,000 麻豆精品 S� it all makes a difference, 麻豆精品 S� Miller says.

麻豆精品 S淚 want to tell people this: If it 麻豆精品 S檚 not your time to make a gift today, maybe it will be a year from now, or five years from now, 麻豆精品 S� he continues. 麻豆精品 S淔inding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淯CF is being trusted to lead, and Barry 麻豆精品 S檚 investment reinforces that UCF is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don 麻豆精品 S檛 just succeed in the world 麻豆精品 S� they come back to help build what 麻豆精品 S檚 next. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF President

The investment will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will position UCF as a national leader in emerging fields that prepare students to lead with the skills the marketplace demands.

麻豆精品 S淭his is a defining moment for UCF and for the College of Business, 麻豆精品 S� says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins 麻豆精品 S�01MBA. 麻豆精品 S淎s an alumnus, I have seen firsthand how UCF transforms lives by opening doors to opportunity, and this extraordinary gift takes that mission to an entirely new level, giving future generations of Knights access to a world-class business education and an opportunity to achieve their full potential. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淲e are deeply grateful to Barry for his extraordinary belief in this university and in the impact our students make. This is a defining moment for UCF and a powerful signal of who we are and where we are going, 麻豆精品 S� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. 麻豆精品 S淯CF is being trusted to lead, and Barry 麻豆精品 S檚 investment reinforces that UCF is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don 麻豆精品 S檛 just succeed in the world 麻豆精品 S� they come back to help build what 麻豆精品 S檚 next. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淯CF gave me the opportunity to build my future, 麻豆精品 S� Miller says. 麻豆精品 S淭his investment is about creating that same opportunity for others 麻豆精品 S� and ensuring students are prepared for a world where technology and business are constantly evolving. 麻豆精品 S�

A Defining Moment for UCF

Few universities of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚听young听age听have alumni giving back at this level.

At the center of this听milestone听is longtime听supporter and entrepreneur Barry S. Miller,听president of听迟丑别 Florida-based听听补苍诲听Voloridge听Health.听Miller is听a first-generation听college听graduate whose early partnership and belief in 麻豆精品 S痶he university 麻豆精品 S痟elped accelerate 麻豆精品 S疷CF 麻豆精品 S檚 trajectory.

His leadership and commitment to widening听opportunity 麻豆精品 S痟elped lay 麻豆精品 S痶he groundwork for a future-focused strategy that will transform how students learn, 麻豆精品 S痠nnovate 麻豆精品 S痑nd launch their careers. 麻豆精品 S疢iller 麻豆精品 S檚听latest听investment reflects UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 ability to听produce听talent that succeeds at the highest levels and inspires听that talent to return听not just with pride, but with capacity and conviction to shape听what 麻豆精品 S檚听next.

Building the Future of Business Education

麻豆精品 S淯CF gave me the opportunity to build my future. This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Barry Miller 麻豆精品 S�95, 听Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health president

will听operate听as a hub for technology-driven business leadership where students, faculty and industry collaborate in real time to solve complex challenges听in emerging fields like artificial intelligence,听fintech听and digital risk.

The focus is not simply on technical skills, but on empowering graduates to take action to address organizational obstacles and lead in fields fueled by rapid technological change.

This vision is grounded in the region UCF calls home.

Orlando has rapidly听emerged听as one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 fastest-growing technology hubs,听with听demand for talent in fintech and听AI continuing听to听evolve.听Across Florida, one of the largest clusters of banking and insurance firms in the country is fueling new opportunities in financial technology,听risk听and data-driven decision-making.

UCF sits at the center of this momentum,听uniquely positioned to develop the talent and ideas that will power听迟丑别 future.

The investment will support听a multi-phase strategy designed to position UCF as听迟丑别听destination for business and technology education, including:

• Five endowed faculty chairs in fintech, AI strategy, cyber risk,听trust听and disinformation
• A new听master 麻豆精品 S檚听in听technology听leadership and听innovation
• Expanded access to applied learning, including internships, simulations, Bloomberg听training听and industry-led projects
• Growth of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 corporate partnership ecosystem.

Together, these investments will create a learning environment that mirrors modern workplaces 麻豆精品 S� fast听moving, data听driven and deeply connected to industry.

麻豆精品 S淭echnology is advancing rapidly, and the real opportunity is in how organizations use it to perform, 麻豆精品 S� says听College of Business Dean听Paul听Jarley. 麻豆精品 S淭his investment allows us to build a business school focused on how the work actually gets done听 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S撎齱here students learn to apply judgment, navigate ambiguity, and lead in environments shaped by technology, data, and organizational complexity. 麻豆精品 S�

Accelerating Momentum

Miller 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership gift听marks a milestone in听听 麻豆精品 S� a听$3.5 billion听campaign to听expand听opportunity,听advance听discovery,听and drive impact across the university.

It sets the tone听for what comes next,听accelerating the pride and vision that will inspire others to invest in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 future.

麻豆精品 S淭his is what momentum looks like, 麻豆精品 S� says听Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. 麻豆精品 S淚t reflects confidence in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 vision and signals to partners, alumni and investors that this university is building something meaningful and worth being part of. 麻豆精品 S�

Together, talent, opportunity and partnership are converging,听positioning听UCF听to听be a leading force in shaping听what 麻豆精品 S檚听next in business,听technology听and innovation.

麻豆精品 S淯CF is not waiting to be recognized. We are being chosen, invested in and trusted to lead, 麻豆精品 S� Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淭his milestone gift reflects a growing sense of pride across the university and signals the momentum others will want to help build 麻豆精品 S� and it is only the beginning. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥nce I realized it wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 a mistake, I was thrilled, 麻豆精品 S� says Xhemali, one of the inaugural recipients of the Katherine Crock Memorial Scholarship. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 financing this entire experience on my own, so every bit helps. That 麻豆精品 S檚 money I can now put toward my future. 麻豆精品 S�

For Xhemali, an aspiring lawyer, college once felt like a distant world reserved for others. Between traveling back-and-forth across the Atlantic Ocean to live with his parents in Albania and relatives in Chicago and Jacksonville, Florida, he constantly balanced family expectations with his own ambitions. Ultimately, Xhemali faced a difficult choice: work to support his family or focus solely on his studies. He chose both, supplementing his scholarship by working as a produce clerk at Publix and a warehouse shipper.

College of Business alum Raymond Smithberger 麻豆精品 S�02MBA understands that drive. Growing up on a 100-acre farm in Southeast Ohio, Smithberger learned the value of hard work and family obligation early on. The oldest of five, with a father who worked in a factory and a mother who was a receptionist, Smithberger was aware of the financial hurdles facing a first-generation student when he left home to pursue his undergraduate degree and later an MBA at UCF.

Now the chief operating officer at Help at Home, a national home care provider, Smithberger credits his late mother, Katherine Crock, for pushing him to blaze his own trail.

麻豆精品 S淪he was the one who really encouraged me to do things differently, 麻豆精品 S� Smithberger says.

Following his mother 麻豆精品 S檚 passing, Smithberger honored her legacy by creating the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund. The endowment ensures students like himself, and Xhemali, have the support they need to define their own futures 麻豆精品 S� and pays tribute to someone who valued education more than anything else.

UCF Day of Giving is Thursday, April 9. Join us during Knight Nation’s single largest day of impact as we support our favorite colleges, programs, student services, research endeavors and more. .

麻豆精品 S淸My mother] wanted to pursue further education but never had the chance, 麻豆精品 S� Smithberger says. 麻豆精品 S淚 feel honored to support other first-generation students in her memory. 麻豆精品 S�

Strategically launched last year on to maximize impact, visibility, and matching opportunities, the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund helps to expand student access, reduce financial barriers,and accelerate academic success. By funding both established and new scholarship initiatives, donors directly enable UCF students to focus on their studies and career-shaping experiences, such as internships and campus involvement, rather than financial stressors.

While the finer points of UCF Day of Giving are still new to Xhemali, he understands the significance ofSmithberger 麻豆精品 S檚 generosity.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 still fresh, but I 麻豆精品 S檓 figuring out this stuff, 麻豆精品 S� Xhemali says. 麻豆精品 S淲hat I do know is that I want to use this scholarship to put me in a position where I can help someone like Mr. Smithberger has helped me. 麻豆精品 S�

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) selected the Florida Small Business Development Center at UCF (FSBDC at UCF) as the National Small Business Development Center of the Year 麻豆精品 S� recognizing its outstanding performance, innovative programming, and leadership in supporting Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 entrepreneurs and small businesses. The UCF center was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants nationwide.

麻豆精品 S淭his award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at UCF

麻豆精品 S淲e are humbled yet immensely gratified to be honored as the SBDC of the Year by the SBA, 麻豆精品 S� says Eunice Choi, regional director of the FSBDC at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淥ur team takes great pride in its unwavering commitment to serving the small business community and advancing SBA 麻豆精品 S檚 mission. This award reflects our consistent ability to exceed SBA milestones and outperform our own high expectations within the Florida SBDC Network. 麻豆精品 S�

The FSBDC at UCF is located in the National Entrepreneur Center inside the Orlando Fashion Square Mall near downtown. It serves serves eight counties including Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. At the Orlando main office, as well as six service center offices, small business owners have access to seminars and no-cost one-on-one consulting with experts who can assist across the following areas:

• Accounting: asset management, record keeping systems and procedures
• Finance: ratio analysis, breakeven analysis, financial projections and business valuation
• Marketing: pricing, advertising and promotion, marketing planning, market research and exporting
• Operations: production and inventory control, project management, risk management and energy conservation
• New Venture Planning: start-up information, feasibility analysis, business planning and general business consulting
• Technical Assistance: preliminary patent searches, patent, copyright and trademark, and technology transfer and SBIR/STTR

Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week (May 3-9 this year) by recognizing exceptional small business owners, entrepreneurs and resource partners from across the country. This year 麻豆精品 S檚 winners have been invited to Washington, D.C., May 3 麻豆精品 S�4, where they will be honored during national ceremonies.

麻豆精品 S淭his year 麻豆精品 S檚 NSBW celebration is particularly historic as our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when our Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for the liberty that powers the engine of free enterprise. The result is our nation 麻豆精品 S檚 prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit 麻豆精品 S� the very spirit your leadership exemplifies, 麻豆精品 S� SBA Administrator Kelley Loeffler stated in a letter congratulating to the FSBDC at UCF.