The University of Central Florida has recognized faculty in its 2026 promotion and tenure process, honoring achievements in teaching, research/creative work, and service across disciplines and career stages.
The annual process includes multiple levels of evaluation involving peer review, college committees, and university leadership. Final approvals represent one of the most significant milestones in a faculty member’s academic career.
This year’s promotions include faculty advancing to full professor, associate professor, and several instructional and lecturer ranks across UCF’s colleges.
Those promoted to full professor in the College of Arts and Humanities are Ann Gleig and Lanlan Kuang of the Department of Philosophy, Mel Stanfill of the Department of English, Sandra Sousa of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and School of Performing Arts faculty member Thad Anderson ’04.
Anderson first came to UCF as an 18-year-old student auditioning to join the music department as a percussion performance major in 1999. After completing his undergraduate degree at the university, he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees before returning to join the UCF faculty in 2009. Since then, he has worked his way through the promotion process to be promoted to professor this year.
For Jeffrey Moore, dean of the college, the moment reflects the long arc of mentorship and academic development. Moore was one of the professors for whom Anderson auditioned when he joined the music program and has maintained a mentorship role ever since.
“Experiences like this are rare for a teacher,” Moore said. “When you work with a student, the goal is always to prepare them for success, knowing that much of that journey will unfold well beyond your line of sight.
“Being able to witness that full progression, from student to colleague, and to see how their work elevates the university, is incredibly
meaningful,” Moore said. “That is what education at UCF is about: empowering talented people to grow and lead. In this case, it made the institution itself stronger through their excellence and that is tremendously gratifying to me personally. I do not think I can be any prouder than I am of Thad.”
Moore said stories like Anderson’s reflect the broader impact of the university’s faculty community and the collective work of mentorship and academic development across departments and colleges.
Across the College of Arts and Humanities, additional faculty were promoted to associate professor and senior lecturer, senior instructor, associate lecturer, and associate instructor roles.
The promotion and tenure process typically spans nearly a year of evaluation and recognizes sustained excellence in service, teaching, and/or research depending on the title. Faculty dossiers undergo multiple levels of review before final approval.
Promotions include:
Full Professor
Ann Gleig, Department of Philosophy
Lanlan Kuang, Department of Philosophy
Thad Anderson, School of Performing Arts
Mel Stanfill, Department of English
Sandra Sousa, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Associate Professor
John Gardiner, School of Performing Arts
Jeffery Redding, School of Performing Arts
Sara Raffel ’18PhD, Department of English
Tadashi Ishikawa, Department of History
Senior Lecturer
Jeanine Viau, Department of Philosophy
Christy Flanagan-Feddon, Department of Philosophy
Deborah Starr Leitch, School of Visual Arts and Design
David Head, Department of History
Amanda Snyder, Department of History
Senior Instructor
Rita de Luca Guerrieri, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Associate Lecturer
Jonathan Barker, Department of Philosophy
Associate Instructor
Carolina Salazar, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Yukari Nakamura-Deacon, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Meeghan Faulconer ’18MA, Department of Writing and Rhetoric