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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Board of Trustees provides final approval for tenure candidates. These decisions directly advance Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s strategic plan and its focus on recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty – 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.

“At Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, promotion and tenure reflects a thoughtful, rigorous review process and the high standards we set as an institution and state,â€� says John Buckwalter, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “It’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’re building together.â€�

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

The faculty members recognized below represent the continued strength and momentum of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

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‑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‑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‑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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

Promotion to University Librarian

• Sai Deng, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries
• Sarah Norris, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries
• Andrew Todd, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

The pivotal investment closes an aggressive and purposeful capital campaign to raise more than $30 million in private funding, which together with $43 million from the State of Florida, has brought Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s bold vision of a new home for its College of Nursing to life.

“Purposeful partnerships are what move our people and ideas forward to shape the future,â€� says Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Our mission with this campaign was clear: to address Florida’s nursing shortage head-on by significantly increasing Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s capacity to prepare compassionate and highly skilled Knight nurses. Together, with the generous support of state leaders, donors and partners, we are moving healthcare forward by fueling talent and innovation.â€�

Opened in Fall 2025, the 90,000-square-foot Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion increases access to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs. One in four Florida nursing graduates already receive a degree from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, more than any other university in the state.

With the opening, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will graduate an additional 150 newly licensed eligible nurses annually and directly impact Florida communities. Of the more than 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in the Sunshine State and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

The facility comes at a critical time for the profession and state, which is facing a projected shortage of 37,400 registered nurses by 2035. To meet demand spurred from Florida’s rapidly growing and aging population, an estimated 2,300 RNs are needed to enter the workforce annually.

“We are incredibly grateful to Bank of America Central Florida for their support that will impact generations in Central Florida and beyond,â€� says College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. “Through philanthropic support and partnerships, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has turned a challenge into opportunity — one that improves lives with increased access to a high-quality education and increased collaboration to innovate patient care. Together we are ensuring a healthier future for all.â€�

In addition to expanding classroom space, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion dramatically expands space for simulation and immersive technologies to prepare future healthcare providers in the Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is a global leader in healthcare simulation, and the first in Florida with three global accolades in the innovative field.

With an optimal location in Lake Nona, adjacent to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s College of Medicine and in a hub of industry activity, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is fueling greater collaborative research and learning opportunities. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students gain hands-on clinical experiences at neighboring healthcare facilities and real-life practice in interdisciplinary care with the new Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Health Mobile Clinic.

“This building is positively impacting how my peers and I learn, as community support is at the forefront and motivates our studies,â€� says Raquel Vargas, a current accelerated second degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) student at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. “In addition, the advanced technology in the simulation center is improving my ability to analyze and anticipate real-life patient scenarios, preparing me for my future clinical practice.â€�

The capital campaign launched in November 2022 anchored by a generous $10 million gift from Dr. Phillips Charities. Other founding donors of the facility include the Helene Fuld Health Trust, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial, Zaby and Suree Vyas, and many others.

“Through this grant, the Bank of America is bolstering the backbone of healthcare in one of our nation’s fastest-growing regions,â€� says Naveed Shujaat, president, Bank of America Central Florida. “Education and healthcare are powerful forces in communities – catalysts that transform lives. This support for the education of future Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ nurses will have an immeasurable impact on the patients and families they serve, especially in Florida.â€�

The National Leader in Emergency and Crisis Management

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ earned the No. 1 Homeland/National Security and Emergency Management Graduate Program ranking in the nation for the  third consecutive year.

At the forefront of this year’s ranking is the College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE)’s online emergency and crisis management program, signaling Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s long-standing leadership in programs that keep people safe from disasters of all kinds.

“To maintain the U.S. News No. 1 ranking of graduate programs in homeland security and emergency management is truly a team endeavor,â€� Associate Professor of Public Administration Yue ‘Gurt’ Ge says. “It reflects our nationally and internationally renowned faculty in education and research, our stellar students and alumni — who have become the backbone of the emergency management profession in Florida and beyond — and our signature staff members and advisory board representing government, nonprofit, and business sectors across Central Florida.â€�

That strong connection to practice is central to the program’s success. Faculty research influences policy nationwide, while students gain real-world insight through close partnerships with emergency managers at the local, state and federal levels. Graduates leave prepared to respond to complex crises, from natural disasters to public health emergencies, at a time when the need for highly trained professionals continues to grow.

A Top-10 School Preparing Student Counselors

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s College of Community Innovation and Education also earned the No. 9 ranking for Student Counseling and Personnel Services Graduate Programs in the nation.

Recognition for CCIE’s student counseling  graduate program reflects Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s high-touch faculty mentorship model and its emphasis on integrating research, service, and professional preparation.

For Benoit Aubin, a first-year doctoral student in counselor education, that support has been transformative. A former firefighter and medic, Aubin now works as a mental health clinician for his former fire station while serving as a graduate research assistant with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Marriage and Family Research Institute (MFRI).

With guidance from Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology Chair and MFRI Executive Director Sejal Barden, Aubin has conducted clinical research focused on trauma and relationship stress among first-responder couples. His work has already contributed to a funded grant, conference presentations, a published book and the development of a training program — achievements he credits to a highly supportive learning environment.

“Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ knows how to prepare us to compete professionally,â€� Aubin says.

A 34-Spot Rise in Advanced Nursing Education

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s College of Nursing jumped  34 spots to No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Programs in the nation — the highest ranking in the college’s history.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP) improved ranking reflects a continued investment in academic rigor, faculty expertise and hands-on clinical training designed to address the nation’s growing need for nurse practitioners.

Graduates from the DNP program consistently outperform national first-time pass rates on nurse practitioner certification exams. They also often receive job offers before they even complete their degrees, according to Christopher Blackwell ’00 ’01MSN ’05PhD, director of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program. All full-time faculty hold at least one doctoral degree, more than half remain actively practicing clinicians and many are nationally recognized fellows. Through partnerships with healthcare organizations across Central Florida students gain applied experience alongside expert preceptors in varied clinical settings.

“The incredible amount of support I’ve received from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s nursing professors and the opportunities to make an impact through my research and clinical practice solidified that I made the best choice in my graduate degree,â€� says Mimi Alliance ’21, a family nurse practitioner doctoral student who provides care and conducts research on the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Mobile Health Clinic.

Some of that training is anchored in the college’s Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center, an internationally recognized simulation facility that strengthens clinical skills and decision-making before students enter patient-care environments. The STIM Center, as well as Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s nursing programs, are housed in the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which opened in Lake Nona in Fall 2025 thanks to generous state and industry support — a proof point of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s ability to solve real-world issues.

Building on a Legacy of Aerospace Engineering Excellence

As Florida’s Technological University, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ continues to build on our strength in technology-driven fields by ranking No. 38 for Aerospace Engineering Graduate Programs in the nation.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Engineering and Computer Sciences‘ aerospace engineering graduate program ranking reinforces the university’s legacy in a field deeply tied to Florida’s Space Coast and NASA’s recent Artemis II launch.

“It is gratifying to see the hard work and exciting research of our faculty and students recognized by our peers,â€� says Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jeffrey Kauffman, noting that since launching the aerospace engineering doctoral program in 2019, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has steadily climbed in rankings while program enrollment has grown to more than 100 doctoral students.

Fueling that growth are advances in hypersonic flight, space exploration and defense research, with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s HyperSpace Center serving as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty success in securing competitive federal research funding has strengthened infrastructure and expanded opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students.

The result is a vibrant research environment where students engage directly in cutting-edge projects and build industry connections well before entering the workforce.

Across disciplines, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s growth in the U.S. News & World Report’s graduate rankings reflects a shared commitment to student success — driven by faculty who mentor closely, curricula that align with real-world needs and an institutional culture focused on impact. As Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s graduate programs continue to climb, they reinforce the university’s role as a national leader preparing professionals to tackle society’s most urgent challenges.

During the 2026 Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress, thousands of healthcare professionals gathered to advance patient care and recognize the experts leading the way — including Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Nursing Associate Professor Brian Peach.

Peach was the only nursing expert in Florida inducted into this year’s class of fellows of the American College of Critical Care Medicine, a prestigious distinction recognizing healthcare leaders who’ve made outstanding contributions to critical care through clinical excellence, program development and scholarly activities.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Peach has dedicated nearly two decades to improving critical care — from the patient bedside as an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse and leader to advancing the field as an educator and researcher.

“… the best patient care and research outcomes are achieved through interdisciplinary teamwork.”

His clinical career spanned three teaching facilities — the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Florida Health Shands Hospital and Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center — where he advanced into leadership roles and collaborated across disciplines to improve patient outcomes and drive quality initiatives, including improving time-sensitive sepsis care to save lives.

“I firmly believe that the best patient care and research outcomes are achieved through interdisciplinary teamwork, where each professional’s expertise enhances the collective effort,� Peach says. “My experiences have reinforced my commitment to fostering collaborations that drive meaningful improvements in healthcare.�

Advancing Education and Science

While his clinical work laid the foundation, Peach recognized a broader purpose: preparing future nurses and advancing the science behind critical care.

At Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s College of Nursing, he’s led a critical care course that emphasizes essential concepts through case-based learning that prepare future nurses for real-world practice. He also serves as the college’s Honors Undergraduate Thesis liaison, advising nearly 25 undergraduate and graduate students in independent research in the field.

Nationally, Peach extends his impact through leadership and service. He’s served as a reviewer for multiple critical care publications and collaborates with experts on projects like the next tier of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Centers of Excellence program, which will recognize hospitals for excellence in ICU care.

His award-winning research, shared globally through publications and presentations, focuses on improving outcomes for septic patients and, more recently, advancing care for ICU delirium and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).

Advocating for Intensive Care Survivors

PICS — a syndrome involving new or worsened physical, cognitive and mental health impairments following an ICU admission — affects a significant portion of survivors. Of the more than 5.7 million Americans admitted to ICUs each year, about 70% survive, and it’s estimated that more than half experience lasting impairments.

Peach has become an advocate for critical illness survivors, dedicated to raising awareness and improving care. He currently leads a virtual reality exposure therapy trial for the treatment of PICS in critical illness survivors and frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, healthcare facilities and to the media.

“Helping shed light on the hidden burden carried by ICU survivors — and the gap between survival and true recovery — motivates my work,� he says.

As a member of the PICS Advocacy Network, he was inspired to co-found Orlando’s Walk-4-PICS campaign in 2024. It’s now one of the largest events in a global effort to raise awareness and connect survivors and their families with resources and research opportunities.

“… by allowing researchers to track data nationwide, [the diagnostic code] could help make the case that PICS research warrants greater investment.”

Earlier this month, Peach presented a proposal to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocating for a PICS ICD-10 diagnostic code. If approved, the code would allow providers to formally diagnose PICS and enable researchers to track its prevalence. A decision is expected by Summer 2026.

“This code has the potential to dramatically influence health policy and research funding,� Peach says. “Millions of people across the U.S. suffering from PICS conditions will officially be able to receive a diagnosis. Furthermore, by allowing researchers to track data nationwide, it could help make the case that PICS research warrants greater investment.�

For Peach, it’s the people behind the statistics that inspire his work. It’s the personal stories of the ICU survivors he meets, the achievements of the students he mentors and the thought leaders he collaborates with to create change.

“I look forward to [continuing] to advance critical care through collaboration and mentorship,� he says, “and to improving care for patients, survivors and their families.�

If you’re a critical illness survivor living with new or worsened physical, cognitive or mental health conditions, you may qualify for one of Peach’s studies.

Recipients will include this year’s awardees of some of the highest honors the university bestows, including: Pegasus Professor; the 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 ±ð³¾±ð°ù¾±³Ù³Ü²õ ´Ç°ù ±ð³¾±ð°ù¾±³Ù²¹â€¯status; and retired or retiring faculty members.

This year’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 Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s inaugural Pegasus Professor and founding director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Starting this year at Founders’ Day, the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching will be given to underscore the talented faculty behind Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s nationally renowned reputation as a leader in in online teaching and learning.

Here are this year’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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

Joyce Nutta, College of Community Innovation and Education

Jeffrey O’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. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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.

“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,â€� says Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright. “The future we talk about at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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.â€�

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 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’ 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’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 “Dee� 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 “Fran� 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

Madhavi Chokshi

Lorine Cisch-Taylor

Lisa Clendenning

Shannon Colon

Robert Connors

John Cooke

Todd Coon

Richard Cortez-Satterlee

Joanna Couch

Brandon Couts

Meghan Crowther

Summer Davis

Katherine Del Cid

Vanessa Delgado

Gerald Dillon

Kerri Drylie

Mirvate El Jerdi

Shajira El Masri

Amy Ellis

Jerad Engel

Damian Fagan

Marites Falkenhausen

Sarah Farrell

Jessica Fasano

Ben Fauser

Melissa Fawcett

Janet Feliciano

Valentina Fernandez

Jason Francis

Neftali Garcia

Eileen Garner

Christopher Gase

Kristina Gomez

Agustin Gonzalez

Adriel Gonzalez Gutierrez

Ryan Goodwin

Liz Gordian Olmo

Walter Gordon

Rhonda Granger Gomez

Josh Haupt

George Hayner Jr.

Rita Higgins

Katherine Hoefer

Elizabeth Hughes

Erica Hutton

Renee Johnston

Nathanael Jones

Megan Kellogg

Brian Kelly

Mike Kilbride

Maureen Landgraf

Daniel Lee

Missy Lesnewski

Ian Levy

Sarojben Limbachia

George Lopez

Ricardo Lopez

Juan Lugo

Karemah Manselle

Kristy McAllister

Justin McGill

Pamela McGlinchey

Oliver McSurley

Rebecca Meadows

Nelson Mendez

Pamela Mills

Mike Minutelli

Eli Mizell

Angela Moreira

Rebecca Mowrer

Lauren Murray-Lemon

David Neese

Lucas Noboa

Loida Olivas

Jeffrey Panter

Steven Pardo

Juana Pasco

Laura Patterson

Deborah Pease

Miguel Pellot

Ryan Pendry

Karen Peterson

Wanda Pruett-Butler

Abner Ramos Piñero

Erica Recktenwald

Samantha Redlund

Elizabeth Richner

Carlos Rivera

Victor Rivera

Lisa Roberts

Jacob Scholtz

Skender Shehu

Mari Sievinen

Kiela Sims

Aaron Smart

Liza Smith

Casey Smith

Esperanza Soto

Calvin Soto

Tenley Sterkel

Timothy Sullivan

Jackson Thevenin

Danielle Traylor

Wanda Tummons

Anna Velocci

Brian Villar

Stephen Villiotis

Paul Werden

Jonathan White

Barbara Wilson

Dylan Yonts

5 Years of Service

Lidya Abdelmalak

Elna Andreeva

Dana Archer

Linnette Aviles

Jessica Banos

Arismir Barreiras Peralta

Kristy Beitler

Summer Bernini

Abby Bertrand

Mayra Bonilla Torres

Melissa Braillard

Drew Bryant

Barbara Busch

Jess Camacho

Alexander N. Cartwright

Maria Ceku

Gianna Cifredo

Wilfredo Cornelio

Mario De Vera

Franco Del Pino

Mark Durbin

David Edgar

Lori Fiandra

Steven Fournier

Amoy Fraser

Raquela Garcia-Valenzuela

Melissa Gilliland

Luis Gonzalez

Marisela Guillen

Kathleen Hawkins

Robert Herr

Donna Jackson

Chase Jicha

Justin Kardach

Jamie Kaynan

Scott Langdon

Sarah Lardizabal

Kristeena LaRoue

Angela Lehman

Lucy Leon

Lawrence Lipe

Alex Lucchi

Marc Maheu

Alli Maiorano

Martha Martin

Reyner Martinez

Kate Mascheri

Angelica Mateo

Stephanie Mederos

Christopher Miller

Sarah Moore

Mindy Mozena

Lisa Myles

Iris Neil

Veronica Pak

Evgenia Pamer

Neelam Patel

Tran Pham

Cat Puckett

Monica Quimbayo

Michael Rivera

Marvecia Robinson

Leslie Rogers

Mary Rush

Luis Sanchez Artavia

Kyle Sindelar

Monica Smith

Yulisney Sotolongo

Garrett Spurlin

Jennifer Stalzer

Kimberly Stangle

Kenneth Steele

Lorenzo Stefko

Shari-Ann Stewart

Jane Stump

Elizabeth Tammaro

Jason Taningco

Raquel Toro-Espinal

Pia Valenciano

Thaina Velez

Danta White

Roksana Zak

Recognition of Retirees

Rafael Abreu

Yousef Ayoub

Pam Barkman

Suzette Batka

Emily Bennett

Richard Berwanger

Jeanne Blank

Patrick Blount

Parri Bolinger

Marcus Bowan

Deborah Bradford

Roanne Brice

Gary Burkhart

Rose Carpenter

Rick Catasus

Edgar Chavez

Willis Chico

Eunice Choi

Diane Claudio

Theresa Collins

Debra Copertino

Laura Crouch

Carol Davella

Karen Dlhosh

Debbie Doyle

Carol Ann Dykes Logue

Larry Eflin

Joseph Finnigan

Perry Fraser

Catherine Gholson

Amy Giroux

Robert Goater

Mariela Gonzalez

Tracy Griffith

Mark Gumble

Tania Gutierrez-Catasus

Martha Hamann

MJ Herbert Fuerst

Bethsy Hernandez

Ana Hernandez

Cherie Herrin

Michael Herring

Cathy Hill

Jane Ingalls

Wayne Jackson

Larry Jaffe

Daniel Kidder

Lee Kirkpatrick

Phyllis Kornegay

Melinda Kramer

Donna Leavitt

Ruben Lopez

Dennis Maddox

Kelli Marini

Janice Matley

Marcia Maukonen

Oscar Mauricio

James “Jim� McCully

Carrie McDowell

Linda Milner

Bruce Mink

Michele Monteith

Abderrahim Mouhassin

Christine Mouton

Jesus Munoz

Chuck Nicholas

Stephen OConnell

Leonardo Pascua

Esther Pennepacker

Rosario Pizarro

Brenda Posey

Michele Pozdoll

Odus Radford

Frances Ragsdale

Cindy Rahrle

Robert Reed

Wayne Regilio

Stella Restrepo

Kayonne Riley

Iris Rios

Charles Roberts

Norma Robles

Aimara Rodriguez

James Roop

Rosalba Ruiz

Eileen Ryan

Judith Samuels

Nicolas Santos

James Schaus

Jeanette Schreiber

Susan Schroen

Alison Schultz

Elena Sequera

Kelly Shilton

Michael Shumack

Shela Siegrist

Liza Smith

Karen Smith

Kathleen Snoeblen

Terry Stein

Peter Stephens

Patty Stroupe

Timothy Sullivan

Randolph Sulter

Jeffrey Ulmer

Lisa Vaughn

Luis Velozo

Rebecca Vilsack

Vicki Vitale

Deborah Walker

Kerry Welch

Maria Jocelyn Wick

Scott Wiles

Elena Wilson

Robert Wong

Our students are groundbreaking national and global scholarship winners, researchers, athletes, teaching assistants, residence assistants and leaders in campus organizations, including Student Government, LEAD Scholars and the President’s Leadership Council. The honorees include transfer students, those from first-generation and international backgrounds and members of the Burnett Honors College.

Aside from focusing on academics and campus causes, many of the student honorees volunteered at hospitals, schools, parks, food banks, shelters, clinics, youth clubs and with many community service organizations — at times as organizers and coordinators for support drives and campaigns.

“When you look at this group, you see trajectory.â€� — John Buckwalter, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs

“The students we recognize at our Founders’ Day Student Honors Celebration are extraordinary not just for what they’ve achieved, but for how they’ve shaped their time at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. They’ve pursued opportunities, challenged themselves and lifted others along the way,â€� says John Buckwalter, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “When you look at this group, you see trajectory — students whose experiences here are opening doors in meaningful ways and changing the direction of their futures, the trajectories of their families and the communities they inhabit.â€�

Student award categories highlight new inductees of the Order of Pegasus, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s highest student honor; graduate awards for outstanding master’s thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans. All honorees earned financial awards.

This year’s 37 inductees into the Order of Pegasus mark the 25^th anniversary class of top-achieving Knights. The average GPA of the 2026 class is 3.912.

The campus community is invited to attend the Student Honors Celebration on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom. A brief reception will follow.

Here are the students to be recognized.

Order of Pegasus Inductees

• Fatima Alziyad, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Andy Ayup, College of Sciences
• Megan Bailey, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Stacie Becker ’23, College of Arts and Humanities
• Akash Hari Bharath ’25MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Swati Bhargava ’25MS, College of Optics and Photonics
• Sanjana Bhatt, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Griffon Binkowski ’24, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Nico Chen, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Kyle Coutray, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Allyson Crighton, College of Nursing and Burnett Honors College
• Nyauni Crowelle-Feggins, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Cameron Cummins, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Andrew “Drewâ€� Hansen ’25, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Andrea Hernandez Gomez, College of Sciences
• Lindsey Hildebrand, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Ariana Johnson, College of Medicine
• Sanjan Kumar ’23, College of Medicine
• Kworweinski Lafontant, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Meera Lakshmanan, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Ilana Logvinov, College of Nursing
• Hannah Lovejoy, College of Business
• Taiel Lucile, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Robin Marquez, College of Sciences
• Shanel Moya Aguero, College of Community Innovation and Education and Burnett Honors College
• Gabrielle “Gabbyâ€� Murison, College of Sciences
• Varun Nannuri, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Natalie Otero, College of Business and Burnett Honors College
• Om Pathak, College of Medicine, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Pritha Sarkar ’24, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacob Vierling, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Janapriya Vijayakumar, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Ornella Vintimilla, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Om Vishanagra, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College

Undergraduate Student Awards

College Founders’ Award

• Liam Pivnichny, Burnett Honors College
• Antonella Bisbal Hernandez, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jordan Nell, College of Business
• Jude Hagan, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Timothy Horanic, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Sun Latt, College of Medicine
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Jacob Silver, College of Optics and Photonics
• Emily Willis, College of Sciences
• Fabian Rodriguez Gomez, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis

• Edwin Garcia ’25, College of Arts and Humanities, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Arts, Humanities and Creative Inquiry
• Eric Haseman ’25, College of Sciences, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Social Sciences
• Shreya S. Pawar ’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Natural Sciences
• Andrea C. Molero Perez ’25, College of Medicine, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Health Sciences
• Nicholas Rose ’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Engineering and Technology

Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

• Jessica Moon ’25PhD, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Pierro ’20 ’23MS ’25PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science

The prestigious recognition is awarded to scholars who have made outstanding contributions to advance practice, education, research and policy in a healthcare profession and who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to interprofessional practice.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s inductees and their respective academies are: Mindi Anderson (Nursing), Morris Beato (Physical Therapy), Susan Dyess (Nursing), David Eddins (Audiology), Julie Feuerstein (Speech-Language Pathology), Kristine Gauthier (Nursing), Valerie Martinez (Nursing), Jacqueline Towson (Speech-Language Pathology), and Asli Yalim (Social Work).

The awardees were inducted during the National Academies of Practice Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on March 14.

College of Nursing Fellows

Mindi Anderson

Mindi Anderson, interim associate dean of academic affairs and professor at the College of Nursing, is one of the world’s leading experts in healthcare simulation. Her research, which has established best practices in healthcare simulation education, includes developing and evaluating simulation experiences to prepare healthcare students for clinical practice. She is also part of an interdisciplinary team at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ whose research has contributed to multiple patents to advance simulation and training.

Susan Dyess

With over 30 years of academic, clinical, and administrative experience, Professor Susan Dyess is a nationally recognized leader in interprofessional education, curricular design and holistic nursing. An expert in aging, vulnerable populations and quality, safety and patient outcomes, she has played a pivotal role in advancing interprofessional learning through institutional councils, statewide initiatives and community-based partnerships. Previously, she held senior academic leadership positions that strengthened cross-disciplinary education and fostered student success through innovative models.

Kristine Gauthier

Kristine Gauthier, assistant dean for clinical affairs in the College of Nursing, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who collaborates on interdisciplinary teams to improve health outcomes for underserved pediatric populations. Her collaboration extends into academic settings with curriculum development and research to address childhood health and wellness. In addition to her Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ appointment, Gauthier leads a national center on child health and safety where she collaborates to develop resources, metrics, policies and research.

Valerie Martinez

As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Valerie Martinez collaborates across disciplines as a researcher and educator to improve health outcomes for children and families. In her role as director of the advanced practice in Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s doctor of nursing practice program, Martinez has designed courses and simulations to prepare future nurse practitioners to collaborate effectively across health professions. Her research seeks to generate evidence to improve care across healthcare professions.

College of Health Professions and Sciences Fellows

Morris “Rick� Beato

Morris “Rickâ€� Beato, a clinical associate professor in the , has extensive experience in multidisciplinary clinical settings, including the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Huntington’s Clinic. He educates physical therapy students in IPE competencies and has received multiple national and state awards for teaching and professional service. His scholarly contributions include multiple collaborations in neurology and geriatrics. He is the director of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and Orlando Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program.

David Eddins

Professor David Eddins is a nationally recognized certified clinical audiologist in the . Eddins is the founding director of the Communication Technologies Research Center at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, an interdisciplinary center that focuses on hearing technologies, simulation, auditory neuroscience, voice and aerodigestive systems, and simulation and virtualization. His contributions to the interprofessional community include extensive research, mentoring and editorial service focused on improving diagnostics and treatment in hearing, speech and voice.

Julie Feuerstein

Assistant Professor Julie Feuerstein is a speech-language pathologist, educator and clinical researcher who leads interdisciplinary initiatives uniting professionals in speech-language pathology, physical therapy and assistive technology. Her research and service in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders are centered around improving systems of care for young children with complex communication needs. Feuerstein’s expertise spans early intervention, augmentative and alternative communication, and implementation science.

Jacqueline Towson

Jacqueline Towson is a speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders committed to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Towson has published and presented extensively on her research focusing on dialogic reading, early language and literacy and training. She has led multiple large-scale interdisciplinary projects, designed to deliver statewide training to ensure the use of evidence-based practices in serving children with high-intensity needs.

Asli Yalim

Associate Professor Asli Yalim has served as the School of Social Work’s Interprofessional Education Research Liaison since 2024. She develops and leads IPE activities that integrate wellness content into her coursework, creating experimental learning opportunities that foster collaboration across different professions. Yalim has collaborated on several funded projects, including an interprofessional, evidence-based virtual program to prevent burnout, suicide and mental health conditions among healthcare workers.

Additionally, six Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ faculty members from the Colleges of Health Professions and Sciences and Nursing were elected as new professional members. Membership is extended to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and dedication to interprofessional healthcare.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s new professional members and their respective academies are: Frances Armstrong (Nursing), Jonathan Decker (Nursing), William Hanney (Physical Therapy), Ilana Logvinov (Nursing), Ayse Malatyali (Nursing), and Shari Norte (Athletic Training).

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s new distinguished fellows join 17 previously inducted faculty, 11 from the College of Health Professions and Sciences and six

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s faculty are renowned thinkers, doers and creators delivering high-quality education and leading-industry research with purpose. They are the campus culture-setters — inspiring ingenuity while upholding our mission to change lives and livelihoods.

The most exceptional among them are recognized annually with the distinction of the university’s highest honor, the Pegasus Professor award. This year, Hassan Foroosh (College of Computer Science and Engineering); Carmen Giurgescu (College of Nursing); Annette Khaled (College of Medicine); and Matthew Marino (College of Community Innovation and Education) become the newest inductees of this esteemed group.

Their work and research have been motivated by a pursuit to positively impact society — redefining our capabilities with artificial intelligence (AI) systems; improving pre-term birth outcomes for mothers and their babies; curing cancer; and enhancing quality of life for people with disabilities.

Each will be recognized during Founders’ Day, which is April 1 this year and receive $5,000.

Meet the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Pegasus Professors for 2026:

Hassan Foroosh

CAE-Link Professor of computer science
Director of the Computational Imaging Laboratory

One day your research will solve:

My goal has always been not to solve one specific problem but build a machine that is the problem solver. I work with explainable AI and efficient or high-performance AI. My goal is to build general-purpose machines, whether in robotics or autonomous driving or data analytics, etc. I have always thought that there is a way to find a general solution to almost any problem. We just then have to specialize the machines and models to solve specific problems.

What motivates you to pursue this line of research?

I was fascinated by sci-fi movies as a kid. Not many people know this, but I’m a Trekkie. What always fascinated me were the technologies in that world — tele-transportation, warp speed, and others. I had not even seen a computer as a kid. Because back then, computers fit in rooms five times the size of my office. I was always interested in electronics and building things. In 1992, I moved back to France to do my Ph.D. and my advisor pushed me in the direction of AI and it’s been that ever since.

What makes Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ the right place to do what you do?

When I first came to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ 24 years ago, I saw opportunity for growth, and I saw all the industries around here. I saw Kennedy Space Center next door. I like to build partnerships. I like to see my research used in practice. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has given me the ability to do that throughout my career.

What has been your favorite moment as a professor?

There are many I can think of. But, once I was vacationing with my family in North Carolina about 10 years ago or so. We were in a mall, and this young man ran toward me. I said, “What’s going on?� He shook my hand and said, “Dr. Foroosh! I wanted to thank you. You affected my life.� Back then I was teaching classes of 200 students every semester, so it wasn’t easy to build relationships with every student or remember everyone’s name. It felt humbling to know that he felt that way and that I impacted his life like that. It was a very good moment.

Carmen Giurgescu

Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair in Nursing Associate Dean of Research 
Professor of nursing 

One day your research will:
Reduce the rate of pre-term births. For the past 20 years, my research has been examining how social determinants of health influence maternal health and birth outcomes, including preterm birth. Pre-term infants, born at less than 37-weeks gestation, are more likely to have developmental delays, hearing problems and blindness than infants born at term. Their mothers are more likely to have stress, depression, and anxiety. I am focused on improving the health of mothers and their babies.

What motivates you to take this on?
I’ve always been passionate about obstetrics, even since childhood. One of my aunts was pregnant with my cousin when I was a young child, and she was a physician, so she felt comfortable telling me about fetal development. I came to the United States in 1990, and I started working in a mother-baby unit. I had the opportunity to talk with mothers and provide care for their babies. And that put me on the trajectory and my passion for pregnancy and birth outcomes.

In what ways do your students inspire you?
They come up with new, innovative ideas that I never thought of. It’s not a matter of just them learning from me, but me also learning from them. When I see their passion for what they are doing and when I see them being successful, it drives me to be more innovative, to keep pursuing opportunities, and be more resilient.

What contributions at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ are you most proud of?
I came here in fall of 2019, and back then the College of Nursing had $1.7 million in research funding. In the 2024-25 academic year, we had $3.8 million. That’s a 124% increase in funding in five years. I am really proud of the commitment of our faculty and the interprofessional collaboration that has increased research and advanced scholarship in our college.

Annette Khaled

Professor of Medicine Cancer Division Head
Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs 

One day your research will solve:
Cancer. Today, even if you treat it, the patient isn’t sure if it will come back. Cancer diagnosis is almost like a lifetime death threat. I want to get to a place where, much like when we have a cold and take an antibiotic, I want people to be able to say, “I have cancer, take my medicine, I’m done. It’s not going to come back. It’s not going to kill me.�

What motivates you to take this on?
I grew up in California, and my grandparents visited us when I was a teenager. I remember my grandfather asked, “What do you want to do?� And I told him, “I want to cure cancer.� I think for some reason my whole life I’ve been aware of this deadly disease. I want to help people. I want to make a difference.

What are you most proud of during your tenure at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½?
I think the resiliency. We are a young college and have struggled with the ups and downs that the world throws at you. Sometimes you won’t have funding, sometimes you will have tons of funding. Sometimes things go your way with your studies, but this might be after 20 years of doing experiments that »å¾±»å²Ô’tÌýwork. So I think what I’m most proud of is that I haven’t given up, and I still see that there’s an optimistic future.

°Â³ó²¹³Ù’sÌý²Ô±ð³æ³Ù?
Cancer is a really difficult disease because everybody’s cancer is different. But personalized drug therapies — although good in theory — is very hard to implement because you would have to have 100 different drugs for each person. That’s how complicated it is. Our research and method take a different track.

We’ve found that all cancer cells share something in common, a protein-folding complex. With this insight we developed a drug that we’re partnering with the Orlando VA Healthcare System, thanks to the generous support of Orlando Sports Foundation and Alan Gooch ’84 ’89MA,  to test with patient specimens. We have a lot more to do — this is very preliminary. But I am so pleased with the data. I want to eventually get this into clinical trials and get this into the hands of people.

Matthew Marino

Professor of Exceptional Student Education
Director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute (TJEEI)

One day your research will:
Empower independence for people living with disabilities. People with disabilities struggle to find and maintain employment. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Labor noted a workforce participation rate of just 42% for people with disabilities, compared to 78% for those without. This lack of employment leads to downstream effects such as the inability to live independently. Our dynamic team is utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to leverage emerging technologies in a way that enhances the lives of people with disabilities across our community.

What motivates you to take this problem on?
When I was in college, I suffered a severe spinal cord injury while playing rugby. I had no idea what a disability was prior to that event, but when you are confined to a wheelchair, you quickly learn how challenging life can be. It took me years of rehabilitation to recover from the injury. I have been working to improve the lives of people with disabilities who are less fortunate than me ever since. My goal is to help them find the tools to open the doors of employment.

What makes Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ the right place to do what you do?
The work we do at TJEEI is based on interdisciplinary partnerships and efficient, effective teamwork. I have traveled to universities throughout the country and have not found an institution where there is more ambition to change the world for the better, technology resources to make the change, and collaborative vigor to make it happen than there is at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. We are truly blessed to work in this environment.

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When we published our first article on  no one was talking about the impact it would have on education. AI has tremendous potential for people with disabilities, which is something we are actively exploring at the National Center on Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning, where I am a co-principle investigator. I’m not sure where it will take us, but I am extremely optimistic that it can enhance the lives of people with disabilities while improving employment and independent living outcomes.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation Gregory Welch has made countless contributions to the fields of virtual, augmented and mixed reality as an inventor and researcher, but some of the ones he’s most proud of aren’t documented in patent applications or peer-reviewed publications.

For more than two decades, Welch has extended his passion into purposeful action within and beyond the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) to empower future generations, foster collaboration and growth, and advance the fields of visualization, computer graphics, and virtual/augmented reality. Through his dedication and leadership, he has made a sustained impact on the global community.

His service includes volunteering at dozens of IEEE VGTC conferences since 2000 and serving as general chair for three international events, each drawing hundreds of attendees.

“… I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] … could experience VR technology.”

One of the most memorable was the 2013 Virtual Reality Conference in Orlando, which he co-chaired and where he created the Florida Academic VR Showcase (FLAVRS).

“Conferences typically bus attendees to the host institution for demonstrations, but nobody enjoys long bus rides late at night,� Welch says. “With FLAVRS, I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] could bring their families and experience VR technology.�

Welch, IEEE VR 2013 co-chair, joined University of Florida Professor Benjamin Lok and a group of student volunteers to transform the event ballroom into the makeup of Florida, complete with cities, lakes and well-known landmarks. Twenty-two demonstrations from researchers across the state were arranged by their institutions’ geographic locations.

Attendees received “passports� to collect stamps at each demonstration and earn prizes.

“I still have people tell me that it was the best VR conference event they have ever attended,� Welch says.

Mentoring the VR Researchers of Tomorrow

To further advance the field, Welch serves as an associate editor for two journals and has organized several professional development opportunities for students, researchers and developers, including international research retreats focused on specific topics.

He has also focused on inspiring future generations of virtual reality researchers. One of the contributions he’s most proud of is the creation of the XR Future Faculty Forum, or F3.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations … and to build a community among future faculty.”

Launched in 2023 with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ computer science doctoral student Matthew Gottsacker, F3 connects faculty volunteers with graduate students through panels, talks and one-on-one mentoring to prepare future scholars for careers in academia. What began as an idea has grown into an annual event supporting hundreds of participants, with plans to continue expanding. F3 will take place again at the 2026 IEEE VR Conference in Daegu, Korea, where Welch will be honored for his service.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations, to help reduce fears about research funding and tenure, and to build a community among future faculty,� Welch says. “It’s been so gratifying to see this idea impact real people and expand to other conferences.�

His impact on future generations extends to his work at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, where he has advised and mentored dozens of students from undergraduates to postdoctoral scholars.

Driving Discovery in Simulation and Technology

Welch has made sustained contributions to the field through innovative research in virtual/augmented reality, virtual beings, motion tracking display and healthcare technology.

He currently leads the development of the , supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. VERA, which is the first large-scale system for extended reality research, aims to create a powerful platform for human subjects research and behavioral data collection in VR. IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement awardee and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, Carolina Cruz-Neira, is also working on the project, which is a collaboration across multiple universities.

To date, Welch has authored more than 150 publications and his work has contributed to 25 patents. His 1995 Introduction to the Kalman Filter has been cited more than 12,500 times. His patented innovations span a wide range of applications, from projection mapping — like what’s used on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom — to physical-virtual patient simulators, “smart� wound simulators, sterile field detection mechanisms, directional electrodes for deep brain stimulation, tactile telepresence for isolated patients and spatially explicit auditory cues for enhanced situational awareness.

A Legacy of Service

For his outstanding contributions and career achievements, Welch has earned numerous honors, including being named to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. He’s also a fellow of IEEE, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a Pegasus Professor — Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s highest faculty honor.

“[My] unique blend of analytical and creative thinking [inspires] my work to … create interactive experiences that … solve challenges and help people.”

Welch sees value in real-life events that bring people together. He attributes his dedication to service and success as an innovator to his family and upbringing.

“My mother was a mathematician and computer programmer, and my father was a musician, so I have this unique blend of analytical and creative thinking,� he says. “That has inspired my work to use computer science to create interactive experiences that feel like the real world to solve challenges and help people.�

Welch’s commitment to helping others began long before his noteworthy career, with involvement in service organizations dating back to high school. For him, service is a way of life — not an obligation, but an opportunity to make an impact.

“There is so much that we can and should do to help our communities,� he says. “It takes people to step up, commit and invest time to make things happen. I hope my service and leadership inspire others.�