Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will award more than 4,000 degrees during three commencement ceremonies this summer, continuing Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s record-setting pace of preparing highly qualified graduates to drive Florida’s rapidly expanding engineering and technology economy and provide vital services to our communities.

Graduates will hear from industry leaders driving cutting-edge partnerships and processes in the health and space sectors, continuing inventive efforts that look to improve community health, streamline launches and make space more accessible.

They are Elizabeth Ellis ’02, a senior program manager at Blue Origin; Mark Soltys ’12, principal launch engineer at Space X; and Nicholas Abrahams ’20MNM, president and CEO of the Winter Park Health Foundation.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ expects to award over 4,000 degrees this summer, a showcase of the university’s continued scale. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ awards 18,000 degrees annually, including awarding more bachelor’s degrees in engineering and nursing than any other institution in the state. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida’s economic and population growth.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ serves more of Florida’s students than any other university. More than 90% of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s undergraduate students are Florida residents — and most will stay in Florida after they graduate, with 85% of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s new graduates remaining in Florida.

Of all degrees, the College of Sciences will award 22%, with fields like digital media, chemistry and physics. The College of Business will award 16%, including disciplines such as finance and accounting. The College of Engineering and Computer Science will award 13%, representing fields such as aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.

About 41% of the bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, showcasing the university’s commitment to students of all backgrounds. Additionally, about 25% of all degrees will be awarded to first-generation students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.

Commencement Festivities

Held in Addition Financial Arena, the spring commencement will take place Aug. 1-2.

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

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed on .

Commencement Photo-ops Across Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½

Main Campus

Two photo-ops are available for students to celebrate their accomplishments.

The Reflecting Pond is one of the most iconic spots on campus for grad photos. Strike a pose and make memories now through Monday, Aug. 4.

On Thursday, July 31, 4:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.), spring graduates will be offered a photo-op — Grad Walk — within Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. .

Graduating Knights are not able to take photos in FBC Mortgage Stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown offers several great locations for unforgettable graduation photos. Here are our top picks of the best spots to memorialize your academic achievement.

Celebrate your college journey by honoring your support system at the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons West Lobby donor wall. Use the iconic phrase, “If you want to go far, go together,� on the donor wall as a backdrop to pay homage to those who helped you along the way.

The Seneff Plaza, located between the East and West Wings of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, is where so many campus events and gatherings take place. The towering columns and reflective glass of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons capture the modern campus where you worked so hard to earn your degree.

Enhance your graduation photos by venturing beyond campus into the surrounding Orlando area. You barely have to step off campus to encounter the iconic Orlando sign located at Luminary Green Park. The 2.3-acre park features a large, welcoming lawn that leads up to the oversized “Orlando� letters at the end of the park, creating the ideal environment to mark your time in The City Beautiful.

Commencement Schedule

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

Friday, Aug. 1
6 p.m.

College of Arts and Humanities
College of Sciences
College of Undergraduate Studies

Saturday, Aug. 2
9 a.m.

College of Business
College of Engineering and Computer Science
College of Optics and Photonics
Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Saturday, Aug. 2
2:30 p.m.

College of Community Innovation and Education
College of Graduate Studies
College of Health Professions & Sciences
College of Medicine
College of Nursing

Commencement Speakers

Elizabeth Ellis ’02
Manager – Program Integration/Project Management

Elizabeth Ellis ’02 is a senior program manager at Blue Origin. Blue Origin is building a road to space for the benefit of Earth, humanity’s blue origin, by radically reducing the cost of access to space and harnessing its vast resources while mobilizing future generations to realize this mission.

Ellis supports the company’s push for reusable rockets to reduce spaceflight costs. Her focus includes work on this year’s successful launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn — the first non-legacy rocket to reach orbit on its maiden flight. She also contributes to the company’s endeavors to move and test critical equipment, aiding efforts that include protecting spacecraft payloads from aerodynamic heating and pressure during atmospheric launch.

Her professional career includes extensive experience in legal, hospitality and university sectors and a strong background in project management, analytics, finance, marketing and sales promotion. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ in marketing with a track in international business, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Glamorgan (now Cardiff University) in South Wales of the United Kingdom. Beyond work, Ellis’ interests include rescuing animals from high-kill shelters and unsafe conditions.

Mark Soltys ’12

Principal launch engineer at SpaceX

Mark Soltys ’12 has spent more than a decade launching rockets — and humans — into space. His current work centers on the Starship program, SpaceX’s ambitious effort to make humanity multiplanetary. He began his Starship journey as the launch director for its first prototype, Starhopper, and has supported further program development through suborbital, high-altitude and orbital flight tests. His current responsibility is to bring Starship “home� to Cape Canaveral.

Earlier in his career, Soltys developed and executed the first-ever fully automated launch countdown sequences for the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Starship vehicles. This automation effort — designed to make rocket launches “boring� by minimizing human error — was a key enabler of SpaceX’s record-breaking launch cadence. It contributed to more than 500 successful missions, including critical national security payloads, scientific research missions and human spaceflight.

Soltys believes human spaceflight is our greatest honor and most solemn responsibility. He is proud to have helped end U.S. reliance on Russia to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and has directed historic missions including the first-ever private mission to the ISS and the first human flight to orbit Earth’s poles.

Prior to SpaceX, Soltys held roles at Earthrise Space Foundation and Richard Petty Motorsports. A 2012 graduate of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ with a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering, Mark lives, surfs and freedives in Merritt Island, Florida, with his fiancée, a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ nursing alumna.

Nicholas Abrahams ’20MNM

President and CEO for Winter Park Health Foundation

Nicholas Abrahams ’20MNM is the president and CEO of the Winter Park Health Foundation, where he leads initiatives focused on enhancing community health and well-being. The foundation serves Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park, aiming to create a lasting impact by fostering innovative partnerships that address the evolving needs of these communities. Since its founding, the foundation has invested over $132 million into the community to support this mission.

He is a graduate of Florida State University and completed his master’s in nonprofit management at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. His commitment to community service includes his involvement on various boards, such as the AdventHealth Orlando board of directors, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando and Osceola County, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation advisory board, the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown dean’s advisory council, the Burnett Honors College dean’s advisory board and the VyStar Credit Union Foundation board of directors.

Together with his wife, Courtney, and daughter, Elle, Abrahams is committed to building a healthier, more vibrant future for families across Central Florida.

The celebration honored recipients of the Pegasus Professor Award, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s highest faculty honor; the Reach for the Stars Award; the recipient of the Medal of Societal Impact award; the inaugural Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year Award, university excellence award winners; those who recently reached 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service; a Faculty Senate service award; faculty granted ±ð³¾±ð°ù¾±³Ù³Ü²õ ´Ç°ù ±ð³¾±ð°ù¾±³Ù²¹â€¯status; and retired faculty members.

The event also included the announcement of this year’s faculty Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award, which went to Manoj Chopra, professor and associate dean of Undergraduate Affairs in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and a special presentation of provost emeritus status to Michael D. Johnson, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Johnson, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s provost since 2020, will retire this summer after 35 years at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ in various teaching and leadership roles.

The faculty event was part of a Founders’ Day Celebration that also included separate employee and staff recognition ceremonies. Here are the faculty honorees.

Pegasus Professor Award

Roger Azevedo, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Fevzi Okumus, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Yan Solihin, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Reach for the Stars Award

Amrita Ghosh, College of Arts and Humanities

Leland Nordin, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Yogesh Rawat, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Kelly Stevens, College of Community Innovation and Education

Societal Medal of Impact Award

Mohamed Abdel-Aty, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Champion of Student Success and Well-Being Award

Manoj Chopra, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year

Shin-Tson Wu, College of Optics and Photonics

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

College Awardees

Robert Borgon, College of Medicine

Karin Chumbimuni Torres, College of Sciences

Stacey DiLiberto, College of Arts and Humanities

Archana Dubey, College of Sciences

Leah Gaines, College of Undergraduate Studies

Christine Hanlon, College of Sciences

Gail Humiston, College of Community Innovation and Education

Ethan Hill, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Haidar Khezri, College of Arts and Humanities

Kelly Kibler, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Eunkyung Lee, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Michael Mousseau, College of Sciences

Brian Reese, College of Arts and Humanities

Jeffrey Reinking, College of Business Administration

Meredith Robertson, College of Community Innovation and Education

Sandra Sousa, College of Arts and Humanities

Dawn Turnage, College of Nursing

Rani Vajravelu, College of Sciences

Konstantin Vodopyanov, College of Optics and Photonics

Amanda Walden, College of Community Innovation and Education

Wei Wei, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

University Winner

Christine Hanlon, College of Sciences

Excellence in Graduate Teaching

College Awardees

Tuhin Das, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Melissa Frye, College of Business Administration

Erica Hoyt, College of Nursing

Pieter Kik, College of Optics and Photonics

Jihyun Kim, College of Sciences

Christine Kolaya, College of Arts and Humanities

Sheila Moore, College of Community Innovation and Education

Ahmet Ozturk, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Carey Rothschild, College of Health Professions and Sciences

University Winner

Erica Hoyt, College of Nursing

Excellence in Research

College Awardees

Barbara Andraka-Christou, College of Community Innovation and Education

Desiree Díaz, College of Nursing

Naveen Eluru, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Xin He, College of Business Administration

Emily Johnson, College of Arts and Humanities

Guifang Li, College of Optics and Photonics

Humberto Lopez Castillo, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Michal Masternak, College of Medicine

Richard Plate, College of Undergraduate Studies

Wei Wei, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Xiaohu Xia, College of Sciences

University Winner

Barbara Andraka-Christou, College of Community Innovation and Education

Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising

Chen Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Excellence in Professional Service

Jessica Wickey, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Excellence in Librarianship

Sai Deng, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

Excellence in Instructional Design

Amanda Major, Digital Learning

University Award for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students

Engineering, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences

David Mohaisen, College of Engineering and Computer Science

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

Juli Dixon, College of Community Innovation and Education

University Award for Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars

Ghaith Rabadi, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Faculty Senate Service Awards

10 Years of Service

Karol Lucken, College of Community Innovation and Education

Service Awards

20 Years of Service

Ni-bin Chang, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Zixi Cheng, College of Medicine

Max Croft, College of Sciences

Leslee Damato-Kubiet, College of Nursing

Kenneth Fedorka, College of Sciences

Yanga Fernandez, College of Sciences

Amy Foster, College of Arts and Humanities

Martha Garcia, College of Arts and Humanities

Vladimir Gatchev, College of Business Administration

Andre Gesquiere, Office of Research

Xun Gong, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Constance Goodman, College of Community Innovation and Education

Ali Gordon, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Richard Hall, College of Sciences

William Hanney, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Tadayuki Hara, Rosen, College of Hospitality Management

Sally Hastings, College of Sciences

Eric Hoffman, College of Sciences

Jeremy Hunt, College of Arts and Humanities

Qun Huo, Office of Research

Hyung Jung, Rosen, College of Hospitality Management

Saiful Khondaker, Office of Research

Jacqueline Lamanna, College of Nursing

Glenn Lambie, College of Community Innovation and Education

Connie Lester, College of Arts and Humanities

Michael Leuenberger Office of Research

Amelia Lyons, College of Arts and Humanities

Carolyn Massiah, College of Business Administration

Daniel Novatnak, College of Sciences

Fevzi Okumus, Rosen, College of Hospitality Management

Thomas Potter, College of Arts and Humanities

Fernando Rivera, College of Sciences

Sean Robb, College of Business Administration

John Rotolo, College of Sciences

Swadeshmukul Santra, Office of Research

Zixia Song, College of Sciences

Judit Szente, College of Community Innovation and Education

Alexandru Tamasan, College of Sciences

Scott Waring, College of Community Innovation and Education

Ronald Weaver, College of Sciences

Harry Weger, College of Sciences

Margaret Zaho, College of Arts and Humanities

Lei Zhai, Office of Research

Changchun Zou, College of Engineering and Computer Science

25 Years of Service

Sue Bauer, Digital Learning

Aniket Bhattacharya, College of Sciences

David Boote, College of Community Innovation and Education

Shawn Burke, College of Graduate Studies

Juli Dixon, College of Community Innovation and Education

Patricia Farless, College of Arts and Humanities

Deguang Han, College of Sciences

Peter Hancock, College of Sciences

Christine Hanlon, College of Sciences

Rae Hanson, College of Graduate Studies

Robin Kohn, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Jaydeep Mukherjee, Office of Research

Carla Poindexter, College of Arts and Humanities

Luis Rabelo, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Dean Reed, College of Graduate Studies

Kimberly Renk, College of Sciences

Kirk Scammon, College of Engineering and Computer Science

David Scrogin, College of Business Administration

Stephen Sivo, College of Community Innovation and Education

Yongho Sohn, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Nancy Swenson, Digital Learning

Terry Thaxton, College of Arts and Humanities

Pamela Thomas, College of Sciences

Kristina Tollefson, College of Arts and Humanities

Rajan Vaidyanathan, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Mark Winton, College of Community Innovation and Education

Ross Wolf, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown

Ronnie Zimmerman, College of Community Innovation and Education

30 Years of Service 

Hadi Abbas, College of Arts and Humanities

Mohamed Abdel-Aty, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Debopam Chakrabarti, College of Medicine

David Chasar, Office of Research

Leslie Connell, College of Business Administration

Dina Fabery, College of Arts and Humanities

Cristina Fernandez-Valle, College of Medicine

Kevin Haran, College of Arts and Humanities

James Helsinger, College of Arts and Humanities

Athena Hoeppner, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

Aubrey Jewett, College of Sciences

Timothy Kotnour, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Heath Martin, College of Sciences

Janet McIlvaine, Office of Research

Lisa Nalbone, College of Arts and Humanities

Saleh Naser, College of Medicine

Marianna Pensky, College of Sciences

Otto Phanstiel, College of Medicine

Jeanne Piascik, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

Jeffrey Rupert, College of Arts and Humanities

Raymond Surette, College of Community Innovation and Education

John Weishampel, College of Graduate Studies

35 Years of Service

Kien Hua, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Zhihua Qu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Clint Bowers, College of Sciences

Lyman Brodie, College of Arts and Humanities

Sudipto Choudhury, College of Sciences

Shelley Park, College of Arts and Humanities

Alfons Schulte, College of Sciences

40 Years of Service

Karen Biraimah, College of Community Innovation and Education

Gene Lee, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Piotr Mikusinski, College of Sciences

Ady Milman, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Bhimsen Shivamoggi, College of Sciences

45 Years of Service

Charles Hughes, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Faculty Emeritus and Emerita

Gregg A. Buckingham, College of Community Innovation and Education

Robertico Croes, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Joseph DiNapoli, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Juli Dixon, College of Community Innovation and Education

Denise Gammonley, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Roger Handberg, College of Sciences

Charles E. Hughes, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Joe Hutchinson, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

David Jenkins, College of Sciences

Michael D. Johnson, Office of the Provost

Elizabeth A. Klonoff, College of Sciences

Gary Leavens, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Joyce Nutta, College of Community Innovation and Education

Pedro Francisco Quintana-Ascencio, College of Sciences

Abraham Pizam, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Melvin Rogers, College of Community Innovation and Education

Linda Rosa-Lugo, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Maria Cristina Santana-Rogers, College of Arts and Humanities

Michael Sigman, College of Sciences

Mary Lou Sole, College of Nursing

Martine Vanryckeghem, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Cherie Yestrebsky, College of Sciences

Retired Faculty

Richard Ajayi, College of Business Administration

Kelly Allred, College of Nursing

Maureen Ambrose, College of Business Administration

Blaise Bossy, College of Medicine

Ella Bossy-Wetzel, College of Medicine

Gregg Buckingham, College of Community Innovation and Education

Scott Bukstein, College of Business Administration

Carol Burgunder, College of Nursing

Angeline Bushy, College of Nursing

Lynn Casmier-Paz, College of Arts and Humanities

Kevin Coffey, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Maureen Covelli, College of Nursing

Barry Edwards, College of Sciences

Azza Fahim, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Lynette Feder, College of Community Innovation and Education

Denise Gammonley, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Leonid Glebov, College of Optics and Photonics

Paul Goldwater, College of Business Administration

Lixing Gu, Office of Research

Shari Hodgson, College of Sciences

Joe Hutchinson, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Frances Iacobellis, College of Nursing

Steve Jex, College of Sciences

Eric Johnson, Office of Research

Mark Kerlin, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Global

Joo Kim, College of Arts and Humanities

Barbara Kinsey, College of Sciences

Elizabeth Klonoff, College of Graduate Studies

Keith Koons, College of Arts and Humanities

Alice Korosy, College of Arts and Humanities

Judith Levin, College of Community Innovation and Education

Michael McManus, College of Community Innovation and Education

Zuhair Nashed, College of Sciences

Pedro Patino Marin, College of Sciences

Abraham Pizam, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Robert Reedy, College of Arts and Humanities

Bahaa Saleh, College of Optics and Photonics

Maria Cristina Santana-Rogers, College of Arts and Humanities

Melvin Rogers, College of Community Innovation and Education

Marshall Schminke, College of Business Administration

Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore  College of Community Innovation and Education

Timothy Sellnow, College of Sciences

Michael Sigman, College of Sciences

Verner Smith, College of Business Administration

Janan Smither, College of Sciences

Ula Stoeckl, College of Sciences

Joseph Vasquez, College of Sciences

Lewis Worrell, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Xin Yan, College of Sciences

For undergraduate students, this esteemed honor recognizes exceptional academic excellence, leadership, active university involvement and meaningful community service. For master’s, doctoral, professional, and M.D. students, the Order of Pegasus highlights remarkable academic accomplishments, professional leadership, impactful community service, and innovative research or publications.

Recipients of the Order of Pegasus award represent the highest ideals of what it means to be a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Knight. Their dedication, passion, and contributions to both local and global communities showcase the remarkable talent and potential found at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.With a combined grade point average of 3.89, this year’s honorees are making impacts across various fields, including engineering, healthcare, hospitality, engineering and the humanities. Throughout the community they are enriching the human experience by meeting the challenges of our world. By engaging with hands-on research they are uncovering new knowledge and contributing to broad-based prosperity.

Other student honor categories being highlighted include graduate awards for outstanding master’s thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors undergraduate thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans. All honorees earned financial awards.

Celebrating Excellence on Founders’ Day

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s annual Founders’ Day, held on the first Wednesday in April, is dedicated to honoring the outstanding achievements of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s employees, faculty and students. This year’s Student Honors Celebration will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom.

Order of Pegasus Inductees

• Frances Aguayo, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College
• Zaima Aline, College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College
• Dave Austin ’22MS ’24PhD, College of Sciences
• Gabryella Baldaci, College of Optics and Photonics
• Austin Bennett ’24, College of Sciences
• Nicholas Bruno, College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Tiffany Dawson, College of Sciences
• Hannah DeGraw, College of Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Melissa Deinys, College of Medicine
• Jonae Edwards, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Liana Alvarez Garcia, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Bedis Elkamel, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Teri Faucette ’98, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Cooper Foxman, College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College
• Sebastian Garcia ’23, College of Arts and Humanities, College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College
• Julia Going, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College
• Juliana Hirn ’17 ’19MA, College of Community Innovation and Education, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Nelson Jones, College of Science
• Raj Khuperkar, College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College
• Ayaka Kimura, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Yuka Kimura, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Jenna Koo, College of Nursing
• Sun Latt, College of Medicine, Burnett Honors College
• Stephanie Lough ’21MS, College of Sciences
• Chloe Milliron, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Aneesha Nayak, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College
• Apoorva Palled, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Nicole Parker, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College
• Justin Phelps ’19 ’22MS ’24PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Gabriela Polera, College of Sciences
• Chloe Pinkston, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Burnett Honors College
• Roshna Cherugail Ramadoss, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Burnett Honors College
• Heidi Rivera, College of Arts and Humanities
• Anderson Rosa, College of Sciences
• Nicole Stevens, College of Medicine
• Brielle Young, College of Business Administration, Burnett Honors College
• Sydney Weisman ’23, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Undergraduate Student Awards

College Founders’ Award

• Chase Scholze, College of Arts and Humanities
• Madelyn Francis, Burnett Honors College, College of Medicine
• Jeffrey Linares, College of Business
• Isabella Rojas, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Mariana Sorroza Aguilar, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Samantha Migliore, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Arlette Morcelo, College of Medicine
• Victoria Trautwein, College of Nursing
• Alejandro Lopez Zelaya, College of Optics and Photonics
• Jonae Edwards, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Amanda Lindquist, College of Sciences

Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis

• Aishwarya Rajakumar ’24, College of Medicine
• Abdulrazak Kalae ’23, College of Sciences
• Gregory DeCamillis ’24, College of Sciences
• Maria Ocando Monaco ’24, College of Sciences
• Hanna Mohammed ’23, College of Undergraduate Studies

Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

• Furkan Luleci ’19MS ’24PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Michael Johnstone ’17 ’19MS ’24PhD, College of Medicine

Outstanding Master’s Thesis

• Aaditya Bhatia ’24MA, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Brandi Antonio ’24MS, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Outstanding Creative Work

• Sylvia McMillon ’22 ’24MA, College of Sciences, College of Community Innovation and Education

“Each year, I look forward to honoring our newest class of 30 Under 30 Alumni,” says Heather Junod ’98, associate vice president of alumni engagement and annual giving. “And each year, my pride only grows as we celebrate these bold, visionary, trailblazing, and resilient alumni. Their achievements inspire us all, but even more remarkable is their commitment to uplifting their communities and alma mater. I invite all of Knight Nation to join me in recognizing these outstanding Knights — not only for their individual successes but also for the lasting impact they are making on the world.”

Hundreds of nominations were accepted online from Sept. 22, 2024, until Nov. 11, 2024. The submissions were reviewed and scored by previous award recipients, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Young Alumni Ambassadors, and Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ staff. The finalists were then confirmed by the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Alumni Board based on the following criteria:

• Must be a graduate of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ (undergraduate or graduate degree)
• Must be age 29 or younger on June 1, 2025
• Must demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and striving to uphold Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Young Alumni values

“Big congratulations to the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Alumni 30 Under 30 Class of 2025!â€� says Jessica Malberti ’16, chair of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Young Alumni Community. “Knight Nation and the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Young Alumni Community are incredibly fortunate to be shaped by these extraordinary individuals, whose remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ continue to inspire. What is especially meaningful to me is the common bond they share: a powerful commitment to excellence that uplifts their communities and fellow Knights.â€�

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Alumni will celebrate the 2025 award recipients at a special event on Saturday, May 17 at Addition Financial Arena. Below is a complete list of the winners, listed alphabetically by last name. Past recipients can be found on the .

The 2025 honorees are:

Gillian Anderson ’21
Bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders
Burnett Honors College

Savannah Ashley ’18 ’22MBA
Bachelor’s in marketing
Master’s in business administration

Jacob Ballard ’19 ’22MS
Bachelor’s in political science
Master’s in urban planning

Amelia Mills Bender ’17
Bachelor’s in finance

Kyle Benkel ’20 ’24MD
Bachelor’s in biomedical sciences
Doctorate in medicine
Burnett Honors College

Jordan Bubar ’20
Bachelor’s in marketing

Robert F. Burke ’19 ’20MS ’22PhD
Bachelor’s in aerospace engineering
Master’s in aerospace engineering
Doctorate in aerospace engineering
Burnett Honors College

Andrew Caputo ’22MS
Master’s in optics and photonics

Béthanie Derice ’20
Bachelor’s in kinesiology — sport and exercise science

Aly Derksen ’19 ’21MA
Bachelor’s in psychology
Master’s in educational leadership

Dashiell Desravines ’20
Bachelor’s in biology

Megan Driggers ’19 ’22MS
Bachelor’s in electrical engineering
Master’s in electrical engineering

Matthew Durrant ’17
Bachelor’s in finance

Leah Freeman ’22
Bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies

Padmavathi Ganduri ’21
Bachelor’s in integrated business
Burnett Honors College

Paul Gill ’18
Bachelor’s in political science
Burnett Honors College

Annalisa Gobin ’20
Bachelor’s in legal studies

Frank Hamedl ’18
Bachelor’s in hospitality management

Josh Kaplan ’21
Bachelor’s in event management

Dallas Keeney ’18
Bachelor’s in marketing

Brianna Laurenceau ’18
Bachelor’s in health science — pre-clinical

Angelina Leary ’19 ’21MS
Bachelor’s in psychology
Master’s in clinical psychology
Burnett Honors College

Vladimir Louissaint ’21
Bachelor’s in finance

Holton Mills ’20
Bachelor’s in integrative general studies

Miten Patel ’17 ’21MS
Bachelor’s in public administration
Master’s in urban and regional planning

Alexandria Pelton ’19 ’21MEd
Bachelor’s in exceptional student education
Master’s in exceptional student education

Katy Sullivan ’16 ’19MA
Bachelor’s in political science
Master’s in political science

BJ Taylor ’18
Bachelor’s in integrated business

Rossana Woodford ’18 ’20MNM ’20MPA
Bachelor’s in psychology
Master’s in nonprofit management and public administration

Tamar Yishay ’20 ’21MS
Bachelor’s in biology
Master’s in nanotechnology
Burnett Honors College

This year’s ceremonies will feature speeches from four influential Central Florida leaders: Thad Seymour Jr., former Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ interim president and executive; Ken Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation; Mark Penning, vice president of Walt Disney World’s Animals, Science and Environment team; and interdisciplinary studies alumnus Cole NeSmith ’07, founder and artistic director of the Creative City Project.

Of the degrees Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ expects to award, 5,308 are bachelor’s, 989 are master’s and 92 are doctoral degrees. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ will also award 108 graduate certificates, and commencement speakers Seymour Jr. and Robinson will receive honorary degrees in recognition of their transformative contributions to education, healthcare innovation, community development and more throughout Central Florida.

Overall, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ anticipates awarding 1,793 degrees in STEM fields — including 949 in engineering and computer science — as well as 941 in business-related fields, 267 in hospitality-related fields, 191 in nursing, 101 in biomedical sciences, and 34 in digital and emerging media.

About 44% of the bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, which total 2,872 graduates, showcasing the university’s commitment to social mobility. Additionally, 1,648 bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to first-generation students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.

Commencement Festivities

Held in Addition Financial Arena, the fall commencement will take place Dec. 13-14.

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

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed on .

Commencement Photo-ops Across Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½

Main Campus

Three different photo-ops on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s main campus are available for students to celebrate their accomplishments.

The Reflecting Pond is one of the most iconic spots on campus for grad photos. Strike a pose and make memories through Dec. 16.

Graduating Knights will also be able to take photos in FBC Mortgage Stadium from 10 a.m. to 4p.m., Dec. 10-12. Please enter through Gate 13B (Carl Black & Gold Cabana) to access the stadium. Taking photos on the field is prohibited.

On Thursday, Dec. 12, 2:30-7 p.m., fall graduates are invited for a photo-op — Grad Walk — within Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. . Complimentary parking is available in Garage D.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown offers several great locations for unforgettable graduation photos. Here’s our top picks of the best spots to memorialize your academic achievement.

Celebrate your college journey by honoring your support system at the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons West Lobby donor wall. Use the iconic phrase, “If you want to go far, go together,� on the donor wall as a backdrop to pay homage to those who helped you along the way.

The Seneff Plaza, located between the East and West Wings of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, is where so many campus events and gatherings take place. The towering columns and reflective glass of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons capture the modern campus where you worked so hard to earn your degree.

Enhance your graduation photos by venturing beyond campus into the surrounding Orlando area. You barely have to step off campus to encounter the iconic Orlando sign located at Luminary Green Park. The 2.3-acre park features a large, welcoming lawn that leads up to the oversized “Orlando� letters at the end of the park, creating the ideal environment to mark your time in The City Beautiful.

Commencement Schedule

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

College of Business Administration

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Optics and Photonics

College of Graduate Studies

College of Health Professions and Sciences

College of Medicine

College of Nursing

College of Undergraduate Studies

College of Sciences

College of Arts and Humanities

College of Community Innovation and Education

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Commencement Speakers

Thad Seymour Jr.

Dec. 13, 9 a.m.

Proving that following a “crooked pathâ€� has its merits, Thad Seymour Jr. began his career in a high school classroom, going on to earn a doctoral degree in history. Bitten by the business bug, Seymour Jr. ventured into health technology innovation. He led strategy for the Tavistock Group at Lake Nona Medical City, which includes the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Medicine and the soon-to-open Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, along with billions of dollars invested in hospitals, research facilities, and cutting-edge health and life sciences companies.

After years of collaborating with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, Seymour Jr. joined the university to lead the development of its 2016 strategic plan. He then led the effort to build and open the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Downtown campus, served as chief innovation officer and concluded his Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ career as interim president from February 2019 to April 2020, in partnership with his extraordinary wife, Katie. Seymour Jr. earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin, and an MBA from Northwestern University. He and Katie are the proud parents of three grown children and have one grandchild (so far).

Ken Robinson

Dec. 13, 2 p.m.

Ken Robinson is the president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation, where he focuses on upholding the values and legacy of the Phillips family. He oversees the organization’s real estate operations, an extensive investment portfolio and one of Central Florida’s largest grant-making entities, with over $257 million donated to the region.

Robinson is dedicated to Central Florida, actively supporting various nonprofits. He serves as president of the Committee of 100 of Orange County and is a member-at-large for the AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida. Additionally, he’s the director of the 4Roots Foundation and is a member of the Central Florida YMCA Metro Board and the Florida Council of 100. He has also held leadership roles with the Florida Citrus Bowl and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. A proud supporter of higher education, he values his connections to the Florida State University College of Business and his hometown university, the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

Mark Penning

Dec. 14, 9 a.m.

Mark Penning is vice president of animals, science and environment at Disney Experiences. He oversees animal care and environmental sustainability at Disney sites around the globe. Penning also leads the teams that manage Disney field conservation efforts and the responsible portrayal of animals and nature in film and television productions.

A veterinarian by training, Penning has a special interest in wildlife. He served as CEO of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research in Durban, South Africa, and has held roles as president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and board member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Today, Penning sits on the board of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and is a trustee of Wild Welfare, an animal welfare organization.

Cole NeSmith ’07

Dec. 14, 2 p.m.

Cole NeSmith ’07 is an experience curator, writer, musician, actor and speaker. He’s the founder and artistic director of the Creative City Project in addition to being the co-founder and chief creative officer of The Memoir Agency. Through these two companies, NeSmith works to make every place and moment meaningful through epic events and immersive experiences. Each year, Cole helps create unique artistic experiences that reach hundreds of thousands of guests in Central Florida and beyond, including Dazzling Nights Holiday events, Happy Frights and Haunting Nights Halloween events, one-of-a-kind corporate and client experiences, and innovative arts programming as part of the annual Creative City Project season.

NeSmith started the Creative City Project, an award-winning arts nonprofit, in 2012 to elevate Orlando’s creative stature and help shape the global perception of Orlando as a place known for creativity and innovation. Through The Memoir Agency, NeSmith and his team create “immersive master plans,� helping cities and developers build irresistible places to live, work and visit. Through artistic activations, NeSmith helps municipal leaders design cities that bring meaning to people’s lives every day. Actively involved in Orlando’s transformation, he’s been recognized as one of Orlando Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful People in Orlando, featured among Orlando Business Journal (OBJ)’s Power Players and included in OBJ’s 40 Under 40 list. NeSmith also regularly contributes to the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida 100. As a performing artist, he has appeared in professional theater, works of classical and contemporary music, film and TV.

For more details and FAQs about Fall 2024 commencement celebrations, visit ucf.edu/graduation.

Reality, however, isn’t always so simple.

“It can be a real struggle when you’re in that gap,� says Esteban Baez Sola, referring to the transfer process. The gap for him loomed large after he’d completed his associate’s degree from Valencia College in April 2023.

“I found myself suddenly facing a lot of questions. … It was kind of overwhelming until I found .â€� — Esteban Baez Sola, transfer student

“I found myself suddenly facing a lot of questions,â€� says Baez Sola, an integrative general studies major. Where could I go from there and feel humanized and not like a number? Would my credits transfer? What would I major in? Where would I live? It was kind of overwhelming until I found DirectConnect to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.â€�

Baez Sola will soon become a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ alumnus, joining graduates around the world who are grateful for the DirectConnect to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ program and how it streamlined their transfer process, guiding them along the path to earning a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ degree. The program, launched in 2006, guarantees admission to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ for any student with an A.A. or A.S. from one of six partner state colleges, consistent with university policy. However, with approximately 4,200 degrees awarded each year to DirectConnect to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students say it’s much more than the guaranteed admission. It’s the simplification of the life transition. It’s the peace of mind knowing the journey to graduation will be more focused and less time-consuming. Perhaps most important of all are the academic success coaches who come alongside each student when they need it most.

Beth Ganz is one of those coaches in the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Transfer Center.

“I can’t tell you how many students every week tell me, ‘I don’t know what to do next,’ � Ganz says. “You never know what they might be going through. What they need most is a person to make the transition less intimidating so they can graduate in a timely manner.�

Ganz knows first-hand what it’s like. She prefaces conversations by saying, “My own path is different.�

“A lot of universities try to emulate our DirectConnect program, but it works here because students and coaches see it as more than a process. It’s also personal.� — Beth Ganz, academic success coach

After high school, she attended Palm Beach State College and then transferred once, twice, three times, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. Ganz never forgot what it was like to be a transfer student. It’s why she accepted a position as an academic success coach shortly after DirectConnect to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ welcomed its first students. Since then, she’s advised thousands of transfer students, including her own son.

“I bring a ‘mom’ element into this because it’s who I am,� Ganz says. “With each transfer student, I think about how I’d want my own children to be counseled through the obstacles they’re facing.�

There’s a misperception that the obstacles are always related to academics when, in fact, they’re often related to life. Ganz is among a handful coaches who help transfer students navigate housing, paperwork, language differences, selecting a major, even general fear. They’ve helped those same students thrive and go on to careers as doctors, nurses, executives in hospitality, engineers in the space program, business owners, and researchers and developers in the tech sector.

“A lot of universities try to emulate our DirectConnect program,� Ganz says, “but it works here because students and coaches see it as more than a process. It’s also personal.�

Haileigh Galloway ’23 graduated from Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ with a degree in psychology before landing a position as a clinical research coordinator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Ohio — the same hospital where she and her brother and sister were treated for medical issues as kids. Galloway sees her research at NCH as a big step closer to medical school and part of “God’s plan for my life.â€�

Do not believe, however, that the steps have always been perfectly laid out for Galloway.

“Growing up, I thought my path would be more direct,� she says, “but I’ve learned that education doesn’t necessarily work that way.�

Galloway was homeschooled, earning an A.A. while dual enrolled at Eastern Florida. After accepting her high school diploma and her A.A., she entered a small private university to finish her bachelor’s degree.

“I’d considered Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ my dream school for a long time,â€� she says, “but my parents and I thought it might be too big for an introverted 17-year-old. As it turned out, the smaller college wasn’t for me, so after a lot of praying I took the leap and transferred to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.â€�

“Growing up, I thought my path would be more direct, but I’ve learned that education doesn’t necessarily work that way.� — Haileigh Galloway ’23, alum and former DirectConnect student

Looking back at her steps, Galloway says it was easily the best decision because two things happened. First, she found a research opportunity at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. And second, she became a PeerKnight coach.

“I knew from my own experience what it’s like to go from a smaller school to this physically imposing university,� she says. “Being a coach made me a better listener and made me more empathetic because each situation is unique. Sometimes a student just needs to know they aren’t alone before they’re offered solutions. I really believe being a PeerKnight will make me a better doctor.�

Galloway’s story points to the core value propositions of DirectConnect to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ beyond guaranteed enrollment. Transfer students are given a clear path to graduation and a relationship. You’d never suspect today, for example, that Baez Sola ever wrestled with either of those. Truth is, he was filled with angst. Shortly after enrolling at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ through DirectConnect, he started working for ConeXiones, a peer-support program within DirectConnect. He also learned hands-on entrepreneurship through Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s Blackstone Launchpad and business practices through the university’s Professional Selling Program. He’s now interviewing for jobs well ahead of his projected graduation. He even has a new vision: to create a business and encourage people facing difficult questions on their own academic and life journeys.

“I want to do for others what was done for me through DirectConnect,� Baez Sola says. “The people in this program made me feel important when I needed that. They helped me find a network of friends and colleagues. They steered me onto a path of success. And I’m sure I speak for thousands of others when I say they made me excited about my future.�

Why did delegates to the Constitutional Convention struggle so much deciding upon the best method for selecting the president that they needed to postpone the debate several times?

Fear.

They feared a strong executive. They feared Congress controlling the president. They feared men with “talents for low intrigue and the little arts of popularity� charming ill-informed voters (). They feared voters only supporting local candidates. They feared that the president would be subservient to any group that selected him, so instead they ended up with a cumbersome process that used specially chosen electors to elect the president.

To further complicate things, the process immediately unraveled and almost never worked as intended. Their plan was that voters would select prominent men as electors.  These men (and they were, of course, all elite white men) would have a greater breadth of knowledge of gentlemen from other states, and they would be free to choose anyone they wished. Theoretically, every four years, the electors would vote for the best candidates and the nation would prosper from their wise choices.

There were a litany of things the delegates did not anticipate: political parties (they feared these, too), joint tickets for president and vice president (they planned for the person who came in second place to be vice president), candidates actively running for office, improved communication and a growing trust in democracy (The Constitution allows each state to decide how to select its own electors. So, for a time, some voters did not even get to choose the electors let alone vote for president.)

Some of these problems have been resolved. The 12^th amendment ended the idea that the person who comes in second becomes the vice president. Since 1868, in every state, people vote for the president, and the state electors are generally bound by their decision.

Neither of these changes, however, have resolved the biggest complaint against the Electoral College. With electoral votes based on the number of congressmen and senators a state has, a candidate — with victories in the correct combination of states — can win the presidency while losing the popular vote.

Since the Constitution’s ratification, there have been over 1,000 amendments proposed to change or eliminate the Electoral College. These proposals generally offer the obvious solution; the president should be the candidate who gets the most popular votes. Given that, according to most polls including a 2023 Pew Research Center study, approximately two out of three Americans  support this change, why haven’t we just amended the Constitution to have the president popularly elected? As is often the case, the easy solution is not as easy as it seems. The problems include:

• Amending the Constitution. It is not easy to amend the Constitution. An amendment needs the support of two-thirds of each branch in Congress and three-quarters of the states. Getting congressional support has proven problematic (in 1969, Congress came close — the House approved a popular vote amendment, but the Senate did not).While two-thirds of Americans might favor a change in the Electoral College, the current leadership of the Republican Party does not. Why not? Well, in the last 24 years, two Republicans (George W. Bush and Donald Trump) have won the presidency with fewer votes than their Democratic opponent (and 2020 almost made it a third time.)

  While the electoral college currently skews Republican, that has not always been the case. In the 19 elections since World War II, it has favored Democrats nine times and Republicans ten times. Based on the 2022 midterm results and recent polling in 2024 swing states, studies also show that it might be trending towards Democrats in the upcoming years.

• Vote fraud. Nearly every election produces allegations of vote fraud. In the current system, however, those allegations are often muted. How? The electoral college successfully smooths over most minor vote fraud. Right now, the relevant question is not whether there was any vote fraud but whether there were enough fraudulent votes to change a state’s electoral vote and potentially change the results in the Electoral College.In a popular vote world, where every vote counts, so does every fraudulent vote. Does anyone truly believe there has ever been a presidential election without fraudulent votes? Not even one or two? Unlike the Electoral College, a popular vote system encourages, albeit unintentionally, overzealous partisans to take every edge they can.
• Close races. The 2000 presidential election is one of the elections where the popular vote winner (Al Gore) lost. It was the first time that it had happened since 1888. The race came down to a few hundred votes in Florida. Popular vote supporters use this an example of the flaws in the Electoral College, but that election also demonstrates some of the potential complications in using popular vote totals. For one thing, Gore didn’t win a majority of the popular vote. No one did. He won a plurality. Because of third party candidates, Gore received 48.4% of the popular vote. Is that enough? Or would we have a runoff? How would a runoff work?Neither party was happy with the recount procedure. Florida law stipulated it must be completed in a week, but it quickly became apparent that accurately recounting votes by hand took much more time than that. Plus, there was a sense that the recount was no more accurate than the original results. Imagine a situation where this occurred at a nationwide level. A national recount would be an incredibly complex and divisive event involving competing and unprovable sets of numbers as well as lengthy legal challenges. And, it would undoubtedly be unsatisfying as even a cursory dive into studies on the Florida vote count reveals the futility of trying to finding the exact numbers of votes that either Bush or Gore received.

We are the only nation that still uses an Electoral College. If other countries have figured out how to run a national popular presidential election, should the United States consider making a change? The nation, or maybe a new Committee on Postponed Parts, would have to come up with a plan which resolves some of these potential pitfalls. Given that this discussion has already lasted well over 100 years, we may be in for 100 more.

The 104 approved faculty — 63 for promotion, 40 for promotion and tenure and one for tenure — underwent a rigorous performance evaluation by peers, college and university leaders that took nearly an academic year.

The president and provost make final decisions on promotions following reviews and recommendations from individual colleges and units. The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Board of Trustees must approve tenure, which is a key factor in fulfilling Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s strategic plan of becoming a preeminent state university, a national top 25 public institution and the world’s leading public metropolitan research university. Aside from helping Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ recruit and retain exceptional faculty, tenure helps protect academic freedom and encourages faculty to focus on challenging and important problems to benefit society.

“These faculty members who earned promotion and tenure met a lofty and demanding bar in demonstrating excellence and high productivity over several years in teaching, research, and service,â€� says Michael D. Johnson, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “I am confident this group will make a significant contribution to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s future success.â€�

The approvals take effect Aug. 8. Congratulations to the following faculty.

Promotion to Professor

• George Atia, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Yuanli Bai, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Parag Banerjee, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Kendall Cortelyou, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Damian Dechev, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Michael Dunn, College of Sciences

• William Hanney, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Masahiro Ishigami, College of Sciences

• Dana Joseph, College of Business Administration

• Jonathan Matusitz, College of Sciences

• Ryan McMahan, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Reid Oetjen, College of Community Innovation and Education

• David Poissant, College of Arts and Humanities

• Barbara Sharanowski, College of Sciences

• Laurene Tetard, College of Sciences

• Ladda Thiamwong, College of Nursing

• Annie Wu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Margaret Zaho, College of Arts and Humanities

• Qipeng Zheng, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Shengli Zou, College of Sciences

Promotion to Professor of Medicine

• Robert Borgon, College of Medicine

• Kyle Rohde, College of Medicine

• Jihe Zhao, College of Medicine

Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

• Shaurya Agarwal, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Sergio Alvarez, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

• Vasileios, Anagnostopoulos, College of Sciences

• William Ayers, College of Arts and Humanities

• Louise Bishop, College of Arts and Humanities

• Timothy Brown, College of Arts and Humanities

• Alex Burtzos, College of Arts and Humanities

• Marjorie Ceballos, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Chen Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Kenle Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Kaitlyn Crawford, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• William Fogarty, College of Arts and Humanities

• Paul Gazzillo, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Zhaomiao Guo, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Rochelle Hurt, College of Arts and Humanities

• Yoon Hwang, College of Arts and Humanities

• Herbert James, College of Arts and Humanities

• Robert Jenkins, College of Sciences

• Titel Jurca, College of Sciences

• Theodora Karalidi, College of Sciences

• Christine Kolaya, College of Arts and Humanities

• Eunkyung Lee, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Lorraine Leon, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Yukun Li, College of Sciences

• Edwin Lohmeyer, College of Sciences

• Lidia Meshesha, College of Sciences

• John Murray, College of Sciences

• Boon Peng Ng, College of Nursing

• Julia O’Connor, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Carlton Patrick, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Xiaochuan Wang, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Lauren Bislick Wilson, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Jacqueline Woerner, College of Sciences

• Dazhong Wu, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Rui Xie, College of Sciences

• Mengyu Xu, College of Sciences

• Fan Yao, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine with Tenure

• Elena Cyrus, College of Medicine

• Mehdi Razavi, College of Medicine

• Justine Tigno-Aranjuez, College of Medicine

Tenure Awarded

• Jeffrey LaRochelle, College of Medicine

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine

• Kersten Schroeder, College of Medicine

Promotion to Associate Scientist

• Duy Le, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

• James Cooney, College of Sciences

• Christa Diercksen, College of Sciences

• Michelle Dusseau, College of Sciences

• Jason Fridrich, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

• Shahram Ghiasinejad, College of Sciences

• Steffen Guenzel, College of Arts and Humanities

• Gulnora Hundley, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Tian Tian, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Amanda Walden, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Danielle Webster, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Lana Williams, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Lecturer

• Cristian Alecse, College of Business Administration

• James Brown, College of Business Administration

• Annabelle Conroy, College of Sciences

• Celina Dozier, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Ronald Eddy, College of Business Administration

• James Gallo, College of Business Administration

• Richard Jerousek, College of Sciences

• Sagnik Mazumdar, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Leigh Rosenthal, College of Business Administration

• Joel Schneier, College of Arts and Humanities

• Ashley Taylor, College of Arts and Humanities

• Limin Yang, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Instructor

• Frank Enrique Guerra, College of Business Administration

• Thomas Nedorost, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Philip Wessel, College of Community Innovation and Education

Promotion to Associate Instructor

• Steven Brinkman, Rosen College Hospitality of Hospitality Management

• Gisele Canova, Rosen College Hospitality of Hospitality Management

• Karin Markle, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Evelin Pegoraro, College of Arts and Humanities

• Christopher Roda, College of Sciences

• Olga Russell, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Amy Thomas, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Promotion to Associate Instructor of Medicine

• Melissa Marthe, College of Medicine

Promotion to Senior Instructional Designer

• Amanda Major, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Associate Instructional Designer

• Joseph Lloyd, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Associate Librarian

• Katherine Miller, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

• Rachel Trnka, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Libraries

She fulfilled that promise four years later with the trek of a lifetime to climb the world’s tallest mountain in October 2023. A true test of her limits, posing some challenges and new experiences along the way, her journey serves as a powerful reminder to appreciate the beauty and wonder of life.

Prepared for Anything

Preparedness was key for Harby, who trained at the gym using the StairMaster with a weighted backpack to simulate the trek’s demands. She also utilized altitude training masks to simulate varying altitudes. Despite physical preparation, the mental challenge loomed large, particularly the prospect of flying from Tenzing-Hillary Airport to reach the trek’s starting point. Known as one of the world’s most dangerous airports, it’s carved into the Himalayan mountains and has a single, short runway that can only accommodate small aircraft.

Trekking to the Top

While initially intending to trek solo, Harby found camaraderie with a colleague and fellow adventurer who shared her same dream of climbing Everest.

“I had never met another female solo traveler who wanted to do the same thing,� Harby says. “So we met up and we said, ‘Let’s do this together.’ �

Their 12-day journey stretched to 17 due to weather delays in Kathmandu, Nepal, but they faced this setback with determination. Accompanied by a porter, who carried their larger bags, and a knowledgeable sherpa guide, Harby’s daily routine started at 6 a.m., involving six to seven hours of hiking and periodic stops at eateries and rest areas.

The first few stops in lower altitude — Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche — offered plenty of homey comforts. They found Irish bars, bakeries, plenty of souvenirs and gear shopping and religious sites such as the Tengboche Monastery. Ascending from lower altitudes to over 13,000 feet, the trek grew increasingly difficult, with altitude sickness posing a significant challenge. Harby mitigated symptoms like headache and dry cough with acetazolamide tablets.

As the environment changed at each stop, familiar faces provided a sense of community.

“Since most guided treks follow the same schedule, you see the same people almost every day,� she says. “Meeting up for evening tea and to just decompress from the day was a highlight as we journeyed onward. We even started a WhatsApp group to keep in touch.�

By 4 p.m., the group would reach their next town and check-in to a lodging place, called a tea house, for the night. These tea houses are designed to meet trekkers’ basic needs — food and a place to sleep. Extras like a hot shower, Wi-Fi, toilet paper and charging stations are available for an additional cost.

“Most evenings we’d end up in the common area [of the tea house] where fellow travelers would wind down from a long day of trekking,� she says. “I’d just tune out the world for a couple of hours and watch some shows that I downloaded on my iPad just to have some sense of normalcy.�

Their arrival at base camp was unmistakable, marked by a massive rock bearing the words “Everest Base Camp” in red paint.

“I didn’t think I would cry once I saw base camp for the first time. Once my hand touched the rock, that’s when it really felt exhilarating,� she says. “It just felt overwhelming … to be there in person.�

Forever Changed

Trekking to Everest base camp in Nepal was a unique experience for Harby, distinct from her past adventures in paragliding, skydiving and climbing fourteeners in Colorado. She marks the journey as one of her biggest accomplishments in life so far.

“This journey has proven to me that I can do anything, and whatever challenges I face along the way, I’ll find a way to overcome them.â€�

“I learned that I am capable of so much more than I really think that I am,â€� she says. “This journey has proven to me that I can do anything, and whatever challenges I face along the way, I’ll find a way to overcome them.â€�

It’s onward and upward for Harby from this point forward. With her newfound courage to dream bigger, she plans to return to Nepal and take on the Annapurna base camp as well as Mount Kilimanjaro in the future.

“If you have a goal, believe in your goal and your soul is going to get you there,â€� she says. “Your spirit is so much stronger than you think it is, and I fully believe that we’re all capable.â€�

Launched in 2019, the Bachelor of Integrative General Studies (BIGS) program helps students from all fields of study complete their educational journey — enabling them to design their own curriculum on their way to earning a life-changing college degree.

“We’ve had a bank vice president who wanted to finish his degree, retirees, individuals launching into education, business, computer science and even musicians come through our program,â€� says Danielle Pratt, interim director of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s interdisciplinary studies program, and associate lecturer. “So, really, the entire spectrum is represented; there are no limits.â€�

Chloe Gordon ’24 began her journey at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ in 2001 as a liberal studies major, transferring from Valencia College. Gordon’s path took a different turn when she got married and started a family, prompting her to pause her education — a decision that left her with a lingering sense of unfinished business.

“I felt shame that I never finished my degree that I set out on, and I think education is really important,� Gordon says.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 20 years later, Gordon resumed her education online. She integrated the courses she had taken back in 2001 with new ones she completed, culminating in her graduation with a BIGS degree in the spring of 2024.

“I did this because I felt like I could and because I wanted to be an example for my children,â€� Gordon says. “I see myself continuing my education and staying at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ to pursue a master’s degree, possibly in social work, and eventually becoming a counselor. And who knows, maybe I’ll even get a doctorate.â€�

Gordon works at Yoga 4 Change, a nonprofit organization that achieves meaningful change for veterans, incarcerated individuals, youth in need and others. She originally started with the program as a volunteer for her service-learning project required in the BIGS course Contemporary Issues in Leadership (LDR 3115), one of the two required courses for the degree. Volunteering for this program and applying the tools she learned as a student not only helped her secure her current position but also inspired her final thesis, which focused on studies examining the positive mental health effects of practicing yoga.

Karen Haslett, a lecturer in the College of Undergraduate Studies, instructs the Contemporary Issues in Leadership course and served as Gordon’s advisor while she was in her class. She says Gordon’s readiness to engage in the service-learning project and her abundance of ideas for what she wanted to accomplish is part of her success.

“The goal is for the students to find something that they’re interested in and have a passion for, so this was a no-brainer for Chloe, and it was an eye-opening experience for her,� Haslett says.

As part of the BIGS degree, students are also required to Senior Seminar (IDS 4939). Additionally, they must complete 42 credits from any discipline of their choice, provided it is approved by their advisor. Pratt mentioned that each semester, they customize these courses based on the needs of the students, collaborating as a faculty team to ensure they deliver the best version of the course.

For Senior Seminar, students are asked to integrate a multidisciplinary framework into a final project.

Pratt emphasizes that the opportunities for students in this degree program are endless. They can tailor the program to their specific needs or future goals.

“This program ensures that no students are ever left behind,� Pratt says. “That’s one of the reasons I came to work for this institution. Even though it’s a large university, it truly values every student individually, and this program exemplifies that remarkably well.�

Pratt says the BIGS programs must also evolve with students, and the adaptability of the degree offering is an advantage.

“The faculty has to evolve with the students and their needs, so we are collaboratively working on effective ways to integrate AI into our teaching and how to utilize AI tools, especially in career searches,� Pratt says.

Because of this, the faculty actively survey students to understand how they’re utilizing artificial intelligence, learning from their experiences. Additionally, they have been participating in training sessions to become proficient users of AI.

Pratt notes that for some students, pursuing this degree can initially feel disappointing, as they may believe they didn’t achieve their original intentions. However, once immersed in the program, they often wish they had pursued it from the outset. This sentiment rings true for another recent graduate, Nicolas Barth ’24.

Barth joined Knight Nation as a music major after transferring from Eastern Florida State College through DirectConnect to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. He recalled switching majors multiple times before transferring. While at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, Barth’s advisor informed him that he would soon reach his excess credit hours limit due to the numerous courses he had taken.

“Because the BIGS degree is so flexible, it made sense,� he says. “It took into account all of the music courses I had completed, and I was still able to take music courses and participate in ensembles I enjoyed, such as opera and choir.�

While most choose to complete a research paper, Barth decided to tailor his Senior Seminar project to his interests. Typically, music majors must perform a 30-minute to 45-minute senior recital to graduate. Although the BIGS degree did not require this, Barth wanted to retain the concept of a senior recital.

“I came up with the idea of doing a senior recital, but I integrated a research paper into the program, and that research was the foundation for choosing all the repertoire,� Barth says.

Barth says he got to do everything he wanted to do and more at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and is now ready to take on the professional field.

“Just yesterday, I got my audition results from this season of Opera Orlando, and I will be featured in the chorus,� Barth says. “I’m also exploring some educational opportunities as a choral director and participating in the Orlando Choral Society.�

Both Pratt and Haslett agree that their greatest hope is for their students to discover themselves throughout the completion of this degree.

“My favorite aspect is seeing how students perceive themselves as a result of engaging with the coursework in the program,� Pratt says. “They begin to view themselves as leaders, but they also exit feeling like valuable leaders who can share their research. They leave with an understanding of the importance of scholarly resources and the ability to apply that knowledge in the broader world.�