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College of Sciences Knight Receives Bachelor’s Degree at 16 Years Old
Psychology graduate Abigail Mena becomes one of UCF’s youngest Knights, with her sights set on medical school and space. Written by: Emily Dougherty | August 28, 2025 When Abigail Mena ’25 walked across the commencement stage this summer, she became one of the youngest students to earn a bachelor’s degree at UCF. For her, the […]
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UCF Students Gain Hollywood Experience as Interns on Shark Tank
Nicholson School of Communication and Media students swam with the sharks behind the scenes of a popular show. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: August 28, 2025 Sophia Squiccirini, a senior studying media production and management, and Payton Lewandrowski ’25, a recent Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) alumna, were selected for the competitive internships on […]
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Remembering Ida Cook
The UCF community reflects on the legacy of Ida Cook, former member of the Board of Trustees and Emerita Associate Professor of Sociology. By Jason Ford and Sultana Ali | Published August 27, 2025 The College of Sciences faculty and staff and wider university community are mourning the passing of Dr. Ida Cook, Emerita Associate Professor […]
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UCF Researcher Helps Confirm Genetic Restoration Success for Florida Panthers
In 1995, scientists translocated eight Texas pumas into Florida in a genetic restoration effort to save the only viable puma population east of the Mississippi from extinction, the Florida panther. The move raised concerns about harmful mutations and genetic swamping — or loss of unique traits. However, a recent study co-authored by UCF Assistant Professor […]
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Mission Complete as FIEA Students Launch their Games for the Cohort 21 Capstone Presentations
After months of collaborative designing, testing, and developing Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy students unveil their final games, showcasing creativity and leadership. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: August 18, 2025 The Nicholson School of Communication and Media’s nationally and globally ranked Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) recently hosted its Cohort 21 Capstone Presentations. This event […]
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Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic and Student Affairs Retires after 29 years
The College of Sciences celebrates the retirement of Teresa Dorman and her lasting impact. By Emily Dougherty | Published July 31, 2025 When Teresa Dorman joined UCF in 1996 as a graduate secretary she didn’t know she would spend the next 29 years reshaping the student experience, creating initiatives, and mentoring advisors, faculty, staff, and […]
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Order of Pegasus Alumna Turned Childhood Curiosity into STEM Advocacy
College of Sciences Physics doctoral graduate, Stephanie Lough, reflects on finding her path through the American Physical Society Bridge Program. By Emily Dougherty | July 25, 2025 When Stephanie Lough decided to return to school at 28 after already building a career, she was unsure of what to expect as a non-traditional student. She graduated […]
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New UCF Study Reveals Opportunities to Boost Confidence in Undergraduate Students
The College of Sciences’ Department of Chemistry published new research showing how professional identity evolves through students’ academic journeys. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: July 21, 2025 A newly published study in the Journal of Forensic Science Education from the College of Sciences Department of Chemistry reveals how undergraduate forensic science students’ confidence shifts […]
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UCF Psychology Professor Named as New Editor for American Psychological Association’s International Journal of Stress Management
Dr. Nathan Bowling is helping organizations improve employee well-being while providing mentorship and research opportunities for the next generation of scholars. By: Ana G. Hidalgo | July 2, 2025 Work can be a major source of both stress and fulfillment—and its impact on people’s lives is significant. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, […]
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Anthropology Student Explores South Carolina’s Environmental History through Prestigious Penn State Fellowship
Cheyenne Taylor overcame personal health challenges, found new purpose through Penn State’s ARISE Fellowship inspired by her family heritage. By: Emily Dougherty | June 23, 2025 Cheyenne Taylor, a transfer student from Broward College studying anthropology in the College of Sciences, isn’t just chasing a degree; she has reclaimed her educational journey and purpose after […]
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Doctoral Student Uses Applied Sociology to Create Change Locally and Globally
Through fellowships, fieldwork, and outreach, Lisa Rodriguez transforms sociological concepts into meaningful solutions for local and global communities. By: Emily Dougherty | June 20, 2025 Lisa Rodriguez, a fourth-year sociology doctoral student in the College of Sciences, is using her academic path and shared experiences to make an impact in communities through research, outreach, and […]
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UCF Psychology Professor Leads Student Volunteers to Support Mental Health Initiative at Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games
The volunteer effort offered psychology and nursing students real-world mental health screening experience while providing vital mental health and wellness education to Special Olympics Florida athletes. By: Ana G. Hidalgo | June 17, 2025 Dr. Megan Sherod, associate chair for academic programming and associate director of clinical training for the Clinical Psychology Master’s program in […]
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High School Students Level Up Knowledge of Gaming Careers at UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy
This past month, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) welcomed the KB Foundation and 28 young people in its Philadelphia-based mentorship programs for a tour of FIEA facilities, offering a glimpse into the degrees available and potential future careers in the gaming industry. Students also had an opportunity to visit UCF’s main campus, UCF Downtown, […]
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UCF Dean and Vice Provost Maggy Tomova Takes New Role in Georgia
Maggy Tomova, UCF’s dean of the College of Sciences and vice provost for strategic initiatives, is joining Augusta University in Georgia as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Her last day at UCF is June 30. Tomova came to UCF in 2021 from the University of Iowa where she was an associate dean […]
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Running to Success: College of Sciences Alumnus and Two-Time Paralympian Shares His Journey
Kyle Coon reflects on shaping his career since graduating from UCF. By: Emily Dougherty | June 4, 2025 Q: Can you please share more about yourself? A: I was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer when I was 10 months old, called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. For the first six years of my life, […]
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First Distinguished Lecture Hosted by The India Center at UCF
Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, Shares Insights on U.S.-India Technology Opportunities By Sultana Ali | May 29, 2025 This April, The India Center at UCF hosted its inaugural Distinguished Lecture, featuring Vivek Lall, Ph.D., Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation. In a conversation with Professor Jayanta Kapat, Pegasus Professor in […]
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UCF Student Selected for Prestigious Internship at The New York Times
This summer UCF student Kendal Asbury will embark on an exciting journey as one of four interns at The New York Times through the prestigious Dow Jones News Fund (DJNF) summer internship program. For more than 60 years, the Dow Jones News Fund has placed top journalism students in internships at media outlets across the […]
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UCF Graduate Student Awarded Prestigious Marine Conservation Scholarship Named After Distinguished Marine Biologist Susan L. Williams
Biology student Carla Perscky will conduct first-time research, developing innovative technologies to help conserve tropical seagrass, a vital habitat for many marine species By: Ana G. Hidalgo | May 22, 2025 Carla Perscky, a master’s student in the UCF Department of Biology and Navy veteran, received the Women Divers Hall of Fame’s (WDHOF) Susan L. […]
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UCF Hosts The Florida Consortium on the Neurobiology of Cognition for the First Time
The Psychology Department at the College of Sciences convenes researchers across the state to explore issues around cognition and aging. By: Sultana Ali and Jordan Sammarco | May 20, 2025 Researchers from across the Florida university system, as well as other organizations connected to cognition, gathered at the University of Central Florida May 8 and […]
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Interdisciplinary Collaboration Unlocks New Insights Into Quantum Physics
Konstantin Vodopyanov, a professor at the College of Sciences and CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, recently co-authored a study published in the journal Optica. This research examines electro-optic sampling (EOS), a technique that advances fields such as quantum physics, molecular spectroscopy and biomedical sensing. As a professor at the two colleges, Vodopyanov shows […]
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UCF RESTORES Unveils First-of-Its-Kind Resiliency Command Center to Support Florida’s First Responders
UCF RESTORES today unveiled its groundbreaking Resiliency Command Center — a first-of-its-kind mobile behavioral health facility designed to provide a safe environment for evidence-based behavioral health care to first responders at the scenes of crises, including natural disasters, mass casualty events and line-of-duty tragedies. Supported by the Florida Legislature, the Florida Division of State Fire […]
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Critical Florida Sea Turtle Sanctuary Renamed in Honor of Late UCF Biology Professor “Doc” Ehrhart
In the heart of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR), a 34-acre stretch of conservation land, known as the Barrier Island Sanctuary, was renamed on April 26 in honor of the late biology professor Llewellyn “Doc” Ehrhart (1942–2022). This newly named sanctuary recognizes his groundbreaking research on sea turtle ecology and coastal conservation. Hosted […]
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UCF Awards Promotion and Tenure to 115 Faculty
UCF faculty members across the university marked a major achievement in earning promotions and tenure for the 2024-25 cycle. The 115 approved faculty — 76 for promotion and 39 for tenure — underwent a comprehensive performance evaluation by peers, college and university leaders that took nearly one academic year. The president and provost make final […]
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UCF Research Team Discovers Breakthrough for 3D Carbon Printing
The research teams of Laurene Tetard, professor of physics at UCF, and Richard Blair, researcher professor at UCF’s Florida Space Institute, have discovered how to produce strong micro and nanofibers of carbon at room temperature, which can be implemented in a unique 3D printing process they have developed. The team’s research, published in Nature Communications, […]
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UCF Hosts Conference on Kurdish Studies
Attendees from all over the world gather to share insights and collaborate on Kurdish studies. By: Emily Dougherty | April 29, 2025 The Kurdish Political Studies Program at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs held its conference on Kurdish studies entitled, “Kurds on the Global Stage: Clashing Identities, Interests, and Perspectives.” The two-day […]
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UCF Professor Retires after 53 Years
Roger Handberg’s milestone marked with a celebratory last lecture. By: Emily Dougherty | April 24, 2025 Professor of Political Science, Roger Handberg, Ph.D., in The School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs (SPSIA) within the College of Sciences is retiring after over five decades of research, teaching, and administration at UCF. Before his journey as […]
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Remembering Michael Reid
Students and faculty look back at the legacy Michael Reid left in the Department of Mathematics. By Emily Dougherty | April 21, 2025 The College of Sciences is mourning the loss of Associate Professor of Mathematics Michael Reid, who passed away earlier this semester. Known for his decades long dedication to teaching, he leaves behind […]
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College of Sciences Doctoral Student Combines Archaeology, Geospatial Science, and Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University’s Spatial Data Lab
Bryce Peacher incorporates the use of AI into recreating history through fellowship. By Emily Dougherty | April 15, 2025 Bryce Peacher, second-year doctoral student studying Integrative Anthropological Sciences, is currently in a fellowship with Harvard University’s Spatial Data Lab. His unique research engages Geospatial Artificial Intelligence to look at ancient landscapes. Peacher’s advisor, Associate Professor […]
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UCF Named as One of Four National Finalists in Competitive Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program
For the first time, the UCF film students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media in the College of Sciences have been selected as finalists in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. Cinemark Fan Favorite voting launches today and the public can vote for their favorite of the four entries through April 30. (Note: Every […]
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College of Sciences Hosts 2025 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards
Notable Alumni are honored for their outstanding career achievements. By Emily Dougherty | April 3, 2025 The evening of March 27th was filled with joy, laughter, and community at the annual College of Sciences Distinguished AlumKnight Awards, to recognize the College’s most outstanding alumni. Kelsey Larsen, Assistant Professor in the School of Politics, Security, and […]