“They desperately needed the extra educational space, but the

In the aftermath of the June 12th tragedy, we remember the victims and
honor those across campus who displayed incredible strength during this
very difficult time. From our grief counselors and social work faculty to
those who helped in nearby hospitals or are working with first responders,
our UCF community demonstrated what it means to come together as
#OrlandoUnited.
In the days, weeks, and months ahead, I encourage us all to think about
what it means to be inclusive and diverse as faculty members and leaders
on this campus – in everything we do.
In our summer issue, we highlight faculty and programs helping us all
explore our world through a different lens. We celebrate what makes our
campus a place that welcomes all people, and we recognize those who
make a better future for our students and for society. Thank YOU for your
collective contributions that strengthen UCF and Orlando!
IMPORTANT DATES
AND DEADLINES
UPCOMING EVENTS
SUMMER/FALL 2016
July 15: Faculty Development Programming
“The Unwritten Rules of College: Transparency and its
Impact on Learning” by Dr. Mary-Ann Winkelmes
from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (tentative),
Faculty Center, CB1 207
Click here to RSVP.
Featured Session
Aug. 30: Faculty Cluster Initiative 2.0
An open information session for
the second round of faculty clusters
3:30 p.m., Harris Corporation
Engineering Center, Rm 101
Faculty Family Fun and Fitness Days
Three fall events: Sept. 11, Oct. 9, and Nov. 13
Free yoga, tours of the UCF community garden, music,
and much more. Hosted by the
Center for Success of Women Faculty.
More Information
NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award
Full Proposal Deadline: July 20
BIO, CISE, EHR
Full Proposal Deadline: July 21
ENG
Full Proposal Deadline: July 22
GEO, MPS, SBE
Faculty Fall 2016 Book Club
“Slow Professor” by Maggie Berg and Barbara Seeber.
Discussions will occur on Sept. 27 & 28, 12 - 1 p.m.
Student Union, Pensacola Board Room, 222
Hosted by the Center for Success of Women Faculty.
Proposal Guidelines
Aug. 1: Application Deadline
Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Oct. 25: Faculty CPR Class
Please contact Fran Ragsdale to register.
Click to Apply
Nov. 1: Women’s Self Defense Class
Please contact Fran Ragsdale to register.
Aug. 12: Diversity Award Nominations Due
The UCF Office of Diversity and Inclusion presents an
award to one student, faculty/staff, and community member each year. Click the links below for instructions.
Student | Faculty/Staff | Community Partner
Nov. 14: 9th Annual International Breakfast
Hosted during International Education Week, a joint
initiative of the U.S. Departments of State
and Education that celebrates our campus
flourishing in a global environment
8 a.m., Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom
Aug. 15: Women of Distinction Application
The Center for Success of Women Faculty will present
three Women of Distinction Awards to women
faculty for “Excellence in Innovation.”
Click to Apply
DID YOU KNOW?
Global UCF
With its grand opening scheduled for Aug. 31, the new Global UCF building on
Memory Mall serves as UCF’s international hub for students, faculty, and staff. The
building houses the English Language Institute, UCF Abroad, and Global UCF,
as well as support services for international students and faculty.
Explore more here.
Travel Registry
A new travel registry will provide faculty with valuable resources for
international travel and ensure coverage through UCF’s Travel Accident
and Sickness Insurance, which acts as your primary insurance when
traveling abroad. Using the registry is as easy as inputting your itinerary
and answering a few simple questions. You also will be provided with
destination-specific advice and online resources to help your journey go
smoothly.
Fulbright Faculty Scholars
Two UCF faculty members have received 2016-17 Fulbright Scholar awards with more announcements coming soon. Dr. Dean Cleavenger, a Fulbright U.S.
Scholar and lecturer in Management in the College of Business Administration,
will travel to Romania to serve as a guest lecturer and research interpersonal
and organization trust in the post-communist country. Dr. Michele Upvall, a
Fulbright Specialist, Nursing professor, and global health researcher, will travel to
Thailand to develop standards for quality research and help revise undergraduate
and graduate curricula there. Applications for the next round of Fulbright U.S.
Scholars are due Aug. 1.
For assistance, please contact Dr. Karen Biraimah, UCF’s Fulbright
representative.
Faculty Travel Awards
The University Travel Awards committee is seeking feedback on its revised
funding program to improve the next cycle, beginning April 1, 2017. This
year, the committee distributed or is reviewing about $31,000 to support
more than 40 faculty members presenting their scholarly work across
the nation and abroad, and has a waitlist for new 2016-17 requests. This
funding helps supplement faculty whose colleges’ and departments’ travel
and professional development funds have already been allocated.
Click for more information and submit comments and suggestions here.
Faculty Spotlight
An associate professor in Electrical and
Computer Engineering, Dr. Azadeh
Vosoughi is passionate about the power of
education to transform lives, especially for
young girls in Iran. Last year, she helped build
a three-classroom extension to a small school
in northwest Iran, near her father’s birthplace.
Prior to its construction, the elementary
school girls were studying in temporary
shelters outdoors with limited heating and
electricity. Today, about 180 students use the
facility in shifts – morning and night – to study
in grades 1 through 6.
The school is named in honor of Vosoughi’s
husband, Dr. Alireza Seyedi, a UCF professor
in Electrical and Computer Engineering who
passed away in 2014. Vosoughi, a recipient of
the NSF CAREER award in 2011, continues
her research on the integration of signal
processing and communications for wireless
sensor networks.
“
They desperately needed the extra educational space,
but the government said it has no money to build new schools.
So it is up to donors who wish to build schools.”
In September 2014, Dr. Seyedi was selected by the National Academy of Engineering’s
Frontiers of Engineering Education as one of the nation’s most innovative, young engineering educators. In addition to the school named in Dr. Seyedi’s memory, his friends and
family established a scholarship fund at UCF - the “Alireza Seyedi Doctoral Research
Innovation Endowed Scholarship,” which is awarded annually to the author of an
innovative doctoral dissertation contributing to engineering research and practice.
Know a faculty member we should spotlight? Email [email protected]
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
Women’s Mentoring Community
The Center for Success of Women Faculty will again host its faculty mentoring program for women in a
career transition. Sessions will occur on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. beginning Sept. 7. The program
focuses on opportunities, challenges, and success associated with promotions or changes in positions/
leaves. Women faculty who are soon to transition, currently transitioning, or have recently transitioned are
encouraged to apply. Applications are currently open, with a deadline of Aug. 15.
Instructor/Lecturer Excellence Program
This new program for both new and seasoned instructor/lecturers is geared to support teaching faculty
and provide them with campus contacts to achieve success in their position. Organized by the Office of
Faculty Excellence, the program will offer opportunities for teaching faculty across colleges and disciplines to
network and facilitate cross-disciplinary interaction. All instructors and lecturers will be invited to participate
via an upcoming email.
Assistant Professor Excellence Program
This program is designed to provide professional development and coaching for assistant professors in
their early years in academia. A menu of programming, facilitated by the Office of Faculty Excellence, the
colleges, and other faculty-serving offices on campus will be offered throughout the year, beginning this fall.
Additionally, each assistant professor in the program will be paired with a seasoned faculty member who
will serve as a coach. This program is a joint effort between Faculty Excellence and the colleges. Assistant
professors in their first three years at UCF will be invited to participate via an upcoming email.
MEET OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Dr. Christa Diercksen, Lecturer in Biology, is the Office of Faculty Excellence
Coordinator for the new Instructor/Lecturer Excellence Program. As such, she is
developing the program and will oversee its implementation during 2016-17.
Email her: at [email protected].
Dr. Jennifer Kent-Walsh, Professor in Communicative Sciences Disorders,
is the Office of Faculty Excellence Coordinator for the Academic Leadership
Academy and Scroll and Quill. Dr. Kent-Walsh also is a “graduate” of the
Academic Leadership Academy’s inaugural class. In her role, she will
oversee the Academy and also will be coordinating events for members of
Scroll and Quill during 2016-17.
Email her at: [email protected].
Ms. Karla Arce has joined the Office of Faculty Excellence as its IT Business
Analyst to help develop new electronic reporting initiatives and assist in the
enhancement of current electronic processes, such as automated awards,
promotions, and evaluation systems. Formerly a student assistant in UCF’s faculty
affairs office (now Faculty Excellence), she has interned as a software engineer
at DiSTI Corporation and most recently worked as an IT Business Analyst for Walt
Disney Parks and Resorts Technology.
Email her at: [email protected].
Focus on Transfer Students
More than half of UCF undergraduate students transfer from other institutions. To learn about transfer students’ needs and
identify ways of advancing their success in the classroom and beyond, UCF launched a multi-year initiative in partnership
with the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. The Foundation of Excellence Transfer
Student Focus Initiative helps to raise awareness of transfer student issues,
shape university culture to better accommodate our transfer students, and focus
on transfer student transition experiences.
Faculty members can play a key role in these efforts by learning about trends in
transfer student populations and related policies and practices. Learn more about
the initiative in its first-year summary report or contact Dr. Jennifer Sumner to
get involved.
In the next issue, we’ll welcome our newest cohort of faculty members to UCF and look ahead
to special programs and opportunities for faculty this fall.
facultyexcellence.ucf.edu
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407.823.1113
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[email protected]
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