UCF Staff Advisory Council

Congratulations to our UCF Staff Council Scholarship Winner, Crystal Zavallo!

We asked our scholarship winners to share a little about themselves.

Which department do you work for?
I work for UCF Health Student Health Services

What degree are you pursuing?
I'm currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management. This program complements my work in health marketing at UCF, as well as my involvement with a local nonprofit organization, The Keri Anne DeMott Foundation. The foundation was established by the family of Keri, a UCF student who was tragically killed in 2015 after being hit by a drunk driver. I love sharing Keri’s story and the significance of the work the foundation does for our community. Here is a link to their website https://thekeriannedemottfoundation.com/.

What do you do at UCF?
I oversee the marketing department at the campus health center, focusing on communications and events that promote our services to the broader UCF community. I also lead health promotion initiatives that encourage students to take an active role in their personal wellbeing and to better understand the importance of building a relationship with their healthcare team.

Favorite thing about being a UCF staff member?
What I value most about being a UCF staff member is the opportunity to stay connected with the campus community. It's incredibly rewarding to support students as they navigate the transition into managing their own health and wellness. I’m constantly inspired by the creativity, energy, and drive of this generation—it keeps me both hopeful and motivated.

Any hobbies or interests?
Outside of work, I’m passionate about traveling, musical theater and reading. I frequently travel internationally, with Scotland having been my favorite so far. I also have a goal to visit all 50 states before I turn 50; I'm currently at 25, so halfway there! At home, I’m a devoted reader and enjoy relaxing with a good book and the company of my five cats, or attending a show at Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center!

Congratulations to our UCF Staff Council Scholarship Winner, Victoria Hopkins!

We asked our scholarship winners to share a little about themselves.

Which department do you work for?
I work in the School of Performing Arts at UCF.

What degree are you pursuing?
I’m currently pursuing an MA in Educational Leadership.

What do you do at UCF?
In my role, I handle purchasing, assist with the hiring process, coordinate events, work with scholarships, handle contracts, and do any other administrative work that comes up for both Music and Theatre.

Favorite thing about being a UCF staff member?
My favorite thing about being a UCF staff member is being given the opportunity to grow, both within my role and as a person. I feel supported in my work decisions as well as with life choices like going back to school.

Any hobbies or interests?
Outside of work, I enjoy writing (I'm working on a novel!), reading, eating sweets, spending time with my husband and pets, and going to Universal Studios. I also love attending UCF Theatre productions, and I cannot wait for the season to start back up!

Congratulations to our UCF Staff Council Scholarship Winner, Saima Owens!

We asked our scholarship winners to share a little about themselves.

Which department do you work for?
I work in the Division of Digital Learning, UCF Online at UCF.

What degree are you pursuing?
I’m currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

What do you do at UCF?
In my role as a Success Coach IV, I help students by providing tools to be successful in their studies and personal life. I partner with them on their journey from application to graduation.

Favorite thing about being a UCF staff member?
My favorite thing about being a UCF staff member is being part of a dynamic community that supports both personal and professional growth. It’s inspiring to work alongside passionate colleagues and students every day.

Any hobbies or interests?
Outside of work, I enjoy travelling and mindfulness practices.

Congratulations!

🙌 Congrats to Waldemar Karwowski, chair of the UCF Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems! He was awarded the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers' Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award. 🏆
This prestigious award recognizes those who have demonstrated a positive influence on the profession through their teaching, research impact and innovation.
https://go.ucf.edu/44PAYLA

We will never forget.

UCF Remembers 💛

On the ninth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub tragedy, we honor and remember the 49 beautiful lives taken too soon. Among them, our own Forever Knights — Juan Ramon Guerrero and Christopher “Drew” Leinonen ’07 ’09MA — who are always in our hearts.

Way to go!

Interested in learning more about AI? Check out these fantastic opportunities!

1. April 15th “AI Day”. This is a set of workshops about AI in a small-conference breakout format. It’s in-person only at the Student Union. Peopl can come-and-go as desired (and lunch is not provided, though there’s an hour off for lunch on your own). Register here: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0xpt2902ygi4S4C. While these workshops will not be recorded in April, we should have videos of all of them by the Fall, and will share at that time.

2. Summer workshops. This virtual (TEAMS) workshop will provide a quick introduction to AI and its capabilities, then shift to giving ideas about how staff can use today’s AI tools for productivity. The dates listed below are all repeats; you only need to attend once. Register here: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wJHFIKmEJp4zJQ
a. May 14, 4pm-5pm
b. May 15, 9am-10am
c. May 16, 12pm-1pm
d. June 10, 10am-11am
e. June 11, 2pm-3pm

3. AI Community of Practice. For anyone with a strong interest in AI, you could join this monthly meeting of faculty and staff. We discuss anything new with AI at UCF, updates to AI tools, and recent articles of interest. To join the community of practice, click here to view the MS-TEAM, and use the code kucty4s to join. You will be sent Outlook calendar invitations to join monthly meetings. Or, you can email [email protected] and request to be added.

What has changed since you started working at UCF?

You ever wonder how much our campus has changed since we graduated?

Reply with something you remember at UCF, and we'll tell you if it's still there/what replaced it ⬇️

👏👏👏

UCF Announces 2025’s 30 Under 30 Alumni Award Recipients The honor recognizes outstanding young alumni who continue to reach for the stars in their professional and personal lives.

UCF Launches Bold Faculty Hiring Initiative to Meet Growing Demand for Engineers, Computer Scientists The investment, which includes hiring up to 36 new faculty, will help support the region’s economic vitality as Orlando was recently recognized as a top tech hub.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 11:59 PM FEBRUARY 20, 2025

The UCF Staff Advisory Council has three UCF scholarships that
are offered in both the spring and fall. These include the $250 UCF
Employee Scholarship Award, the $100 UCF Barnes and Noble
Campus Book Award, and the $250 Addition Financial Employee
Savings Incentive Award. The application is available at the link
below.

https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bOv6SOGN7O2mM7A

Congratulations to Christina Alecse, for their support of the university’s compliance and ethics program and active participation in contributing to an ethical culture at UCF!

Christina Alecse, Administrative Project Manager, UCF RESTORES, College of Sciences, was given the Staff Ace Award in May 2023, by the Colleges of Sciences for her dedication to supporting her colleagues and the work she accomplishes within the college. Ms. Alecse has fully participated in every Compliance & Ethics Week campaign while employed at UCF and has also completed optional training courses to expand her knowledge in compliance and ethics related topics. Here’s what her supervisor, Deborah Beidel, says, “Christina’s proactive approach and dedication to upholding the highest standards of ethics have not only ensured compliance but set the standard for her colleagues here at UCF RESTORES. Her efforts in providing guidance and addressing ethical concerns promptly and effectively have been exemplary. We are incredibly fortunate to have Christina as part of our team at UCF RESTORES.”