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Security Studies Graduate Takes Position Advising Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
U.S. Army Colonel Joseph Funderburke, Ph.D. ’19, has stepped into a new advisory role as Special Assistant to the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark A. Milley — the highest-ranking military officer in the Department of Defense and principal military advisor to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. […]
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Security Studies Ph.D. Graduate Pens Most-Viewed Article on West Point Website
A controversial opinion piece on shifting the focus of U.S. special forces basic training racked up more than 17,000 views last year on a West Point Military Academy website. The achievement earned the author, Summer 2020 Security Studies doctorate graduate Sandor Fabian, Ph.D., the distinction of penning the most viewed article of 2020 on Modern […]
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Alumnus’ Advocacy Secures Garbage Truck To Improve Dominican Republic Sanitation
By WHITNEY CHISHOLM ’17 The Dominican Republic holds a special place in my heart, going all the way back to high school when I was introduced to the future mayor of Santo Domingo. I stayed in close contact with the island for years and eventually landed a position as the city’s U.S. liaison. It was […]
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Alumna Blends Medicine and PoliSci To Create World-Changing Impact
At the intersection of political science and medicine sits the passion of Kezia Domond ’20, a recent UCF political science graduate with a calling to help those in underrepresented and underprivileged communities throughout the world. This upcoming fall, Domond takes a seat in Boston University’s Masters of Public Health program, where her hope is to […]
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UCF Preps Alumna For Career In International Relations
It was the second semester of her freshman year when Andrea de la Camara ’13 stumbled upon the political science department at the University of Central Florida. An aspiring veterinarian at the time, de la Camara didn’t know that she’d soon be an ambitious graduate with a budding career in the field of political […]
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Degrees Launch Career of Service for 30 Under 30 Winners
Two alumni from the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs are recipients of the UCF 30 Under 30 Class of 2020 award. Kristina Merritt ’12 and Brandon Fair ’13 are being celebrated for their achievements and service in their respective careers. Merritt, a dual major in psychology and political science, uses her background from […]
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Childhood Dream Leads Alumnus to Security Studies Ph.D.
Jason Christensen, Ph.D., distinctly remembers fear and tragedy during the catastrophic events of 9/11. That morning, he also remembers his resolve to protect people and pursue a career in national security. “Even then as a child I realized any day could be a 9/11,” said Christensen. “I knew that I wanted to do something, […]
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Political Science Alumnus Sees Change Coming in Fight For Equality
By Whit Chisholm ’17 I really believe we are witnessing the early elements of a political revolution. When I took Contemporary Revolution and Political Violence, I never thought I’d actually witness or play a role in one. One thing I learned in that class was that a sharp reversal of economic fortune and widespread frustration […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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 […]
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Lifelong Impact of Professor Inspires Scholarship Fund
In a hectic world, it pays to pause and say “thank you.” That’s the philosophy of Chris Lombardo, who was struck not too long ago about his own inattention to showing gratefulness. More specifically, he realized the impact that longtime Political Science professor Roger Handberg, Ph.D., had on Lombardo’s career as an attorney. “The foundational […]
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Achievements Celebrated at 2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards
The College of Sciences recognized 10 alumni for their achievements Thursday at the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards. The annual event brings together outstanding alumni from each of the departments and schools within COS for a night of celebration and reflection on another successful year. “Tonight’s awardees were selected for this honor based on their professional […]
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PoliSci Grad Daily Impacts Lives of Veterans
A political science degree from UCF paved the way for a graduate to impact the lives of veterans. William Maddens, ’14BA ’17MA, works today for the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing financial assistance for veterans and their loved ones through the Benefits Administration. It’s a job that brings him tremendous satisfaction, but it wasn’t what […]
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Sorority Inspires PoliSci Grad to Pursue Legal Career Protecting Citizens
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” This is the motto Genevieve Bonan ’10 says carried her through her undergraduate studies at UCF, and still inspires her today. Bonan currently practices consumer protection law in the Consumer Protection Division of the Florida Attorney General. In her free time, she volunteers with various charities and organizations, […]
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PoliSci Degree Sets Up Successful Insurance Career
John Garceau’s successful career in the insurance business was built, in part, on the foundation of a Political Science degree from UCF. Garceau entered UCF after service as a signalman for the Navy. The G.I. Bill allowed him to pursue a philosophy degree, but, with extra credits available, Garceau also chose Political Science. With the […]
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2015 Political Science Department 30 Under 30 Awardee
The UCF Alumni Association was proud to host its inaugural 30 under 30 awards dinner Friday, Nov. 20, honoring the outstanding achievements of 30 successful Knights. Nine of the 30 alumni awarded are graduates from the UCF College of Sciences. Young alumni currently make up one-third of UCF’s alumni population, making them the university’s largest […]
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30 Under 30 Awardee Sara Singer ’10
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from UCF, Sara Singer attended the University of Miami Law School and became an assistant public defender. She practiced criminal defense at both the misdemeanor and felony level and obtained significant trial experience. Currently, she is an associate attorney and practices family law at Brydger & Porras. She continues to […]
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30 Under 30 Awardee Arielle Bardzell ’13
Arielle Bardzell ’13 is a corporate attorney practicing at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, a prestigious law firm in New York City. While at Georgetown Law, she represented and advised victims of family violence as a student attorney in Georgetown Law’s Domestic Violence Clinic. She has also been published multiple times in the Georgetown Journal […]
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Florida House of Representatives Clerk Credits UCF For Leadership Traits
The rules and procedures that keep Florida’s Legislature running smoothly are no accident. There’s rules for introducing bills, who gets to speak on the floor and for how long and voting procedures — just to name a few. Maintaining order and enforcing those rules falls to the clerk of the House of Representatives, currently Jeff […]
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17 College of Sciences Alumni Win 30 Under 30
Seventeen College of Sciences graduates were among the winners of UCF Alumni’s 30 Under 30 Awards. “Our 2019 30 under 30 recipients are extraordinary examples of what it means to represent UCF with pride,” says Jazmine Rodriguez ’10 ’12 , chair of UCF’s Young Alumni Council. “The impact this group has made in the world […]
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Student Experience Provides Stepping Stone To Elected Position
There was no question what major Amber Mariano, ’17, would choose when she stepped onto UCF’s campus as a freshman; she’d already picked political science when was 6 years old. But the path to becoming Florida’s youngest elected state representative takes more than a good education. And that’s where UCF also helped her excel. “The […]
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Alumnus Shapes World With Law Degree
The law can be a powerful tool in the right hands. Matthew Goodison-Orr has directly discovered this as an attorney who has helped both the socially disadvantaged and veteran communities. But those rewarding moments almost didn’t happen. “I had a vague idea of wanting to help people by pursuing a legal career,” Goodison-Orr said. “But […]
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Taking Risks Translates Into Rewarding Career For PoliSci Graduate
Fausto Cardenas, ’18, said it was the risks they took as a UCF student that taught them the road to change is built on taking chances. Born in Ecuador, Cardenas moved to the U.S. with their mother at age 4. Cardenas said their mother always had at least two jobs to support them […]
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PoliSci Grad Makes Community Impact With Law Office
Amal Laassel,’04, is using her legal skills to help the Central Florida community and inspire young girls to explore the legal field. Laassel was born in Marrakesh, Morocco, and moved to the U.S. when she was 16 years as part of an international student exchange program. After graduating high school, Laassel majored in Political Science […]
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COS Alums Among OBJ’s 40 Under 40
BY NICOLE DUDENHOEFER ’17 AND JENNA MARINA LEE Four College of Sciences alumni were among those honored at the Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, an annual celebration that recognizes successful professional who have created a big impact within their industry and in the local community. Honorees were selected from a group of nominees submitted […]