In the News
Students, Faculty and Staff Honored at 2023 Founders’ Day Ceremonies
April 06, 2023 CAH faculty, students and staff were recognized for excellence in teaching, advising, mentoring, research, professional service at UCF’s annual Founders’ Day celebrations.
Stephen Fiore Named 2023 Pegasus Professor
March 30, 2023 Four UCF professors have been named this year’s Pegasus Professors, UCF’s highest faculty designation. Among them is Director of Cognitive Sciences Laboratory and Professor with UCF’s Cognitive Sciences Program in the Department of Philosophy and Institute for Simulation & Training, Stephen Fiore.
Haidar Khezri Named UCF Reach for the Stars 2023 Honoree
March 30, 2023 Modern Languages and Literatures assistant professor Haidar Khezri uses language teaching, translation, literary criticism, and minority and refugee studies to help students, scholars and the broader public understand the complexities of the Middle East.
Faculty Awards
Pegasus Professor
The Pegasus Professor award recognizes excellence in the three primary areas of academic endeavor: teaching, research and service.
2023
Stephen Fiore, Department of Philosophy
2021
Luis Martínez-Fernández, Department of History
2020
Julia Listengarten, School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
2019
Tison Pugh, Department of English
2015
Humberto López Cruz, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
2014
Jeff Rupert, School of Performing Arts (Music)
2012
Stella Sung, CREATE, School of Visual Arts & Design
2001
Jose Fernández, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
UCF Reach for the Stars Award
The UCF Reach for the Stars Award honors and rewards highly successful research and creative activity accomplished by early-career university professionals.
2023
Haidar Khezri
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
2022
Chrissy Kolaya
Department of English
2021
Mel Stanfill
Department of English and Texts & Technology Ph.D.
2014
Stephen Fiore
Department of Philosophy
Excellence Awards
The annual ceremony recognizes the academic achievements, contributions and tenures of students and faculty members from across disciplines and encourages them to continue making strides in their careers.
2022–2023
The College Award for Excellence in Research
Anastasia Salter, Department of Texts & Technology
The College Award for Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising
Adele Richardson, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
The College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Stephen Hopkins, Department of English
Chiara Mazzucchelli, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Melissa Pompos, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Emily Proulx, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2021–2022
The University Award for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students
Mel Stanfill, Department of English and Texts & Technology
The College Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Anastasia Salter, Texts & Technology
The College Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Anne Bubriski, Women’s & Gender Studies
The College Award for Excellence in Research
Jonathan Beever, Department of Philosophy
The College Award for Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising
Luis Martínez-Fernandez, Department of History
The College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Elizabeth Horn, School of Performing Arts
Farrah Cato, Department of English
Tison Pugh, Department of English
Brandy Dieterle, Department of English
2020–2021
College Award for Excellence in Research
Duncan Hardy, Department of History
College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Francisco Fernandez-Rubiera, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Martha Garcia, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Duncan Hardy, Department of History
Alla Kourova, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Luis Martínez Fernandez, Department of History
College Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Cheryl Briggs, School of Visual Arts and Design
College Award for Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising
Adele Richardson, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
University Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Keri Watson, School of Visual Arts and Design
2019–2020
College Award for Excellence in Research
Vladimir Solonari, Department of History
College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Matthew Bryan, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Nicholas Shrubsole, Department of Philosophy
Sandra Sousa, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Laurie Uttich, Department of English
College Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Elizabeth Horn, School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
College Award for Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising
Patricia Farless, Department of History
University Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Beatriz Reyes-Foster, Women's and Gender Studies
2018–2019
College Award for Excellence in Research
Yovanna Pineda, Department of History
College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Matt Dombrowski, School of Visual Arts and Design
Luis Martínez-Fernández, Department of History
Sybil St. Claire, School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Kristina Tollefson, School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
College Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Julia Listengarten, School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
2017–2018
College Award for Excellence in Research
David Brunner, School of Performing Arts (Music)
College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Cheryl Briggs, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Edward Dandrow, Department of History
Ilenia Colón Mendoza, School of Visual Arts & Design
Peter Telep, Department of English
University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Faculty Academic Advising
Kristina Tollefson, School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
2016–2017
College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Martha Garcia, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Ann Gleig, Department of Philosophy
Adele Richardson, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Keri Watson, School of Visual Arts & Design
2015–2016
College Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Farrah Cato, Department of English
Tison Pugh, Department of English
Charlotte Trinquet du Lys, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Stephanie Vie, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
College Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
Barry Mauer, Department of English
University Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Stephanie Vie, Department of Writing & Rhetoric
UCF Trustee Chairs
The UCF Trustee Chair Professorships were established to both retain outstanding UCF faculty and attract exceptional faculty to UCF.
2016–2026
Jeff Rupert
School of Performing Arts (Music)
2017–2027
Stella Sung
CREATE, School of Visual Arts & Design
UCF Luminary Award
The UCF Luminary Award is designed to shine a light on exceptional faculty whose work is advancing their discipline and making a difference.
2022
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts
2021
David James Poissant
Department of English
2018
Humberto López Cruz
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
2017, Inaugural Year
Keith Folse
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz
School of Visual Arts & Design
Anastasia Salter
School of Visual Arts & Design
Eileen Smith
School of Visual Arts & Design
Stephanie Vie
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Pavel Zemliansky
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Scroll and Quill Society
During Spring 2016, Faculty Excellence relaunched a streamlined and contemporary UCF Scroll & Quill Society, based on two prestigious faculty clubs established in the 1980s to honor faculty members who brought recognition to the university through: (a) The Quill, to recognize authored books and (b) The Scroll, to recognize significant and sustained peer reviewed publications in national and international journals.
2021–2022
Martha Brenckle
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
David James Poissant
Department of English
2020–2021
Cheryl Briggs
School of Visual Arts & Design
Ilenia Colón Mendoza
School of Visual Arts & Design
Stephen Fiore
Department of Philosophy
Charlotte Trinquet du Lys
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Gergana Vitanova
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Scott Warfield
School of Performing Arts (Music)
2019–2020
Nathan Holic
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Shelley Park
Department of Philosophy
Kerry Purmensky
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Terry Thaxton
Department of English
2018–2019
Alla Kourova
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Rudy McDaniel
School of Visual Arts & Design
Florin Mihai
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Maria Cristina Santana
Women's and Gender Studies
Sybil St. Claire
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
2017–2018
James Clark
Department of History
Martha García
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Blake Scott
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Michael Strawser
Department of Philosophy
Ayako Yonetani
School of Performing Arts (Music)
UCF Women of Distinction Award
Presented by the Faculty Excellence Center for Success of Women Faculty for the last seven years, the Women of Distinction award highlights the achievements of outstanding women faculty at UCF. The three awards given this year – 5 years of service, 6-10 years of service and more than 10 years of service – are for “Excellence in turning your Big Ideas into Big Successes at UCF”: accomplishments and initiatives about complex issues related to teaching, research, campus service, community service, outreach efforts, and/or advocacy.
2020
Cheryl Briggs
School of Visual Arts and Design
Laurie A. Pinkert
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2019
Anne Bubriski
Women's and Gender Studies
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
2018
Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz
School of Visual Arts & Design
LIFE@UCF Women Faculty Recognition Awards
With generous support from the Learning Institute for Elders at UCF (LIFE@UCF), the LIFE@UCF Women Faculty Recognition Awards celebrate and promote women faculty whose scholarship, teaching, and/or service best represent excellence in this strategic mission of our university.
2020
Terry Thaxton
Department of English
UCF Research Incentive Award
The UCF Research Incentive Awards (RIA) program supports outstanding research, scholarly, and creative activity that advances the body of knowledge in a particular field, including interdisciplinary research and collaborations. This award recognizes employee contributions to UCF’s key goal of achieving international prominence in research and creative activities.
2022–2023
William Fogarty
Department of English
Christine Kolaya
Department of English
Florin Mihai
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Timothy Brown
School of Performing Arts
Alexander Burtzos
School of Performing Arts
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts
Ann Gleig
Department of Philosophy
Esther Milu
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Laurie Pinkert
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2021–2022
Hadi Abbas
School of Visual Arts and Design
Sonia Arellano
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
Stephen Fiore
Department of Philosophy
Nora Lee Garcia
School of Performing Arts
Duncan Hardy
Department of History
Mark Kamrath
Department of English
Jamila Kareem
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
Michael Knight
Department of Philosophy
Luis Martínez-Fernández
Department of History
Kevin Roozen
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
2020–2021
Per Danielsson
School of Performing Arts
Wesley Dierdorff
School of Visual Arts & Design
David Head
Department of History
Elizabeth Horn
School of Performing Arts
Lisa Nalbone
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
David Poissant
Department of English
Tison Pugh
Department of English
Mel Stanfill
Department of English and Texts & Technology Ph.D.
Gergana Vitanova-Haralampiev
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Ayako Yonetani
School of Performing Arts
2019–2020
Jonathan Beever
Department of Philosophy
Cheryl Briggs
School of Visual Arts & Design
Ilenia Colon Mendoza
School of Visual Arts & Design
Matthew Dombrowski
School of Visual Arts & Design
Luis Favela
Department of Philosophy
Jeff Rupert
School of Performing Arts (Music)
Anastasia Salter
Department of English and Texts & Technology Ph.D.
Sandra Sousa
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Sonia Stephens
Department of English
2018–2019
Anna Jones
Department of English
Adem Ozoglu
Department of History
Yovanna Pineda
Department of History
Vladimir Solonari
Department of History
Martha Garcia
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Alla Kourova
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Kerry Purmensky
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Charlotte Trinquet Du Lys
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Bruce Janz
Department of Philosophy
Kristina Tollefson
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Keri Watson
School of Visual Arts & Design
Robert Hall
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
John Scott
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2017–2018
James Campbell
Department of English
Barbara Gannon
Department of History
Ann Gleig
Department of Philosophy
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Humberto Lopez
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Chiara Mazzucchelli
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Florin Mihai
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Lisa Mills
School of Visual Arts & Design
Shelley Park
Department of Philosophy
Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz
School of Visual Arts & Design
Bert Scott
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
UCF Teaching Incentive Program
UCF’s Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) rewards teaching productivity and excellence contributing to the university’s key goals of offering the best undergraduate education available in Florida and achieving international prominence in key programs of graduate study.
2022–2023
Amelia Lyons
Department of History
Hong Zhang
Department of History
Lisa Nalbone
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Elizabeth Horn
School of Performing Arts
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts
Matthew Dombrowski
School of Visual Arts & Design
Melissa Geppert
School of Visual Arts & Design
Shannon Lindsey
School of Visual Arts & Design
Anastasia Salter
School of Visual Arts & Design
Emily Proulx
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Florin Mihai
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Jonathan Beever
Department of Philosophy
2021–2022
Garrett Arban
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Esmeralda Duarte
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Ann Gleig
Department of Philosophy
Duncan Hardy
Department of History
David Head
Department of History
Tremon Kizer
School of Performing Arts
Alla Kourova
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Shelley Park
Department of Philosophy
Christian Ravela
Department of Philosophy
Maria Spina
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
2020–2021
Tiffany Earley-Spadoni
Department of History
Patricia Farless
Department of History
Christy Flanagan-Feddon
Department of Philosophy
Nathan Holic
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Ilenia Colon Mendoza
School of Visual Arts and Design
Anne Prucha
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Kerry Purmensky
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Sandra Sousa
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Kristina Tollefson
School of Performing Arts
Gergana Vitanova-Haralampiev
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Stephanie Wheeler
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2019–2020
Farida Cato
Department of English
Rita De Luca Guerriero
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Sabatino Dibernardo
Department of Philosophy
Martha Garcia
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Jeremy Hunt
School of Performing Arts (Music)
Megan Lambert
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Chung Park
School of Performing Arts (Music)
Melissa Pompos
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Adele Richardson
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Nicholas Shrubsole
Department of Philosophy
Amanda Snyder
Department of History
2018–2019
David Poissant
Department of English
Laurie Uttich
Department of English
Edward Dandrow
Department of History
John Sacher
Department of History
Marcella Farina
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Francisco Fernandez-Rubiera
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Maria Montalvo
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Julie Pomerleau
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Thaddeus Anderson
School of Performing Arts (Music)
Kelly Miller
School of Performing Arts (Music)
Jeanine Viau
Department of Philosophy
Keri Watson
School of Visual Arts & Design
Matthew Bryan
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
2017–2018
Robert Cassanello
Department of History
R. Mark Hall
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Kathleen Hohenleitner
Department of English
Julia Listengarten
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Amelia Lyons
Department of History
Florin Mihai
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Lisa Nalbone
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Lisa Peterson
School of Visual Arts & Design
Leandra Preston-Sidler
Women's & Gender Studies Program
Tison Pugh
Department of English
Claudia Schippert
Department of Philosophy
Peter Telep
Department of English
Kacie Tartt
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Charlotte Trinquet du Lys
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching
The Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching recognizes one UCF faculty member who has recently taught an exemplary online (W) or video (V) course.
2021–2022
Ashley Taylor
School of Visual Arts and Design
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
SoTLs recognize discovery, reflection, and using evidence-based methods to research effective teaching and student learning. While the implementation of SoTL outcomes may result in teaching excellence and increased teaching effectiveness, this award recognizes scholarly efforts beyond teaching excellence.
2021–2022
Melody Bowdon
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
Laurie Pinkert
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
2020–2021
Kevin Roozen
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2018–2019
Keri Watson
School of Visual Arts & Design
John "Blake" Scott
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
2016–2017
Angela Rounsaville
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
2015–2016
Mark Hall
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Mary Tripp
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
Pavel Zemliansky
Department of Writing & Rhetoric
UCF Allies Initiative
2017–2018
Earl D. Weaver
School of Performing Arts (Theatre)
Student Awards
Order of Pegasus
The Order of Pegasus is the most prestigious and significant award a student can attain at UCF. Order of Pegasus recognizes exemplary performance in the areas of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership, and community service.
2023
Sebastián Delgado Suárez
Nathanael Lapierre
2021
Mariana Kellis
Madeleine Smith
2020
Taylor Pryor
2019
Kate Kilpatrick
2018
Carissa Baker
Porsha Dossie
Ana Beltran
Honors in the Major Outstanding Thesis Award
The annual ceremony recognizes the academic achievements, contributions and tenures of students and faculty members from across disciplines and encourages them to continue making strides in their careers. Along with awards for teaching, research and service, the dean of each college selects one undergraduate student pursuing honors in their major and commends them for their outstanding thesis.
2022
Nicholas Odom
Philosophy
2018
Rachael Rothstein-Safra
History
Founders’ Award
The annual ceremony recognizes the academic achievements, contributions and tenures of students and faculty members from across disciplines and encourages them to continue making strides in their careers. Along with awards for teaching, research and service, the dean of each college selects one undergraduate student a year to receive the $500 Founders’ Award for exceptional work within their area of study.
2023
Nathalia Castre
English
2022
Alexandra Smith
English
2021
Ryan Polk
Music
2019
Elizabeth Klements
History
2018
Thomas Heller
Theatre
2017
Kayla Davis
History
2016
Kerrianne Reilly
History
Staff Awards
CAH Staff Recognition Awards
These annual awards presented to two USPS employees and one A&P employee for their outstanding work and contribution to their school, department or program, and to the College of Arts and Humanities.
2022–2023
Joe Muley
School of Visual Arts & Design
Brendan Solinsky
School of Visual Arts & Design
Mariana Chao
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
2021–2022
Allison LaBine
School of Visual Arts & Design
Jason Effron
School of Visual Arts & Design
Lindsay Kuznia
Department of Writing and Rhetoric
2020–2021
Ashli Van Horn
CAH Dean's Office
Tiffany Rivera
Department of History
Tracey Morrison
CREATE
2019–2020
Janki Maraj
School of Visual Arts & Design
Steven Blackburn
School of Visual Arts & Design
Susan Jefferson
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
2018–2019
Jon Bowen
Nicholson School of Communication and Media
Meghan Crowther
Department of English
Amy Giroux
Texts & Technology Ph.D.
2017–2018
Lauren Becker
School of Performing Arts
Arlene Flores
School of Performing Arts
Christine Michel
School of Visual Arts & Design
USPS Employee of the Month
The University of Central Florida USPS Employee of the Month Award recognizes exceptional performance of currently employed USPS staff.
2020–2021
Samuel Waters
School of Performing Arts
2019–2020
Pamela McGlinchey
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
Arlene Flores
School of Performing Arts
2018–2019
Ashli Vanhorn
CAH Dean's Office
2015–2016
Arlene Flores
School of Performing Arts
Employee Excellence Awards
2022–2023
Mariana Chao
Delia Garcia
Neida Mora-Maus
Cathy Radzai
Eileen Ryan