COS Alumni Make the List

Orlando Magazine recently released the names of Orlando’s 50 most powerful people for 2013. The 10th annual list showcased a diverse mix of leaders in the Orlando community. As the magazine noted, these movers and shakers possess the power to move and inspire others. Among those listed include University of Central Florida President, John Hitt, […]

COS/UCF mourns the loss of Associate Professor Dwight C. Kiel in the Department of Political Science

The College of Sciences is sad to report Dwight C. Kiel, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, passed away August 8, 2013.  Professor Kiel joined UCF in 1990 as an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department.  His research focused on political theory and public policy, especially in the areas of education and environmental […]

Students and Professors are ‘Better Together’ for Undergraduate Research

The Summer 2013 edition of the Pegasus features Dr. Costas Efthimiou (Physics) and Dr. Steven Berman (Psychology) – College of Sciences professors working in collaboration with their students to produce amazing results in undergraduate research. Dr. Efthimiou worked on a research project with Christopher Frye involving string theory and how it relates to Einstein’s theory of […]

COS/UCF Mourns the Loss of Founding Biology Chairman Ellis

This story is reposted from UCFToday. Leslie Ellis Jr., the founding chairman of the University of Central Florida’s biology department, who served as acting university president after Charles Millican retired in 1978, died Tuesday.  he was 87. Dr. Ellis joined the university in 1968 after serving as chairman of the biology department at Mississippi State […]

Journey from Sergeant to Top Attorney

When it comes to describing UCF alumnus Jason Odom, ’97, there is no shortage of words. He was very motivated and hardworking during his years at UCF; however, Odom wasn’t like your typical student. While studying to receive his degree from UCF he also served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1993 to […]

UCF Alumna Inspires The Next Generation of Filmmakers

UCF Alumna and Nicholson School of Communications graduate, Stefanie Esquijarosa, ’09, is bringing film and media to Orlando area youth through the Florida Film Academy.   As Production Manager for Steel Spyda, Stefanie is at the sharp end of film and TV – assisting with the production of documentaries both on, and off, location.  She also has […]

After the acquittal: The need for honest dialogue about racial prejudice and stereotyping

This story is reposted from the American Psychological Association. By Gwendolyn Puryear Keita, PhD Psychological research shows that people often notice differences between themselves and others, but judgments about the differences can be based on biased thinking. A national uproar George Zimmerman’s acquittal of second degree murder charges in the shooting death of unarmed teenager […]

UCF Graduate Nominated for Emmy for ABC’s “Shark Tank”

This story is reposted from Knight News. A University of Central Florida graduate and Hollywood producer has just been nominated for an Emmy award. Clay Newbill is a producer on ABC’s hit TV show “Shark Tank”. The show was one of five nominated for an Emmy for best reality series. “I’m really good,” Newbill told […]

UCF RT-V Student Interns for NBC’s Today Show

There were over 10,000 applicants who applied for the east coast NBC internships, yet only 300 applicants were chosen. Of that, only 10 selected for the TODAY show and NSC’s Kaitlyn Chana was one of the chosen few. This story is reposted from NBC Universal Intern Insider. Kaitlyn Chana-philanthropist, multimedia journalist, and student at the […]

UCF Alumna Named President of Red Lobster

Congratulations to Salli Setta, ’87, who was named president of Red Lobster, the world’s largest casual-dining seafood chain, last week. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Setta replaced Dave Pickens, another longtime Darden employee promoted earlier this month to chief restaurant operations officer. She started working with Darden in 1990 as a sales-promotion assistant at Olive […]

UCF Alumna Returns to Vantage Communications

Public relations industry veteran and UCF alumna, Brianna Swales, ’03, has returned to Vantage Communications as account director. In her new role, Swales will be responsible for driving internal employee development initiatives, developing comprehensive strategy and messaging for clients, and tapping into new emerging markets while serving as a liaison with international agency partners in […]

Dr. Linda Walters Furthers Her Education

Dr. Linda Walters, Pegasus Professor of biology and director of the Center for Success of Women Faculty at UCF recently graduated from the HERS Bryn Mawr Summer Institute, held June 22 – July 6, 2013 at Bryn Mawr College. Since 1978, the HERS Institute for Women in Higher Education at Wellesley College has annually offered women […]

Joey Conicella, ’05, Will Brake for Cupcakes

By Angie Lewis, ’03 Alumnus’ sweet treats are Yum Yum in the tum tum He may have dreamed of being a Disney animator when he grew up, but little did Joey Conicella, ’05, realize then that he would, indeed, be bringing smiles to the faces of children and big kids alike — just, in a […]

Donna Lucas: UCF’s Employee of the Month

Donna Lucas, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Psychology was awarded UCF’s Employee of the Month for July! This award is in recognition of her hard work, commitment, and loyalty to the Department and the University.  Lucas has taken on an ever expanding role and increased duties in her position. Furthermore, she was integral to […]

Meet UCF Bioarchaeologist Who Looks Into Our Buried Past

Sandra Wheeler graduated with multiple degrees in anthropology from UCF and returned in 2010 as an instructor specializing in bioarchaeology. Her main area of research focuses on the bioarchaeological analysis of infants and children, which recently led her to uncovering the earliest recorded evidence of child abuse. Her findings were reported by national media. She […]

COS Professors Featured in “The Verge”

Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase were recently featured in “The Verge” for their work using Lidar, also known as laser, imaging, detection and ranging. It  works by illuminating a target zone with lasers affixed to an aircraft. The light is reflected off target objects — whether foliage, buildings or even clouds — and captured by […]

Meet Hometown Boy: A Rocket Scientist, Movie Actor and Mentor

This story is reposted from UCF Today. Joshua Colwell is a UCF physics professor trying to unravel the mystery of how Earth and the solar system were formed. His expertise has landed him roles in several NASA-funded projects, including the Cassini mission, which is exploring Saturn’s rings. Becoming a rocket scientist was a natural career […]

Alumnus Discusses Public Policy and Billboards

Chad Harvey, ’96, graduated from UCF with a bachelor’s degree in political science and since then has become a very accomplished real estate professional. He has experience in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, entitlements, development and business negotiations which has led him to a very interesting job with CBS Outdoor as a real estate manager. CBS Outdoor […]

NCFS: Pioneers in the Forensic Science Community

Few realize that UCF is home to one of the few Academic Forensic Science Centers in the United States. The National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS) produces future thought-leaders and practitioners in forensic science as well as first class research that has benefitted the forensic science community since 1997. Playing an essential role in the […]

Summer Harvest Feast

UCF Chemists Work on Cure for Cancer

Kevin Belfield and his team of chemists were featured on Fox 35 for their work on a new potential cure for cancer.This new therapy uses organic salt and light to kill cancer cells, potentially treating four types of cancer: melanoma, breast, colon, and prostate cancer. The technique is a simple way around a problem that […]

The Lou Frey Institute: Past, Present and Future

The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at UCF has a goal to promote the development of enlightened, responsible and actively engaged citizens. Over the past ten years the Institute has been doing an outstanding job adhering to that mission statement through a variety of programs, research and advocacy. The Institute grew out of […]

Hot careers: Sport psychology

This story is reposted from the American Psychological Association. Charlie Brown, PhD, was looking for a new dimension in his psychology career — a way to merge his professional skills in strategic problem-solving with his personal interests in athletics and travel. A recreational triathlete and avid skier, Brown found the perfect fit in sport psychology. […]

UCF Alumna Took the Bull by the Horns

Elizabeth Bertrand, ’09, came to UCF exploring several different majors but eventually found the perfect combination and graduated with two bachelor’s degrees — one in advertising-public relations and one in political science. She wasted no time taking the bull by the horns once she figured out her educational path at UCF, and started paving the […]

Alumna’s First Novel Gets Nominated for Award

Lindsay Moynihan, ’13, has always had a passion for storytelling and recently published her first novel called, The Waiting Tree.  The book is described to be in the young adult, contemporary and LGBT genres. It has been nominated for the coveted American Library Association’s 2014 Rainbow List. Moynihan currently lives in Orlando, Florida where she […]

Alumnus Named Assistant Director for the Orlando DDB/CRA

David Barilla, 06, has had a hand in the development of Orlando since he began his career with the City of Orlando Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency (DDB/CRA) in 2010. He worked for two years as the economic development coordinator III and worked on key projects such as the $165 million 55 West […]

Dr. Reed Noss Has a Talk With Congress

Dr. Reed Noss, the Provost’s Distinguished Research Professor of Biology at UCF, recently had the opportunity to testify before Congress for the oversight hearing on “Defining Species Conservation Success: Tribal, State and Local Stewardship vs. Federal Courtroom Battles and Sue-and-Settle Practices.” The hearing was the first of a series in this Congress that are meant […]

Meet Fernando Rivera: Baseball, Family Keep Sociologist Focused on Studying Diverse Communities

This story is reposted from UCF Today. Fernando Rivera is an associate professor in sociology. His specialty is mental health, race and ethnicity, the family unit and disaster research. He has a particular interest in Latino communities and in the intersection between race, class and gender. Rivera fell in love with sociology because it’s the […]

National Science Foundation Taps UCF Biology Talent

This is a guest post from Zenaida Kotala, UCF Today. University of Central Florida biologist Betsy Von Holle is lending her talents to the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., serving a year as program director. Her leave of absence started this summer. The area she oversees includes studies and grants in the area of: […]

UCF Alumna’s Travels Enhance Her Educational Experience

Karina Konz, ’12, is originally from Germany and began her college career at Temple University in Tokyo, Japan. In 2011, she transferred to UCF as an international student and graduated in December 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in philosophy. Having traveled to and lived in several different places, Konz […]