With specialized programs in hospitality and themed experience design β€” alongside robust engineering opportunities through student-led clubs and industry partnerships β€” ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has played a critical role in preparing the workforce behind Epic Universe’s debut and has built a direct talent pipeline into the park.

Now as the park prepares to open its gates this week, it’s also transforming how students learn.

Epic in Curriculum

At ±«°δΉσ’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, located less than a mile from Epic Universe, the park has become a living case study for both faculty and students. Ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education by CEOWORLD magazine for 2025, the college is globally recognized for its leadership in shaping future professionals in tourism, attractions and entertainment.

β€œAnyone looking to build a career in the global attractions industry would not find a better place to attend than ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.” β€” Carissa Baker ’08MA ’18PhD, Rosen College assistant professor

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

β€œSeveral of my students were involved in design, construction and operations development for the park,” Baker says. β€œDozens were in attractions commissioning roles, and many are working at the park full time, part time and through internships.”

Culinary Spectacle as Storytelling

Epic Universe is also reshaping ±«°δΉσ’s approach to culinary education. Chef Jonathan β€œJay” Judy, assistant chair of the Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management, and senior instructor, uses the park’s immersive lands to explore how food enhances themed environments.

β€œOur students aren’t just studying the industry. They’re helping shape its future.” β€” Jonathan β€œJay” Judy, Rosen College faculty member

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

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

Epic Economics, Real-World Impact

The scale of Epic Universe also offers powerful insights into economic development, infrastructure and regional transformation β€” areas that Rosen College Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat is bringing into the classroom.

β€œEpic Universe presents a valuable opportunity to view a theme park not just as an attraction, but as a major investment with measurable economic impact β€” something I’m looking to incorporate into my Hospitality Industry Finance class,” Ridderstaat says.

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

A Creative Pipeline to Universal

“Epic has solidified Orlando as the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.” β€” Peter Weishar, director of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s themed experience graduate programs

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

Through the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½/Universal Creative Lab, students work directly with Universal Creative’s show producers, engineers and designers, gaining rare access to behind-the-scenes development processes.

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

β€œOur students, alumni and even faculty have worked for years to help make Epic Universe a reality,” Weishar says. β€œNow that it’s opening to the public, it’s serving as a working laboratory for new ideas, innovation and experiential learning.”

β€œΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is in the perfect location to collaborate with some of the top creatives in the field,” Β Weishar adds.

Engineering the Experience

At the intersection of innovation and imagination, ±«°δΉσ’s STEEL Club β€” the Society of Themed Entertainment Engineers and Leaders β€” is creating new pathways for engineering students to enter the attractions industry. Founded in early 2024, the club has quickly become a hub for students eager to apply technical skills to the world of themed entertainment.

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

β€œWe’re building a great program,” says Mikel Garner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and STEEL Club vice president. β€œWe look at design, manufacturing, and maintenance β€” not just how a ride looks, but how it runs and how you troubleshoot it to keep guests safe.”

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

STEEL President Bryanna Price, also a senior mechanical engineering major, says the club was founded to fill a gap at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ for students who wanted hands-on, engineering-focused experience in themed entertainment.

β€œWe’re helping students develop tangible technical skills that translate directly into the industry,” Price says.

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

β€œIt’s exciting to know we’re helping prepare the next generation of engineers for the theme park world β€” right here at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.” β€” Β Bryanna Price, student and STEEL Club president

Beyond competitions, STEEL students are attending industry events like the ASTM F24 Conference, which develops global engineering safety standards for amusement rides and devices. They’re also partnering with other ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ organizations to grow their board, expand student participation and bring in even more professional mentorship.

β€œWe’re still a young club, but we’ve already seen members go on to internships with companies like SeaWorld and Universal,” Price says.

For ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, Epic Universe is more than a neighbor β€” it’s a living laboratory. From immersive design to food and beverage innovation, and from economic modeling to technical prototyping, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students aren’t just learning about the future of themed entertainment β€” they’re building it.

Universal Creative is responsible for bringing to life the most relevant stories and popular characters through innovative attractions, immersive destinations and more at Universal Destinations & Experiences locations around the world.

Each semester, students join the Universal Creative team on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, where they learn first-hand what it takes to develop theme park rides and experiences, including the upcoming new Universal Epic Universe theme park.

Universal Creative Team Members also participate as speakers and as part of panel sessions where they share their areas of expertise. These focus areas include storytelling, design, engineering and safety, legal, budgeting, business analytics and other key skills needed when creating an attraction. Over 90 speakers from Universal Creative have participated since the program’s inception.

β€œUniversal has gone above and beyond what I had originally proposed for the class,” says Peter Weishar, founding director of . β€œThey’re showing us projects in progress like Epic Universe. They’re talking to us transparently about challenges they had and things they would have done differently. That kind of access is invaluable.”

β€œOne of the benefits of the program being in Central Florida is that this is the epicenter for themed entertainment,” says Chris Oliver, vice president of engineering and safety for Universal Creative. β€œThe students are learning from those who are creating the future of this rapidly growing industry. We try and show them everything that’s involved in creating and building attractions, to get holistic exposure from ideation to completion.”

At the end of each semester, students have the unique opportunity to present their original design concepts to a panel of Universal Creative leaders. The students receive productive critiques of their creative thinking, project design, management and presentation skills.

β€œI have a better understanding of how rides are designed [and] how theme parks are created,” says Christopher Harris, a current engineering student in the class. β€œI’ve gained so much knowledge and connections. To be able to talk to Chris Oliver and all the other professionals β€” I think that’s the best part of this class.”

“[Universal Creative has] brought in Β professionals [with] 30 years experience. The exposure to those professionals is incredible.” β€” Karlyn Leander, themed experiences student and Universal Creative intern

Throughout the course, students meet with esteemed Universal Creative professionals from all different backgrounds and disciplines at Universal, such as engineering, operations, guest experience, ride design, finance and more. Many students β€” including Karlyn Leander, a current themed experiences student and intern with Universal Creative β€” say the networking opportunities are one of the top benefits of the class.

β€œUniversal is investing in this program β€” training a new generation and finding a place for us,” Leander says. β€œThey’ve brought in professionals that have 30 years of experience creating theme parks all over the world. The exposure to those professionals is incredible. It’s an industry of mentorship.”

Since ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Creative Lab launched in Spring 2023, Universal has hired almost 40% of students who have participated in the class. Leander is one of those students. Through this program and partnership with ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, Universal Creative strives to promote knowledge of careers in themed entertainment and inspire students who may not have originally considered it as a potential career path.

β€œWhen [students] start this program, they start to see it as an aspirational goal to work at [Universal Creative],” Weishar says. β€œIt’s one of those classes that really confirms your passion for what you want to do for the rest of your life.”

The Creative Lab is offered through the themed experiences program in the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ College of Arts and Humanities. Two courses are currently offered annually: a graduate-level spring course and a six-week summer course open to graduate and upper-level undergraduate students from any accredited college or university.

And there’s a plan to broaden the concept and expand the program into additional disciplines.

β€œThis is the start of something bigger. I look forward to seeing it grow and exposing more students to what we do,” Oliver says. β€œIt is important to all of us at Universal Creative who are involved in this program to teach the next generation what we do, and have what we built here continue on.”

Forward AnzhanΓ© Hutton attempts a jump shot to score in the Addition Financial Arena. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ defeated Wichita State 59-56.

Kareem Ahmed, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is the principal investigator of a new Naval Research Laboratory-funded project to create a morphing hypersonic engine for ultra-fast travel.

The ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½/Universal Creative Lab, which launched Spring 2023, brings immersive design learning experiences to students to cultivate the next generation of themed entertainment innovators. The class opened to graduate students in ±«°δΉσ’s , which is directed by Professor Peter Weishar.

Pushing the frontier of space research, Associate Professor of Physics Adrienne Dove is co-leading NASA’s $35 million science mission to the moon’s Gruithuisen Domes, which is expected to launch in 2026.

A participant in the 15th annual ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Iron Knight Challenge drags weights across a field in a race to complete eight physical fitness tasks along a military-style obstacle course.

Forward Taylor Hendricks is ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ men’s basketball’s third NBA Draft selection in program history. Hendricks was selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 9 overall pick of the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Jane Gibson, fromΒ the College of Medicine, was selected as one of fourΒ 2023 Pegasus Professors, the university’s highest faculty honor. Professors Stephen Fiore, Jennifer Kent-Walsh and Marianna Pensky were also selected.

Rapper and singer Doechii performed at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½est Concert Knight presented by Campus Activities Board at the Addition Financial Arena.

During ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Celebrates the Arts β€” a multi-day showcase of creativity β€” student cellists and other ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ musicians performed orchestral classics at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts.

Backstage during a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Celebrates the Arts production at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in downtown Orlando.

Ballet dancers captivated the stage during TECH-nique: A Dance Concert at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Celebrates the Arts, which focused on the intersection of arts and technology this year.

Knights posed for photos in the Student Union during ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Day of Giving 2023; an impactful celebration that ended with Knight Nation raising over $6.8 million β€” the most in university history β€” to support our local community, fund life-changing scholarships, power championship athletics, build 21st century learning facilities, fuel innovative research and enhance the university’s global reputation.

A graduate from Spring 2023 commencement celebrates with loved ones.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students spend a day outdoors in downtown Orlando, which ranks as the No. 1 Best College City in Florida, according to WalletHub.

Principal Investigator and Associate Professor ofΒ Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringΒ Helen Huang works with student Jordan Grubb to understand how the brain and body work together β€” valuable research to assist those with impaired movement.

The Charging Knight statue β€” representative of ±«°δΉσ’s excellence in academics, its partnerships with the community and its athletics program β€” sits near the main entrance of FBC Mortgage Stadium.

College of Optics and Photonics Associate Professor Kyu Young Han works with doctoral student Katelyn Canedo ’16 in the , which focuses on optical nanoscopy. Han is an expert in designing new optical tools for biological applications, including ones that could aid in the understanding of human protein linked to diseases.

Student researchers gain hands-on experience with lasers in a lab in the College of Optics and Photonics.

Two students take a selfie with Knightro during the Welcome Back Popsicle Social event hosted by the Office of the President at the Reflecting Pond on the first day of the fall semester.

Political science student Sebastian Jimenez dives into a book outside of the John C. Hitt Library β€” carrying on the late president emeritus’ core belief that education transforms lives.

Jersey Shore star and DJ, Pauly D, gets the crowd pumped during his pregame set at Bounce House Live at IOA Plaza before ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ football’s first Big 12 home game.

Fans filled FBC Mortgage Stadium for the first Big 12 home football game against Baylor.

The School of Modeling, Simulation and Training secured an advanced dog-like robot named TapeMeasure β€” allowing them to bring students, faculty and new technology together forΒ innovative researchΒ and teaching.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Creative School for Children held a foam splash event to provide its own Spirit Splash-like experience for preschoolers during Homecoming Week.

Knightro surfed over a crowd of students at Spirit Splash during Homecoming Week.

Knights charged into the Reflecting Pond to catch coveted homecoming rubber ducks at Spirit Splash.

During Spirit Splash, the dance team amped up the crowd before Knights rushed into the Reflecting Pond.

Knightro hyped up the crowd from the sidelines at the homecoming football game against West Virginia.

Assistant Professor of Theme Park and Attraction Management Carissa Baker (middle) works with students to understand theme park storytelling. Baker is a 2023 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching awardee.

Track and field sprinters Latasha Smith (left) and I’Asia Wilson (right) pose with their collection of championship rings at a tailgate event before ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ football’s Space Game.

Football in tow, tight end Alec Holler moves up the field during ±«°δΉσ’s annual Space Game. The Knights defeated Oklahoma State, 45-3, marking their seventh consecutive win since the Space Game debuted in 2017.

The TEA is an international nonprofit association representing the world’s leading creators of compelling places and experiences. Receiving this award from the TEA is considered one of the highest honors in the themed experience industry. Hundreds of international companies, individuals and attractions are judged each year against the industry’s highest standards of achievement.

The Peter Chernak Distinguished Service Award honors exceptional volunteer service to the TEA. According to an announcement from the TEA, Weishar was given the award for β€œhis exceptional promotion of our themed entertainment industry through education, program development and support of our TEA NextGen members.”

Apart from his many years of service to the TEA, Weishar believes the award affirms the impact of ±«°δΉσ’s themed experience programs on the industry.

β€œI share this recognition with all of the individuals at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ that have partnered and supported the Themed Experience programs and our students,” Weishar says. β€œWhile the award is for many years of service, I believe it was given now due to the tremendous impact being made on industry by the programs at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.”

Since 2018, Weishar has helped to establish ±«°δΉσ’s themed experience MS and MFA degrees as the firstΒ  program of its kind at a public university. The themed experience program focuses on giving students hands-on industry experience through partnerships with industry leaders like Universal Creative and Meow Wolf. Through involvement with TEA’s NextGen Initiative, students also connect with industry recruiters and professional development programs.

β€œThe TEA is an incredible organization that brings a great deal of value to my students and me. Through its NextGen initiative, events, conferences and Summit, the TEA connects our aspiring professionals with industry leaders,” Weishar says. β€œIt is quite an honor to be recognized by industry for the work we do at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.”

Weishar continues to pave the way for the next generation of leaders in the themed experience industry. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Weishar will host a themed experience graduate program info session for those interested in enrolling in the program.