Carolina Cruz-Neira Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� Researchers Win International Award for Robotic Technology That Shares Immersive Experiences

Bel Huston — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:00:02 +0000

Imagine walking through Paris, inspecting a disaster zone or treating a patient hundreds of miles away — all without leaving the room.

That’s the future a team of �鶹ԭ�� researchers is building, and their groundbreaking work has earned international recognition.

A team of �鶹ԭ�� researchers has won an industry award for using robotics and digital twins to blend human intuition with technological innovation.

Their work, Be There Without Being There: Humanoid Robot Immersive Telepresence, received the Auggie Award for Best Interaction Product at this year’s Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, California. Auggie Awards, which received over 330 entries across 18 categories, are among the world’s most recognized honors in the augmented and virtual reality industry.

The award-winning �鶹ԭ�� team includes computer science student researchers Judah Rowe ’23 ’25MS, junior Liam Abramov, seniors Seniah McField and Megan Bailey, Assistant Professor Mohsen Rakhshan, and is led by �鶹ԭ�� Institute for Simulation and Training Interim Director and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science Carolina Cruz-Neira. In addition to this honor, Cruz-Neira received the 2026 Auggie Award for Innovator of the Year.

Together, they developed a system that pairs a humanoid robot with an immersive digital environment, allowing a person to interact with a remote location as if they were physically there.

The technology creates a real-time digital twin of the robot’s surroundings while mapping the user’s body movements directly onto the robot.

“From a technical [standpoint], this is perhaps the first working product or system that actually [allows] a human to be physically functional in a remote location as if they were really there,” Cruz-Neira says. “We map the body of the human to the robot. So the human walks, the robot walks. The human moves, and the robot moves. The human turns the head, the robot turns the head. It’s almost like the concept in the movie Avatar.”

While Cruz-Neira and Rakhshan guided the project, she says the talented �鶹ԭ�� students are responsible for successfully implementing physical telepresence.

“This project was done entirely by �鶹ԭ�� students,” she says. “They are the ones who solved all the problems. They brought it to this level of sophistication to win the award.”

The technology has applications across industries wherever people cannot safely or easily be physically present.

A robot could enter buildings damaged by hurricanes or earthquakes to assess structural damage and search for survivors. Healthcare providers could remotely examine patients with limited mobility or those living far from medical facilities. Someone unable to travel could experience strolling along the Champs-Élysées in Paris through the robot’s perspective.

The most important aspect of the work is its ability to blend human intuition with technological innovation, Cruz-Neira says.

“At the end of the day, we have a human element, and robots can help us extend our human capabilities through this amazing technology,” she says. “This project is about [using] technology to augment or extend our human capabilities to help us do things more safely and more effectively.”

The team continues refining the technology to enhance the human experience. Future developments include incorporating artificial intelligence to give the robot greater autonomy and adding a sense of touch that would allow users to remotely feel temperature and texture, as well as manipulate objects.

Cruz-Neira says the project demonstrates not only what’s possible through emerging technologies, but also what �鶹ԭ�� students can accomplish when given the opportunity to tackle complex real-world challenges. The students have taken this project from the lab into the real world. They’ve built a robust working prototype that’s an exceptional display of real value for the community.

“�鶹ԭ�� is making [its] mark in the world as the technology university,” she says. “This project demonstrates that as a university, we’re part of the future that we like to talk about. [We’re helping build it.]”

IEEE 2026 Awardee Gregory Welch: Strengthening the VR Research Community Through Leadership and Service

Julie Harper ’01 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:58:12 +0000

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation Gregory Welch has made countless contributions to the fields of virtual, augmented and mixed reality as an inventor and researcher, but some of the ones he’s most proud of aren’t documented in patent applications or peer-reviewed publications.

For more than two decades, Welch has extended his passion into purposeful action within and beyond the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) to empower future generations, foster collaboration and growth, and advance the fields of visualization, computer graphics, and virtual/augmented reality. Through his dedication and leadership, he has made a sustained impact on the global community.

His service includes volunteering at dozens of IEEE VGTC conferences since 2000 and serving as general chair for three international events, each drawing hundreds of attendees.

“… I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] … could experience VR technology.”

One of the most memorable was the 2013 Virtual Reality Conference in Orlando, which he co-chaired and where he created the Florida Academic VR Showcase (FLAVRS).

“Conferences typically bus attendees to the host institution for demonstrations, but nobody enjoys long bus rides late at night,” Welch says. “With FLAVRS, I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] could bring their families and experience VR technology.”

Welch, IEEE VR 2013 co-chair, joined University of Florida Professor Benjamin Lok and a group of student volunteers to transform the event ballroom into the makeup of Florida, complete with cities, lakes and well-known landmarks. Twenty-two demonstrations from researchers across the state were arranged by their institutions’ geographic locations.

Attendees received “passports” to collect stamps at each demonstration and earn prizes.

“I still have people tell me that it was the best VR conference event they have ever attended,” Welch says.

Mentoring the VR Researchers of Tomorrow

To further advance the field, Welch serves as an associate editor for two journals and has organized several professional development opportunities for students, researchers and developers, including international research retreats focused on specific topics.

He has also focused on inspiring future generations of virtual reality researchers. One of the contributions he’s most proud of is the creation of the XR Future Faculty Forum, or F3.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations … and to build a community among future faculty.”

Launched in 2023 with �鶹ԭ�� computer science doctoral student Matthew Gottsacker, F3 connects faculty volunteers with graduate students through panels, talks and one-on-one mentoring to prepare future scholars for careers in academia. What began as an idea has grown into an annual event supporting hundreds of participants, with plans to continue expanding. F3 will take place again at the 2026 IEEE VR Conference in Daegu, Korea, where Welch will be honored for his service.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations, to help reduce fears about research funding and tenure, and to build a community among future faculty,” Welch says. “It’s been so gratifying to see this idea impact real people and expand to other conferences.”

His impact on future generations extends to his work at �鶹ԭ��, where he has advised and mentored dozens of students from undergraduates to postdoctoral scholars.

Driving Discovery in Simulation and Technology

Welch has made sustained contributions to the field through innovative research in virtual/augmented reality, virtual beings, motion tracking display and healthcare technology.

He currently leads the development of the , supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. VERA, which is the first large-scale system for extended reality research, aims to create a powerful platform for human subjects research and behavioral data collection in VR. IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement awardee and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, Carolina Cruz-Neira, is also working on the project, which is a collaboration across multiple universities.

To date, Welch has authored more than 150 publications and his work has contributed to 25 patents. His 1995 Introduction to the Kalman Filter has been cited more than 12,500 times. His patented innovations span a wide range of applications, from projection mapping — like what’s used on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom — to physical-virtual patient simulators, “smart” wound simulators, sterile field detection mechanisms, directional electrodes for deep brain stimulation, tactile telepresence for isolated patients and spatially explicit auditory cues for enhanced situational awareness.

A Legacy of Service

For his outstanding contributions and career achievements, Welch has earned numerous honors, including being named to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. He’s also a fellow of IEEE, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a Pegasus Professor — �鶹ԭ��’s highest faculty honor.

“[My] unique blend of analytical and creative thinking [inspires] my work to … create interactive experiences that … solve challenges and help people.”

Welch sees value in real-life events that bring people together. He attributes his dedication to service and success as an innovator to his family and upbringing.

“My mother was a mathematician and computer programmer, and my father was a musician, so I have this unique blend of analytical and creative thinking,” he says. “That has inspired my work to use computer science to create interactive experiences that feel like the real world to solve challenges and help people.”

Welch’s commitment to helping others began long before his noteworthy career, with involvement in service organizations dating back to high school. For him, service is a way of life — not an obligation, but an opportunity to make an impact.

“There is so much that we can and should do to help our communities,” he says. “It takes people to step up, commit and invest time to make things happen. I hope my service and leadership inspire others.”

IEEE 2026 Awardee Carolina Cruz-Neira: Turning a “Plan B” Into a Global Legacy

Juzanne Martin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:51:12 +0000

Interim (IST) Director Carolina Cruz-Neira’s career in virtual reality (VR) began as a backup plan.

She spent her childhood training as a ballet dancer. When a knee injury at 21 ended her professional dance aspirations, she leaned on the engineering degree her father had encouraged her to pursue.

While earning her doctoral degree in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Illinois Chicago, she discovered the Electronic Visualization Laboratory — and with it, a way to merge art and technology.

“My philosophy as a researcher has always been to take on projects that are a little risky.”

In 1992, she unveiled the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE), an immersive VR system that transforms a room-sized cube into an interactive 3D digital world. Unlike early VR headsets that isolated users, the CAVE allows multiple people to step inside the same digital environment, fostering shared exploration and real-time collaboration.

Today, CAVE systems are used worldwide, from gaming and art installations to military training and automotive design, helping industries visualize complex problems, improve safety and refine products before building them in the real world.

Powering the Future of Simulation

Over nearly four decades, Cruz-Neira has made significant contributions to the fields of VR, interactive visualization, high-performance computing and digital twins, which are dynamic virtual replicas of real-world objects used for simulation and testing across industries. Her innovations have influenced training and research for NASA, the U.S. military and U.S. National Laboratories.

By the Numbers: A Lasting Impact

Secured more than $200 million in research funding
Authored more than 100 publications
Elected to the National Academy of Engineering — one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers in the U.S.
Named an IEEE fellow and Forbes’ 50 Over 50 honoree for innovation
Inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo XR Hall of Fame and the Orlando Tech Community Hall of Fame for her contributions to Central Florida’s tech ecosystem
Recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record for the national impact of her work

“My philosophy as a researcher has always been to take on projects that are a little risky,” says Cruz-Neira, �鶹ԭ��’s Agere Chair Professor of computer science. “I tell my students that we do research with a purpose. And yes, it’s challenging. But if we have that vision of where this thing is going, our talent and creativity have a terrific playground.”

That bold spirit of exploration drew her to �鶹ԭ�� in 2020 — a university recognized for its strength in computer science and deep partnerships and collaborators across several sectors, including space, defense, entertainment and healthcare.

“There’s a whole community of researchers, faculty and students here who are passionate about this kind of work.”

Since arriving, she says she has found something even more powerful: a culture that pairs high-level excellence with a nurturing environment — where ambitious ideas are energized, challenged and brought to life through collaboration.

“There’s a whole community of researchers, faculty and students here who are passionate about this kind of work. That has allowed us to expand our ideas tremendously,” Cruz-Neira says. “We’re now collaborating with teams across the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Medicine, the College of Arts and Humanities and the , which broadens what we’re able to do. It’s nice to have a tribe around you, where everyone helps each other and works together.”

Among those collaborators is longtime colleague and IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Service awardee, Gregory Welch. Cruz-Neira says they first met as “Ph.D. babies,” beginning a collaboration that has now spanned nearly 38 years. Since joining �鶹ԭ��, she has continued working closely with Welch and his team on several joint research projects and publications.

Agere Chair Professor Carolina Cruz-Neira, recipient of the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement Award, is working with her team to explore how humanoid robots can extend human presence into places we cannot physically reach. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

What’s Next: Blending Physical and Virtual Worlds

As IST director, Cruz-Neira is helping broaden �鶹ԭ��’s modeling and simulation legacy while leading several cutting-edge research projects in collaboration with talented students and faculty. One such project explores humanoid robots as extensions of the human body, allowing a person to navigate remote or inaccessible locations in real time. Using artificial intelligence, the robot captures its surroundings and transmits a live digital replica into the CAVE, where a human operator’s movements control the robot, creating a seamless exchange between physical and virtual worlds.

“This project opens a lot of possibilities and aligns with where we want to go at IST and �鶹ԭ��,” Cruz-Neira says. “We do a lot of work with defense, first responders and healthcare professionals, and in many cases, we see the need for a human [presence in locations] that aren’t feasible. By combining mature technologies available in the commercial world with some of our more advanced algorithms and system designs at �鶹ԭ��, we’ve finally been able to come together to make this prototype and showcase it in December 2025 at [the Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference], a major defense training environment.”

Cruz-Neira continues to push boundaries, bringing people together and asking questions like, “What can we create next?” and “How far can we take this?”

And despite a lifetime achievement award, she’s clear about one thing: “I’m not done yet.”

2 �鶹ԭ�� Faculty Earn Prestigious IEEE Recognitions in Virtual Reality

Juzanne Martin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:46:41 +0000

At the 2026 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Conference, the IEEE Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) brought together the world’s brightest minds in virtual reality (VR) — and honored two �鶹ԭ�� pioneers whose discoveries continue to shape how we experience the digital world.

Carolina Cruz-Neira, interim director of (IST) and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, received the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement Award — an honor recognizing an individual’s lifetime contribution to the field.

Gregory Welch, Pegasus Professor, AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation at the College of Nursing and co-director of the Synthetic Reality Lab at IST, received the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Service Award, which celebrates outstanding dedication, support and service contributions to the virtual/augmented reality community.

Their recognition comes full circle. Cruz-Neira (2007) and Welch (2018) are both past recipients of the IEEE VGTC Technical Achievement Award, which honors seminal technical achievements in VR. In 2022, they were both inducted into the inaugural class of the VGTC VR Academy, a prestigious distinction recognizing pioneers whose work has shaped the discipline at the highest level.

�鶹ԭ�� is among a handful of institutions with multiple recipients of the IEEE VGTC awards.

For Cruz-Neira, the Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement Award is deeply personal.

“[This award] is dear to me because I was part of the founding team of the IEEE VR community back in 1992, when I was still in the early stages of my career — a Ph.D. student,” Cruz-Neira says. “It is especially meaningful to see that, having been there from the very beginning, the VR community recognizes [my contributions]. This honor truly belongs to the teams of students and collaborators who have worked alongside me to build and shape the field over the years. Awards like this also help sustain and elevate �鶹ԭ��’s excellence, strengthening its national standing and reinforcing its reputation as a preeminent university.”

For Welch, the Virtual Reality Service Award underscores his driving principle of servant leadership.

“There is so much that we can and should do to help our communities,” Welch says. “It takes people to step up, commit and invest time to make things happen. I hope my service and leadership inspire others.”

Learn more about why Cruz-Neira and Welch received honors for their significant and sustained contributions to the VR community in the following stories:

IEEE 2026 Awardee Carolina Cruz-Neira: Turning a “Plan B” Into a Global Legacy

IEEE 2026 Awardee Gregory Welch: Strengthening the VR Research Community Through Leadership and Service

U.S. Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent Visits �鶹ԭ��

�鶹ԭ�� | Photos by Antoine Hart — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:17:56 +0000

During a tour at �鶹ԭ�� this week, U.S. Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent met with university leaders, faculty, staff and students to see firsthand how �鶹ԭ�� is strengthening talent pipelines, expanding industry partnerships, and advancing research that addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

U.S. Department of Education (ED) Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent meets with Chanda Torres ’98 ’00MA ’08EdD, assistant vice president of the Dixon Career Development Center.

Torres shares an overview of the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center, which empowers �鶹ԭ�� students and recent graduates to successfully connect academic and career pathways — often through industry partnerships — that lead toward professional success and fulfillment.

Kent (center), ED Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron (left) and ED Special Advisor Ethan Good (right) listen to an overview of the Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program (CWEP).

Launched more than 40 years ago, CWEP provides paid internship experiences to about 500 �鶹ԭ�� students annually — including about 60% of graduating Knights who are offered full-time jobs after completing the program.

ED and �鶹ԭ�� staff in front of the Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center welcome sign.

Left to right: Assistant Secretary of Labor Henry Mack; Associate Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs for the State University System Tony Lee; �鶹ԭ�� Associate Vice President for Federal Relations Eric “Tubby” Shwedo; Torres; �鶹ԭ�� Dixon Career Development Center Program Manager Erica Hutton; Director of Career Services at �鶹ԭ�� Lynn Hansen; Director of Experiential Learning at �鶹ԭ�� Quynh Dang; and �鶹ԭ�� Director of Academic Advancement Programs Michael Aldarondo‑Jeffries.

�鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright joins Kent, Harding, Senior Campus Recruiter for BNY Tatiana Manzanares and Shwedo as they tour BNY’s Next‑Gen Client Technology and Operations Center in the SPRK building on �鶹ԭ��’s main campus.

In Fall 2025, �鶹ԭ�� and BNY, a leading global financial services company, launched a groundbreaking $5 million Pegasus Partnership that established a co-located educational innovation hub on �鶹ԭ��’s main campus — the first-of-its-kind in Florida.

Kent also had the opportunity to meet and interact with students in the current BNY cohort.

At the heart of this collaboration is the 8,400 square-foot Next-Gen Cybersecurity Technology and Operations Center Lab, which reimagines how universities and global enterprises can work together to prepare the workforce of the future.

ED and �鶹ԭ�� staff at the BNY Next-Gen Cybersecurity Technology and Operations Center Lab.

Left to right: ED Special Assistant Cristian Clementi, Good, Associate Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs for the State University System Tony Lee, Mack, Kent, Cartwright, Manzanares, Harding and Dang.

Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld discusses �鶹ԭ��’s research enterprise and emphasizes the benefits of its adjacency to Central Florida Research Park, where defense‑focused organizations support research collaborations and workforce development.

Institute for Stimulation and Training (IST) Interim Director Carolina Cruz‑Neira offers an in‑depth overview and demonstration of IST advanced technological capabilities, with lab visits that included the Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VARLab).

Kent explores the CAVE system — a technology Cruz-Neira pioneered in the 90s — at the VARLab, where IST demonstrates how it develops immersive simulation systems for industry, government and research collaborators.

Cruz‑Neira provides an in‑depth demonstration of IST’s VARLab and overview of how �鶹ԭ�� is preparing the next generation through modeling, simulation and training.

2 Knights Honored With Forbes’ 50 Over 50 Award

Matthew Conn and Sultana Ali — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:44:18 +0000

Interim director of �鶹ԭ��’s Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) and a double alumna in mathematics have been selected for the Forbes 2025 50 Over 50 list in the areas of Innovation and Investment, respectively.

Carolina Cruz-Neira, interim director of IST and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, has been named to the prestigious Forbes 50 Over 50 list for 2025 in recognition of her groundbreaking innovations in virtual reality.

Forbes honors 200 influential people annually in the categories of Lifestyle, Impact, Innovation and Investment. Cruz-Neira, recognized in the Innovation category, pioneered the CAVE virtual reality system, which Forbes calls “a technology used worldwide, from gaming and art installations to military training.” Her open-source contributions have enabled the development of highly sophisticated virtual reality (VR) systems globally.

“One of my biggest challenges, has been championing unconventional ideas, especially early in my career, when I didn’t fit the typical mold,” she says. “Looking back on my journey, I realize that my work in immersive technologies, simulation, and digital twins is helping to create a global common language, one that’s reshaping how we learn, collaborate, heal, and ultimately, build a better future. These technologies are not just tools, but bridges that connect people and possibilities across the world.”

“Being over 50 is no longer just about advancing my own ideas but also mentoring the next generation and helping them shape theirs,” Cruz-Neira continues. “Fulfillment now comes from seeing others succeed.”

�鶹ԭ��’s Institute for Simulation and Training is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary institute conducting basic and applied human-centric research that affects nearly all sectors of industry and government, from healthcare to national defense and education to manufacturing. �鶹ԭ�� and IST have built the industry, together with more than 200 Central Florida modeling, simulation, and training companies and the U.S. Department of Defense, an early adopter whose vision and leadership have spurred new applications and opportunities.

Investing in Digital Technologies to Solve Global Challenges

Mathematics alumna Yvette Kanouff, a partner in JC2 Ventures, a venture capital firm reimagining the power of investment, is also among this year’s honorees. Her placement on Forbes’ Investment category is recognition of work to empower startups to be core drivers of economic growth, job creation and innovation.Kanouff has left a legacy in a number of industries, helping to create on demand video, contributing to everyday technologies and spearheading the technology behind the streaming services that most people utilize and enjoy today. She has won a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for television engineering and technology, is an inductee to the Cable Hall of Fame, and is a Streaming Video Technology Alliance Industry Fellow. However, she came from humble beginnings, working to pay her tuition while going to school

“I had to put myself through college and am proud of having done that for my undergraduate and graduate degrees,” Kanouff says. “I worked while going to school and consistently focused on innovation, and disruptive technology and mathematics.”

Kanouff earned both her ��ǰ�’s��Ի��ٱ��’s degrees in mathematics from �鶹ԭ�� and has remained engaged with �鶹ԭ�� in the subsequent years, currently serving on the College of Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board. During Spring 2025 commencement, she received an honorary doctoral degree from the university.

“We are in an era of innovation and transformation in technology and in how we work, play and live. I am fortunate to have started my career during times of great innovation, and you have such an opportunity today,” Kanouff said to graduates during the ceremony.

�鶹ԭ�� Ranks Among Nation’s Top 5 Most Innovative Public Universities

Mark Schlueb — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:00:11 +0000

�鶹ԭ��’s strengths in empowering student success, achieving social mobility and fostering impactful industry partnerships have elevated the university to become one of the nation’s top five most innovative public universities.

“�鶹ԭ��’s rise in prominence as one of the nation’s most innovative universities is a reflection of the collective boldness, creativity and excellence of our people.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, �鶹ԭ�� president

�鶹ԭ�� is also recognized as the most innovative university in Florida for the seventh consecutive year, according to the 2025 Best Colleges rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

“Together, our students, faculty, staff, and partners are making an incredible impact as we transform lives, solve societal challenges, elevate our community and state, and invent the future,” says �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright.

�鶹ԭ�� stands tall alongside other top public schools in innovation, including the Georgia Institute of Technology, MIT and Purdue University — and ahead of UC Berkley, Harvard and Virginia Tech.

�鶹ԭ�� continues to advance toward becoming a top 50 public research university overall and earned recognitions in several other categories:

Top 20 public university nationally for best undergraduate teaching.
Top 25 public university nationally for student outcome measures, including graduation and retention rates.
Top 30 public university nationally for social mobility, best value and nursing.
Top 50 public university nationally for engineering and computer science.

Last year, �鶹ԭ�� students completed over 28,000 internships, co-ops and service-learning experiences, while the university produced nearly 18,000 graduates, fueling Florida’s talent pipeline in key industries such as engineering and computer science, digital media, aerospace and defense, business and healthcare.

In all of those industries, students at America’s Partnership University benefit from the strong connections the university and its talented faculty have developed with leading innovative companies such as Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Northrop Grumman, L3 Harris, Duke Energy and NASA in engineering and computer science; AdventHealth, Orlando Health and Nemours Children’s Health in healthcare; Electronic Arts in digital media; and many others.

Elevating Student Success and Well-being

�鶹ԭ�� is deeply committed to helping all students unleash their potential and succeed at �鶹ԭ�� and beyond — and Student Success and Well-Being division staff are always seeking new and innovative approaches to accomplish that goal.

One of �鶹ԭ��’s newest initiatives is known as BEAM — Belonging, Engaging, Achieving and Meaning. It provides a framework to transform student aspirations into achievements and empower every student to thrive.

BEAM encourages students to explore opportunities to connect intentionally, actively and meaningfully with others, both inside and outside of the classroom; discover and utilize campus resources to support them on their journey to success; and develop, nurture, deploy and hone passions and interests to catapult their career preparation and success into the future.

�鶹ԭ�� is also transforming student success in other ways. Every undergraduate student can connect with an academic success coach to ensure they have the support to succeed throughout their journey. The university’s academic success coaching blends traditional academic advising with coaching and innovative technologies to set goals, create realistic success strategies, and monitor success over the course of a student’s �鶹ԭ�� career.

“All of the things that �鶹ԭ�� provides for me, through Career Services, academic success coaches, even my peers and professors, have fully prepared me to go into my career.” — Daniel Bogle, �鶹ԭ�� student

In addition, academic advocates provide targeted outreach and problem-solving to students to remove challenges adversely affecting their persistence and timely degree completion. Advocates and support students facing academic challenges and those assisted by high-touch support.

“When I met with my academic success coach, she guided me through my freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year,” says Daniel Bogle, a �鶹ԭ�� engineering student interning at Lockheed Martin. “We decided when I want to take internships and when I want to take extracurriculars, and how I could do all of those things and still graduate on time.”

The university has developed multiple pathways for students to succeed, including DirectConnect to �鶹ԭ��, a partnership program with six state colleges that graduates more than 4,400 transfer students annually.

For student-athletes, Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir has achieved his bold goal of a 100% full-time job or graduate school placement rate for all graduating student-athletes.

40-Year Success: How Lockheed Martin Helps Students

Orlando — a national hub of aerospace and defense innovation — provides �鶹ԭ�� students with opportunities to get real-world experience with many top industry partners.

The Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program (CWEP) provides one of the world’s leading global security and aerospace companies with a vast talent pool of undergraduate and graduate students studying engineering, business, finance, communications, mathematics, computer science and other disciplines.

For more than 40 years, Lockheed Martin has helped thousands of �鶹ԭ�� students build their careers. Many get full-time job offers from Lockheed Martin and other companies after participating.

“CWEP cemented my desire to work in engineering as a career, and it also gave me a perspective while I was getting an education of how that was going to be used in the future.” — Frank St. John ’87 ’91MS, Lockheed Martin COO

Among �鶹ԭ��’s CWEP alumni is Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John ’87 ’91MS, who holds two electrical engineering degrees from �鶹ԭ��. His CWEP journey illustrates how transformational CWEP can be for students.

“CWEP cemented my desire to work in engineering as a career, and it also gave me a perspective while I was getting an education of how that was going to be used in the future,” St. John says. “It was also beneficial for the company because they got to try me out as a part-time employee.”

Dean of �鶹ԭ��’s College of Engineering and Computer Science Michael Georgiopoulos says over time, CWEP students become stronger in the classroom and exhibit more enthusiasm for their area of study when they begin to see how their academic learnings are applied in an industry setting.

“By spending time with Lockheed Martin, they get to understand a little better what their profession is all about. They become more confident, more mature, more talkative about their discipline,” says Georgiopoulos. “They are able to understand why they are learning these important fundamentals in their coursework.”

For almost all of the program’s 40-year history, �鶹ԭ�� was the only university in the nation with such a partnership with Lockheed Martin.

World-class Faculty as Leading Innovators

Many of �鶹ԭ��’s world-class faculty members are leaders and top innovators in their fields, and their expertise and passion for helping students learn give students an edge as they graduate and pursue their careers.

A longtime innovator, Carolina Cruz-Neira is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and recent inductee into the Augmented World Expo XR Hall of Fame. She is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality, interactive visualization and digital twins. Her work has translated to standard tools in industry, government and academia.

She is known world-wide for being the creator of the CAVE virtual reality (VR) system and for transferring research into practice by spearheading several open-source initiatives, such as VR Juggler, and by leading entrepreneurial initiatives to commercialize research. She has over 100 publications and has been awarded over $250 million in grants, contracts, and donations.

“It is not well known that �鶹ԭ�� has one of the, if not the, largest concentration of VR researchers in the U.S. There is a strong ecosystem that generates many demands for VR, as well as use cases.” — Carolina Cruz-Neira, professor

Cruz-Neira joined �鶹ԭ�� in 2020, drawn to the university for its strong programs and extensive network of partners and collaborators across a number of sectors, including space, defense, energy, entertainment and healthcare.

“Of course, the strong reputation of �鶹ԭ�� as a leader in modeling and simulation ties very well with the ecosystem,” she says. “At this point in my career, the opportunity to have daily interactions, idea exchanges, and stimulating conversations with colleagues and students is the best environment for me to be in.”

Many of her former students are now doing leading work in VR at places such as Unity Labs, Intel, Microsoft Research, Google, DreamWorks, EA, Deere & Company, Boeing, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and Argonne National Laboratory.

A National Leader in Preparing Nurses for Practice

�鶹ԭ��’s College of Nursing and the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion under construction at Lake Nona are ideal examples of both student success and an innovative portfolio of industry partnerships.

Through innovative technology and educational excellence both in and out of the classroom, �鶹ԭ�� continues to lead in educating future nurses to build a talent pipeline and address the nursing shortage. �鶹ԭ�� is ranked No. 39 among the nation’s Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs — second in Florida and among a top 30 among public universities.

Beyond the classroom, �鶹ԭ��’s undergraduate nursing students receive valuable hands-on and real-world experiences to foster learning and skills development in order to graduate ready for clinical practice. Those student experiences includes innovative simulation-based experiences in �鶹ԭ��’s STIM Center, a global leader in healthcare simulation education, providing vital health education and screenings through service learning in economically disadvantaged Central Florida communities, and training alongside professional nurses in clinical experiences at area healthcare partners.

The amount of simulation space available for �鶹ԭ�� nursing faculty and students will triple in the new .

“To be ranked, once again, among the nation’s best undergraduate nursing programs demonstrates �鶹ԭ��’s excellence in preparing future nurses for clinical practice and is a testament to our faculty and staff’s commitment to student success.” — Mary Lou Sole, College of Nursing dean

With multiple ��ǰ�’s in nursing degree tracks across three Central Florida campuses, �鶹ԭ�� has educated more than 16,000 Knight nursing alumni to date — 85% of whom live and work in Florida. Each year, �鶹ԭ�� graduates more than 260 newly licensed nurses and its graduates continually exceed both state and national averages on the national licensing exam.

With the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on �鶹ԭ��’s Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona expected to open in Fall 2025, �鶹ԭ�� also will be able to graduate an additional 150 new Knight nurses annually.

This effort would not come to fruition if not for �鶹ԭ��’s partnerships with many generous philanthropic donors who continue to invest in the success of �鶹ԭ��’ s nursing students: the Florida Legislature, Dr. Phillips Charities, AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health, Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, Addition Financial Credit Union, Roslyn and Jody Burttram, Parrish Medical Center and VNA Foundation.

“�鶹ԭ�� will build upon these strengths to unleash potential in the new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, addressing the nursing shortage and providing increased access to a high-quality nursing education for more future Knight nurses,” says Mary Lou Sole, dean of �鶹ԭ��’s College of Nursing.

Social Mobility and Economic Progress

A college degree from �鶹ԭ�� brings innovative solutions to empower social mobility, paving the way to career and financial stability for students, their families and the generations that follow them. Ensuring that every student has an opportunity to earn a high-quality, affordable education is a top priority at �鶹ԭ��. Higher education makes a positive impact by helping break the cycle of intergenerational hardship.

Many students face challenges and hurdles on their path to realizing their dream of a college education. Students of all backgrounds, including those who are first-generation or from disadvantaged families, must have access to the resources and tools needed to succeed. Eliminating achievement gaps and reducing barriers for students of all backgrounds and incomes has been a decade-long focus for �鶹ԭ��. This transforms the future for generations to come and creates a powerful ripple effect.

�鶹ԭ�� is frequently praised for its social mobility efforts. Every year, the university graduates more than 3,200 first-generation students and 7,000 Pell Grant students. �鶹ԭ�� produces the most Pell Grant graduates among public schools and the second most among all schools nationally. The university is also among the top 8% most affordable universities for families below $75,000 in income.

“�鶹ԭ�� really does want you to succeed, and they set you up for success. You just have to have the courage to take the first step to reach out. From there, everything else will fall into place.” — Aliyah Gonzalez ’21 ’23, �鶹ԭ�� alum

There’s a positive relationship between a student earning their degree and making social and economic progress. Higher education provides a path to achieving the life-changing benefits of upward mobility.

When Aliyah Gonzalez ’21 ’23, a first-generation student, began her freshman year at �鶹ԭ��, it was a big change. She struggled to learn study skills and where to turn to for guidance.

“I literally remember getting lost every day my first week,” says the two-time alumna. “As a first-generation student, I didn’t have anyone to lean on for questions and to get that guidance. Navigating �鶹ԭ��, learning study skills, and learning how to be an efficient college student was a big learning curve.”

“Once I graduated with my first degree with �鶹ԭ��, I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else truthfully,” says Gonzalez, who earned her ��ǰ�’s degree in health sciences and immediately returned to �鶹ԭ�� in the accelerated second degree nursing program. “I had found my people, my comfort and so many opportunities.”

�鶹ԭ�� Graduate Programs in Engineering, Computer Science Highlight Research in U.S. News Rankings

�鶹ԭ�� — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:10:14 +0000

Fueled by world-class faculty with groundbreaking research and strong industry partnerships, �鶹ԭ�� serves Florida as its premier engineering and technology university.

College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty are leaders in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), hypersonic travel, energy, next-generation computing hardware and aerospace, fields that are major economic drivers for Florida and that are critical to our state and nation’s future.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report‘s ranked nine of �鶹ԭ��’s other graduate programs among the top 50 on the 2024 Best Graduate Schools list.

This pioneering engineering research by expert �鶹ԭ�� faculty prepares students to thrive in their careers, as does �鶹ԭ��’s longstanding relationships with industry partners who are eager to hire talented students. Partners include Electronic Arts, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Northrop Grumman, Siemens, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

Collectively, �鶹ԭ��’s cutting-edge, high-impact teaching practices and partnerships have drawn many recognitions, including the latest from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings.

Today, U.S. News & World Report ranks three of �鶹ԭ��’s engineering and computer science graduate programs among the top 50 in the nation. The industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering program is ranked No. 43, aerospace is No. 47 and computer engineering is No. 50. Two other programs — materials engineering and electrical/electronic/communications engineering — ranked just outside the top 50, at No. 52 and No. 53 respectively.

A total of nine engineering and computer science programs rank among the top 50 among the nation’s public universities.

“Our outstanding engineering faculty are conducting impactful research that is advancing our knowledge of space, modeling and simulation, virtual and augmented reality, and many other high-tech fields,” says Michael D. Johnson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “They are innovators and inventors fueling our region’s economy and our society’s quality of life, healthcare, energy and transportation systems, and they excel at preparing our graduates to thrive in their careers.”

Twenty-nine percent of Kennedy Space Center employees and 25% of Lockheed Martin’s Orlando employees earned �鶹ԭ�� degrees. Aviation Week Network has named �鶹ԭ�� the No. 1 supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry for six consecutive years.

Bringing More Brilliant Minds Together

�鶹ԭ��’s College of Engineering and Computer Science produces 25% of Florida’s engineering and computer science graduates, according to the State University System. The college’s goal is to educate 25,000 engineering and technology students by increasing capacity by 50%.

One important path to achieving that goal is to expand the college’s faculty. Last year and this year combined, the college has hired 55 new faculty members, including many with expertise in the strategic investment program areas identified by the university, such as AI, energy, next-generation computing hardware, space-aerospace, digital twin and infectious diseases. The new faculty hires will further strengthen the college’s research initiatives and opportunities for students to learn alongside talented faculty in the classroom and in research labs.

Plans for this fall also include one new degree program. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will launch a master of science in robotics and autonomous systems program. Students will learn to analyze, design and develop robotics and autonomous systems including self-driving cars, drones, medical robots and even mechanical dogs.

The new faculty and degree program join a host of current �鶹ԭ�� engineering and computer science faculty who are conducting groundbreaking research:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Kareem Ahmed received Department of Defense funding that’s establishing �鶹ԭ�� as a leader in hypersonics and space propulsion research. Hypersonic propulsion would allow for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, or more than 4,600 to 13,000 miles per hour, and has applications in commercial and space travel.

Sudipta Seal, chair of materials science and engineering, and Ozlem Garibay, assistant professor in industrial engineering and management systems, have created an Al-based prediction method that helps develop life-saving medicines and treatments for various diseases with up to 97% accuracy.

Tarek Elgohary, an associate professor of aerospace engineering, is developing algorithms that will accurately track space objects like asteroids and satellites so they don’t collide with spacecraft. It’s a vital tool given the rapid growth of space junk in cislunar space, which stretches from Earth to just beyond the moon’s orbit.

Carolina Cruz-Neira, the Agere Chair Professor at the �鶹ԭ�� Department of Computer Science and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality and interactive visualization, having created and deployed a variety of technologies that have become standard tools in industry, government and academia. In a few weeks, she will be inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo (AWE) XR Hall of Fame, joining an elite international group of 100 researchers, entrepreneurs, artists and others. Cruz-Neira was one of just 22 researchers selected. “It is not well known that �鶹ԭ�� has one of, if not the, largest concentration of VR researchers in the U.S.,” she says. “Of course, the strong reputation of �鶹ԭ�� as a leader in modeling and simulation ties very well with the ecosystem.”

In addition, the internationally recognized Collegiate Cyber Defense Club at �鶹ԭ�� won first place at the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in April. The club has been sending student teams around the world to compete against other universities since 2013. In all, �鶹ԭ�� cybersecurity teams have earned 87 first place awards — including five NCCDC titles — 29 second-place and 25 third-place awards. The competitions allow �鶹ԭ�� students to sharpen their skills before cybersecurity professionals and are hosted by companies from private industry, such as IBM, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Raymond James, Raytheon and several federal agencies.

�鶹ԭ�� Computer Science Professor to Be Inducted to the XR Hall of Fame

�鶹ԭ�� — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:11:20 +0000

Virtual reality pioneer Carolina Cruz-Neira, Agere Chair Professor at the �鶹ԭ�� Department of Computer Science, will be inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo (AWE) XR Hall of Fame. With her induction, she joins an elite international group of 100 researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, advocates and others selected for building the augmented reality and virtual reality (VR) industry. Cruz-Neira was one of just 22 researchers selected overall.

Cruz-Neira will inducted at the AWE USA conference next month in Long Beach, California.

“We owe an immense debt to the pioneers who laid the foundations of today’s rapidly-growing $40 billion XR industry. We all stand on the shoulders of these giants,” says AWE co-founder Ori Inbar in a release. “I call upon the entire XR community to honor these trailblazers by learning their past, celebrating their contribution and continue to shape the future in their visionary image.”

Cruz-Neira, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality and interactive visualization, having created and deployed a variety of technologies that have become standard tools in industry, government and academia. She is known worldwide for being the creator of the CAVE virtual reality system, which allows multiple people to have an immersive experience in the same space.

A lifelong admiration for the beauty of the world, combined with a fascination of how things work, initially drew Cruz-Neira to the field with her first experiences with VR in 1991. She says she knew then that she was going to dedicate her life to exploring and advancing VR, developing experiences to explain phenomena, processes, behaviors and more, creating impossible worlds that cannot be replicated in the physical world.

“This field has the tremendous potential to be used to explain how the world works, to reflect the beauty and amazing elements of the work, but also provide an almost blank canvas to create new worlds, new beauty, and really let our imagination roam free,” she says.

She has continued her work over the years, motivated by the perfect balance of technical and creative challenges working with VR brings, and the opportunities to develop advances as a computer scientist in the field.

“Doing this from a university adds the incredible joy of working with younger minds that bring fresh perspectives to the challenges and opportunities that this field has to offer,” Cruz-Neira says. “I started as a student, but my most recent contributions are all shared with many of my talented students and collaborators and therefore making the community stronger.”

“It is not well known that �鶹ԭ�� has one of, if not the, largest concentration of VR researchers in the U.S. There is a strong ecosystem that generates many demands for VR, as well as use cases,” she says. “Of course, the strong reputation of �鶹ԭ�� as a leader in modeling and simulation ties very well with the ecosystem. At this point in my career, the opportunity to have daily interactions, idea exchanges, and stimulating conversations with colleagues and students is the best environment for me to be in.”

She says VR is still an emerging field with many opportunities to contribute. Users need devices that allow them to comfortably experience virtual spaces, individually and in groups, no matter their location. In addition, advancements in displays, interactive and haptic devices, full-body tracking, facial expressions and more are also needed.

“On the quality of the experience, we are still doing significant research on what are the parameters and guidelines that impact the enjoyment, presence, and overall engagement with the virtual space. The impact of long-term exposure to virtual reality is also still being investigated,” Cruz-Neira says. “New social norms are emerging on how we communicate in VR. There are also emerging issues such as how do we manage ownership of virtual spaces, IP, standards and many other challenges.”

Cruz-Neira is working on a number of projects, but her focus is on integrating VR as the core platform to explore, interact, and gain insight from digital twins. She is working on using VR for immersive data analysis, digital twins for semiconductor manufacturing, applications in defense and space, and digital twins for transportation safety, all collaborative projects with other �鶹ԭ�� faculty.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized among many other innovators that are creating and shaping the field of VR, particularly being named in the inaugural group with many pioneers that inspired, challenged, and encouraged me throughout my career,” she says. “I see the XR Hall of Fame as a celebration that science and technology is a collaborative endeavor, it takes many talented people working together to make real advances and impact.”

�鶹ԭ�� Enters $6M Cooperative Agreement to Develop Research Commercialization Hub

Marisa Ramiccio — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 20:02:56 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� has spawned some notable entrepreneurs over the years, from O’dang Hummus creator Jesse Wolfe ’15 to Luminar co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jason Eichenholz ’95MS ’98PhD and Kismet Technologies founder Christina Drake ’07PhD. However, the vast majority of these savvy businesspeople are �鶹ԭ�� graduates who have turned their ideas into impactful and innovative solutions on their own.

To further tap into the hidden gems of research produced by faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, �鶹ԭ�� is initiating a new program backed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) with mentoring from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The $6 million, NSF-funded interdisciplinary project, led by Ivan Garibay, an associate professor in the will create a �鶹ԭ�� Venture Lab that supports budding entrepreneurs through the commercialization process and establishes a newly organized research umbrella at the university.

The funding for the �鶹ԭ�� Venture Lab is provided through NSF’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, housed in the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. �鶹ԭ�� is one of 18 U.S. universities to receive funding through this newly established program.

“NSF endeavors to empower academic institutions to build the pathways and structures needed to speed and scale their research into products and services that benefit the nation,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan in a release. “The Accelerating Research Translation program in NSF’s new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate identifies, and champions institutions positioned to expand their research translation capacity by investing in activities essential to move results to practice.”

The �鶹ԭ�� Venture Lab will train and enable faculty, graduate students and postdocs to identify and launch viable businesses based on their novel research. It will provide guidelines on business development, match �鶹ԭ�� researchers with relevant industry partners and, for a select few, provide funding through the NSF ART grant. The entity will be modeled after the business startup program at Georgia Tech, which will provide mentorship during the development phase.

“�鶹ԭ��’s world-class faculty are preparing students to work and lead in the industries of tomorrow, and we are grateful to the NSF for their support in enabling us to speed up research, discovery, and entrepreneurship,” says �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Working with Georgia Institute of Technology, which will serve as a mentoring institution, we look forward to expanding pathways for ideas, products, and programs that make positive impacts on society and keep pace with the speed of innovation.”

Garibay says after comparing notes with Georgia Tech, the project team realized they would benefit from a Venture Lab dedicated to the commercialization of �鶹ԭ�� research.

“We plan to create that infrastructure here at �鶹ԭ�� and hope to accelerate the growth of these businesses,” Garibay says.

Community and Societal Impact

Georgia Tech will serve as a mentoring partner for �鶹ԭ��’s Venture Lab development. Keith McGregor, the founder of the Georgia Tech VentureLab, will serve as one of the mentors to the �鶹ԭ�� team, which includes co-principal investigators Carolina Cruz-Neira, a professor in the ; Cameron Ford, an associate professor in the , Svetlana Shtrom, the director of the ; and Winston Schoenfeld, interim vice president for research and innovation. The University of Florida will also collaborate on the project, providing input that will help �鶹ԭ�� adapt Georgia Tech’s model to the Florida ecosystem.

Locally, the program is expected to have a positive impact on the Orlando area.

“Central Florida is mostly a service-based economy,” Garibay says. “Our median salary is below the nationwide average. The �鶹ԭ�� Venture Lab will foster creation of technology companies, which will generate high-paying jobs and will attract a lot of growth to this area.”

The program will also provide pathways for local industry to partner with �鶹ԭ�� researchers. Organizations such as DeepWork Capital, the Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando and the National Security Innovation Network have already agreed to mentor the �鶹ԭ�� entrepreneurs and to participate in the ART project advisory board.

ART Seed Translational Research Projects

Multiple seed translational research projects will be selected for funding through the ART program. The first project, led by Professor Guifang Li of the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), will establish a prototype receiver capable of high-speed space-to-ground laser communication that resists atmospheric turbulence. Once the prototype is developed, Li and his team plan to test the project at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Potential clients for the receiver include Blue Origin, OneWeb Technologies and SpaceX.

The second project is led by Center for Research in Computer Vision Assistant Professor Yogesh Rawat. He plans to develop a prototype software that can detect human activities shown in live video streams while ensuring that private information isn’t exposed. The software would be used in surveillance systems to identify emergency situations or potential threats to public safety so that law enforcement or first responders could act quickly to prevent harm.

Other seed translational research projects will be selected through a university competition that will commence next August. �鶹ԭ�� researchers from all disciplines will be encouraged to apply.

Education Through Action

�鶹ԭ�� graduates like Wolfe, Drake and countless others were able to launch their businesses with the aid of the skills they developed at �鶹ԭ�� as well as the encouragement they received from �鶹ԭ�� researchers and business development programs. To keep the pipeline of Knight-trepreneurs flowing, the NSF ART grant will enhance �鶹ԭ��’s educational offerings in entrepreneurship.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Business Administration courses already offered in this topic would expand to allow graduate students and postdocs to take the courses, allowing for a greater diversity of knowledge, skill and perspective in the classroom.

The goal is to instill an entrepreneurial skillset in the next generation so they can better qualify for jobs in changing industries or launch and grow their own business ventures, says Ford, who is also the executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad and the director for the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

“The careers that our students are going into are dynamic,” Ford says. “We’re seeing a lot of changes and disruptions to the industries they work in, so our students need to be adaptable and resilient. They can add value to the companies they work for if they can learn to solve novel problems and execute initiatives. It’s not enough to innovate solutions – the goal is to deliver innovations to those who need them, improving social and economic wellbeing in the process.”

Garibay says that, for engineering students in particular, learning about entrepreneurship can change their whole mindset.

“I think it’s life-changing,” Garibay says. “Entrepreneurship is something we’ve done for a long time and the feedback that I get back from students is that it’s transformative.”

�鶹ԭ�� Innovate

The NSF ART program doesn’t just allow �鶹ԭ�� to create a business hub and enhance graduate education – it also establishes a new research umbrella for the university called �鶹ԭ�� Innovate. This enhanced infrastructure will bring together the Office of Technology Transfer, the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Business Incubation Program along with the developing Venture Lab. �鶹ԭ�� Innovate will be overseen by Schoenfeld, who leads the Office of Research.

“�鶹ԭ�� has been consistently ranked as a leading technology-generating institution with a strong entrepreneurial spirit among faculty and students,” Schoenfeld says. “The NSF ART program leverages this to drive new levels of technology translation that ensures strong societal benefit from the innovation across �鶹ԭ��.”

Shtrom says that through the ART program, the Office of Technology Transfer will strengthen and enhance the university’s commercialization infrastructure to transform promising research results into products that solve pressing problems and improve people’s lives.

“The NSF funding will allow us to dedicate resources toward cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset and culture at �鶹ԭ��, increasing the number of startup companies launched to commercialize university technologies, and growing funding and licensing revenue to support and expand the research enterprise,” Shtrom says. “�鶹ԭ�� is committed to nurturing and sustaining this virtuous cycle of research and innovation to maximize impact for �鶹ԭ��, Central Florida, and the nation.”