Paul Jarley Archives | University of Central Florida News Central Florida Research, Arts, Technology, Student Life and College News, Stories and More Thu, 14 May 2026 14:07:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 /wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/2019/05/cropped-logo-150x150.png Paul Jarley Archives | University of Central Florida News 32 32 A Conversation on the Future of the UCF College of Business /news/a-conversation-on-the-future-of-the-ucf-college-of-business/ Fri, 15 May 2026 14:06:13 +0000 /news/?p=153175 Paul Jarley, dean of the College of Business, shares his vision after the largest gift in university history positions UCF to lead the future of technology-driven business education.

]]>
On the heels of a transformative $50 million gift from finance alumnus Barry Miller 鶹Ʒ S95  鶹Ʒ S the largest single philanthropic investment in UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss history 鶹Ʒ S to establishٳ Barry S. Miller College of Business, Dean Paul Jarley discussesٳ impact of Miller 鶹Ʒ Ss investment on the college now and in the future.

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

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

What struck me most was that while we had excellent individual scholars, we didn 鶹Ʒ St yet have a true community of scholars. People didn 鶹Ʒ St know each other well, and without that, it 鶹Ʒ Ss very difficult to build a shared vision.

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

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

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

Paul Jarley stands at UCF podium in front of a seated crowd, smiling while looking down, as he hands a key to Barry Miller standing next to him.
UCF College of Business Dean Paul Jarley (right) introduces Barry Miller (left) at the announcement of his transformational investment. (Photo by Dana Weisman)

How would you describe the college 鶹Ʒ Ss culture today?

Today, that culture of engagement defines us.

There 鶹Ʒ Ss a quote from English philosopher Herbert Spencer we often reference:  鶹Ʒ SThe great aim of higher education isn 鶹Ʒ St knowledge, it 鶹Ʒ Ss action. 鶹Ʒ S It 鶹Ʒ Ss not enough for students to learn concepts;ٳy need to know how to apply them.

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

Changing culture is one of the hardest things a leader can do. It requires people to see a future they haven 鶹Ʒ St experienced yet. But over time, our faculty, staff and students have seen the value of what we 鶹Ʒ Sve built together, and that 鶹Ʒ Ss what makes it sustainable.

ǷdoesٳѾinvestment accelerate that future?

鶹Ʒ SGreat universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating the conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that. 鶹Ʒ S

This investment allows us to recruit leading scholars at the intersection of business and technology  鶹Ʒ S faculty who are working on the most pressing challenges facing industry and society.

They 鶹Ʒ Sll help us tackle critical questions around trust in technology, cybersecurity, the concentration of power and how humans and intelligent systems interact. They 鶹Ʒ Sll also help prepare our students to lead in that environment.

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

College of Business Dean Paul Jarley, wearing traditional graduation attire, shakes the hand of young Asian graduate holding a black square folder on stage with gold diamond stars handing in the background.
The College of Business prepares graduates to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing economy.

What will distinguishٳ college over the next decade?

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

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

Ultimately, it 鶹Ʒ Ss about outcomes. If we do this right, our graduates will be exceptionally well-prepared for high-impact, high-growth careers. That return on investment will set us apart.

What gives you optimism about the future?

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

]]>
Paul-Jarley-Barry-Miller-College-of-Business UCF College of Business Dean Paul Jarley celebrates Barry Miller's transformational gift. (Photo by Dana Weisman) Paul-Jarley-UCF-Graduation The College of Business prepares graduates to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
UCF Launches School of Technology, Leadership and Innovation to Help Organizations Turn Technology into Performance /news/ucf-launches-school-of-technology-leadership-and-innovation-to-help-organizations-turn-technology-into-performance/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:00:45 +0000 /news/?p=150881 The new university-wide initiative connects faculty expertise in engineering, computing, business, and the human sciences with organizations seeking to better leverage technology for performance and growth.

]]>
To help organizations translate technology investments into leadership capability, organizational performance and innovation, UCF is launching the School of Technology, Leadership and Innovation (STLI), a university-wide initiative designed to connect faculty expertise with industry challenges in technology-driven fields.

Organizations interested in partnering with STLI should contact Tiffany Hughes in the College of Business or Michael Harding  in UCF Corporate Partnerships to explore collaboration opportunities.

Drawing on UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss strengths as Florida 鶹Ʒ Ss Technological University, STLI will serve as the university 鶹Ʒ Ss hub for developing deep corporate partnerships through custom executive education, professional credentials, applied research and data-driven solutions. The school will provide expertise across engineering and computer science, business, psychology and related disciplines to help businesses and organizations adapt to technological change while improving leadership capability.

鶹Ʒ SUCF plays a critical role in helping address the challenges shaping the future of industry, 鶹Ʒ S says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鶹Ʒ SThe School of Technology, Leadership and Innovation strengthens our ability to work alongside organizations as they navigate change and turn emerging technologies into leadership capability, organizational performance, and real-world impact. 鶹Ʒ S

Serving Future-Focused Organizations

Unlike traditional academic units, STLI will draw on faculty expertise from across the university rather than hiring new faculty. The school will create new opportunities for UCF scholars to engage directly with organizations through executive programs, professional certifications, consulting engagements and applied research collaborations. In addition to a slate of proprietary offerings, STLI will work with organizations to develop custom solutions to meet a company 鶹Ʒ Ss specific needs.

The school, which is designed to generate revenue for the university, will create new opportunities for UCF scholars to engage directly with organizations through executive programs, professional certifications, consulting engagements and applied research collaborations.

鶹Ʒ STechnology is changing the nature of work and the structure of organizations, 鶹Ʒ S says College of Business Dean Paul Jarley. 鶹Ʒ SSTLI connects UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss excellence in engineering, computing business and the human sciences to help leaders understand not just how technology works, but how to lead organizations through technological change. This initiative is the next logical step in UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss long-standing commitment to partnering with technology-driven organizations that power Florida 鶹Ʒ Ss economy and beyond. 鶹Ʒ S

鶹Ʒ SThis initiative is the next logical step in UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss long-standing commitment to partnering with technology-driven organizations that power Florida 鶹Ʒ Ss economy and beyond. 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S Paul Jarley, College of Business dean

Initial development of STLI is being coordinated by the College of Business in collaboration with faculty leaders from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and with strategic oversight from the Provost 鶹Ʒ Ss Office.

The launch of STLI represents the next phase of UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss strategy to expand collaboration with the technology-driven organizations shaping Florida 鶹Ʒ Ss future like Pegasus Partner Addition Financial Credit Union.

鶹Ʒ SAs a financial institution that prides itself on innovating to better serve its members, Addition Financial is honored to partner with [the] UCF 鶹Ʒ S School of Technology Leadership and Innovation, 鶹Ʒ S says Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Addition Financial.  鶹Ʒ SThis is an exciting evolution of the future-facing collaboration UCF is known for, and we are looking forward to working alongside the school to unlock the promise of advancing key areas from AI strategy to workforce readiness. 鶹Ʒ S

By connecting faculty expertise with real-world challenges, the school extends the university 鶹Ʒ Ss impact beyond campus while preparing leaders who can guide innovation responsibly and effectively.

鶹Ʒ SOur engagement with UCF provides highly valuable insights that helped us look at our operational challenges from a fresh perspective,” says Mohamed Hassan, head of business excellence North America, Siemens Energy. “The collaboration is both rigorous and forward leaning, and it enables us to translate ideas into tangible next steps for our business. 鶹Ʒ S

How to Partner

Organizations interested in partnering with STLI should contact Tiffany Hughes (Tiffany.Hughes@ucf.edu) in the College of Business or Michael Harding (Michael.Harding@ucf.edu) in UCF Corporate Partnerships to explore collaboration opportunities.

 

]]>
Paul Jarley Reappointed Dean of UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss College of Business Administration /news/paul-jarley-reappointed-dean-of-ucfs-college-of-business-administration/ Wed, 12 Oct 2022 18:40:57 +0000 /news/?p=131707 Since joining UCF as dean of the college in 2012, Jarley has fostered a spirit of entrepreneurship, partnership and excellence.

]]>
Paul Jarley has been reappointed for five years as dean of UCF’s College of Business Administration.

The decision by Michael D. Johnson, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, follows a review committee 鶹Ʒ Ss 5-year performance analysis of Jarley and the college. The process included feedback from students, faculty and staff, the Dean 鶹Ʒ Ss Advisory Board members and university leaders.

College of Business Dean Paul Jarley

“Under Dean Jarley 鶹Ʒ Ss leadership, the college and its faculty have become increasingly adept at preparing students to thrive in a constantly evolving global marketplace, 鶹Ʒ S says Johnson. 鶹Ʒ SNew programs, such as the master’s in fintech program in partnership with , exemplify the college’s commitment to innovation and student success. 鶹Ʒ S

Since joining UCF as dean of the college in 2012 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Jarley has fostered a spirit of entrepreneurship, partnership and excellence. His accomplishments include advancing community engagement with the college, creating many opportunities for students to learn from business leaders, boosting fundraising and elevating the prominence of academic programs and faculty.

Jarley is also a prolific who has launched a podcast about trending ideas and issues affecting the business world.

“The next five years represent a critical time for UCF. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the college and throughout the university to realize our full potential and become the institution we aspire to be,” Jarley says.

]]>
Paul Jarley
40 Years After Graduating, Business Alum Still Inspired to Give Back /news/40-years-after-graduating-business-alum-still-inspired-to-give-back/ Thu, 24 Oct 2019 19:50:33 +0000 /news/?p=103997 The College of Business celebrates an alumni gift with the investiture of John Solow to a new professorship in economics.

]]>
The impact two UCF professors made on a young economics graduate four decades ago will benefit current and future students at UCF’s College of Business.

Glenn Hubbard 鶹Ʒ S79, chairman of the board of MetLife Inc., and his wife, Constance Pond, gave $1 million to UCF to establish the Kenneth White and James Xander Professorship in Economics. The professorship is in honor of the two faculty members that Hubbard credits for inspiring a career that led him to be one of the most influential economists in the U.S.

Hubbard graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in economics from UCF. He also earned a master’s and doctoral degree from Harvard, served as chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush, and is dean emeritus and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School.

On the Friday before UCF’s Homecoming weekend, Hubbard and Pond were recognized at the formal investiture of John Solow to the Kenneth White and James Xander Professorship in Economics at the college.

鶹Ʒ SToday is about love for the experience here [at UCF], 鶹Ʒ S Hubbard told the audience. 鶹Ʒ SYou know, a great teacher isn’t just somebody who conveys information. Well, it’s not even somebody who’s also a great mentor. Although the two gentleman whose names sit on this chair are both of those; it’s somebody who opens the door to the world for you. 鶹Ʒ S

The occasion, led by Provost Elizabeth A. Dooley and College of Business Dean Paul Jarley, marked the first endowed chair investiture ceremony at the college. An investiture is regarded as one of the highest honors to be bestowed in academia and is meant to confer and celebrate the appointment of a distinguished faculty member to an endowed chair or professorship.

鶹Ʒ SProfessorships, such as the one here today, allow us to attract and retain our most outstanding scholars, 鶹Ʒ S Dooley says of the honor. 鶹Ʒ SThey also reward faculty members who go above and beyond in their dedication to teaching and learning. 鶹Ʒ S

Solow, who joined UCF earlier this year from the University of Iowa, is a renowned economist who is published in numerous economic journals and specializes in antitrust, industrial organization, law and sport economics. He obtained his bachelor 鶹Ʒ Ss degree in economics at Yale University and earned his master 鶹Ʒ Ss and doctorate at Stanford University.

鶹Ʒ SBeing a university professor is one of the best jobs in the world, up there with Ben and Jerry 鶹Ʒ Ss taste tester and referee at the annual Animal Planet Puppy Bowl, 鶹Ʒ S Solow says after receiving a medallion from Dooley. 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ SWith those benefits comes an obligation, I believe, to invest ourselves in our institution, to do more than just 鶹Ʒ Sdo our jobs 鶹Ʒ S and go beyond to make our colleges and universities better places through service. That service can be done in many ways 鶹Ʒ S Sometimes, as in the case of Dr. Hubbard and Ms. Pond, you are in a position to heed the call to serve by doing something truly transformative, and for that we are truly grateful. 鶹Ʒ S

The two namesakes of the endowed professorship, White and Xander, were also recognized during the ceremony with commemorative keys for opening the door to the economic world for Hubbard and for inspiring him to establish the professorship. Looking back on his own successful career as an economist and academic, Hubbard credits White and Xander for their tutelage during his time at UCF.

鶹Ʒ SWhen you talk to our alumni, they may not remember every professor they 鶹Ʒ Sve ever had, but they do remember the one or two who had the biggest impact in their time in school, 鶹Ʒ S Jarley says. 鶹Ʒ SIf you ask Glenn Hubbard that question, he would say Drs. Ken White and James Xander. 鶹Ʒ S

 

]]>
College of Business Launches 1st Podcast, 鶹Ʒ SIs This Really a Thing? 鶹Ʒ S /news/college-business-launches-1st-podcast-really-thing/ Thu, 13 Sep 2018 13:22:00 +0000 /news/?p=90533 Dean Paul Jarley promises informational, yet entertaining episodes on a variety of topics.

]]>
People are talking about backyard chickens and Bitcoin and even whether you should buy your backyard chickens with Bitcoin. But are backyard chickens and Bitcoin really a thing?

That 鶹Ʒ Ss the premise of 鶹Ʒ SIs This Really a Thing? 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S a new podcast from UCF College of Business Dean Paul Jarley. The college’s first podcast launched today in the middle of Podcast Week and looks at a variety of current topics to determine if they are just hype or if they represent fundamental change that could alter how we do business.

鶹Ʒ SAs a dean, it 鶹Ʒ Ss my job to think about what the college should look like five and 10 years from now and make sure we get there, 鶹Ʒ S says Jarley, who serves as the host for the interview-style podcast. 鶹Ʒ SThis is tough. As Bill Gates famously noted, people tend to overestimate the amount of change that will happen in the next two years and underestimate the amount of change that will happen in the next 10 years. 鶹Ʒ S

The first three episodes debate whether eSports, ghosting in the workplace, and Bitcoin are really a thing.

Jarley doesn 鶹Ʒ St have to go far to find experts with something interesting to say about any of his topics.

鶹Ʒ SWe 鶹Ʒ Sre big on engagement at the college, and the podcast gives us a new way to extend that culture of engagement to our alumni and community at large, 鶹Ʒ S Jarley says. 鶹Ʒ SMany episodes will feature UCF faculty, alums, board members and students. 鶹Ʒ S

For eSports, he tapped UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Danny White, Richard Lapchick, director of the , and Ben Noel, executive director of the , UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss nationally renowned graduate video-gaming program. In the ghosting in the workplace episode, he talks to students, a career coach and a staffing-agency executive about job candidates who stop responding to employers that are trying to hire them. In Bitcoin, UCF economist Sean Snaith weighs in on the viability of the cryptocurrency and whether to include it in your portfolio.

And while the topics are serious, Jarley promises that the podcast will not be a typical classroom lecture.

鶹Ʒ SWe hope to make you laugh a little along the way and leave you with a new way to think about the topic at hand, 鶹Ʒ S he says.

鶹Ʒ SIs This Really a Thing? 鶹Ʒ S is available through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify or by visiting .

]]>
College of Business Honors Dr. Hitt, Alumni, Partners, Executives at Hall of Fame /news/college-of-business-celebrates-dr-hitt-top-alumni-partners-executives-at-hall-of-fame/ Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:14:06 +0000 /news/?p=81051 From an opening torch lighting to a final call of 鶹Ʒ SDo you believe in miracles?, 鶹Ʒ S the UCF College of Business 2018 Hall of Fame: Knights on Ice paid homage to the Winter Olympics while feting its own gold-medal-caliber alumni, partners and leaders at Rosen Shingle Creek.

More than 800 students, alumni, faculty, corporate partners and community members gathered Feb. 20 to honor UCF President John C. Hitt with a Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrate the induction of three Hall of Famers and recognize several of the college 鶹Ʒ Ss distinguished alumni.

Before presenting the special award to Dr. Hitt, who will retire as president later this year, business Dean Paul Jarley thanked him for making UCF the partnership university, and then asked everyone in the audience who had graduated or worked for UCF during Dr. Hitt 鶹Ʒ Ss presidency to stand, spurring a majority of the audience to its feet.

鶹Ʒ SOn behalf of everyone standing here tonight, 鶹Ʒ S Jarley said, 鶹Ʒ Sit is my great pleasure to present you with our Lifetime Achievement Award. We are and forever will be part of the 鶹Ʒ SHitt Squad. 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S

On the stage set to look like an Olympic news studio and with vice president of UCF Communications & Marketing Grant Heston serving as host, the college interviewed and inducted Sheila Jordan 鶹Ʒ S86, senior vice president and chief information officer of Symantec; Terry McNew 鶹Ʒ S86, president and CEO of MasterCraft Boat Company; and Dawn Olivardia 鶹Ʒ S89, 鶹Ʒ S90, tax partner, Grant Thornton LLP, into its Hall of Fame.

Ravago Holdings America and Verizon received Partnership Awards. In addition, the college presented Entrepreneurial Alumni Awards to Jorge Amaro 鶹Ʒ S13, founder and CEO of A3i Inc.; Ken Herndon 鶹Ʒ S87, founder and CEO of KC Curb Inc.; and Carey Sobel 鶹Ʒ S09, partner and chief strategy officer of Three21 Creative. Peter Laurinaitis 鶹Ʒ S93, 鶹Ʒ S95, partner of PJT Partners; Jason M. Reilly 鶹Ʒ S95, 鶹Ʒ S98, CFA, managing director and market investment executive of U.S. Trust; and Woody Walker 鶹Ʒ S92, 鶹Ʒ S94, senior vice president of alliances and client engagement of Convergence Consulting Group, received the Honorable Knights Award. Daniel Conn 鶹Ʒ S09, 鶹Ʒ S10, CPA, director of finance of Demetree Global; and Blaire Martin 鶹Ʒ S11, 鶹Ʒ S13, co-founder and executive director of Florida Angel Nexus, took home the Notable Knights Awards.

This was the 19th year for the Hall of Fame, which was presented by perennial platinum sponsor and partner BB&T. This year BB&T increased its sponsorship to allow for more students to attend and participate in the student-engagement session at which students network with alumni and the college 鶹Ʒ Ss corporate partners before the awards. Scott Keith, BB&T regional president of North and Central Florida, joined Knightro onstage to light the ceremonial torch to start the event.

The night 鶹Ʒ Ss closing ceremony saw Heston, a 2013 alumnus of the college 鶹Ʒ Ss executive MBA program, congratulate and thank all of the honorees before setting up the final video with sportscaster Al Michaels 鶹Ʒ S iconic line, 鶹Ʒ SDo you believe in miracles? 鶹Ʒ S Onscreen, Jarley delivered a Herb Brooks-inspired speech to fire up the crowd. As the video ended, Knightro and the UCF men 鶹Ʒ Ss ice hockey team appeared in full uniform, to the delight of the audience, and marched through the ballroom prompting chants of 鶹Ʒ SU-C-F! U-C-F! 鶹Ʒ S

]]>
Ravago Entrepreneurial Hub Opens at UCF’s College of Business /news/ravago-entrepreneurial-hub-opens-at-ucfs-college-of-business/ Tue, 21 Nov 2017 15:29:46 +0000 /news/?p=79652 Gift Drives College Renovation, Entrepreneurial Culture

]]>
Business Dean Paul Jarley joined Ravago Holdings America president and CEO Jim Duffy on Thursday to celebrate the dedication of the new Ravago Entrepreneurial Hub at UCF College of Business, where students can launch and grow their businesses. Ravago Holdings America is headquartered in Orlando and is a part of the Ravago group, a multinational distributor and compounder of plastic resins with roots in Belgium.

鶹Ʒ SRavago’s transformational gift is helping us build the inspiring, high-tech, creative spaces necessary to encourage students to get out of their comfort zones, collaborate and invent their futures,” Jarley said. “Our goal is to provide students with more than just the knowledge and perspective necessary to make good business decisions. We look to create student experiences that instill the mindsets, habits and behaviors necessary to succeed in today’s marketplace.”

The Ravago Entrepreneurial Hub is home to the UCF Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which includes the Upstarts Student Venture Accelerator and Starter Space. The center encourages and guides entrepreneurial Knights by providing the support and resources needed for successful student startups. These services and programs are available to all UCF students.

Ravago said it believes their donation of $500,000 toward naming the entrepreneurial space and supporting the college 鶹Ʒ Ss recent building renovation will begin a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership with the college. The company employs a handful of UCF graduates and strives to be a top employer of choice for College of Business graduates looking to work for an entrepreneurial company interested in growing new talent.

“Orlando is our home and so UCF was a natural draw when we were deliberating our philanthropic efforts,” Duffy said. 鶹Ʒ SWe 鶹Ʒ Sve had a lot of success with UCF graduates coming to work for us. UCF is a strategic pipeline for talent, and this is a great partnership for us. 鶹Ʒ S

Ravago is also partnering with the college 鶹Ʒ Ss Executive Development Center to provide custom training for its leadership team, managers and employees. The center, in downtown Orlando, offers professional master 鶹Ʒ Ss degrees, executive workshops and custom training opportunities and was named the Best Local MBA in Central Florida by readers of the Orlando Business Journal.

Earlier this year, Ravago also donated $750,000 to the UCF College of Medicine, which named a specialized medical-education classroom the Ravago Lecture Hall.

Ravago Holdings America is headquartered in Orlando and has grown to become the company’s largest subsidiary, with estimated annual sales of nearly $5 billion. The local office was selected as one of the Orlando Sentinel 鶹Ʒ Ss 2017 Top 100 Companies for the fifth year in a row.

 

 

]]>
UCF Business Honors Distinguished Alumni, Partners, Entrepreneurs at Hall of Fame /news/ucf-business-honors-distinguished-alumni-partners-entrepreneurs-hall-fame/ Mon, 27 Feb 2017 22:12:32 +0000 /news/?p=76293 With a nod to rock band Queen and inspiration from the Broadway hit Hamilton, the University of Central Florida College of Business inducted three distinguished alumni at its 18th annual Hall of Fame gala Thursday evening at Rosen Shingle Creek.

More than 740 alumni, community and corporate partners celebrated the Knight at the Opera-themed inductions of Sonya Dixon, 鶹Ʒ S96, 鶹Ʒ S98, chief financial officer and senior vice president at Holiday Inn Club Vacations; Antonio 鶹Ʒ STony 鶹Ʒ S Moreno Jr., 鶹Ʒ S91, managing partner/financial consultant, MPC Wealth Management; and Michael O’Donnell, 鶹Ʒ S09, executive/entrepreneur for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UCF. The Hall of Fame is the highest honor given by the college to graduates who have been in the industry for at least 20 years and have brought notoriety to the university through their professional achievements.

鶹Ʒ SOur annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony where we honor our most successful alums is an affirming event for our faculty and staff 鶹Ʒ Sit reminds us why we do what we do, 鶹Ʒ S said Paul Jarley, Ph.D, dean of UCF College of Business. 鶹Ʒ SIt also is an opportunity to show our community what our college and our students are all about and why we are worthy of their time, talent and treasure. 鶹Ʒ S

On Thursday, the college honored longtime partners CFE Federal Credit Union, Lockheed Martin and entrepreneurs Chip Headley, 鶹Ʒ S78, 鶹Ʒ S97, Rock 鶹Ʒ SEm Apparel and founder Rob Starkman and UBreakiFix founder Justin Wetherill, 鶹Ʒ S07. Also recognized were Notable Knights Joe Barbito, 鶹Ʒ S02, vice president of Agency Management, Galaxy Asset Management, LLC.; Kevin O 鶹Ʒ SConnell, 鶹Ʒ S02, managing partner, Northwestern Mutual; John Gill, 鶹Ʒ S86, president and CEO, Quest Inc.; and Yvonne Baker, 鶹Ʒ S80, 鶹Ʒ S11, regional managing partner, Franklin Street.

The night began with a Minute of Mentorship, at which business students asked guests for career and professional-development advice. High-energy musical numbers, led by UCF mascot Knightro, bookended the night.

鶹Ʒ SBusiness people, entrepreneurs and economists have not always been represented fairly in popular culture. But now 鶹Ʒ S in 2017 鶹Ʒ S we are indisputably cool. The biggest show on Broadway is about the founder of our nation 鶹Ʒ Ss financial system. And he 鶹Ʒ Ss the hero, 鶹Ʒ S said master of ceremonies Grant J. Heston, 鶹Ʒ S13, vice president of Communications and Marketing at UCF, as he introduced the opening song. 鶹Ʒ SLike Alexander Hamilton, our students are 鶹Ʒ Syoung, scrappy and hungry 鶹Ʒ S and they 鶹Ʒ Sre not giving away their shot at success, at making a difference or at this opportunity to tell their story in song. 鶹Ʒ S

Several business students joined professional dancers to perform the 鶹Ʒ SB-School Rapsody, 鶹Ʒ S an original song set to the tune of Freddie Mercury 鶹Ʒ Ss iconic 鶹Ʒ SBohemian Rhapsody, 鶹Ʒ S which appears on Queen 鶹Ʒ Ss 鶹Ʒ SNight at the Opera 鶹Ʒ S album. At the end of the night, 40 student ambassadors joined Knightro and the dance company for a rousing rendition of Queen 鶹Ʒ Ss stadium anthem 鶹Ʒ SWe Will Rock You. 鶹Ʒ S

For more information regarding the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame, visit or email business@ucfalumni.com.

]]>
Business College to Host OrlandoJobs.com Twitter Chat /news/business-college-host-first-twitter-chat-friday/ Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:08:29 +0000 /news/?p=61555 UCF 鶹Ʒ Ss College of Business Administration will continue its efforts to unite students with employers and mentors through a new series of Twitter chats about career-related topics.

This Friday’s chat will be led by Heather Deyrieux, the director of client services at . The chat will start at 11:30 a.m., and Deyrieux will discuss how to use professional organizations to advance your career and improve your networking skills.

The first chat took place last month with Business Dean Paul Jarley, who talked  about the college and his vision for a curriculum that emphasizes entrepreneurship.

The goal of the conversations is to help students, recent graduates and business professionals connect to discuss advice, industry trends, and job training and opportunities.

All Twitter chats will last 30 minutes and will be linked using #ucfbizchat.

Follow @UCFBusiness on Twitter for updates about future Twitter chats and to learn more about the College of Business Administration.

]]>
First Ever Glassdoor Curriculum Integration Occurs at UCF /news/first-ever-glassdoor-curriculum-integration-occurs-ucf/ Thu, 28 Aug 2014 14:06:24 +0000 /news/?p=61023 Starting this fall, College of Business Administration students enrolled in the Career Professionalism class series will acquire an edge in their career preparations.

Glassdoor, the leading global jobs and career community, will be integrated into the curriculum – the first time this has occurred in higher education.

鶹Ʒ SWe are working to build an experience for students that gives them a distinct advantage in the marketplace and this partnership is another asset in delivering on that experience, 鶹Ʒ S said UCF College of Business Administration dean, Paul Jarley.

Glassdoor, founded in 2007, boasts more than 25 million members in 190 countries and offers more than six million company reviews and ratings, as well as salary reports, interview questions and reviews, benefits reviews and ratings for more than 300,000 companies.

鶹Ʒ SOur Office of Professional Development and the corresponding class are truly innovative opportunities to provide our students with access to information, resources and people that will make a difference in their education; and it sets the UCF College of Business apart in the landscape of business education, 鶹Ʒ S said Jarley.

Starting in the 2014 catalog year, College of Business Administration undergraduate students are required to take four one-credit 鶹Ʒ SCareer Professionalism 鶹Ʒ S classes that are intended to prepare students for the professional workforce.

]]>