Cynthia Young : Women who shaped UCF

What is your current job title and responsibilities? 
Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean, College of Sciences with oversight of Research and External Funding, Faculty Affairs, Assessment, and STEM Initiatives.

What is your history at UCF? (past job titles, responsibilities)
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Professor of Mathematics, NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative

What is your favorite UCF memory?
Opening of Brighthouse Stadium against the University of Texas, almost beating them, and then being in the Dallas airport with a UCF Knights polo on and gate agent at the airport saying, “You guys almost got us!”  The energy in the stadium was inspiring and I have a photo of the kickoff in my office.

If you could change one thing at UCF, what would it be? ($ and time no object)
We could give every undergraduate a research experience.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with your colleagues?
Work hard/Play harder

What is your favorite restaurant or food?
Dim Sum- Ming Court

What is your favorite book or movie or song?
The theme song to Sleeping Beauty..  I know you I walked with you once upon a dream..  It was my favorite as a child and Caroline (our daughter) sings it all the time.

If UCF was going to name something in your honor, what would you like it to be?
A Faculty Lounge.  What I love about my current role is my connection to faculty. It would be wonderful to have a faculty lounge on campus.

If you could have lunch with anyone at UCF, who would you choose and why?
John Hitt- to thank him for his leadership.  I’ve loved every minute of the last 16 years at UCF.  I’m honored to have been a steward on his ship.

Who at UCF would you like to thank for your success?
Dr. Larry Andrews, “DOC”- I met him when I was 21 years old and he was the graduate coordinator in Math at UCF.  He joked that he had ties older than me at the time.  He was my thesis advisor years ago at UCF and then recruited me back to UCF as a faculty member.  He was the perfect mentor- I’ve been trying to emulate him as a researcher and teacher for the last 20 years.