UCF is the leading producer of talent among Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s workforce.

Graduates will hear from six esteemed speakers whose leadership and impact span some of Central Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s most influential industries:

• Barry Miller �鶹��Ʒ S�95, president of Voloridge Investment Management
• Brian Adams �鶹��Ʒ 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, �鶹��Ʒ S�need 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�live ceremony via a simulcast viewing �鶹��Ʒ S�in 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 �鶹��Ʒ S� Grad Walk �鶹��Ʒ 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. �鶹��Ʒ S�Graduates 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�95

President of Voloridge Investment Management

Barry Miller �鶹��Ʒ 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�04MBA

President and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division

Brian Adams is president and CEO of AdventHealth �鶹��Ʒ S�s Central Florida Division, one of the nation �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s of business administration from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Some boats make it around the pond, some spin around in little circles and some sink �鶹��Ʒ S� designing, building and racing an autonomous (self-guided) vessel is quite difficult, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Jacqueline Sullivan �鶹��Ʒ S�87 �鶹��Ʒ S�91MS, instructor of the Introduction to Engineering course that culminates with this final project.

Beyond a passing grade, a coveted grand prize is up for grabs for the team of the fastest vessel: a four-year McGraw book, e-book and software scholarship for each team member.

The race, in its 29th year, has all the components for innovation and potential for a mess. The classes of budding engineers have grown to nearly 2,000 students who form hundreds of teams. They �鶹��Ʒ S�re using advanced technology and more components.

With this in mind, perhaps the most amazing aspect of the event is that it has become more orderly than ever, with races starting every 10 minutes for nine straight hours. There is no waste, in terms of time or materials.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Sustainable engineering, �鶹��Ʒ S� Sullivan calls it, before admitting, �鶹��Ʒ S�but it wasn �鶹��Ʒ S�t my idea. Race day used to be a bit chaotic until Mason [Clewis] came along. �鶹��Ʒ S�

It �鶹��Ʒ S�s been only two years since Clewis, a senior photonic science and engineering student, recognized an opportunity to create a perfectly tuned e-waste recycling system, a timeline even he can hardly believe.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The students are doing at this level what SpaceX and NASA are doing at the highest level �鶹��Ʒ S� reusing and recycling. �鶹��Ʒ S� �鶹��Ʒ S� Jacqueline Sullivan, instructor

�鶹��Ʒ S�At first, I thought I �鶹��Ʒ S�d run a recycling booth by myself and maybe reuse the boat parts or sell them on eBay, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�But it �鶹��Ʒ S�s grown beyond me, to multiple departments and a network of volunteers. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s all happened fast and naturally. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The magic begins as each race ends. Participants who don �鶹��Ʒ S�t advance to the final rounds take their boats to a tent where students disassemble each craft with the speed of NASCAR pit crews. They pull out batteries, computer chips and servomotors. Stainless steel screws and hardware are also collected. Whatever is left of the hulls is crushed and deposited into recycle bins.

The oranges are saved for other races.

As the day progresses through dozens of races, the lawn around the Reflecting Pond never changes from its original condition: a green carpet, in perfect spring form.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The students are doing at this level what SpaceX and NASA are doing at the highest level �鶹��Ʒ S� reusing and recycling, �鶹��Ʒ S� Sullivan says. �鶹��Ʒ S�That �鶹��Ʒ S�s why I say Mason is my hero. �鶹��Ʒ S�

A Village Beyond the Tent

Clewis watched his first GNOR as a curious freshman. He �鶹��Ʒ S�d been working on his own capstone project �鶹��Ʒ S� developing a temperature-controlled fan. During the races, a few of his internal wheels started turning when he noticed boat carnage spilling from trash cans and onto the lawn.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Some of the parts on the boats were the same parts I needed for my own project, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�I know plenty of students like me who don �鶹��Ʒ S�t want to shell out $100 for the same perfectly good batteries, chips and sensors that are being thrown away. Plus, I �鶹��Ʒ S�m interested in entrepreneurship and keeping the environment clean. So, I took the basic idea for a recycling booth to Miss Sullivan. �鶹��Ʒ S�

“That �鶹��Ʒ S�s the most rewarding aspect for me: the lasting impact �鶹��Ʒ S� a positive, mutually beneficial impact. The campus looks better. Students can access free parts for their projects. Everyone has fun. There is no downside. �鶹��Ʒ S� �鶹��Ʒ S� Mason Clewis, student

The power of organic growth took root when Sullivan put Clewis and his project partner, Chris Lesniak, in touch with Jim Essad, manager of the machine shop sciences program. When students from UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Robotics Club found out, they offered to disassemble boats on race day and organize parts for future reuse. Word then spread to College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Facilities Operations Manager Pete Alfieris, who offered recycle containers and golf carts. Don Harper �鶹��Ʒ S�88, manager of the Texas Instruments Innovation Lab, said he �鶹��Ʒ S�d gladly take the discarded wood and barely-used hardware for the next cohorts to access for free.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I never thought so many people would want to be involved, �鶹��Ʒ S� Clewis says, �鶹��Ʒ S�but we �鶹��Ʒ S�re helping others and there �鶹��Ʒ S�s something inherently attractive about that. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Students want to be involved. Faculty and staff want to be involved. In the past 24 months, the savings in money and materials has been incalculable. The cycle feeds itself with the rare combination of sustainability and scale.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Mason started doing the right thing about a need when no one was looking, �鶹��Ʒ S� Sullivan says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Now everyone is looking. �鶹��Ʒ S�

E-Cycling into the Future

Clewis was in the recycling booth again for this year �鶹��Ʒ S�s GNOR, but with a slightly different purpose: Teaching freshmen how to run the show.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I won �鶹��Ʒ S�t be here in a couple of years, but someone else will keep it going, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�That �鶹��Ʒ S�s the most rewarding aspect for me: the lasting impact �鶹��Ʒ S� a positive, mutually beneficial impact. The campus looks better. Students can access free parts for their projects. Everyone has fun. There is no downside. �鶹��Ʒ S�

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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s strategic plan and its focus on recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty �鶹��Ʒ 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.

�鶹��Ʒ S�At UCF, promotion and tenure reflects a thoughtful, rigorous review process and the high standards we set as an institution and state, �鶹��Ʒ S� says John Buckwalter, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. �鶹��Ʒ S�It �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�re building together. �鶹��Ʒ 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�Hsiung 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�Feddon, 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�Rodriguez, 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

Presented by the SCHOTT Group and the Ernst Abbe Fund, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to research and technology in glass, glass-ceramics and advanced materials. Richardson shares this year �鶹��Ʒ S�s honor with Iowa State University researcher Steve Martin.

Together, their work reflects how advances in material structure can translate into real-world applications across industries including healthcare, energy, electronics and advanced technologies.

A Career of Innovation

Over the course of her career, Richardson has focused on advancing the science of optical materials, helping to expand how glass can be used in increasingly complex and demanding environments.

Her work has contributed to the development of materials that can be precisely engineered for performance, supporting innovations in imaging, sensing and optical systems.

�鶹��Ʒ S�This award recognizes a lifetime of investment in know-how, specialized facilities creation and professional development of skilled personnel, which has resulted in unique prototype materials and technology development, �鶹��Ʒ S� Richardson says. �鶹��Ʒ S�These efforts have resulted in products that have gone on to be licensed to partners in this critical application space. I am truly honored to be recognized by one of the global leaders in advanced optical materials for our team �鶹��Ʒ S�s sustained work in IR materials. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Advancing Optical Materials

Richardson is recognized for her contributions to the development of optical glasses and infrared materials �鶹��Ʒ S� specialized materials that control how light is transmitted and detected.

Her research focuses on designing glass compositions at the atomic level to achieve precise optical properties, enabling high-performance systems for infrared imaging, sensing technologies and advanced optics.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Dr. Richardson �鶹��Ʒ S�s sustained career has driven significant advancement in infrared material technologies, laying the foundation for next-generation sensing capabilities, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Winston Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation at UCF. �鶹��Ʒ S�Her relentless pursuit of discovery in optical and infrared materials illuminates UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s expanding impact on the frontiers of advanced technologies that continue to shape the future. �鶹��Ʒ S�

From Fundamental Science to Application

The Otto Schott Research Award highlights the critical connection between fundamental research and industrial application, a hallmark of Richardson �鶹��Ʒ S�s work. By advancing how glass materials are engineered and processed, her research helps expand the performance limits of existing materials while opening the door to entirely new classes of optical systems.

These innovations include glasses with improved infrared transmission and tailored properties that support emerging technologies in fields including aerospace, electronics, energy production and medical technologies.  Her work has benefited from diverse support ranging from government to industry (local and international) as well as state funding from Florida �鶹��Ʒ S�s High Technology Corridor (FHTC) which has provided extensive matching funds that have leveraged state funds to support education and training of several dozen graduate and undergraduate students from the Richardson group, over her career.

Why Infrared Materials Matter

Infrared materials play a critical role in technologies that rely on detecting and transmitting light beyond the visible spectrum. These systems are used in applications ranging from medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring to advanced imaging and sensing technologies.

Unlike conventional optical materials, infrared (IR) glasses must be carefully engineered to maintain transparency and performance under demanding conditions, including extreme temperatures and radiation.   Their chemistry is difficult requiring specialized facilities unique to UCF, present in the University �鶹��Ʒ S�s Optical Material Laboratory, which houses the Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL).  As a result, workforce training in such novel optical material science benefits not only local industry, a stronghold in IR optical materials manufacturing and systems, but government agencies as well.

Richardson �鶹��Ʒ S�s work focuses on developing glass compositions that meet these challenges while offering greater flexibility than traditional crystalline materials, which are often more expensive and difficult to manufacture.

By enabling more adaptable and scalable materials, her research supports continued advances in imaging systems, sensing technologies and other applications that rely on precise optical performance.

A Global Recognition

The award, endowed with about $29,000, was presented April 13 during the annual meeting at the International Commission on Glass in Lyon, France.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The research of Steve Martin and Kathleen Richardson clearly shows how essential a deep understanding of material structures is for technological progress, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Matthias Müller, head of research and development at SCHOTT. �鶹��Ʒ S�These insights form the basis for developing new glass solutions that perform reliably in real-world applications and expand the boundaries of what is possible. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Awarded every two years, the Otto Schott Research Award recognizes scientists whose work bridges scientific discovery and practical innovation.

About the Awardee

Richardson is a UCF trustee chair and Pegasus Professor of optics and materials science and engineering in CREOL. She is also Director of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL).

She earned her bachelor �鶹��Ʒ S�s degree in ceramic engineering and her master �鶹��Ʒ S�s and doctoral degrees in glass science from Alfred University. Richardson has spent more than two decades at UCF, following earlier work at Clemson University.

Justin Press �鶹��Ʒ S�24, a UCF photonic science and engineering major, may have developed a solution that benefits both employers and applicants. His brainchild, Hire Match AI, is an analytics layer that integrates with existing applicant tracking systems to better analyze and interpret hiring data.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We reparse resumes, structure candidate data more accurately and use statistics to identify which combinations of skills and experiences tend to stay longer and perform better in a company over time, �鶹��Ʒ S� Press says. �鶹��Ʒ S�That helps teams look past what I call �鶹��Ʒ S�checklist champion �鶹��Ʒ S� resumes, where a candidate appears perfect on paper but is really just optimized for a filter. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Press says what sets his digital tool apart is its focus on analytics, fit and compliance.

From Frustration to Framework

He developed the idea as head of professional development for the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institute �鶹��Ʒ S� part of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s College of Engineering and Computer Science �鶹��Ʒ S� where students develop professional skills through a certificate program, specialized courses, maker spaces and mentorship. In that role, he helped students optimize their resumes for job listings and quickly realized the process wasn �鶹��Ʒ S�t as straightforward as it seemed.

�鶹��Ʒ S�At UCF, I was going through hundreds of applications and postings each year, and it became obvious how much of the process was turning into a game, �鶹��Ʒ S� Press says. �鶹��Ʒ S�That gave me a firsthand look at how inefficient and frustrating the process was for both applicants and the people trying to help them. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Launching What Hiring Lacks

From that frustration came Hire Match AI. Press brought the idea to the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, where he received guidance on turning the concept into a business. Now, as he prepares for launch, several businesses have already expressed interest in using the platform to analyze their hiring data more deeply. Press says the goal is to make data analytics more accessible, no matter which ATS a company uses.

“The bigger vision is to make hiring more data-driven, more transparent and less dependent on surface-level filtering.”

�鶹��Ʒ S�We want Hire Match AI to plug into every major ATS so companies can get better visibility into candidate fit, hiring patterns and compliance risk without having to switch the systems they already rely on, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Down the line, that means expanding into larger platforms like Workday and other major enterprise systems. The bigger vision is to make hiring more data-driven, more transparent and less dependent on surface-level filtering. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Engineering with Purpose

Press says he was drawn to the field of photonic science and engineering by a desire to create technology that improves people �鶹��Ʒ S�s lives. His advice to students with similar ambitions: focus on what makes their idea unique.

�鶹��Ʒ S�For engineering students especially, having a wide range of experiences is a huge advantage, �鶹��Ʒ S� Press says. �鶹��Ʒ S�A lot of the best ideas come from [understanding] how technical problems connect to business problems, user behavior or broken systems in the real world. That matters even more now, with tools like large language models making it easier to build quickly. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Companies interested in using Hire Match AI can or sign up for early access.

That �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S� they ignite potential, spark inspiration and elevate Knights for generations.

With UCF Day of Giving 2026 right around the corner �鶹��Ʒ S� Thursday, April 9 �鶹��Ʒ S� we �鶹��Ʒ S�re reflecting on the transformational effects and personal stories of triumph that emerged from last year �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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.

�鶹��Ʒ S�It �鶹��Ʒ S�s the best decision I �鶹��Ʒ S�ve made, �鶹��Ʒ S� she says.

Since becoming a Knight, she �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S� research that could make hypersonic aircraft safer and cheaper. It was her second research experience as an undergrad.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I don �鶹��Ʒ S�t know if it �鶹��Ʒ S�s every little girl �鶹��Ʒ S�s dream to work on classified projects with military and civilian applications, but it definitely was this little girl �鶹��Ʒ S�s dream, �鶹��Ʒ S� she says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Thanks to UCF, I �鶹��Ʒ S�ve had experiences that most students don �鶹��Ʒ S�t get until graduate school. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Many of those opportunities are made possible by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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.

�鶹��Ʒ S�For three whole years, we stood next to each other in the stands, screaming, feeding off each other �鶹��Ʒ S�s energy, �鶹��Ʒ S� Taverna says. �鶹��Ʒ S�For her last game, we went all out. We couldn �鶹��Ʒ S�t even talk by the end of it. We cried while singing the alma mater. �鶹��Ʒ 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.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Without scholarships, I wouldn �鶹��Ʒ S�t have the time to do extracurriculars, such as Marching Knights, where I get to represent UCF in Central Florida and around the world, �鶹��Ʒ S� she says. �鶹��Ʒ S�And I wouldn �鶹��Ʒ S�t get to spend every Saturday in the Bounce House with all of my friends, immersed in the band life we love. �鶹��Ʒ 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 UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 �鶹��Ʒ S� and around the world.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I had the chance to learn many things, to learn more about optics, lenses and lasers, �鶹��Ʒ 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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.

�鶹��Ʒ S�This 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, �鶹��Ʒ S� Alerte says. �鶹��Ʒ S�That support makes all the difference. �鶹��Ʒ S�

This UCF Day of Giving, we �鶹��Ʒ S�re 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.

Recipients will include this year �鶹��Ʒ S�s awardees of some of the highest honors the university bestows, including: Pegasus Professor; the �鶹��Ʒ S�Medal of Societal Impact; the Reach for the Stars Award; the Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year Award; and the Champion of Student Success and Well-Being.

Also being honored are university excellence award winners; those who recently reached milestone years of service; Faculty Senate service awardees; faculty granted �鶹��Ʒ S��𳾱�����ٳܲ� �鶹��Ʒ S��ǰ� �鶹��Ʒ S��𳾱�����ٲ� �鶹��Ʒ S�status; and retired or retiring faculty members.

This year �鶹��Ʒ S�s celebration includes recognition of Chuck Dziuban, one of the longest-serving and most trailblazing faculty members in school history. His remarkable 55-year-career includes being UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s inaugural Pegasus Professor and founding director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Starting this year at Founders �鶹��Ʒ S� Day, the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching will be given to underscore the talented faculty behind UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s nationally renowned reputation as a leader in in online teaching and learning.

Here are this year �鶹��Ʒ S�s faculty honorees.

Pegasus Professor Award

Hassan Foroosh, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Carmen Giurgescu, College of Nursing

Annette R. Khaled, College of Medicine

Matthew Marino, College of Community Innovation and Education

Reach for the Stars Award

John Bush, College of Business

Ana Carolina de Souza Feliciano, Office of Research

Shyam Kattel, College of Sciences

Kevin Moran, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Soyoung Park, College of Community Innovation and Education

Hao Zheng, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences

Medal of Societal Impact Award

Zhihua Qu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award

Suha Saleh, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year

Deborah Beidel, College of Sciences

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

College Awardees

Tanvir Ahmed, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Norine Blanch, College of Community Innovation and Education

Matthew Bryan, College of Arts and Humanities

Peter Delfyett, College of Optics and Photonics

Nyla Dil, College of Medicine

Katia Ferdowsi, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Murat Hancer, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Deborah Horzen, College of Arts and Humanities

Richard Jerousek, College of Sciences

Betsy Kalin, College of Sciences

Evelin Pegoraro, College of Arts and Humanities

Richard Plate, College of Community Innovation and Education

Alfons Schulte, College of Sciences

Nicholas Shrubsole, College of Arts and Humanities

Daniel Stephens, College of Community Innovation and Education

Wei Sun, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Danielle Webster, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Sara Willox, College of Business

Xiaohu Xia, College of Sciences

Widaad Zaman, College of Sciences

University Winner

Norine Blanch, College of Community Innovation and Education

Excellence in Graduate Teaching

College Awardees

Shaurya Agarwal, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Kim Anderson, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Christopher Blackwell, College of Nursing

Shannon Carter, College of Sciences

Sasan Fathpour, College of Optics and Photonics

Murat Hancer, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Dana Joseph, College of Business

Magdalena Pasarica, College of Medicine

Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities

Vassiliki Zygouris-Coe, College of Community Innovation and Education

University Winner

Christopher Blackwell, College of Nursing

Excellence in Research

College Awardees

Sarah Bush, College of Community Innovation and Education

Zixi (Jack) Cheng, College of Medicine

Enrique Del Barco, College of Sciences

Romain Gaume, College of Optics and Photonics

Nan Hua, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Kevin Mullally, College of Business

Matthew Stock, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Ladda Thiamwong, College of Nursing

Subith Vasu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Cyrus Zargar, College of Arts and Humanities

University Winner

Enrique Del Barco, College of Sciences

Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching

Nicole Lapeyrouse, College of Sciences

Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising

Emily Proulx, College of Arts and Humanities

Excellence in Professional Service

Linda Walters, College of Sciences

Excellence in Librarianship

Katy Miller, UCF Libraries

Excellence in Instructional Design

Amy Sugar, Division of Digital Learning

University Award for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students

Engineering, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences

Subith Vasu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Art and Health

David Boote, College of Community Innovation and Education

University Award for Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars

Kausik Mukhopadhyay, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Thomas Wahl, College of Engineering and Computer Science

20 Years of Service

Haiyan Bai, College of Community Innovation and Education

Brian Barone, College of Arts and Humanities

Aman Behal, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Corinne Bishop, UCF Libraries

Joseph Brennan, College of Sciences

Mark Calabrese, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Li-Mei Chen, College of Medicine

Baiyun Chen, Division of Digital Learning

Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences

William Crampton, College of Sciences

Richard Curcio, College of Business

Donovan Dixon, College of Sciences

Martin Dupuis, Burnett Honors College

Michelle Dusseau, College of Sciences

Dorin Dutkay, College of Sciences

Kirk Gay, College of Arts and Humanities

Deborah German, College of Medicine

William Hagedorn, College of Community Innovation and Education

Joseph Harrington, College of Sciences

Fayeza Hasanat, College of Arts and Humanities

Bobby Hoffman, College of Community Innovation and Education

Elizabeth Hoffman, College of Community Innovation and Education

Alisha Janowsky, College of Sciences

Abdelkader Kara, College of Sciences

David Kwun, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Stephen Lambert, College of Medicine

Peter Larson, College of Arts and Humanities

Joseph LaViola Jr., College of Engineering and Computer Science

Edgard Maboudou, College of Sciences

Kevin Mackie, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Iryna Malendevych, College of Community Innovation and Education

Jonathan Matusitz, College of Sciences

Holly McDonald, College of Arts and Humanities

Florin Mihai, College of Arts and Humanities

Olga Molina, College of Health Professions and Sciences

George Musambira, College of Sciences

Nina Orlovskaya, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Talat Rahman, College of Sciences

25 Years of Service

Laura Albers-Biddle, College of Community Innovation and Education

Steven Berman, College of Sciences

Tarek Buhagiar, College of Business

Melissa Dagley, College of Sciences

Sabatino DiBernardo, College of Arts and Humanities

Mark Dickie, College of Business

Ivan Garibay, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Anthony Grajeda, College of Arts and Humanities

Bari Hoffman, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Steven Hornik, College of Business

Anna Jones, College of Arts and Humanities

Mikhail Klimov, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Stefanie Mayfield Garcia, College of Business

Rudy McDaniel, College of Arts and Humanities

Rachel Mulvihill, UCF Libraries

Christopher Niess, College of Arts and Humanities

Eugene Paoline, College of Community Innovation and Education

Sumanta Pattanaik, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Tison Pugh, College of Arts and Humanities

Walter Sotero, College of Sciences

Suren Tatulian, College of Sciences

Nizam Uddin, College of Sciences

Lei Wei, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Graham Worthy, College of Sciences

Shin-Tson Wu, College of Optics and Photonics

30 Years of Service

Charlie Abraham, College of Arts and Humanities

Helen Becker, College of Business

James Campbell, College of Arts and Humanities

Karl X. Chai, College of Medicine

Ratna Chakrabarti, College of Medicine

Jill Fjelstul, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Barbara Fritzsche, College of Sciences

Nora Lee García, College of Arts and Humanities

Linwood Jones, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Alexander Katsevich, College of Sciences

Kuotsai Tom Liou, College of Community Innovation and Education

Lisa Logan, College of Arts and Humanities

Humberto López Cruz, College of Arts and Humanities

Eric Martin, Office of Research

Kevin Meehan, College of Arts and Humanities

Charles H. Reilly, Office of the Provost

Timothy Rotarius, College of Community Innovation and Education

Peter Spyers-Duran, UCF Libraries

Alexander Tovbis, College of Sciences

Laurence von Kalm, College of Sciences

Linda Walters, College of Sciences

Bruce Wilson, College of Sciences

Hong Zhang, College of Arts and Humanities

Ying Zhang, UCF Libraries

35 Years of Service

Issa Batarseh, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Alain Kassab, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mansooreh Mollaghasemi, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Robert Peale, College of Sciences

Chung-Ching Wang, College of Sciences

40 Years of Service

Ahmad Elshennawy, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Michael Georgiopoulos, College of Engineering and Computer Science

David Hagan, College of Optics and Photonics

Anna Lillios, College of Arts and Humanities

Mubarak Shah, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Kalpathy Sundaram, College of Engineering and Computer Science

45 Years of Service

Robert Rivers, College of Arts and Humanities

55 Years of Service

Chuck Dziuban, Division of Digital Learning

Faculty Emeritus and Emerita

Lynn Casmier-Paz, College of Arts and Humanities

James Clark, College of Arts and Humanities

Teresa Dorman, College of Sciences

Chuck Dziuban, Division of Digital Learning

Amy Giroux, College of Arts and Humanities

Glenda Gunter, College of Community Innovation and Education

Michael Hampton, College of Sciences

Richard Hofler, College of Business

Robin Kohn, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Piotr Mikusinski, College of Sciences

Ram Mohapatra, College of Sciences

Donna Neff, College of Nursing

Alice Noblin, College of Community Innovation and Education

Robert Peale, College of Sciences

Trey Philpotts, College of Arts and Humanities

Robin Roberts, College of Business

Sherron Killingsworth Roberts, College of Community Innovation and Education

Lisa Roney, College of Arts and Humanities

Sybil St. Claire, College of Arts and Humanities

Terry Ann Thaxton, College of Arts and Humanities

Deborah Weaver, College of Arts and Humanities

Retired Faculty

Ahlam Al-Rawi, College of Sciences

Donna Breit, College of Nursing

Martha Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities

Chinyen Chuo, Student Success and Well-Being

Therese Coleman, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Robertico Croes, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Juli Dixon, College of Community Innovation and Education

Teresa Dorman, College of Sciences

Chuck Dziuban, Division of Digital Learning

Philip Fairey, Office of Research

John Fauth, College of Sciences

Amy Giroux, College of Arts and Humanities

Glenda Gunter, College of Community Innovation and Education

Michael Hampton, College of Sciences

Roger Handberg, College of Sciences

C. Keith Harrison, College of Business

Randall Hewitt, College of Community Innovation and Education

Rebecca Hines, College of Community Innovation and Education

Richard Hofler, College of Business

Charlie Hughes, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Alvaro Islas, College of Sciences

Mourad Ismail, College of Sciences

David Jenkins, College of Sciences

Michael Johnson, Office of the Provost

Dayle Jones, College of Community Innovation and Education

Denise Kay, College of Medicine

Gary Leavens, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mary Little, College of Community Innovation and Education

Humberto López Cruz, College of Arts and Humanities

Michael Macedonia, Office of Research

Wasfy Mikhael, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Piotr Mikusinski, College of Sciences

Roslyn Miller, Division of Digital Learning

Ram Mohapatra, College of Sciences

Vicki Montoya, College of Nursing

Brian Moore, College of Sciences

Donna Felber Neff, College of Nursing

Alice Noblin, College of Community Innovation and Education

Peggy Nuhn, UCF Libraries

Joyce Nutta, College of Community Innovation and Education

Jeffrey O �鶹��Ʒ S�Brien, College of Business

Bendegul Okumus, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Fevzi Okumus, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Robert Peale, College of Sciences

Trey Philpotts, College of Arts and Humanities

Brian Plamondon, Office of Research

Michael Proctor, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Enrique Puig, College of Community Innovation and Education

Pedro Quintana-Ascencio, College of Sciences

Mark Rapport, College of Sciences

Sherron Roberts, College of Community Innovation and Education

Kelly Schaffer, College of Community Innovation and Education

Elzbieta Sikorska, College of Sciences

Jo Smith, Division of Digital Learning

Sybil St. Claire, College of Arts and Humanities

Mark Steiner, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Raymond Surette, College of Community Innovation and Education

Terry Ann Thaxton, College of Arts and Humanities

Patti Thielemann, College of Nursing

Cheryl Van De Mark, College of Community Innovation and Education

Martine Vanryckeghem, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Jane Vaughan, College of Arts and Humanities

Scott Warfield, College of Arts and Humanities

Debbie Weaver, College of Arts and Humanities

Philip Wessel, College of Community Innovation and Education

James Whitworth, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Boguslawa Anna Wolford, College of Community Innovation and Education

Laine Wyatt, College of Arts and Humanities

Cherie Yestrebsky, College of Sciences

Martin Klapheke, College of Medicine

Stephen Lambert, College of Medicine

Olga Molina, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Euripides Montagne, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Darlin’ Neal, College of Arts and Humanities

Michael Pape, College of Business

Tison Pugh, College of Arts and Humanities

David Young, College of Sciences

The university recognized employees who reached milestone years of service, along with those recently retired or about to be. UCF also presented a Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award and excellence awards in recognition of employees who made exceptional contributions to benefit the campus community.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We celebrate your service, your dedication, and the impact you make across this university. But behind that recognition is something even more powerful: the daily commitment, the steady work, and the consistency that build momentum over time, �鶹��Ʒ S� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. �鶹��Ʒ S�The future we talk about at UCF is not something that begins someday. It is already taking shape in the work you do, in the systems you support, and in the experiences you create for our students. Thank you. �鶹��Ʒ S�

UCF this year brought a new category of Employee Leadership Excellence Awards, recognizing non-faculty administrative leadership at the director level and above. They joined the expanded Employee Excellence Awards, which highlighted the remarkable contributions of full-time employees up to an associate director level.

The employee event kicked off a Founders �鶹��Ʒ S� Day celebration that also included faculty and student celebrations. Combined, more than 900 honorees were recognized during the three ceremonies this year.

Here are the honorees from this year �鶹��Ʒ S�s Employee Honors Celebration.

Excellence Awards

Employee Excellence Awards for Operational Excellence

Arijeta Kavaja, Public Safety

Cecily McCoy-Fisher, Office of Research

Anna Nye, Office of Risk and Safety

Cindy Prophitt, Facilities and Business Operations

Employee Excellence Awards for Student Success

Cynthia Almanzar, Student Success and Well-Being

Laura Czerkies, Burnett Honors College

Michael McKee, College of Optics and Photonics

Donna Mercado, College of Nursing

Employee Excellence Awards for Community Well-Being

Jodi Reinhart, College of Sciences

Lorna Rodriguez, College of Engineering and Computer Science

David Stoneburner, Office of Institutional Resources

Mykhael Walker, Analytics and Integrated Planning

Employee Excellence Awards for Service and Partnership

Drew Barnes, College of Graduate Studies

Faith DeLorenzo, Digital Learning

Lovelyn Findley, Advancement and Partnerships

Antoine Hart, University Strategic Communications

Employee Excellence Awards Nominees

Sadia Afrin

Cynthia Almanzar

Michelle Anchel

Otto Argibay

Anthony (Joey) Asti

Drew Barnes

Alexandra Barraza-Oliphant

Davalda �鶹��Ʒ S�Dee �鶹��Ʒ S� Bellot

Jim Bennett

Miryana Blesso

Monique Carter

Laura Czerkies

Faith DeLorenzo

Lovelyn Findley

Amanda Greaves

Antoine Hart

Christina Hussey

Alexis Hutchins

Erica Hutton

Kat Jones

Arijeta Kavaja

Marsha Kernica

Melina Kinsey

Keanna Machado

Jay Malcolm

Chuck Mannella

Samantha Mason

Cecily McCoy-Fisher

Michael McKee

Donna Mercado

Traci Mibuta

Anna Nye

Steven Pardo

Diana Perez

Anthony Piazza

Cindy Prophitt

Frances �鶹��Ʒ S�Fran �鶹��Ʒ S� Ragsdale

Matthew Rall

Jodi Reinhart

Lorna Rodriguez

Ashley Samson

William Self

Maricel Soto

Jennifer Stalzer

Emily Stettner

David Stoneburner

Jeremiah Taylor

Rebecca Underhill

Mykhael Walker

Denise Whiteside

Maria Williams

Employee Leadership Excellence Awards

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for Strategic Execution

Andre Watts, Analytics and Integrated Planning

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for People Leadership and Talent Stewardship

Andrea Withington, College of Community Innovation and Education

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for Advancing Collaboration and Partnership

Germayne Graham, Student Programs and Outreach

Employee Leadership Excellence Award for Innovation, Improvement, and Bold Action

Kim Smith, Office of Research

Employee Leadership Excellence Awards Nominees

Drew Andrews

Morgan Bauer

Austin Bott

Brian Boyd

David Canova

Megan Carrigan

Shafaq Chaudhry

Sherri Dixon

Madi Dogariu

Michael Duong

Amy Ellis

Gerard Flood

Steven Freund

Andrea Gandy

Delia Garcia

Germayne Graham

Stephanie Heron

Dana Juntunen

Kerlene King

Ashley Longoria

Ayanna Lopez

Carla McCabe

Rudy McDaniel

Amy Perry

Charlie Piper

Candida Richards

Elizabeth Richner

Cesar RiveraCruzado

Rex Roberts

Anastasia Salter

Wendy Sarubbi

Basma Selim

Kim Smith

Meghan Truhett

Suzzette Turner

Michael Wainstein

Tyler Walsh

Andre Watts

Danta White

Andrea Withington

Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award

Rosemarie Mendoza, Facilities and Business Operations

Emerita Status Awardee

Amy Giroux, College of Arts and Humanities

Employee Service Awards

45 Years of Service

Donna Hickson

35 Years of Service

Tina Maier

Michael Reed

Patricia Trovillion

30 Years of Service

Sharon Bady

Travis Cain

Adrianne Demetry

Francisco Dionisi

Joel Lavoie

Elizabeth Rivera

25 Years of Service

Herlinda Bedoya

Michael Bell

Abdulbaset Benwali

Terri Bigham

Bruce Boutwell

Olivia Bridges

Amy Buford

Cristina Caamano

Carlos Chardon

Keith Coelho

Janny Colon

Elizabeth Costello

Al Davis

Steven Dick

Rafael Durand

Sira Giron

Rebecca Hammond

Jonathan Hanie

Keith Honaker

Davina Hovanec

Latchmin Jaggernauth

Susan Jefferson

Georgia Kent

Michelle Matthews

Andrew O’Mara

Jennifer Opper

Naya Ramirez

Gail Raymond

Brenda Rodrigues

Timothy Ryan

Maria Santiago

Heather Simeon

Carl Truesdell

Meena Turner

Maria Williams

Dela Williams

Andrea Withington

20 Years of Service

Michael Aldarondo-Jeffries

Lindsay Archambault

Gloria Bastidas

Renee Bence

Eric Brewington

Daren Caine

Michael Callahan

Marc Cassidy

Robin Chan

Karen Cox

Kelley Dietrich

Matthew Dunn

Scott Eberle

Cecilia Elias

Samuel Ensenat

Marelis Figueredo Garcia

Matthew Fitzgerald

Scott Freeman

Glenn Gaborko

Tyniesia Gandy

Kelly Gill

Lindana Gomez

Brian Graham

Timothy Haduch

Jenny Hartman

Elizabeth Herrera

Sarah Hunt

Tamara Jomarron

Carreen Krapf

Ellaine Leodones

Marlene Lugo

Carlos Martinez

Deysi Mercedes

Heather Murphy

Uday Nair

Perla Ongy

Robert (Bob) Opdahl

Haresh Patel

Rachel Perry

Omesh Persaud

Sandy Pouliot

Christine Pugh

Luz Quintero

Maria Quintero

Christopher Rains

Tim Reid

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Terrance Rooth

Diana Santiago

Saul Santiago

Kathy Sapp

Basma Selim

Romeo Sibayan

Jeff Smith

George Taylor

Lynda Toussaint

Shreya Trivedi

Reina Vazquez

Tonya Walker

15 Years of Service

Marlene Agostini

Jose Arce

Lucy Bautista

Randy Beck

Aiza Beguez

Miryana Blesso

Carolyn Castro

Silvia Cerro

Lorinda Clark

Patricia Colyer

Theresa Davis

Dani Draper

Jennifer Elliott

Tamara Gabrus

Ernie Gemeinhart

Jessica Glaspie

James Grant

Lisa Haas

Allison Henderson

Maribel Herrera

Jason Kennedy

Ann Kershner

Usha Lal

Dora Laureano

Hank Lewis

Ujjwala Magdum

Jennifer Mark

Jessica Matos

Meghan McCollum

Amanda Miller

Tracey Morrison

Kimberly Nassoiy

Beth Nettles

Hoang Nguyen

Jorge Olmedo

Minh Phan

Rhett Proctor

Elida Prophete

Michael Pugh

Ligia Ramirez

Rebeca Richards

Maria Rodriguez

Daniel Sagendorf

Kimberly Sargent

Wendy Sarubbi

Nick Schenk

Dave Schreier

Lori Shuff

Jacob Skinner

Terri Smith

Suzanne Stalvey

Brian Strickland

Christy Tant

Freddie Tirado Jr.

Joanne Toole

Roger Tripp

Matthew Vaccaro

Tamara Vassallo Soto

Martha Wiggins

Wanda Wint

10 Years of Service

Danielle Adams

Terrell Alexander

Julissa Alicea

Lindsey Anderson

Nadine Arentz

Jose Ayala Torres

Morgan Bauer

Shaun Black

John Boehm

Kate Brinister

Danilo Canlas

Megan Carrigan

Melissa Choinski

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For example, imagine 1,000 trucks need to arrive at 10,000 different locations, each, in different parts of the country. A traditional computation model would examine each of the 10 million possible routes one by one to evaluate their efficacy, but a quantum model would be able to evaluate all those millions of different routes instantaneously.

At the same time, quantum sensing is opening new frontiers in precision measurement, enabling technologies such as ultra-sensitive medical imaging and navigation systems that can detect minute changes in gravity or magnetic fields, capabilities that could allow doctors to identify diseases earlier or help vehicles navigate without GPS. UCF researchers believe the science of light, photonics, may hold the key to unlocking quantum computing �鶹��Ʒ S�s true potential.

�鶹��Ʒ S�To produce truly useful quantum computers, we need complex, entangled states of light that are robust to imperfections, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Professor Andrea Blanco-Redondo.

Blanco-Redondo is the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence Endowed Professor of Optics and Photonics at CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics. She heads the Quantum Silicon Photonics (QSP) research group, which aims to better understand the fundamental classical and quantum properties of light  �鶹��Ʒ S� knowledge that will be critical to advance the field of quantum computing.

The team �鶹��Ʒ S�s study on �鶹��Ʒ S�High-dimensional Topological Photonic Entanglement �鶹��Ʒ S� is now published in Science, featuring Blanco-Redondo alongside CREOL doctoral student Javad Zakery and former research scientist Armando Perez-Leija (now at Saint Louis University) as the principal investigators.

�鶹��Ʒ S�It �鶹��Ʒ S�s been shown that entanglement entails advantages for both quantum computing and quantum sensing, �鶹��Ʒ S� Blanco-Redondo says. �鶹��Ʒ S�It is crucial to be able to generate these quantum-entangled states of light in a robust and scalable manner to facilitate those operations. �鶹��Ʒ S�

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Topological modes are special ways for light to propagate within a structure. They are immune to imperfections because their existence is protected by the system �鶹��Ʒ S�s overall (global rather than local) properties of the system. One example is superlattices, which have been known to generate these modes.

Blanco-Redondo sums up the breakthrough: �鶹��Ʒ S�We have figured out a way to entangle the topological protected modes of superlattices. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Any one photon can be in a complex superposition of multiple states at once. When two such photons are entangled, Blanco-Redondo explains, measuring one of them will determine the mode of the other.

�鶹��Ʒ S�There �鶹��Ʒ S�s a quantum connection between them, �鶹��Ʒ S� she says. �鶹��Ʒ S�They share a single joint state, so measuring one immediately tells you what you �鶹��Ʒ S�ll find when you measure the other. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Entangling multiple topological states was the fundamental limit  �鶹��Ʒ S� or so scientists thought.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We had shown the fundamental piece, but we didn �鶹��Ʒ S�t know how to scale up, �鶹��Ʒ S� Blanco-Redondo says. �鶹��Ʒ S�What we have shown with this new method is a scalable way to generate more and more complex entangled states, maintaining topological protection of those entangled states. �鶹��Ʒ S�

That means those entangled states will be, not only more robust to imperfections, but will have larger capacity for encoding quantum information, both critical qualities for a quantum system �鶹��Ʒ S�s stability�����Ի� thus to enable quantum information systems at scale.

Surfing the Waveguides

�Ѵǰ�����complex doesn �鶹��Ʒ S�t mean more �鶹��Ʒ S�complicated �鶹��Ʒ S�. Blanco-Redondo �鶹��Ʒ S�s team accomplished this scaling-up by rearranging the furniture in the room the light occupies, so to speak. The �鶹��Ʒ S�furniture �鶹��Ʒ S� in this case are silicon photonic waveguide arrays.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We can do it in a way that doesn �鶹��Ʒ S�t increase the complexity of the system, �鶹��Ʒ S� Blanco-Redondo says, �鶹��Ʒ S�We have figured out a way to displace the waveguides in a configuration which supports many co-localized protected modes instead of just one. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The end result, according to Blanco-Redondo is a larger capacity to encode quantum information resiliently.

Collaboration at CREOL

This marks the second time the QSP group has been featured in a major research journal in the past year, after their recent feature in Nature Materials in 2025. Their discoveries demonstrated the use of a platform to precisely control the dissipation, or loss, of states of light, which in turn leads to robust topological properties.

This comes at a time that the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology (FAQT), of which CREOL is a part of, is accelerating its industry outreach efforts with the goal of making Florida a leading hub for quantum technology. FAQT took center stage during the , which brought together leaders across academia, industry�����Ի� government.

�鶹��Ʒ S�It �鶹��Ʒ S�s a great boost of motivation, �鶹��Ʒ S� Blanco-Redondo says about the Science publication, adding that the potential exposure to the broader quantum community could bring a consequential boost to their initiative, especially as the CREOL faculty build momentum. Blanco-Redondo also leads CREOL �鶹��Ʒ S�s , which is focused on building shared facilities and enabling a collaborative environment to secure CREOL �鶹��Ʒ S�s pioneering position in quantum optical science and applications. She also co-leads the .

�鶹��Ʒ S�We are at a point in which we are joining forces, �鶹��Ʒ S� Blanco-Redondo says, �鶹��Ʒ S�And we are starting to collaborate very closely, combining our expertise in different areas to build  quantum infrastructure and capabilities, which leverage our leading position in optics and photonics and give us a distinctive advantage. �鶹��Ʒ S�

This research was conducted by faculty, students and staff at UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), including the Quantum Silicon Photonics research group. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation under their NSF ExpandQISE program (award No. 2328993). 

Color isn �鶹��Ʒ S�t just about looks �鶹��Ʒ S� it plays a vital role in how we communicate, protect ourselves and interact with the world. Debashis Chanda, a researcher and professor at UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s , has developed a new material that can change color dynamically in response to external stimuli like temperature, which creates a new possibilities for materials and devices to respond, adapt and be reconfigured in real time.

Most colors in commercial and industrial products come from pigments, which absorb, reflect light and fades over time. However, structural colors, which are found in animals like octopuses, use nanoscale structures to control how light reflects. Inspired by this efficient approach, Chanda has been researching how to create more vibrant, angle-independent colors without relying on chemical pigments for years.

His latest development addresses the challenges with dynamically tunable color, complex designs and manufacturing challenges of structural colors, which may make it easier to commercially manufacture these materials. The concept holds immense promise for applications in thermal sensing, advanced textile engineering, camouflage and reconfigurable displays.

The research was recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), an esteemed scholarly journal by the National Academy of Sciences. It also includes contributions from researchers Aritra Biswas �鶹��Ʒ S�21MS �鶹��Ʒ S�24PhD, Pablo Cencillo-Abad, Souptik Mukherjee, Jay Patel �鶹��Ʒ S�25�����Ի� Mahdi Soudi �鶹��Ʒ S�25.

How it Works

Chanda �鶹��Ʒ S�s approach uses phase modulation of a multilayer stack composed of a phase-changing material and a high-index material on a reflective surface. When the temperature shifts, the way light moves through the material changes, causing the surface color to change as well.

The technology combines several novel features:

• Large area fabrication without complex lithography, which is an expensive patterning method
• Reversible color change
• Precise control over dynamically customizable color
• Broad dynamic range that spans a large portion of visible color space

Earlier methods of developing structural color often relied on expensive electrochromic materials, mechanical actuation or photonic crystals, all of which are hindered by limited tunability, complex fabrication steps, lithographic patterning requirements and angular sensitivity. Achieving dynamic color switching in the visible range remains a significant challenge.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The reliance on angle-dependent resonances or patterned nanostructures limits practical integration and scalability, �鶹��Ʒ S� Chanda says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Overcoming these barriers is critical for advancing tunable structural color platforms toward real-world applications in flexible electronics, displays and wearable systems. �鶹��Ʒ S�

This new method can be used for creating large textiles, complex surfaces, and temperature-sensitive consumer product labeling.

Mimicking Nature for Dynamic Colors

The design draws inspiration from animals like octopuses, which change color by rearranging tiny structures in their skin rather than producing new pigments.

Chanda �鶹��Ʒ S�s team created a layered design that can change color without being affected by viewing angle or direction of the incident light. It uses a very thin layer of VO₂, a material that changes phase from semiconductor to metal with temperature, placed on top of a thick aluminum layer to form a resonating cavity to trap and reflect light in a controlled way.

Pigment colorants control light absorption through a material �鶹��Ʒ S�s electronic properties, which means each color needs a new molecule and isn �鶹��Ʒ S�t affected by the surrounding environment. Structural colorants, like those found in octopuses, work differently: they control the way light is reflected, scattered or absorbed based on the geometrical arrangement of nanostructures, making them sensitive to changes in their surroundings.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Harnessing the reversible phase transition, the platform offers precise control over dynamically tunable color, opening avenues for applications in temperature sensing, displays, tunable colored fabrics and many other consumer products, �鶹��Ʒ S� Chanda says.

The bilayer structure is made using magnetron sputtering to deposit the phase-change material, a process that uses plasma to deposit thin film. It also uses electron-beam deposition to deposit the metal layer, which melts material with a focused electron beam to create precise coatings. This combination allows the structure to be applied to flexible substrates, making it suitable for large-scale production and wearable applications.

Looking Ahead

Chanda says the next steps of the project include further exploration of color space and roll-to-roll fabrication to improve its viability as a commercial and defense-related platform.

�鶹��Ʒ S�This platform holds promise for a robust, scalable and dynamically tunable coloration platform with broad applicability, while demonstrating a proof-of-concept product that highlights its commercial and defense-related application potentials, �鶹��Ʒ S� Chanda says.

Licensing Opportunity

For more information about licensing this technology, visit .

Researcher Credentials

Chanda has joint appointments in UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s NanoScience Technology Center, the Department of Physics, and the College of Optics and Photonics. He received his doctoral degree in photonics from the University of Toronto and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined UCF in Fall 2012.

This material is based upon work supported by the NSF Grant no. ECCS-1920840 and NGA Grant no. HM0476-20-1-0010. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF/NGA.