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Immigration Officer Points To Political Science Classes For Career Inspiration
Political Science graduate Ross Cotton, ’11, Ph.D, recalls the natural curiosity that led him to pursue an academic career in political science and, ultimately, landing him a career as an asylum officer for U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services. Born in Australia, Cotton arrived in America at the age of six and found that the older […]
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Passion For Teaching, Political Science, Leads Grad to Principal Role
Jordan Filderman, ’09, M.A.’11, always knew his purpose was to make a positive difference in the lives of others. As the principal of Hebbville Elementary, Filderman uses education as his vehicle to serve underrepresented and underprivileged students in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. “My personal philosophy is that every child deserves an equal and quality […]
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Diasporas’ Affinity for Ecological Groups
“Go means Green: Diasporas’ Affinity for Ecological Groups,” a study co-authored by Anca Turcu, Ph.D., and R. Urbatsch, Ph.D., of Iowa State University, was published by Global Environmental Politics (a MIT Press Journal) in January 2020. Recent expansions of diaspora rights have given overseas residents increasing political voice. This study shows this is particularly significant […]
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Political Parties’ Overseas Enfranchisement Strategies
“European Ruling Parties’ Electoral Strategies and Overseas Enfranchisement Policies”, a study co-authored by Anca Turcu, Ph.D., and R. Urbatsch, Ph.D., of Iowa State University, was recently published by the European Journal of Political Research. Emigrants’ ideologies and partisan attitudes may diverge from other voters’: overseas voters are ideologically self‐selected, receive distinctive information about campaigns and […]
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UCF Grad Earns Pulitzer Prize
International reporting by Michael Schwirtz ’03 recently earned him one of journalism’s top awards, and his journey to this moment started, in part, with a desire to stay close to home. The DeLand native and political science graduate started globe-trotting when he was still in high school, including summers abroad in London and Europe. When […]
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Pandemic Exposes, Amplifies Weaknesses In Water Infrastructure, Researchers Argue
Three researchers are exploring the connections between access to clean water and the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic. In a recent blog post stemming from a scholarly paper exploring the effects of rights constitutionalization and democratic governance on water access, the authors argue that recognition of the human right to water is central to […]
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UCF Grad and Chef Bakes up Initiative to Support Medical Workers
Sprinkling joy is what chef Tracy Wilk ’10 does best. In light of the world’s COVID-19 pandemic, Wilk has turned the kitchen of her small studio apartment in New York City into a full-blown bake shop. Her inspiration: The brave first responders passionately dedicated to the safety of civilians. The treat: A variety of gooey, […]
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151 UCF Faculty Promoted Across All Disciplines
A great university is built by great faculty, and this year’s group of promoted and tenured faculty are the reason behind UCF’s academic excellence. Thirty-three were granted the title professor, a marker of an exceptional career in academia. A university’s excellence hinges on the strength of its faculty as scholars and as teachers. “This class […]
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SPSIA Recognizes Two Graduate Students for Outstanding Work
The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs recently recognized two graduate students for outstanding work in the terms of Summer and Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Gunes Tezcur, Ph.D., chaired the committee that selected Kathleen Sullivan and Sandor Fabian to receive the Outstanding MA Thesis and Pollock-Ellsworth Award for Best Research Methods, respectively. “One […]
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National Guard Captain Keeps Ph.D. Studies Going While Activated
By TAD SCHNAUFER Typically, the end of the semester finds doctorate students hunkered down in a library or local café wrapping up final papers. Things are different this year for Security Studies Ph.D. student Tad Schnaufer. Schnaufer serves as a captain in the Florida Army National Guard and has been activated for the response to […]
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Six COS Students Recognized With 2020 Order of Pegasus
Six College of Sciences students were recently awarded the Order of the Pegasus, the highest student achievement at the University of Central Florida. Here are the 2020 winners. Samantha Berg “UCF’s remarkable faculty and programs developed me into the strong researcher and individual I am today. Upon entering The Burnett Honors College (BHC), I immediately […]
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New Project Aims To Address Global Crises
The UCF Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives (GPII) is pleased to announce the launch of a new project, “Addressing Global Crisis” (AGC). The AGC Project will examine not only how the world responds to the current coronavirus pandemic, but how governments, individually and collectively, deal with natural disasters, ecological challenges and climate […]
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COS Faculty Among Those Honored For Women’s History Month
Thirty-one women were recognized this month by UCF Faculty Excellence for Women’s Month, including five from the College of Sciences. The awardess were chosen by their colleagues and peers for their work on campus and in the community. They will be honored March 31 at a Burnett House reception. This year’s honorees from the College […]
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Omelia Dhanraj Named Spring 2020 India Fellow
Omelia Dhanraj is the Spring 2020 India Fellow for the Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives. She is a senior at the University of Central Florida pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in human services. Dhanraj is a member of the Burnett Honors College and a tutor for Orange County Public […]
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UCF Opens Global Opportunities, Inspires Undergrad to Pursue Doctorate
As the daughter of two immigrants from Guatemala and Venezuela, Carla Garcia has always been passionate about understanding perspectives different from her own. It’s what inspired her to pursue political science at UCF, and it’s the reason she was recently chosen by the American Political Science Association for the Minority Fellowship. The fellowship awarded to […]
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Early Interest In Politics Leads Alumna to Governor’s Office
When most kids were watching cartoons, Leah Trilling ’18 was on the couch watching the news with her dad. That interest in current events stuck with her, and eventually led to her current position as deputy director of Cabinet Affairs for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The steps leading to that position include undergraduate internships […]
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Presidential Historian Balances Past and Present in Politics
By MIA WILSON Presidential historian Jon Meacham provided perspective on today’s White House using the lens of the past at a presentation Thursday called “The Art of Leadership: Lessons from the American Presidency.” Meacham started broadly, noting the presidency is a reflection of the American population. “The presidency is in many ways a manifestation of […]
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Ph.D. Student Highlights Results of Research about NATO’s Current Crisis
By TAD SCHNAUFER The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed in 1949 as an alliance to counter the rising threat of the Soviet Union in Europe. Seventy years later, the alliance has faced harsh criticism from both sides of the Atlantic. President Donald Trump has called the alliance “obsolete,” while President Emmanuel Macron of France […]
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Attorney Brings Experience Fighting Human Trafficking to UCF
The Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery at UCF has recently recruited the talents of lawyer Shilpa Finnerty to serve as its senior fellow and community advisor. Through Finnerty’s experience in human rights and trafficking advocacy, the center hopes to expand their presence in the Orlando area. “The work that we […]
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Doctorate Student Presents Findings on Preparedness For Hurricane Maria
By SARA BELLIGONI Sara Belligoni, a doctorate student in Security Studies, has just returned from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Focused on emergency management and human security, Belligoni presented the preliminary results of her research about the local-federal (un)coordination in Puerto Rico before, during and after Hurricane Maria. This, in occasion of the Conference Within a […]
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Conference Brings Focus on Technology for Doctorate Student
By SARA BELLIGONI On Dec. 4, Sara Belligoni, a doctorate student in the Security Studies at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs, participated in the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). I/ITSEC is the largest world conference for modeling, simulation, and training. Conceived as a showcase for the aerospace and military fields, […]
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Grad Makes ‘Intelligent’ Choice With Lockheed Career
Everything from the precision of military strikes to global money markets hinges on timely, accurate information, or, as it’s known in the trade, “intelligence.” Alanna Fulk ’16, M.A. ’19, is keenly aware of that now as an intelligence analyst for one of the most prestigious intelligence and security corporations in the world, Lockheed Martin. But […]
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New Book Examines Modern Relations Between Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
A newly published book takes a timely look at the intersection of the relations between Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as U.S. influence and involvement declines in the Middle East. Aspiring Powers, Regional Rivals: Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the new Middle East, co-authored and edited by Gönül Tol and David Dumke, was published […]
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New Alumni Reflect on Journey That Brought Them to Fall ’19 Graduation
As he adjusted his black gown, a yellow tassel dangling out of the corner of his eye, Bepsy Omar Aguasvivas thought about his father’s words: “The hardest thing to do is be born. Everything else is simply a step ahead.” That advice carried Aguasvivas through his academic experience at UCF all the way to Saturday, […]
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India Center names senior as Fall 2019 India Fellow
Senior Monica Foster is the Fall 2019 India Fellow for the Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII), in cooperation with the India Center. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, with a minor in Religion and Cultural Studies, as well as Creative Writing. Foster is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor […]
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International Conference Offers Insights and Networking Opportunities
By SARA BELLIGONI In early November, Sara Belligoni, a Security Studies doctorate student,presented her research paper at the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUS-AFS) international conference in Reston, Va. The conference is organized every other year in the U.S. and represents an excellent forum of discussion for scholars and professionals involved in the […]
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Globetrotting Journalist and Spy Novelist David Ignatius to Visit UCF
The Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives (GPII) will host award-winning Washington Post foreign affairs columnist and best-selling novelist David Ignatius during his visit to UCF on Nov. 18. Ignatius will be the keynote speaker at the 12th Annual International Education Week Breakfast, which is cohosted by GPII and UCF Global. Ignatius will be […]
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Film Screening Launches Diversity Studies Track
The UCF India Center, in conjunction with the Interdisciplinary Studies Program (Diversity Studies), the College of Undergraduate Studies and the Asian Cultural Association (ACA), was pleased to host the opening film of the ACA’s 25th Annual South Asian Film Festival. The film, Girija: A Life Time in Music, explores the career of renowned vocalist Girija […]
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Seema Shekhawat Joins India Center as a Fellow
The India Center welcomes Seema Shekhawat, Ph.D., as a Fellow. Shekhawat is a social scientist with a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Jammu in India. Her doctoral work focused on the intersection of gender, conflict and displacement in Kashmir. Her research and teaching interests include conflict, peace and gender, and […]
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Alumna Goes To Washington With PoliSci Degree
In the nine years after graduating from UCF, Nathalia Martins ’10 ’12MA has crossed paths with Washington D.C. movers and shakers, held a job with the Brazilian ambassador and started a new career path in public relations. Not bad for someone who didn’t have a clear plan when she arrived in college. “When I […]