Travis Leslie

Emergency Management Master’s Student Funds Endowment to Grow the Program

Travis Leslie ’16MS hasn’t finished his second master’s degree yet, but the program’s significant impact on him spurred his desire...
The REACH team stands in front of a "tiny green home" the mobile hubs were inspired by

UCF Research Team Moves to Build Mobile Resilience Hubs for Local Neighborhoods

The team, led by Kelly Stevens, will take its designs and data from Phase 1 of the project and implement...
Staci Zavattaro looks over her notes

What Is Public Death Care?: UCF Expert Provides Insight

Professor Staci Zavattaro’s research pulls back the curtain from the world of public death care and sheds light on the...
Hillarie Burgess sits at a chair in front of a computer at the Lake County Emergency Operation Center during Hurricane Idalia.

Emergency Management Student Interns in Local Emergency Operations Center During Hurricane Idalia

Hillarie Burgess’ internship experience progressed more quickly than most when she was thrust into a full emergency activation during her...
Professor Abdul-Akeem Sadiq speaks to students in a classroom.

UCF Public Administration Professor Named National Academy of Public Administration Fellow

Abdul-Akeem Sadiq will be the fourth faculty member in the school to join the organization’s ranks as a 2023 Academy...
Nina Yon smiles as she is interviewed at The Sharing Center.

UCF Alumna, Local Nonprofit Leader Pursuing Doctorate in Public Affairs

Nina Yon ’90 ’16MNM, president and CEO of The Sharing Center, hopes her doctoral studies will bridge the academic-practitioner gap...
Four graduates of the capacity-building workshop series' latest cohort smile as they take a selfie together.

UCF Center Aids Local Nonprofit Organizations Through Capacity-Building Opportunities

Thirty-six Orange County nonprofit professionals benefited from the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management’s latest capacity-building workshop series...
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UCF Emergency Management Alumna Brings Local Experience to Capitol Hill

Lauren Gros ’22MECM helps shape emergency management policy for Congress and says her time as a Knight made it possible...
ASPA Founders Fellows photo

Two UCF Doctoral Students Receive American Society for Public Administration Founders’ Fellowship

Ruth Kessa and Ratna Okhai are among nearly two dozen students and young professionals to receive the year-long fellowship for...
Missy Longman with special needs child at Run 4 Kids event

UCF Student Secures $1.5 Million For Local Nonprofit With Grant Application From Class

Melissa Longman’s project as part of her nonprofit management coursework minted tangible results far beyond her initial expectations...
group photo

UCF Researchers Collect Critical High-water Mark Data Following Hurricane Ian

Emergency management professionals are already reaping the benefits of the team’s labor, as their data will become part of the...
Staci Zavattaro

School of Public Administration Professor Receives Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellowship

Staci Zavattaro will serve as a research fellow through August 2023. ...
Ruth Kessa

Public Affairs Doctoral Student Awarded Fellowship for Hispaniola Dissertation Research

As a Mellon Fellow, Ruth Kessa will receive financial, technical and mentorship support to aid in her dissertation research...
Gurt Ge headshot

UCF Public Administration Assistant Professor Named National Center for Atmospheric Research Early Career Faculty Innovator

Yue ‘Gurt’ Ge will be studying how partnerships between weather forecasters and critical infrastructure operators can enhance systems’ resilience to...
Claire Knox Receives Award for Exceptional Emergency Management Education

UCF Associate Professor Receives Award for Exceptional Emergency Management Education

Knox received the Kay C. Goss Innovation & Technology Award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency during its annual higher...
David Smith

UCF Alum Named Assistant Director of U.S. Secret Service Office of Investigations

David Smith ’98 ’00MPA has held numerous roles with the U.S. Secret Service over his nearly 21-year career...
aerial view of hurricane destruction

As Hurricane Season Kicks Off, UCF Researchers Working to Make Communities More Resilient

More than a dozen researchers are working on a wide variety of research that looks to prepare, respond, and mitigate...
blue tarp on roof of house

New Tool from UCF-led Team Shows Homeowners and Renters the True Cost of Disasters

The tool can provide disaster readiness reports for 13.3 million addresses in 196 counties along the Gulf of Mexico —...
Sean Farrell

Graduating Nonprofit Management Student Gives Back by Establishing New Scholarship

Sean Farrell and his wife, Valerie, created the Farrell Nonprofit Opportunity Scholarship to help undergraduate nonprofit management students...
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UCF Reach for the Stars 2022 Honorees Are Pioneers in Their Fields of Study

From creating resilient communities that can withstand natural disasters to educating the public through fiction that explains real science, this...
people on laptops

Celebrating 10 Years of UCF’s Research Administration Program

The School of Public Administration looks back on – and ahead to – the success of one of UCF’s graduate...
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UCF Expert on Emergency Management: It’s All About Helping People

Associate Professor Abdul-Akeem Sadiq works with agencies so they can help families recover after disasters, including finding closure after losing...
Founder of Nonprofit to Assist Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth

UCF Alum Founds Nonprofit to Assist Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth

Austin Rivers ’20MPA, who was recently featured on the The Kelly Clarkson Show, created Knit the Rainbow to provide handmade...
Thomas Bryer

Lithuania Honors UCF Professor with National Award for Global Leadership

Thomas Bryer received the Global Lithuanian Award for contributions to scientific progress in Lithuania...
Doug Goodman

Center For Public and Nonprofit Management Honors Nonprofit Partners with Inaugural Hope Awards

Three local nonprofit partners were honored virtually from UCF Downtown at the 20th Annual UCF Nonprofit Partners Conference on October...
Hall and Goodman

UCF Public Administration Faculty Named President and President-Elect of the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration

Jeremy Hall, a professor of public administration and academic program coordinator for the public affairs doctoral program, was appointed by...
M Concha

UCF Center for Public and Nonprofit Management Announces New Director

Maritza Concha, a lecturer in the School of Public Administration, has been named the next director of the UCF Center...
Naim Kapucu

Building Resilient Cities: UCF Public Administration Faculty Member Awarded Fulbright

Naim Kapucu will travel to Australia to teach and conduct research on urban resilience to disasters...
Claire Knox speaking during a podcast

Knights Do That Podcast with Claire Connolly Knox

The latest episode features one of UCF’s emergency management experts...
Aislinn Stone

“I am Graduating Especially for the Working Mothers Who Think They Can’t.”

A master’s student reflects on her second try at graduate school while enduring challenges with motherhood, losing loved ones, COVID-19...
Atiyah Appline

UCF Public Administration Student Addresses Affordable Housing Crisis Through Comprehensive Lens

The Master of Public Administration program prepares students to lead more holistic and lasting change...
Claire Knox

UCF Faculty Member on National Pandemic Task Force

Public administration faculty member, Claire Knox, joins a pandemic task force for national organization...
Tiffany Chinwuba

UCF Student Seeks to Shine a Light on the Pandemic’s Effects on Nonprofits

Tiffany Chinwuba will be presenting her research during UCF’s virtual Student Scholar Symposium later this month...
woman singing

UCF’s Gospel & Cultural Choir Lifts Every Voice

Watch this powerful rendition of the Black National Anthem by the choir, a student organization that started more than 40...
alum headshot

How a UCF Alum Helped a Presidential Election Campaign

David Mariutto '12 spent the past six months working on a mail targeting program for a presidential election campaign from...
Raquel Lozano

UCF Student Elected to Help Protect Local Natural Resources

Raquel Lozano begins her role this week on the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District as she works toward...
women working wearing masks

From the Classroom to the Emergency Operations Center

When Destini Johnson arrived to escort more than 60 elementary students to after-school care on February 14, 2018, the last...
solar panels

Easing Solar Power Restrictions May Benefit Florida’s Economy and Environment, Study Finds

Current state regulations are not conducive to allowing power purchase agreements for solar energy production in Florida, according to the...
UCF students waiting in line to vote on campus

UCF Voting Precinct Tops 100% Turnout

UCF’s reputation as a voter friendly campus is reinforced thanks to a 107% voter turnout during the 2020 election, which...
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UCF Project Will Study Smart Tech to Improve Risk Communication in Central Florida

The NSF-funded, $1.2 million project also involves developing community partnerships and building a regional data-sharing platform to help with emergency...
Government building with US flag on top

National Science Foundation Grant to Research How Intra-Government Units Work Together

Public administration faculty member, Christopher Hawkins, will be continuing a decade's worth of research through a new National Science Foundation...
people volunteering

UCF Faculty Member Receives Volunteer Florida Grant

Thomas Bryer, a professor of public administration and program director of the Office of Downtown Community Engaged Scholarship, received more...
Jeremy Hall

Hall Selected to Join the National Academy of Public Administration

Jeremy Hall, professor and academic program coordinator for the doctoral program in public affairs...
woman on bicycle on overwater deck

Championing a More Walkable Central Florida

This alumni is the executive director Bike/Walk Central Florida, where she builds on the skills and experiences she gained while...
Hands holding for comfort

The CPNM Partners with Orlando-based United Abolitionists to Combat Human Trafficking

The Center for Public and Nonprofit Management (CPNM) and the Orlando nonprofit, United Abolitionists, are collaborating to pursue research, develop...
Colonel Mike Murdock headshot

Colonel Mike Murdock Scholarship Recognizes Students Committed to Public Service

Colonel Harry Michael “Mike” Murdock ’74 dedicated his life to public service. He is described as immensely committed to impacting...
student with headphones and phone

Students Explore Program Evaluation through Podcasting

Students in Dr. Maritza Concha's program evaluation courses are diving into the podcast trend with the ElevateEvaluate podcast...
Carrie Mathe

Public Administration Alum Helps Orange County Fight COVID-19

Orange County's procurement division might work behind the scenes, but Carrie Mathes and her team help the government run...
Keila Walker-Denis standing in front on an airplane taking off.

Alumna at the Ready to Help Orlando Airports in Emergencies

Public administration graduate assists aviation authority to earn ‘gold seal’ in preparedness and crisis management...
2020 Outstanding Alumni

Meet the 2020 Outstanding Alumni from the School of Public Administration

Five alumni from the School of Public Administration are honored for their commitment to changing communities for the better...
Andres Acosta wearing an earpiece at desk

From Intern to Emergency Team Leader for Seminole County

Graduating senior Andres Acosta is leading a team of 10 as they help the people of Seminole County during COVID-19...
people working in call center

Into the Heart of a Crisis

The inaugural class of UCF’s master’s program in emergency and crisis management is graduating having already gained varied experiences from...
two women at whiteboard

New Certificate Explores Social Justice Issues in Public Service

Debuting this fall, the social justice in public service graduate certificate will give students the opportunity to explore the changing...
people looking at documents

Mapping the World

Drishtie Patel ’08 ’12MNM is part of a team mapping the world’s missing roads to provide life-saving resources to people...
many red houses and one green one

Out of Moves

Orlando’s affordable housing is a game of chance...
Mervin Greaves

Peace Corps Ranks UCF in Top 25 Volunteer-Producing Universities

UCF was ranked today by the Peace Corps at No. 24 among large U.S. schools on the agency’s 2020 list...
Abby Lemay

Rebuilding Orlando One Homeowner at a Time

Abby Lemay ’15MNM awakens each day at 7 a.m. in order to arrive to the Rebuilding Together Central Florida office...
people at table

CPNM Welcomes International Visitor Leadership Program

The Center for Public and Nonprofit Management (CPNM) collaborated with the World Affairs Council of Central Florida, a network dedicated...
soccer player kicking ball

UCF Soccer Stars Headed for Pro Leagues

Cal Jennings ’19 and Jonathan Dean ’18 have new places to call home after the 2020 MLS SuperDraft while the...
UCF researchers Thomas Bryer, Kelly Stevens and Haofei Yu

New UCF Project Will Put Downtown Orlando Air Quality Data in Residents’ Hands

More than 100 air sensors will be installed throughout Downtown Orlando and will provide near-real-time data about air quality to...
volunteers with a child

Volunteering is Always in Season

Winter is a chance to reflect on the past year while spending time and sharing gifts with loved ones. Over...
woman presenting

Nonprofit Conference Encourages Community Engagement and Innovation

If you want to go far, go together.

It is that sentiment etched in the wall of the Dr. Phillips Academic...

Chris Emrich with student

UCF Receives $3.4 Million Grant to Develop Easily Accessible Program to Help Homeowners Evaluate Property Risks

The idea isn’t to limit where people should live based on potential risk, rather to give renters and buyers a...
capitol building

UCF Adds 1st Public Policy Graduate Program in State University System

The Master of Public Policy will help fill the need for public-service leaders who are well-versed in program evaluation and...
student posing with model airplane

Out of State Internships: A Different Perspective

Internships provide opportunities for growth and development for both graduate and undergraduate students. Internships, including out-of-state internships, are opportunities to...
student headshots

Students Help Others Work to Overcome Addictions

At 23, Richard Paul ’16MNM didn’t expect to see his next birthday. His addiction to alcohol and drugs was killing...
Rachel Reid at UCF reflection pond

UCF Grad Lands Emergency Management Job After Hurricane Experiences

After working with the local and state government to manage crises, the soon-to-be alum will use her expertise to help...
Claire Knox

UCF Expert Debunks 4 Myths about Hurricanes

Claire Connolly Knox is an associate professor in the School of Public Administration and serves as the emergency management and...
graduates smiling

UCF Students, Recent Graduates Earn Scholarships, Present at Governor’s Hurricane Conference

A team of UCF researchers will brief emergency responders from across the state about their work looking at the impact...
three men posing

Kojelis Family, US Baltic Foundation Scholarship Helps Dual-Degree Program Students With International Travel, Living Expenses

Through the generosity of the Kojelis Family, the U.S. Baltic Foundation’s $250,000 donation to the UCF Foundation will support students...
student and mentor

Why Look for a Career Mentor?

College provides opportunities to explore personal interests, try new things and develop plans to achieve academic and professional goals. With...
world map

Agreement Creates New Study Abroad Opportunities for Students

As the discipline of public administration continues to expand internationally, the need for future public servants to be exposed to...
digital graphic overlaid on nighttime cityscape

Public Administration Research Conference Examines Evidence-Based Policymaking

The Public Administration Research Conference attracted attendees from around the world, including Nigeria, Russia, the United Kingdom and several other...
student writing on poster

Students Gain Hands-On Experience at Annual Conference

The Alliance Management Institute (AMI) conference, hosted by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, brings hundreds of students and nonprofit practitioners from...
student speaking with homeless person

UCF Student Spearheads Nonprofit Dedicated to Addressing Homelessness in Orlando

UCF graduate student Eric Camarillo ’16 had planned to start an organization after graduation to help the homeless in Central Florida with...
people in meeting

UCF to Partner with Lithuanian University for Dual Degree

UCF is partnering with Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania to offer dual bachelor’s degrees in nonprofit management from UCF’s School of Public...
Maryellys Moreno

Student Spotlight: Marellys Moreno

Planning is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses not only on urban and regional development efforts but also on...
Naim Kapucu, Thomas Bryer and Deborah Carrol

UCF Center Celebrates 10 Years of Service to the Community

In 2008, the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management was established as the research extension of the UCF School of...
Mary Ann Feldheim

School of Public Administration Honors Dr. Mary Ann Feldheim

Many would describe Feldheim as a trailblazer. That can be seen through her accomplishments at the School of Public Administration...
city view at night

American Planning Association Donates $26,000 Scholarship Fund to Newly Accredited Planning Program Students

Students pursuing their master’s degree in urban and regional planning in the School of Public Administration have an additional opportunity...
students in conversation

8 UCF Alumni Elected to Florida Legislature

Anna Eskamani ’12 ’15MNM ’15MPA, a Democrat and first-time candidate, was elected in District 47 in Orange County...
sunset cityscape

UCF’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning Receives Accreditation

The School of Public Administration celebrates the accreditation of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.S.URP) program by the...
tail of airplane

UCF Alumnus Directs Lockheed Martin’s Relief Efforts for Hurricane Maria

Forty horses. Sixteen cars. One commercial airplane. What do these things all have in common? They each weigh roughly 80,000...
Jamilah Felix photo

UCF Alumna Brings Passion For Community To Career At City Hall

It’s no secret that Orlando is growing exponentially. Recently, the metro area’s population surpassed 2.5 million for the first time...
Student involved in activity with children

Master of Nonprofit Management Earns First Accreditation in the World

UCF’s Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) has been a trailblazer when it comes to “firsts.” It was the first graduate...
nominee headshot

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and UCF Graduate

When UCF graduate student Jaha Dukureh started Safe Hands for Girls in 2013 to help end female genital mutilation, she...
Emergency workers loading truck

Emergency Management Alumni Help Communities Prepare For, Recover From Disaster

After Hurricane Maria’s category five winds died down and the pounding rains ceased, Puerto Rico was left devastated and in...
Woman typing on laptop

UCF Program Prepares Leaders to Work in Nonprofit Sector

The University of Central Florida is producing nonprofit leaders, social justice advocates and community servants to impact communities in Central...
Students at a table having conversation

Doctoral Students Study Public Affairs and Education to Impact Communities

UCF students Jennifer Sanguiliano and Rachael Mack have found that interdisciplinary studies in public affairs and education are essential for...
building sign in foreign language

European Commission to Fund New International Exchange Program with UCF

The European Commission will fund a new international collaboration between UCF and Kaunas University of Technology in Kaunas, Lithuania, thanks...