UCF students in the Emergency Management program

UCF Graduate Programs Reach New Heights in U.S. News Rankings Through Research Excellence, Impactful Community Engagement

UCF’s emergency management program ranks No. 1 in the nation, and programs in education and public affairs climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s Best...
Artificial intelligence

Could AI Save Education?

For insight into the real potential and real fears of artificial intelligence in education, we turn to Kristal Ayres ’92MEd, an educator who is now...
Faculty Authors

53 Faculty Scholars Honored at 4th Biennial Faculty Authors’ Celebration

This year’s celebration recognized faculty from across eight colleges, the library and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning...
Elsie Olan, Debra Knox, Nancy McIntyre and Mary Little (clockwise from top left)

UCF Graduate Scholars to Teach Students with High-intensity Needs in Language, Literacy

A specially developed graduate certificate program is preparing health and education students at UCF for roles as intervention specialists in local schools...
Woman smiling and writing notes

Quality and Flexibility: UCF Online Programs Rank Among Top 10 in Nation by U.S. News for 2024

Rising in the national rankings, UCF’s faculty-led, innovative online programs position students for success...
Student smiling and painting

Hands-on Art Education Classes Prepare Students to Work with Children

In Debra McGann’s art classes, students learn how to teach K-12 art by engaging in some of the activities themselves...
Tahnee Wilder sits on a bench outside the Education Complex, smiling.

Exceptional Education Doctoral Candidate to Publish in Prominent Teacher Education Journal

Tahnee Wilder was selected to co-author a manuscript to appear in one of the Journal of Teacher Education’s special anniversary issues...
Students gather around a desk to listen to their teacher.

Overseas Student Teaching Opportunities Coming to the School of Teacher Education

UCF’s School of Teacher Education was accepted into the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching, which places students in 16 different countries...
Shalece Kohnke smiles in front of the Reflecting Pond wearing her graduation regalia.

UCF Doctoral Graduate Aims to Support Exceptional Education Teachers, Students with STEM Education Accessibility

Fueled by her own experience, Shalece Kohnke is determined to help close the achievement gap between students with and without learning disabilities...
Carlos Aleman laughs while playing magnetic building blocks during a session at PedsAcademy.

UCF Early Childhood Development Alum, Former PedsAcademy Intern Pursues Career as Child Life Specialist

A pediatric cancer survivor himself, Carlos Aleman ’23 has gone from PedsAcademy intern to child life gaming and technology specialist at Nemours Children’s Hospital...
Michele Regalla Fulbright Award Recipient

Teacher Education Associate Professor Receives Fulbright Award to Teach and Study in Spain

Michele Regalla will be taking UCF’s best practices for second-language education abroad – and bringing back new strategies to implement at home...
Peyton Giessuebel

Today’s Lesson: The Gift of Failure

Teaching grade-school basics to the next generation of dreamers and doers has always been one of Peyton Giessuebel ’18 ’21MEd’s life goals...
ucf graduate students in lecture

UCF Graduate Programs Climb in U.S. News Rankings, Highlighting Research Excellence and Community Impact

UCF’s emergency management program ranks No. 2 in the country, and graduate programs in education, engineering and nursing climbed in this year’s U.S. News &...
students signing on with orange county public schools through partnership program

UCF Teacher Education Students Sign On with Orange County Public Schools Through Partnership Program

Nearly two dozen teacher education students recently signed letters of intent declaring their acceptance of teaching positions with Teacher Quality Partnerships program partner schools. ...
teacher education students in Costa Rica

Teacher Education Students Offered World Languages Immersive Experience in Costa Rica

UCF School of Teacher Education students have the opportunity to work with English-learning students in Costa Rica while experiencing the challenges they face in their...
drone flying over futuristic city

Advanced Air Mobility Conference Takes Flight at UCF

The NSF-funded conference on Friday will explore how laws could lift or ground the use of autonomous, uncrewed aircraft to move people and goods...
ucf researchers

UCF Researchers Receive $2.6 Million Grant to Equip English-learner Educators, Students for Success

The federal funding will allow the team to implement a three-pronged, research-backed approach to bolster English learners’ academic success and family and community involvement...
Project CENTRAL team

New $1.25 Million UCF Project Addresses State’s Critical Shortage of Special Education Teachers, School Psychologists

Project CENTRAL is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and will help educators in the state receive enhanced education and...
Boniesta Melani

Doctoral Fulbright Scholar, Mother’s Research Will Help English Teachers Worldwide

Indonesia native Boniesta Melani’s academic journey will help the next generation of English learners and inspire others to pursue their dreams despite all odds...
OCPS award

UCF, OCPS Receive National Award for Teacher Preparation and Leadership Partnership

The program was one of only two of its kind to receive the Shirley S. Schwartz Urban Education Impact award at the Council for the...
globe sitting on book

World Uniters: Five Knights Receive 2022 Fulbright Awards

Five Fulbright recipients are about to spread out around the globe to close gaps in learning and languages — and to extend UCF’s mission to...
UCF Knight statue

24 Faculty Members Receive Promotion

Two dozen faculty members from the College of Community Innovation and Education were approved for promotion effective Aug. 8...
Jeanette Marie-Reynoso

Former Foster Care Child, Now Mother of 3 Reaches Goal of Becoming Teacher

Recent spring graduate Jeanette Marie Reynoso shares her unlikely path to achieving her dream...
Raynee Meek

UCF Teacher Education Student Shares Her Inspiration as a Future Educator

Raynee Meek, an elementary education undergraduate student, shares what motivates her to become a teacher...
UCF Teaching Candidates, Orange County Public Schools Celebrate Signing Day

UCF Teaching Candidates, Orange County Public Schools Celebrate Signing Day

UCF juniors and seniors who interned through the Teacher Quality Partnerships project signed their letters of intent to accept teaching positions with the district...
College of Community Innovation and Education 2022 Founders’ Day Honorees

College of Community Innovation and Education 2022 Founders’ Day Honorees

Each year, UCF recognizes outstanding faculty and student accomplishments during the annual Founders’ Day Honors Convocation. Here are the College of Community Innovation and Education's...
UCF Reflection Pond and Millican Hall

UCF Recognized for Academic Excellence and Advancing Professional Careers in Engineering, Research and Innovation

Led by the nation’s No. 3 homeland security program and some of the best engineering and research-innovation programs in the country, U.S. News & World...
Janice Seabrooks

A Gift for Working With Differences Inspires Professor’s Career In Exceptional Education

Professor Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore leads the statewide effort to improve periods of educational transition for youth and young adults with disabilities...
Cadre Fellow

UCF Education Student 1 of 15 in the Nation Selected for NSF CADRE Fellowship

The honor provides professional growth opportunities for educators whose work focuses on diversity, inclusion, equity and justice in PreK-12 STEM education...
UCF Reflection Pond

UCF Breaks into Top 10 Best Online Schools with No. 7 Ranking — Best in University’s History

UCF consistently rises in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, earning recognition among the best universities in the country...
Lee Family photo

UCF Doubles Impact of $1 Million Gift to Create L.A. Lee Family Endowed Scholarship

With UCF matching the donation, a new $2 million scholarship in memory of the late Lynnwood Arthur Lee ’78 will help education students...
Doctoral students

Doctoral Students from Across Disciplines Take Top Prizes in Third Annual 3MT Competition

Ten UCF doctoral students were judged on how well they communicated their research to a non-specialist audience within three minutes...
Physical therapist and young male student dancing

Free Developmental Screenings for Children in Preschool, Elementary School in Parramore

Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute offered free, quality developmental screenings for a preschool and elementary school in Parramore, while UCF students gained community-based experience...
annaliese dehner

UCF Elementary Education Alumna Lands Dream Teaching Job

Through her undergraduate thesis work, Mary Annaliese Dehner ’20 combined her love for dance and education and has turned it into a career as a...
Terry Grear wearing mask in hospital bed

UCF Alum Urges Public to Get Vaccinated After COVID Story Makes Headlines

Terry Greear ’02 contracted COVID in January before he was eligible to get the vaccine and nearly died during his 72-day stay in the hospital...
Martha Lue Stewart

UCF Professor Retires After 52 Years in Education

After spending 52 years in education, including more than 30 years at UCF, Stewart is preparing for her next chapter: retirement...
UCF graduate Alex Dixon wearing cap and gown

From Stroke Survivor to Scholar

Alex Dixon has been recovering from a stroke since she was 12. This Saturday she’ll cross UCF’s commencement stage after earning a degree in early...
Nisha Phillip-Malahoo

Knight Teacher Completes Degree While Helping Community

Nisha Phillip Malahoo ’21MEd leverages her studies to connect the community and help pave the way to a better future for all...
Harry O. Hall

Charter Faculty Member Harry O. Hall Recognized University’s Potential

The veteran educator — who recently died at 92 — began designing College of Education programs a year before classes started in 1968...
UCF PedsAcademy: Reading Aloud to Therapy Dog

UCF PedsAcademy: Reading Aloud to Therapy Dogs Helps Patients, Young Readers Build Confidence

UCF PedsAcademy, a pediatric school program, has partnered with READing Paws to inspire a love of reading in patients at Nemours Children’s Hospital...
virtual teaching on laptop

UCF Begins 4 New Fully Online Programs

UCF Online has launched its four newest fully online programs that will be offered beginning this fall — three in the College of Community Innovation...
Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore

UCF Professor Helps Increase Access to College in Florida for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Professor Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore and her team work with postsecondary institutions across the state to develop accessible and inclusive programs for students with intellectual disabilities...
Malcolm Butler

Honoring Our Educators during Teacher Appreciation Week

Malcolm Butler, director of the School of Teacher Education, reflects on the triumphs and struggles of being a teacher, especially during a pandemic...
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Here’s What I Learned After 30+ Years of Teaching

Colleen Thrailkill ’99EdD shares wisdom from her new book, The Value of Rotting Pumpkins: The Art of Teaching Elementary School, and how we can better...
Chris Pombonyo

New Graduate Dedicates Career to Helping Students and Teachers Find Their Passions

A Seminole County public school administrator plans to use his theatrical past and new master’s degree to advance his work in education...
UCF Reflection Pond

Faculty Members Honored with UCF Incentive Awards

Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the 2021 UCF Teaching Incentive Program and Research Incentive Award...
Research team members

UCF Professors Awarded NSF Grant to Empower Orange County K-8 Mathematics Teachers

Researchers in collaboration with Orange County Public Schools and City Year Orlando launch a program that includes creating a new doctoral specialization...
UCF Knight statue

25 Faculty Members Receive Promotion

In recognition of their commendable performance in assigned teaching, research and service, 25 faculty members from the UCF College of Community...
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30 UCF Graduate Programs Rank Among the Best in the Nation

U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Graduate Schools rankings once again reflects UCF’s excellence in emergency and crisis management, engineering, public administration, and other...
Trey Vasquez

UCF Teacher Education Professor Named American Council on Education Fellow

Eleazar “Trey” Vasquez is one of 52 fellows selected to participate in the ACE Fellows Program during the 2021-2022 academic year...
Marni Kay facilitating a virtual reading clinic with children

UCF Reading Clinic Engages Students in Virtual Shift During COVID-19

The UCF K-6 reading clinic is finding new ways to engage students while adapting to changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic...
UCF Millican Hall

2021 Women’s History Month Honorees

Recognized by Faculty Excellence, the 2021 honorees have not wavered in their commitments as mentors, role models, friends, researchers and teachers...
UCF students working with young children with special needs

Funding and Cross-Discipline Opportunities for Special Education Preparation

Students pursuing advanced degrees in exceptional student education can apply for projects offering tuition support, collaboration across disciplines and specialized credentials...
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UCF Funds Second Round of $1 Million SEED Initiative to Support Faculty Research

Thirty-seven teams are awarded grants to investigate a variety of research including the use of artificial intelligence to improve battery performance and gaming to develop...
child using laptop

UCF Faculty Partner with Alumni to Create STEM-Focused Video Game to Teach Students Fractions

UCF faculty team up with alumni to create a fraction video game for elementary students...
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Lessons in Motherhood and Teaching

Having a son midway through her degree helped Lindsey Palm learn to roll with the punches — a skill that has benefited the elementary education...
Amanda Lannan

Soon-to-be Triple Knight Becomes National Science Foundation Fellow

Future exceptional education graduate student currently a National Science Foundation CADRE fellow...
people meeting at table

Future STEM Teachers Will Shape Their Own Preparation Programs

A National Science Foundation grant will explore the impact of a professional development framework in preparing prospective secondary mathematics teachers...
child wearing headphones using tablet

UCF Investigates Artificial Intelligence to Help Children Teach Coding to Classmates While Learning Social Skills

A $2.5 million grant aims to help students with autism spectrum disorder and other conditions be more aware of their emotions and recognize other’s nonverbal...
man with headphones on laptop

UCF Helps Launch 1st Nationwide Technology Support Center for Higher Education Faculty

UCF, University of Kansas and the Center for Applied Special Technology will oversee the 24/7 resource to help professors better use technology for remote learning...
Zoobee's World - virtual

UCF Patents Virtual Technology that Uses Biometric Sensors in New Way to Help People Conquer Fear and Anxiety Disorders

Lisa Dieker and the Center for Research in Education Simulation Technology recently received two patents, one of which aims to help people with environmental anxiety...
children learning to use technology

New Study Explores Effectiveness of Using Robots to Teach STEM Lessons, Communication Skills

UCF is working with other universities on Department of Education project to help children with autism spectrum disorder through innovative use of robots...
Karlie Braddy sitting at desk

Alumni Giving Back to Future Teachers

The last thing Karlie Braddy '20 expected when she joined UCF's elementary education program was to graduate in the middle of a global pandemic, but...
UCF student and Project Focus staff member meeting face-to-face during an initial assessment session.

UCF Offers Individualized Coaching to Improve Organization and Focus

Undergraduate students who need help with organization, planning or memory can participate in coaching sessions at the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute this fall...
Whitney Hanley standing with UCF exceptional education professor Rebecca HInes

Exceptional Education Doctoral Graduate to Prepare Future Teachers

Whitney Hanley will graduate with her doctorate in exceptional education and head to Iowa to become an assistant professor...
UCF Exceptional Education Faculty Lisa Dieker and Rebecca Hines

UCF Exceptional Education Faculty Launch Podcast to Offer Tips to Teachers

Lisa Dieker and Rebecca Hines share over 50 years of experience in exceptional education. Now they also share a podcast...
virtual meeting

UCF Alumni: Teachers on Teaching

The first week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we want to celebrate the hard work and dedication of teachers. This year, we spoke...
teacher and child doing a puzzle

New Program Helps Students to Work With Children With Special Needs

The graduate certificate program will start this summer as a partnership between the College of Community Innovation and Education and the College of Health Professions...
Kyler Gray

The Public Servant’s Heart

Kyler Gray is the recipient of both the Order of Pegasus and the Founders' Award...
students with child

Funding Opportunities Available for Special Education Preparation

These three projects help current and aspiring special education teachers advance their knowledge and skills and improve the learning outcomes of their students...
students smiling

STEP Supports Freshman Teacher Candidates

Freshman education majors find community as they transition to the classroom...
teacher sharing book with children

Education Programs Recognized for Reading Instruction

The National Council on Teacher Quality gives an ‘A’ to two UCF elementary education programs...
pen, ruler, paper

Teaching Real-World Mathematics Through STEAM, Published in New Journal

Students engage with multiple disciplines while learning math and improving the lives of others...
teacher and children in school

98 Science and Math Teachers Earn Free Master’s Degrees

First group of local educators to graduate from UCF this week with tuition covered by Orange County Public Schools and Lockheed Martin...
woman sharing book

Growing Your Own Teachers

Florida needs new teachers. According to the Florida Department of Education, critical teacher shortage areas for the 2019-20 school year include science, language arts, mathematics...
student presenting

Children’s Literature and Building Empathy in Classrooms

Some commercial products and activities used in schools can teach artificial lessons in honesty, compassion and empathy, says Sherron Roberts, who is a professor of...
cartoon graphic of police car and schoolbooks reading "Meet the Helpers"

WUCF Receives Funding to Help Children Prepare Better for Emergencies

$250,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will help expand the station’s Meet the Helpers project into a national model...
Paige Timmermanv

5 UCF Alumni Receive Fulbright Award

Five recent UCF graduates have received prestigious Fulbright awards that will allow them to travel abroad to pursue research and educational opportunities or teach English...
children involved in activity

KnightED Talks Student Showcase Engages Generations of Learners

Teacher education students recently presented professional strategies and techniques to their peers and heard from veteran teachers about student engagement at the KnightED Talks Student...
child holding painting

Looking for Summer Camps in Orlando? Check Out These UCF-affiliated Options

From athletics to the arts to science to storytelling, there are plenty of summer camps for learning and play affiliated with UCF that can help...
Megan Nickels

Reach for the Stars Award Recipients Use Technology to Change Lives

Three faculty members who use the power of technology to make the human experience better were recognized today with Reach for the Stars awards during...
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27 UCF Graduate Programs Ranked Among the Top 100 in the Nation

Twenty-seven UCF programs were nationally ranked today in the top 100 of their fields by U.S. News & World Report, and 35 graduate programs total were included in...
woman at podium

Assistant Professor Earns Impact Award For Work with Hospitalized Children

Assistant Professor Megan Nickels, creator of UCF PedsAcademy, was named Thursday as the spring 2019 Marchioli Collective Impact Award winner. The award recognizes a faculty or...
child in hospital with virtual device

In the Hospital, but Still Learning

Ella Greene never liked math. Then the 9-year-old got bone cancer and went to Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla. Last November, toward the end...
student with child in hospital

Nemours, UCF Transform Education for Hospitalized Children

Patients can use virtual reality, robotics and other high-tech learning tools to keep up with their studies...
student working with child

UCF Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholar Awarded STEM Fellowship

Matthew Taylor, a UCF postdoctoral scholar in STEM education, was selected for one of ten highly-competitive annual CADRE fellowships. Recipients receive a one-year fellowship to...
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UCF Receives $8 million in Grants to Enhance Special-needs Training for Education Majors

Central Florida schoolchildren with special needs — including those with autism or need extra help with math — will get some additional help thanks to...
children working together

Aspiring Child Engineers Test Creative Problem-Solving Skills at UCF Summer Camp

This summer, aspiring engineers in grades 3-8 tested their creative problem-solving skills at the EEK! Engineering Education for Kids summer camp, a week-long immersive workshop...
lady in audience

Action for Literacy Through Teacher Preparation, Professional Partnerships

In the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida (UCF), we view partnerships as one of our core values. The...
headshot collage

Four UCF Professors Help Develop National Training in Advocacy and Culturally Responsive Instruction

As a leader in inclusive programming, UCF is the only institute of higher education asked to join the Delta Teacher Efficacy Campaign – Teachers Advocating...
three faculty smiling

Supporting Children and Youth with Autism

April is Autism Awareness Month, and a perfect time to highlight the OSEP-funded Project Autism Spectrum …...
Student smiling in Botswana

Botswana Trip Encourages Student to Create Community Service Project

Participating in our college’s Botswana study abroad program last summer inspired undergraduate student Maurice McLeish to create the Service Tour of Central Florida...