University of Central Florida
Division of Community Relations
Community connections
Connecting the University and the Community
In This Issue: Page 1 • UCF: Innovating Our Way to the Top • State of the University Address Page 2 • New UCF Foundation CEO, Athletic Director • Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon • Inauguration of Kurdish Chair Page 3 • DirectConnect to UCF 10th Anniversary • Expanding the Fight Against Slavery • Ndaba Mandela Shares Grandfather’s Legacy • West Orange Legislative Luncheon Page 4 • Upcoming Events • Metro Center Outlook Schedule • Around the Community
Letter from helen Helen Donegan, Vice President, Division of Community Relations
As 2015 comes to a close, we reflect on yet another year of significant accomplishments at UCF. Our fall enrollment soared to more than 63,000 students— an increase of more than five percent from 2014—even as our incoming freshman class set new records for their average GPA and SAT scores (4.0 and 1261, respectively). The national spotlight shone brightly on UCF as media outlets including the Washington Post, Politico Magazine, and the PBS NewsHour highlighted UCF as a model for breaking the mold in providing broad access to higher education, at a reasonable price. And we have continued to leverage the power of partnerships in our quest for excellence and innovation. From DirectConnect to UCF to the planned downtown campus, we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide world-class educational and research opportunities, and in the process, contribute to the social and economic progress of our community. Yours in partnership,
Helen
Fall / Winter 2015
UCF: Innovating Our Way to the Top
Hundreds of Central Florida business and community leaders gathered at the Ballroom at Church Street on December 9 to hear from UCF President John C. Hitt and UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Dale Whittaker at the President’s Focus on Excellence Breakfast. Themed “UCF: Innovating Our Way to the Top,” the breakfast highlighted UCF’s many recent achievements in academics and research. Provost Whittaker pointed to the groundbreaking work of UCF faculty in the fields of breast cancer research, nanotechnology, and optics, and noted that UCF consistently ranks among the top 25 universities in the world for number of patents secured. He also highlighted the two-time national champion student cyber defense team that received White House recognition and Limbitless Solutions, a student research group that has had an international impact by creating affordable, 3D-printed bionic limbs for children with disabilities. Acknowledging UCF’s extraordinary growth, President Hitt said that his goal for UCF isn’t simply to be big, but to be one of the world’s leading universities. He then shared UCF’s secret ingredient for excellence and innovation: partnerships. Citing a long list of successful partnerships, President Hitt urged attendees to support the university’s newest collaboration, the proposed expansion of the downtown campus, in conjunction with Valencia College, the City of Orlando, and Orange County Public Schools, among others. Additional event photos are available here.
State of the University Address More than 500 UCF students, staff, faculty, and administrators gathered in the Pegasus Ballroom of the UCF Student Union on September 30 for the 2015 State of the University Address. Vice President of Communications and Marketing Grant Heston interviewed President Hitt about current university affairs and future plans for UCF in a conversational address. President Hitt discussed topics ranging from challenges facing higher education to his goal of creating a vibrant downtown Orlando campus and UCF’s ever-increasing enrollment. Videos shown highlighted university successes including the Limbitless Solutions project and the DirectConnect to UCF consortium. The president’s talk was followed by remarks from Keith Koons, chair of the Faculty Senate, and Cait Zona, president of the Student Government Association. You can watch the address online here.
UCF Welcomes New UCF Foundation CEO and Athletic Director Following a national search, Michael J. Morsberger was named vice president for alumni relations and development and the new CEO of the University of Central Florida Foundation. Prior to joining UCF, Morsberger achieved record-breaking successes at the George Washington University, Duke University, the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, under Morsberger’s leadership, George Washington University received the two largest gifts in its 190-year history and doubled the amount it raised for financial aid to more than $35 million last year. “Mike’s leadership has produced transformational gifts that continue to change lives at some of our nation’s leading institutions and around the world,” UCF President John C. Hitt said. “He excels at motivating his staff members, donors, administrators and faculty members to dream big for the benefit of students and the community.” Morsberger officially joined UCF on June 1, and will lead an extensive fundraising campaign that aims to raise $500 million by 2018. “I am honored to accept this important role and serve the vast UCF community,” Morsberger said. “It is clear to me that the University of Central Florida at age 50 is at an inflection point in its remarkable history—and the next decade will surely prove to be very exciting.” Danny White, director of athletics at the State University of New York at Buffalo for the past three years, joins UCF in January as vice president and director of athletics. White brings to UCF a strong record of success on the field and in the classroom, as well as an impressive family pedigree in college athletics. At Buffalo, White worked with athletics administrators, coaches, and staff to transform the Bulls’ program and culture, shattering previous school records for student-athlete GPAs, NCAA tournament berths, fundraising, and football ticket sales. His father, Kevin, is vice president and director of athletics at Duke University and a former director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame. His brother, Michael, is the men’s basketball coach at the University of Florida, and his brother, Brian, is the senior associate athletics director for development at the University of Missouri. “Danny is one of the nation’s rising stars in college athletics, and his talent, determination, energy and creativity will guide our program to a bright future,” said UCF President John C. Hitt. “He understands that success starts with winning with integrity and student-athletes thriving in the classroom, and he has a history of hiring successful coaches.” “I am excited to join the UCF family, and my goals include building on our outstanding academic accomplishments and making UCF a national leader known for competitive excellence,” White said. “We will become one of the nation’s premier destinations for coaches and student-athletes, and we will excite our student body, staff and faculty, alumni and the Central Florida community.”
Kickoff Luncheon Raises Nearly $50,000 for Student-athletes More than 1,000 university and community Knights fans gathered at the CFE Arena for the 2015 Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon held on August 21. Guests were welcomed by President John C. Hitt and Bright House Networks Vice President and General Manager for the Orlando Region Michel Champagne. Then-coach George O’Leary discussed plans for the upcoming season, and keynote speaker and former UCF football player, Sergio Joachim, reflected on his time at UCF. The event raised more than $49,500 for UCF Everyday Champions Scholarships. Since 2009, this annual event has raised more than $273,000 for studentathletes. The Kickoff Luncheon was coordinated by UCF Athletics and the Office of Constituent Relations and also highlighted the debut of the new Carl Black & Gold Cabana in Bright House Networks Stadium. Additional event photos can be found here.
Inauguration of Kurdish Chair a First in the U.S.
On October 29, the UCF Kurdish Political Studies Program, co-chaired by Global Perspectives Office Director John C. Bersia, hosted a special event to inaugurate the Jalal Talabany Kurdish Political Studies Endowed Chair. The Chair, which is the first of its kind in the United States, is the crowning achievement of a cooperative undertaking between the Global Perspectives Office, the Political Science Department in the College of Sciences (where the Chair is housed) and off-campus partners that started as an initiative in 2008. College of Sciences Dean Michael Johnson presented the chair to its holder, Gunes Murat Tezjur, who delivered remarks, presented scholarships to three essay winners and sat as a panelist for a discussion on the importance of Kurdish issues, which Bersia moderated. Also on the panel was Najmaldin Karim. In addition to being a neurosurgeon and the governor of Kirkuk province for the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, Karim led the fundraising effort to endow the Chair with a generous contribution of over a half million dollars. For more information about the event or program, visit www.ucfglobalperspectives.org.
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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
DirectConnect to UCF 10th Anniversary Celebration
More than 150 students, faculty, administrators and alumni of DirectConnect to UCF celebrated the consortium’s 10th Anniversary on November 9, at the Live Oak Event Center at UCF’s Orlando campus. President John C. Hitt thanked and recognized the partner presidents from Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, Valencia College, Seminole State College, and the two newest additions to the DirectConnect to UCF consortium: Daytona State College and the College of Central Florida. Two graduates of DirectConnect to UCF, Danny Kiswani and Pamela Garcia, shared their heartwarming success stories. CEO of the UCF Foundation, Michael Morsberger, announced a five-year pledge toward scholarships/financial aid for DirectConnect to UCF students by Provost Dale Whittaker and his wife Mary, and encouraged others to participate in this opportunity to change lives. UCF has conferred 26,822 degrees to DirectConnect to UCF students since the program’s first graduating class in 2009. More than 41,000 students have enrolled in UCF through the program and more than 140,000 state college students have expressed interest in DirectConnect to UCF enrollment. More information on DirectConnect to UCF can be found here. Additional event photos can be found here.
Ndaba Mandela Shares Grandfather’s Legacy The Global Perspectives Office hosted Ndaba Mandela, grandson of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, for a public forum on September 21. During his lecture, Mandela shed light on his relationship with his iconic grandfather; he described meeting him at age 11 after he was released from prison, and moving to live with him just before he assumed the presidency in 1993. He also highlighted his efforts to fight a variety of issues ranging from misguided perceptions of Africa to the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic around the world. Mandela, named one of the “28 Men of Change” by BET, is the co-founder of the philanthropic foundation Africa Rising, which seeks to promote a positive image of Africa in the international community. He spoke extensively about Africa’s tremendous potential for economic growth, and encouraged the audience to visit the continent and acquire a more nuanced perspective on its culture and people.
Expanding the Fight Against Slavery
The University of Central Florida, one of the first universities in the nation to focus on the issue of human trafficking, is taking that interest to the next level. Building on the work of the Human Trafficking Awareness Program, launched as an initiative by the Global Perspectives Office in 2003, UCF now has a task force called the Human Trafficking Group, which is being shepherded by Dean Alvin Wang of The Burnett Honors College and Global Perspectives director John C. Bersia. The group aims to extend UCF’s efforts across all disciplines in cooperation with organizations throughout the Central Florida community and elsewhere. Human trafficking-specific courses are in development, and fellowship opportunities are being increased at UCF. A new national partner in this undertaking is Civil Lawyers Against World Sex-Slavery (CLAWS), which was founded by UCF graduate and Atlanta attorney David Boone. Boone has joined the advisory board of the Human Trafficking Awareness Program, which is co-chaired by Bersia and Wang. Bersia is also an honorary member of the CLAWS board of directors.
Central Florida Delegation Discusses Hot Topics at West Orange Lunch
More than 175 West Orange business and community leaders were in attendance as Diane Trees, associate vice president of Community Relations and host of WUCF TV’s Metro Center Outlook, moderated the West Orange Chamber’s annual Legislative Luncheon on September 9 at Tanner Hall in Winter Garden. Senate President Andy Gardiner was joined in the panel discussion by fellow members of the Central Florida Delegation: Senators Alan Hays and Kelli Stargel and Representatives Eric Eisnaugle and Mike Miller. Trees led the legislators through an open discussion on a wide range of topics, including gambling and gaming, gun control, Medicaid expansion, and current House-Senate relations, followed by a Q&A session with members of the audience. Additional event photos can be found here. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
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Upcoming Events
The UCF Global Perspectives Office proudly presents the following university-wide and community events. Please check website for updated schedule.
February 9
February 16
Kim Barker “The Taliban Shuffle”
HRH Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark “Greece, Europe and Youth Activism”
A special presentation of the LIFE Global Issues Series. All are welcome to attend this open forum.
A special presentation of the LIFE Global Issues Series. All are welcome to attend this open forum.
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Pegasus Ballroom, UCF Student Union
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Pegasus Ballroom, UCF Student Union
Join host Diane Trees on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. as she tackles issues of regional and national significance on Metro Center Outlook. Don’t miss her exclusive, in-depth interviews with Central Florida’s business leaders and elected officials. Check local listings for encores and additional information: http://wucftv.org/. And keep up with the latest Metro Center Outlook episodes and news by following the show on Facebook and Twitter.
January 17
January 24 Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday
2016 marks the 30th year of the City of Orlando Mayor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Guests: Sen. Geraldine Thompson; Art McClendon, the second chairman of the Commission; Marcia Hope Goodwin, director of community affairs and human relations for the City of Orlando; and Brandy Hand, current Commission chair.
January 31 Gun Control/ Public Safety
Youth Financial Literacy Two experts join us to discuss the financial literacy skills of Central Florida students. Guests: Ray Larsen, Heart of Florida United Way vice president of childrens’ services, and Kathy Panter, president of Junior Achievement of Central Florida.
February 7
Is Florida the sunshine state or the gunshine state? Join us for a discussion of gun safety issues and the pros and cons of proposed gun legislation for the 2016 Florida Legislative Session.
Black History Month This month we celebrate the many contributions black Americans have made to our country. Guests: John F. Davis, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, and Harold Mills, vice chairman of the board of the multibillion dollar global company ZeroChaos.
Around the Community Sonia Manzano, better known as “Maria” from Sesame Street, was John Bersia’s guest on the November 15 episode of Global Perspectives. Manzano, who won 15 Emmys for her writing on Sesame Street, discussed the show’s enduring contribution to diversity and education in America.
Metro Center Director Diane Trees served on the planning committee for the Seminole Regional Chamber’s 2015 Industry Recognition Luncheon held on October 15. Each year, the luncheon honors the fastest-growing companies in Seminole County. Diane Trees’ interview with Congressman Daniel Webster, aired on Metro Center Outlook on October 18. Webster, who represents Florida’s 10th District, discussed important policy issues facing Central Florida and the nation. UCF teams gathered for a pre-dawn photo before the American Heart Association’s Greater Orlando Heart Walk. This year, UCF’s 444 walkers raised more than $43,000 for cardiovascular education and research.
University of Central Florida Division of Community Relations
UCF Downtown | 36 West Pine Street | Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: 407.235.3935 | Fax: 407.317.7744 | Email: communityrelations@ucf.edu
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