A future nurse adjusts their cap, preparing to enter a hospital where the need for care continues to grow.

An engineer looks out into the crowd, knowing the next step leads into an industry building what 麻豆精品 S檚 next.

At UCF, these moments don 麻豆精品 S檛 happen one by one. They happen all at once 麻豆精品 S� thousands of stories, each with a different starting point, moving forward together.

Opportunity, Provided at Scale

At UCF, scale has always meant more than size.

It means access. It means opportunity. It means students who arrive with ambition and leave with proof.

More than 10,000 Knights make up the Spring Class of 2026.

Additionally, about 37% of bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, and about 22% are the first in their families to earn a college degree 聽 麻豆精品 S� reflecting a university built to open doors and help students move through them.

This is scale with purpose.

Where Talent Meets Demand

UCF graduates move directly into high-demand fields 麻豆精品 S� from hospitals and schools to tech firms, startups and public agencies.

This is a workforce built not just in classrooms, but for real-world impact.

Each year, the university awards nearly 19,000 degrees 麻豆精品 S� more than any other institution in Florida 麻豆精品 S� including leading the state in bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in engineering and nursing. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 economic growth and meeting the needs of an expanding population.

Turning Studies Into Real Skills

Before they graduate, Knights are already building career-ready experience.

That same hands-on approach extends into high-impact research across fields from computer vision to biotechnology to pediatric prosthetics.

Career Prep From the Start

Support starts early, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 designed to carry students all the way through.

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Retaining Talent Across Florida

The impact of a UCF education doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 leave with its graduates. In many cases, it stays 麻豆精品 S� and grows.

But where graduates go next tells an even bigger story.In and around聽Orlando聽 麻豆精品 S� the No. 2 Best City to Start a Career in America (WalletHub) and one of the fastest-growing hubs for innovation 麻豆精品 S� that talent doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 just fill jobs.

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More Than a Milestone

Commencement is what everyone sees.

The walk. The tassel. The celebration.

But at UCF, it 麻豆精品 S檚 also something more.

Before students cross the stage, they 麻豆精品 S檝e already built experience. By the time they graduate, they 麻豆精品 S檙e aligned with real-world demand. After they leave, they power the industries shaping Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 future and beyond.

Each commencement adds thousands more to that momentum. Each graduate strengthens the pipeline.

And across the state 麻豆精品 S� and far beyond it 麻豆精品 S� you can already see what they 麻豆精品 S檙e building.

To better understand Assistant Professor Hamzeh Ghasemzadeh and his work, he goes back to a childhood memory of broken toys. Within hours of receiving little robotic figures or remote-control cars, he 麻豆精品 S檇 dissembled what had once been a carefully crafted package of technology. To him, sitting among the remnants of a new gift meant he was sitting in a circle of fun.

麻豆精品 S淢y favorite game was to take the toys apart to see how they work and then try to put them back together, 麻豆精品 S� Ghasemzadeh says. 麻豆精品 S淢y parents saw my curiosity as a great thing. 麻豆精品 S�

“This is why I came to UCF. I 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump right in and address mysteries that haven 麻豆精品 S檛 received much attention.”

That same curiosity now drives his research at , where he seeks to take apart discomforted voices, figuratively, so he can develop strategies to make each one whole again. Ghasemzadeh, who joined UCF in late Summer 2025 and will teach in the school 麻豆精品 S檚 newly launched , has already secured one research project funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is developing another.

麻豆精品 S淭his is why I came to UCF, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump right in and address mysteries that haven 麻豆精品 S檛 received much attention until now. 麻豆精品 S�

A Common Problem Without Clear Answers

The first such mystery sounds quite straightforward: vocal fatigue, a common vocal complaint. Beneath the surface, however, it 麻豆精品 S檚 deceptive. Solutions have mostly evaded scientists, leaving vocal fatigue as an ongoing problem for many people who rely on their voices, like coaches, public speakers, singers and teachers. Many of Ghasemzadeh 麻豆精品 S檚 colleagues experience the very throat discomfort that he 麻豆精品 S檚 deconstructing during the funded project just underway.

“We want to collect … multi-modal data and use machine learning models to analyze [vocal fatigue] and develop recommendations for each person.”

麻豆精品 S淪ome instructors get vocal fatigue quickly, some get it slowly and some don 麻豆精品 S檛 get it at all, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 a genetic component, but there are also behavioral components. How do they use their voice? How often do they use it? What about the environment where they 麻豆精品 S檙e using it? What about personality? We want to collect such comprehensive multi-modal data and use machine learning models to analyze it and develop recommendations for each person. 麻豆精品 S�

The recommendations might include pacing voice usage, projecting the voice efficiently and allowing the voice to recover. Ghasemzadeh envisions this model being predictive and 麻豆精品 S� this is the part he stresses most 麻豆精品 S� personalized.

麻豆精品 S淭he approach to general medicine started with an assumption that while we 麻豆精品 S檙e different on the outside, we are very similar inside. Patients with similar ailments took the same medications and [the] same dosages. But we now know that people don 麻豆精品 S檛 always respond to pills the same way. If we can quantify how we 麻豆精品 S檙e different inside, we can create a computational model to predict responses to medications and optimize treatment plans. 麻豆精品 S�

To integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into vocal fatigue solutions, subjects in Ghasemzadeh 麻豆精品 S檚 study will wear sensors that track how and where they use their voices. He 麻豆精品 S檒l prompt them to perform specific vocal tasks and monitor their phonatory function throughout the day. The AI model will analyze these patterns in real time to identify early signs of vocal strain and predict when fatigue is likely to occur.

“We are different. Every prescribed solution should be different, too.”

Participants will also visit his lab at the in Central Florida Research Park, where specialists will collect imaging, aerodynamic and acoustic data. The highly equipped facility brings together America 麻豆精品 S檚 leading hearing and voice scientists to develop new technologies and clinical tools for people with hearing loss or voice disorders.

With all of that in hand, including the technology, Ghasemzadeh and his team hope to unwind the mystery of vocal fatigue 麻豆精品 S� one person at a time.

麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 the idea I want to put forward with every project, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e are different. Every prescribed solution should be different, too. 麻豆精品 S�

From Engineering to Human Connection

Many would think a toy-reassembling boy is destined to become an engineer. That 麻豆精品 S檚 what Ghasemzadeh thought, too. He earned bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in electrical engineering and began his career with a focus on telecommunications and signal processing.

麻豆精品 S淭here was something important missing, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淗uman connection. 麻豆精品 S�

“Speech became my research interest because … it sets us apart as a species and as individuals.”

He crossed paths with a close friend who mentioned his own research in a field Ghasemzadeh was vaguely familiar with: communication sciences and disorders. The conversation sparked Ghasemzadeh’s enthusiasm for applying his expertise in areas such as signal processing to personally help others.

麻豆精品 S淪peech became my research interest because it 麻豆精品 S檚 the signal we predominantly use to communicate, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t sets us apart as a species and as individuals. 麻豆精品 S�

For example, it 麻豆精品 S檚 quite easy to identify Ghasemzadeh without even seeing him. He sounds young yet intelligent enough to have dual doctoral degrees. There 麻豆精品 S檚 an inflection of humility in his voice. The curiosity is always there, too. In fact, his peers have noticed, from his work, what his parents noticed among his broken toys: his curiosity leading to great things. Shortly after arriving at UCF, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association chose Ghasemzadeh for its Early Career Contributions in Research Award.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 also a reminder that I 麻豆精品 S檓 early in my career, 麻豆精品 S� he says, 麻豆精品 S渁nd the sky is the limit. 麻豆精品 S�

At the center of his work as a principal investigator is a belief that progress doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen alone, but through teamwork.

麻豆精品 S淵ou have to surround yourself with different skillsets, all of us willing to take things apart that have never been taken apart, with everyone focused on one goal, 麻豆精品 S� Ghasemzadeh says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen you win, I win and everyone wins. 麻豆精品 S�

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health under award number R00DC021235. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken notice.

Dene茅 Lichtenberg was awarded the DOE 麻豆精品 S檚 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship, giving her the opportunity to further her research at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. This premier multidisciplinary research institution is advancing breakthroughs in science and technology to address national security challenges.

The opportunity brings her closer to achieving one of her biggest goals: working at a national laboratory, where she 麻豆精品 S檒l collaborate with experienced researchers and learn how large-scale scientific projects are conducted.

Raised in Titusville, less than an hour away from 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus, Lichtenberg says she always knew she 麻豆精品 S檇 attend UCF, especially given the strength of its engineering programs. What she didn 麻豆精品 S檛 yet know was how far that decision would take her.

“The ability to design and improve materials that impact a variety of fields really motivated me to pursue this discipline.”

She found her path in materials science 麻豆精品 S� a field where physics, chemistry and engineering intersect 麻豆精品 S� which would allow her to study materials from the atomic level to real-world applications.

麻豆精品 S淯ltimately, everything is made up of materials, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淏y changing a material 麻豆精品 S檚 structure or composition, you can drastically alter its performance. The ability to design and improve materials that impact a variety of fields really motivated me to pursue this discipline. 麻豆精品 S�

That curiosity has evolved into something bigger: tackling the challenge of sustainably recovering rare earth metals that are vital to the future of energy and technology.

Advancing Sustainable Extraction

Over the past year in the , led by Assistant Professor of Engineering Kausik Mukhopadhyay, Lichtenberg has focused on a breakthrough approach that uses a naturally occurring protein, lanmoudulin.

麻豆精品 S淭he protein can capture rare earth elements from dilute waste streams, and then a small temperature change can trigger the protein to release them so they can be collected, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭his could create a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to recover valuable materials. 麻豆精品 S�

Those materials are critical to everything from renewable energy systems to manufacturing; however, traditional extraction methods rely heavily on large amounts of energy and chemicals sourced from acid mine drainage, coal byproducts and electronic waste.

Lichtenberg 麻豆精品 S檚 work points to a sustainable future.

麻豆精品 S淏y developing protein-based systems that selectively capture and release these elements, we could potentially reduce the reliance on traditional extraction, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

At Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lichtenberg will take that work further, designing modified proteins, producing them in the lab and testing how effectively they bind and release rare earth elements.

麻豆精品 S淚t is a very exciting interdisciplinary project that combines protein engineering, materials science and sustainability, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 hope to continue this research after the internship ends. 麻豆精品 S�

It Takes a Lab 麻豆精品 S� and a Team

But just as impactful as the research has been, the environment that 麻豆精品 S檚 shaped it has been.

麻豆精品 S淒r. Mukhopadhyay is a fantastic mentor who creates a very supportive and positive environment that encourages learning [both] in and out of the lab, 麻豆精品 S� Lichtenberg says. 麻豆精品 S淭he graduate students in the lab have [also] played a huge role in 麻豆精品 S� helping me learn new techniques and [understand] the experiments and science itself. 麻豆精品 S�

Next, she plans to continue her journey as a Knight by pursuing a doctoral degree at UCF, advancing her research as a graduate member of the KM Lab.

For Lichtenberg, the DOE internship isn 麻豆精品 S檛 the finish line 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 just the beginning of reimagining how the world sources its most essential materials.

Justin Press 麻豆精品 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.

麻豆精品 S淲e 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, 麻豆精品 S� Press says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat helps teams look past what I call 麻豆精品 S榗hecklist champion 麻豆精品 S� resumes, where a candidate appears perfect on paper but is really just optimized for a filter. 麻豆精品 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 麻豆精品 S� part of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science 麻豆精品 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 麻豆精品 S檛 as straightforward as it seemed.

麻豆精品 S淎t 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, 麻豆精品 S� Press says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat gave me a firsthand look at how inefficient and frustrating the process was for both applicants and the people trying to help them. 麻豆精品 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.”

麻豆精品 S淲e 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, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淒own 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. 麻豆精品 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 麻豆精品 S檚 lives. His advice to students with similar ambitions: focus on what makes their idea unique.

麻豆精品 S淔or engineering students especially, having a wide range of experiences is a huge advantage, 麻豆精品 S� Press says. 麻豆精品 S淎 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. 麻豆精品 S�

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

For computer engineering major Kamalakkannan Ravi 麻豆精品 S�20MSCpE 麻豆精品 S�25PhD, the goal was never to just earn a doctorate 麻豆精品 S� it was to build artificial intelligence (AI) systems people could trust in the moments that matter most.

That bold vision found its momentum at UCF. As a student, Ravi was drawn to a university that encouraged big questions and interdisciplinary thinking, along with strong engineering fundamentals 麻豆精品 S� the kind UCF is rapidly becoming known for as a rising force in engineering and technology. The university 麻豆精品 S檚 dynamic research environment gave him the freedom to explore where machine learning, biomedical applications and human-centered AI converge, while mentorship in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering helped sharpen his purpose.

Now, he 麻豆精品 S檚 carrying that UCF-driven determination to Harvard Medical School and Boston Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Hospital, where he 麻豆精品 S檒l begin a research fellowship with the Division of Genetics and Genomics to advance trustworthy AI for clinical decision-making in healthcare.

At Harvard, Ravi will work on a project that aims to help physicians identify rare diseases earlier and respond more quickly. His research focuses on developing and evaluating clinical decision support tools that analyze electronic health record data and natural language processing to detect patterns that may signal a rare condition. These tools are designed to support clinicians in identifying patients who may benefit from further genetic evaluation, testing or a specialist referral. Ravi 麻豆精品 S檚 role centers on creating trustworthy, transparent AI methods that align with clinical systems, helping ensure these technologies are used responsibly in real-world healthcare.

Overcoming Obstacles Without a Blueprint

Ravi 麻豆精品 S檚 path to this opportunity was shaped by his persistence and commitment to making an impact long before he arrived at UCF.

Originally from Chennai, India, he 麻豆精品 S檚 a first-generation college student who entered higher education without a family blueprint to guide him. That experience influenced how he navigated graduate school and advanced research environments, reinforcing the importance of mentorship, community and resilience.

After earning a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in biomedical engineering from Anna University, Ravi worked as a research assistant at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. There, he gained early exposure to data-driven modeling and applied systems research at the intersection of engineering and medicine 麻豆精品 S� experiences that shaped his interest in applying computational methods to biomedical and societal challenges. He 麻豆精品 S檇 take this interest on his pursuit of graduate education abroad.

Finding Interdisciplinary Opportunity at UCF

Ravi chose UCF specifically for its strength in engineering combined with opportunities for interdisciplinary, human-centered research.

Within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, he found an environment that encouraged him to explore machine learning, biomedical applications and ethical AI.

Under the mentorship of Pegasus Professor Jiann-Shiun Yuan, who oversees the NSF-sponsored Multi-functional Integrated System Technology Center聽and specializes in developing the next generation of smart systems, Ravi refined his research, which bridges technical innovation with societal impact.

At UCF, Ravi 麻豆精品 S檚 research focused on trustworthy and comprehensible AI in critical settings, including healthcare and public safety. His dissertation, 麻豆精品 S淎rtificial Intelligence for Social Wellness: Threats and Ideology Detection in Online Texts, 麻豆精品 S� examined how scalable and ethically grounded AI systems can be designed for real-world applications. His work emphasized interpretability, reliability and evaluation with human decision-makers in mind.

His doctoral work led to the development of several datasets and frameworks, including:

• RICo, a large-scale dataset analyzing ideological discourse in online communities
• ALERT, a threat detection framework that combines active learning with AI to support transparency and reduce labeling burden
• TRuST-M, a human-subject study exploring how explanation quality affects user trust in AI-assisted moderation systems.

Portions of this work were supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 麻豆精品 S� a testament to its national relevance and real-world value.

Growing Through Leadership, Mentorship and Community

Beyond his studies, Ravi immersed himself in the UCF graduate community, taking on leadership roles that reflected his commitment to service and mentorship.

He served as senator for the in student government, director of professional development for the Graduate Student Association and president of the . He also led Alpha Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for first-generation college students, advocating for the success of first-generation graduate students.

Mentorship remained central to his experience through his involvement in the NSF-funded L.E.A.R.N. (Learning Environment and Academic Research Network) program, a STEM-focused living-learning community for first-year and transfer college students, and his service as a senior design project judge.

Ravi 麻豆精品 S檚 academic excellence, leadership and mentorship at UCF were recognized through multiple awards, including the ORCGS Doctoral Fellowship, the Graduate Presentation Fellowship, the Graduate Research Mentor Award, the UCF Alumni Fellows Leadership Scholarship and the Reuel Buchanan Aspire to Inspire Scholarship. These honors provided valuable support and enabled him to focus on research throughout his doctoral studies.

Advancing Impact Beyond UCF

As Ravi prepares to begin his fellowship at Harvard Medical School, he credits UCF with shaping both his research approach and his sense of responsibility as a scholar. He hopes his journey encourages other students, especially first-generation scholars, to pursue ambitious, interdisciplinary work while remaining grounded in mentorship, ethics and service to the broader community.

Although Royal knew since high school that he wanted to be an engineer, he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know these courses were essential to succeeding in his studies. He enjoyed working with his hands, solving practical problems, and was interested in science, math, and technology. Mechanical engineering felt like the perfect intersection of all his interests.

What he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have was guidance.

Starting Behind 麻豆精品 S� and Pushing Forward

Royal didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know anyone in engineering or have access to mentors who could advise him on the classes a university engineering program required. When he later reconnected with two friends from high school 麻豆精品 S� Kent Huerta and Isaac Washington, both civil engineering majors at the University of South Florida 麻豆精品 S� he quickly discovered they faced many of the same challenges navigating STEM pathways without early guidance.

麻豆精品 S淚 would’ve still been a year behind graduating if I [hadn 麻豆精品 S檛 taken] an accelerated courseload, 麻豆精品 S� says Royal, who 麻豆精品 S檚 now a mechanical engineering graduate student on track to become a double Knight. 麻豆精品 S淲e realized that 麻豆精品 S� if we had some prior knowledge or someone to talk to us about STEM before we got to this level, or before we tried to enter STEM, we could have avoided those pitfalls. 麻豆精品 S�

That realization helped turn his personal ambitions into action that benefits others.

In 2024, Royal, Huerta and Washington co-founded STEM Mentorship Matters, an outreach program that connects students at their high school, Q. I. Roberts Junior-Senior High School, with professionals in STEM fields and equips them with the knowledge to successfully pursue their careers.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S� didn’t have that many opportunities or much education related to STEM when we were in high school, 麻豆精品 S� Royal says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat made it a lot more difficult compared to our peers who did. So we thought, 麻豆精品 S業s there any way to give something to students who were like us, who could use opportunities in STEM? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Giving Students a Head Start

What began as a grassroots effort serving just 30 students at Q. I. Roberts has since grown into a network of 10 high schools across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, reaching hundreds of junior and senior high school students. The organization now includes 30 volunteer mentors who lead monthly workshops that connect professionals with students.

STEM Mentorship Matters also offers a range of resources, including guidance on applying to universities through the Common App, explanations of different engineering disciplines and advice on getting involved on campus. Monthly discussions focus on preparing for careers in STEM, with topics shaped by student interest and shared through the organization 麻豆精品 S檚 Discord server.

From navigating the college application process and building strong resumes to learning how to network and apply for internships, volunteer mentors guide students to success in the classroom and beyond graduation.

麻豆精品 S淚t helps students think, 麻豆精品 S榃hat would I want to do beyond middle and high school? Am I even interested in STEM? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Royal says. 麻豆精品 S淸And] it’s OK if they’re not. We’re just trying to provide them with some insight. It also provides some insight into what they may want to do in STEM if they are interested. 麻豆精品 S�

Royal adds that these interactions help students narrow their interests, explore future career possibilities and feel more confident entering their chosen field. Just as important, it gives them something Royal says he and his co-founders lacked early on: encouragement.

麻豆精品 S淛ust someone saying, 麻豆精品 S榊ou can do this if you set your mind to it, 麻豆精品 S� is very important because we didn’t have a lot of that pursuing STEM, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淎nd I feel it’s important to have because it makes it easier to accomplish whatever you set out to do. 麻豆精品 S�

With specialized programs in hospitality and themed experience design 麻豆精品 S� alongside robust engineering opportunities through student-led clubs and industry partnerships 麻豆精品 S� UCF has played a critical role in preparing the workforce behind Epic Universe 麻豆精品 S檚 debut and has built a direct talent pipeline into the park.

Now as the park prepares to open its gates this week, it 麻豆精品 S檚 also transforming how students learn.

Epic in Curriculum

At 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management, located less than a mile from Epic Universe, the park has become a living case study for both faculty and students. Ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education by CEOWORLD magazine for 2025, the college is globally recognized for its leadership in shaping future professionals in tourism, attractions and entertainment.

麻豆精品 S淎nyone looking to build a career in the global attractions industry would not find a better place to attend than UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Carissa Baker 麻豆精品 S�08MA 麻豆精品 S�18PhD, Rosen College assistant professor

Carissa Baker 麻豆精品 S�08MA 麻豆精品 S�18PhD, assistant professor of hospitality, has embedded Epic Universe into multiple classes across the theme park and attraction management curriculum. In one course, students analyze the park 麻豆精品 S檚 community and economic impacts. In another, they follow the site creation process from research and development to operations and guest experience. Students have also designed guest experience concepts based on Universal 麻豆精品 S檚 creative parameters and presented them directly to leaders at the company.

麻豆精品 S淪everal of my students were involved in design, construction and operations development for the park, 麻豆精品 S� Baker says. 麻豆精品 S淒ozens were in attractions commissioning roles, and many are working at the park full time, part time and through internships. 麻豆精品 S�

Culinary Spectacle as Storytelling

Epic Universe is also reshaping 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 approach to culinary education. Chef Jonathan 麻豆精品 S淛ay 麻豆精品 S� Judy, assistant chair of the Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management, and senior instructor, uses the park 麻豆精品 S檚 immersive lands to explore how food enhances themed environments.

麻豆精品 S淥ur students aren 麻豆精品 S檛 just studying the industry. They 麻豆精品 S檙e helping shape its future. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jonathan 麻豆精品 S淛ay 麻豆精品 S� Judy, Rosen College faculty member

In his course, Culinary Experiences in Theme Parks and Attractions, students study the full lifecycle of culinary operations in destination attractions 麻豆精品 S� from food concept development to intellectual property (IP) integration and guest immersion.

麻豆精品 S淲hen Universal Orlando announced the themes for the various worlds, my students created sample menus based on the IP for each world. We have also used Epic extensively as a class discussion topic, 麻豆精品 S� Judy says. 麻豆精品 S淲atching a park like Epic Universe launch is a masterclass in themed food innovation. From kitchen concept to culinary spectacle, this course gives students the tools to imagine and execute food experiences that could exist in any world, real or fictional. 麻豆精品 S�

Epic Economics, Real-World Impact

The scale of Epic Universe also offers powerful insights into economic development, infrastructure and regional transformation 麻豆精品 S� areas that Rosen College Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat is bringing into the classroom.

麻豆精品 S淓pic Universe presents a valuable opportunity to view a theme park not just as an attraction, but as a major investment with measurable economic impact 麻豆精品 S� something I 麻豆精品 S檓 looking to incorporate into my Hospitality Industry Finance class, 麻豆精品 S� Ridderstaat says.

He notes that the park 麻豆精品 S檚 projected $7 billion investment and estimated 17,000 new jobs could generate up to $2 billion in economic impact in its first year, while driving new infrastructure and expanding the region 麻豆精品 S檚 global tourism appeal. But he also encourages students to consider other related topics 麻豆精品 S� such as housing affordability.

A Creative Pipeline to Universal

“Epic has solidified Orlando as the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.” 麻豆精品 S� Peter Weishar, director of UCF’s themed experience graduate programs

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience M.F.A. program, based in the College of Arts and Humanities, is providing a direct pathway into the creative engine of the industry. The programs 麻豆精品 S� which are among the first of their kinds nationally 麻豆精品 S� teach students the unique creative skills, processes, and concepts needed to design and produce themed environments and attractions. Many graduates go on to become show set designers, architects, show writers, coordinators, project managers, producers, art directors and even creative directors at some of the top themed entertainment companies.

Through the UCF/Universal Creative Lab, students work directly with Universal Creative 麻豆精品 S檚 show producers, engineers and designers, gaining rare access to behind-the-scenes development processes.

According to program director and professor Peter Weishar, approximately 40% of themed experience students go on to work for Universal Creative.

麻豆精品 S淥ur students, alumni and even faculty have worked for years to help make Epic Universe a reality, 麻豆精品 S� Weishar says. 麻豆精品 S淣ow that it 麻豆精品 S檚 opening to the public, it 麻豆精品 S檚 serving as a working laboratory for new ideas, innovation and experiential learning. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淯CF is in the perfect location to collaborate with some of the top creatives in the field, 麻豆精品 S� 聽Weishar adds.

Engineering the Experience

At the intersection of innovation and imagination, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 STEEL Club 麻豆精品 S� the Society of Themed Entertainment Engineers and Leaders 麻豆精品 S� is creating new pathways for engineering students to enter the attractions industry. Founded in early 2024, the club has quickly become a hub for students eager to apply technical skills to the world of themed entertainment.

Focused on disciplines like ride control, show systems, mechanical safety and systems integration, the club regularly hosts industry speakers from Universal Creative, Disney, SeaWorld, and third-party vendors. Members also participate in technical workshops on topics ranging from Arduino programming and LED integration to mechanical modeling and wiring 麻豆精品 S� all aligned with the demands of modern attraction engineering.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e building a great program, 麻豆精品 S� says Mikel Garner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and STEEL Club vice president. 麻豆精品 S淲e look at design, manufacturing, and maintenance 麻豆精品 S� not just how a ride looks, but how it runs and how you troubleshoot it to keep guests safe. 麻豆精品 S�

Garner, who was a Compliance and Auditing intern for Universal Creative, says his experience applied Advancing Standards Transforming Markets (ASTM International) safety standards and engineering best practices to support the development of the park.

STEEL President Bryanna Price, also a senior mechanical engineering major, says the club was founded to fill a gap at UCF for students who wanted hands-on, engineering-focused experience in themed entertainment.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e helping students develop tangible technical skills that translate directly into the industry, 麻豆精品 S� Price says.

The club recently competed in the Ride Engineering Competition, where student teams design and build operational ride models under strict time and size constraints. In the latest event, held at The Ohio State University, Price 麻豆精品 S檚 team built a fully functioning flat ride model from scratch 麻豆精品 S� applying controls, mechanics and problem-solving under real-world pressure.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 exciting to know we 麻豆精品 S檙e helping prepare the next generation of engineers for the theme park world 麻豆精品 S� right here at UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� 聽Bryanna Price, student and STEEL Club president

Beyond competitions, STEEL students are attending industry events like the ASTM F24 Conference, which develops global engineering safety standards for amusement rides and devices. They 麻豆精品 S檙e also partnering with other UCF organizations to grow their board, expand student participation and bring in even more professional mentorship.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e still a young club, but we 麻豆精品 S檝e already seen members go on to internships with companies like SeaWorld and Universal, 麻豆精品 S� Price says.

For UCF, Epic Universe is more than a neighbor 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 a living laboratory. From immersive design to food and beverage innovation, and from economic modeling to technical prototyping, UCF students aren 麻豆精品 S檛 just learning about the future of themed entertainment 麻豆精品 S� they 麻豆精品 S檙e building it.

Catbas collaborated with his former civil engineering student Marwan Debees 麻豆精品 S�23笔丑顿, who now works as a NASA Bridge Program manager, on newly published research that details how infrared thermography, high-definition imaging and neural network analysis can combine to make concrete bridge inspections more efficient.

Catbas and Debees are hopeful that their findings, recently published in the Transportation Research Record, can be leveraged by engineers through a combination of these methods to strategically pinpoint bridge conditions and better allocate repair costs.

麻豆精品 S淚f we better understand which bridges need more repairs and which bridges may be postponed, then [funding agencies] can use limited funds more wisely, and then we can direct our efforts to the really critical bridges, 麻豆精品 S� Catbas says. 麻豆精品 S淲e have about 650,000 bridges in the U.S. and we have been working to examine how we can use novel technologies to understand the existing condition of structures. 麻豆精品 S�

Debees noted an instance during a NASA bridge load test where Catbas and his team assisted in evaluating the repairs. They determined that the repairs made were sufficient, ultimately, eliminating the next phrase of planned work.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e only spending the money where we need to instead of doing it without a comprehensive understanding of the actual conditions of the bridge in the field, 麻豆精品 S� Debees says. 麻豆精品 S淭he goal is to better understand the conditions of the bridge and have a better priority list of what bridges are really in need. 麻豆精品 S�

Diagnosing Concrete Bridges

Catbas says what he and other civil engineers do to assess a structure 麻豆精品 S檚 overall integrity may be likened to a doctor 麻豆精品 S檚 diagnostics for a person 麻豆精品 S檚 wellbeing.

麻豆精品 S淪tructural health monitoring, which is almost like human health monitoring, is where we use different types of equipment to better understand the safety and serviceability of structures, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

To help take high-definition images to compare to infrared data, the researchers closely collaborated with NEXCO-West USA. Inc, an imaging and non-destructive evaluation company in Tysons, Virginia, that have specialized vehicles equipped with imaging tools. With the company 麻豆精品 S檚 support, the research team utilized the infrared data to assess the conditions of bridge components, including the deck, superstructure and substructure.

麻豆精品 S淎s far as the infrared itself, there are some limitations, 麻豆精品 S� Debees says. 麻豆精品 S淥ne of the things in this paper that helped overcome some of these limitations is high-definition images to complement the infrared images. 麻豆精品 S�

These technologies that were used in the study by Catbas and Debees provided a more comprehensive record of concrete bridge health.

麻豆精品 S淗uman visualization has limitations, 麻豆精品 S� Catbas says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 almost like a doctor just looking at you and saying that you look fine when you might really be fine, or you might not be. There may be other problems that the sensors and other technologies can tell you, kind of like when a doctor says he wants more testing, so he sends you to get an X-ray or an MRI. We are taking a similar approach to our bridges. 麻豆精品 S�

Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Interpretation

Infrared thermography works by collecting a structure 麻豆精品 S檚 thermal responses, which can indicate defects within it such as heat loss, moisture intrusion or other structural problems.

To analyze the different parts of the bridge such as the deck, superstructure and substructure, the research team used thermography and image capturing technologies deployed on boats under the bridge and on vehicles traveling across it so that traffic wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be impeded and motorists may continue using the roads.

The combination of visual inspection and imaging is common practice, but Debees says the element of utilizing a neural network and machine learning to decipher the data is something that is an emerging component of inspections. The collective knowledge from experienced engineers doing similar inspections was used to compare the results in the study.

麻豆精品 S淭he way it differs from other utilization is that we are not using just infrared cameras and collecting raw data, but then we have a level of post-processing, and we are eliminating the noise or unnecessary information within the infrared image, 麻豆精品 S� Debees says. 麻豆精品 S淭hen we use this data to understand where these defects are and then we integrate them within the current required bridge inspection processes. We close the loop by using some decision-making and algorithms with an easy-to-use perceptron neural network to guide the inspector or engineer without spending too much time or data analysis. 麻豆精品 S�

The two parts of the paper are how to implement this new technology and how it can be used to accelerate decision making while keeping it accurate and safe, he says.

麻豆精品 S淲hen we do bridge inspections, we aim to find ways to accelerate or make it more efficient while also having more data to rely on in the future or in the immediate decision making, 麻豆精品 S� Debees says. 麻豆精品 S淲e can determine which bridge needs to be evaluated right away, which needs more testing and we can see the significance of the finding quicker. 麻豆精品 S�

Crossing Into the Future

Debees says one of the most exciting parts of the research findings is the realization that the framework of multiple inspection techniques can be integrated with collective knowledge and applied to monitor a wide variety of structures.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e not limited to concrete bridges, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e can build on this research and applying it with different inspection methods and use it for different infrastructure types. We can try this on concrete buildings, or steel bridges, buildings or other structures. 麻豆精品 S�

Using machine learning and collective knowledge to interpret data is something that Debees believes will continue to have a role in inspections even beyond the purview of their study.

麻豆精品 S淚 think what was eye-opening to me is there is room, even outside of conventional inspections, to utilize more decision-making neural networks to standardize the decision-making [process], 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淵ou can make it easier on the people in the field to know where to make decisions on the spot or where to seek more experienced help. 麻豆精品 S�

There are ample opportunities to discover even more innovative ways to assess structural health, and Catbas says he gladly looks forward to meeting the next challenge with former students and collaborators like Debees.

麻豆精品 S淟ike other Ph.D. students of mine, we still keep in touch once they graduate and then become my colleague, 麻豆精品 S� Catbas says as he turns to Debees. 麻豆精品 S淪o, my question is this: 麻豆精品 S榃hat are we going to work on next? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Researchers 麻豆精品 S� Credentials:

Catbas holds a doctorate in structural engineering from the University of Cincinnati. After postdoctoral studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia, he joined 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 麻豆精品 S�College of Engineering and Computer Science 麻豆精品 S痠n 2003 and is the founding director of the Civil Infrastructure Technologies for Resilience and Safety (CITRS) Initiative. His research covers various aspects of civil engineering, including analysis, design, and assessment of civil infrastructure systems, structural health monitoring, structural identification, structural dynamics, and earthquake engineering.

Debees graduated in 2023 from UCF with a doctoral degree in civil engineering. His research focuses on structural engineering, particularly on bridge systems. His work emphasizes the application of technology in bridge assessment and the efficacy of structural repairs. Debees currently serves as the Bridge Program Manager at NASA, where he has worked since 2013. Prior to joining NASA, he spent three years with Manson Construction.

College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty are leaders in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), hypersonic travel, energy, next-generation computing hardware and aerospace, fields that are major economic drivers for Florida and that are critical to our state and nation 麻豆精品 S檚 future.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report‘s ranked nine of UCF’s other graduate programs among the top 50 on the 2024 Best Graduate Schools list.

This pioneering engineering research by expert UCF faculty prepares students to thrive in their careers, as does 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 longstanding relationships with industry partners who are eager to hire talented students. Partners include Electronic Arts, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Northrop Grumman, Siemens, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Collectively, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 cutting-edge, high-impact teaching practices and partnerships have drawn many recognitions, including the latest from U.S. News & World Report 麻豆精品 S檚 Best Graduate Schools rankings.

Today, U.S. News & World Report ranks three of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 engineering and computer science graduate programs among the top 50 in the nation. The industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering program is ranked No. 43, aerospace is No. 47 and computer engineering is No. 50. Two other programs 麻豆精品 S� materials engineering and electrical/electronic/communications engineering 麻豆精品 S� ranked just outside the top 50, at No. 52 and No. 53 respectively.

A total of nine engineering and computer science programs rank among the top 50 among the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 public universities.

麻豆精品 S淥ur outstanding engineering faculty are conducting impactful research that is advancing our knowledge of space, modeling and simulation, virtual and augmented reality, and many other high-tech fields, 麻豆精品 S� says Michael D. Johnson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 麻豆精品 S淭hey are innovators and inventors fueling our region 麻豆精品 S檚 economy and our society 麻豆精品 S檚 quality of life, healthcare, energy and transportation systems, and they excel at preparing our graduates to thrive in their careers. 麻豆精品 S�

Twenty-nine percent of Kennedy Space Center employees and 25% of Lockheed Martin 麻豆精品 S檚 Orlando employees earned UCF degrees. Aviation Week Network has named UCF the No. 1 supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry for six consecutive years.

Bringing More Brilliant Minds Together

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science produces 25% of Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 engineering and computer science graduates, according to the State University System. The college 麻豆精品 S檚 goal is to educate 25,000 engineering and technology students by increasing capacity by 50%.

One important path to achieving that goal is to expand the college 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty. Last year and this year combined, the college has hired 55 new faculty members, including many with expertise in the strategic investment program areas identified by the university, such as AI, energy, next-generation computing hardware, space-aerospace, digital twin and infectious diseases. The new faculty hires will further strengthen the college 麻豆精品 S檚 research initiatives and opportunities for students to learn alongside talented faculty in the classroom and in research labs.

Plans for this fall also include one new degree program. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will launch a master of science in robotics and autonomous systems program. Students will learn to analyze, design and develop robotics and autonomous systems including self-driving cars, drones, medical robots and even mechanical dogs.

The new faculty and degree program join a host of current UCF engineering and computer science faculty who are conducting groundbreaking research:

• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Kareem Ahmed received Department of Defense funding that 麻豆精品 S檚 establishing UCF as a leader in hypersonics and space propulsion research. Hypersonic propulsion would allow for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, or more than 4,600 to 13,000 miles per hour, and has applications in commercial and space travel.

• Sudipta Seal, chair of materials science and engineering, and Ozlem Garibay, assistant professor in industrial engineering and management systems, have created an Al-based prediction method that helps develop life-saving medicines and treatments for various diseases with up to 97% accuracy.

• Tarek Elgohary, an associate professor of aerospace engineering, is developing algorithms that will accurately track space objects like asteroids and satellites so they don 麻豆精品 S檛 collide with spacecraft. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a vital tool given the rapid growth of space junk in cislunar space, which stretches from Earth to just beyond the moon 麻豆精品 S檚 orbit.

• Carolina Cruz-Neira, the Agere Chair Professor at the UCF Department of Computer Science and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality and interactive visualization, having created and deployed a variety of technologies that have become standard tools in industry, government and academia. 麻豆精品 S疘n a few weeks, she will be inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo (AWE) XR Hall of Fame, joining an elite international group of 100 researchers, entrepreneurs, artists and others. Cruz-Neira was one of just 22 researchers selected. 麻豆精品 S淚t is not well known that UCF has one of, if not the, largest concentration of VR researchers in the U.S., 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淥f course, the strong reputation of UCF as a leader in modeling and simulation ties very well with the ecosystem. 麻豆精品 S�

In addition, the internationally recognized Collegiate Cyber Defense Club at UCF won first place at the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in April. The club has been sending student teams around the world to compete against other universities since 2013. In all, UCF cybersecurity teams have earned 87 first place awards 麻豆精品 S� including five NCCDC titles 麻豆精品 S� 29 second-place and 25 third-place awards. The competitions allow UCF students to sharpen their skills before cybersecurity professionals and are hosted by companies from private industry, such as IBM, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Raymond James, Raytheon and several federal agencies.