Commencement Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� Graduates 109 New Physician Knights

Wendy Sarubbi — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:14:44 +0000

Holly Moots ’17 ’24PhD spent 13 years at �鶹ԭ��, fulfilling her dream to become a physician-scientist who can advance medical care for Floridians. Jemual Shaylor ’21 is a U.S. Naval officer who will care for our nation’s heroes. Isabella Castellano ’22 and Paxton Threatt met during medical school, got engaged and are now going onto Johns Hopkins – one of the nation’s top hospitals – for residency training.

All were among 109 College of Medicine graduates who became Physician Knights on May 15 and promised to become what their dean calls one of “the Good Doctors – a �鶹ԭ�� tradition.”

This year’s M.D. program commencement was the medical school’s 14th and the last for Vice President for Health Affairs and founding Dean Deborah German, who announced earlier this year she will transition from the role she has held for 20 years.

Deborah German oversees her last College of Medicine Commencement ceremony as vice president for health affairs and founding dean.

“Graduates, today you become alumni of an innovative medical school committed to improving health for all,” she said. “Through your time here, you learned, you grew, and you cared for patients with courage, dedication, and grace. I couldn’t be prouder of the work you have done.”

With this year’s commencement, �鶹ԭ��’s young medical school, which opened in 2009, has prepared 1,421 physicians to care for Floridians and the nation at large.

Holly Moots ’17 ’24PhD is the third Knight to earn an M.D. and Ph.D. since the College of Medicine opened in 2009.

Inspired by Her Research Mentor

Moots is the third M.D./Ph.D. graduate in �鶹ԭ��’s history. She enrolled at the university in 2013 to pursue her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and began her combined doctoral degree in 2018. Now she will go to Lakeland Regional Hospital for internal medicine training – her first choice for residency because of the hospital’s focus on innovation, research and clinical trials.

“I’ve spent almost half my life at �鶹ԭ��,” she says. “Graduating is incredibly exciting, but it feels strange to close such a long and meaningful chapter.”

She said her medical training at �鶹ԭ�� was most shaped by her research mentor, Otto Phanstiel, a College of Medicine cancer researcher. “He exemplifies the qualities I aspire to carry into medicine through the way he communicates, collaborates, and approaches every interaction with humility, curiosity, and a drive for excellence,” she says. “His influence has shaped how I hope to approach research, teamwork, and patient care throughout my career.”

Founding College of Medicine faculty member Jose Borrero pins his mentee, Jemual Shaylor ’21.

“Most Monumental Moment of My Life”

Shaylor will do his . He hopes to become a hand surgeon. Medical school military officers are promoted when they receive their M.D. degree, and �鶹ԭ��’s tradition is to honor that promotion at commencement. After receiving their diplomas, military officers are pinned with their new rank by a faculty member of their choosing.

Shaylor was inspired to enter military service by Jose Borrero, a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during Vietnam before becoming a founding faculty member at the College of Medicine. Now retired, Borrero continues to serve as a mentor to �鶹ԭ�� medical students. He returned to commencement May 15, pinned Shaylor and proudly saluted the young military physician. Shaylor describes the pinning as “the most monumental moment of my life.”

Paxton Threatt is an aspiring anesthesiologist and Isabella Castellano ’22 plans to become a pediatrician.

Connecting with Others

Castellano and Threatt met playing volleyball during their first year of medical school, then started a band with other M.D. students. They went through the fear of “couples matching” into residency – unsure if they would be selected to train at the same hospital or even city.

Today they’re simultaneously planning their move to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and their wedding. He’ll practice anesthesiology because it combines his love of chemistry and connecting with people.

“There’s a small window that you have to talk to patients before surgery, but it is one of their most vulnerable moments in which you really have an ability to make this individual feel comfortable,” he says. “That is a very special relationship to me.”

She’s training to be a pediatrician.

“My biggest dream and aspiration is to be an advocate for children and for families,” she says. “I think that through Johns Hopkins there will be a lot of opportunities to do so and go into communities to be helping and educating children.”

�鶹ԭ��’s Criminal Justice Professional Track Launches Inaugural Graduate Directly into Law Enforcement

Danielle Hendrix ’15 ’24MA — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:35:03 +0000

When Latrell Sam-German graduated high school in 2021, he didn’t have a detailed career plan — just a desire to do something that was bigger than him.

Fortunately for him, the possibilities in the realm of serving others are plentiful. He first thought of enlisting in the military, which would also provide the structure he was seeking. He even considered pursuing medicine, trade work or air traffic control.

It was ultimately that innate sense of purpose, coupled with mentorship, that introduced Sam-German to the world of law enforcement by way of �鶹ԭ��. Now on the brink of becoming the inaugural graduate of the bachelor’s in criminal justice program’s professional track, he’s preparing to cross the commencement stage at Addition Financial Arena on Saturday.

But first, he’ll spend today celebrating his graduation from the inaugural class of the Orlando Police Department’s in-house academy.

Boldly Pursuing His Purpose

(Photo by Danielle Hendrix ’15 ’24MA)

Sam-German’s foray into criminal justice began with candid discussions with both his uncle and best friend’s brother, both of whom work for a police department in South Florida. The latter became his mentor.

“He took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of the career, getting me into the right mindset for the academy and what to expect,” he says.

After completing his associate degree at Broward College, Sam-German transferred to �鶹ԭ�� in 2024. Although he knew he wanted to pursue a bachelor’s in criminal justice, it was an email about the program’s new professional track from Associate Professor that caught his attention.

Housed in the College of Community Innovation and Education, the professional track allows students to graduate with a degree in criminal justice and a certificate in criminal justice management and leadership — plus state certification in law enforcement or corrections, acquired through internship experiences like officer academies.

“Being able to graduate �鶹ԭ�� and academy at the same time was definitely the biggest draw for me,” he says. “It’s like knocking out two birds with one stone. The opportunity to complete the academy in my last semester as my internship, get my degree and walk out with a job is huge.”

“The opportunity to complete the academy in my last semester as my internship, get my degree and walk out with a job is huge.” — Latrell Sam-German, student

In the professional track, he had the opportunity to go on ride-alongs with three agencies — Orange and Osceola County Sheriff’s offices, and Orlando Police Department (OPD). He spent the next year and a half juggling his coursework with the various career fairs and networking opportunities that Watkins passed along. All the while, his eyes remained locked on the goal of landing an academy sponsorship for his final semester.

In early Fall 2025, he interviewed with OPD and passed the physical abilities test. He knew his commitment to networking had paid off when his recruiting lieutenant and sergeant remembered him from a spring career summit.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Sam-German got the call he’d been hoping for: OPD had offered him an academy sponsorship.

�鶹ԭ�� criminal justice student Latrell Sam-German graduated from the Orlando Police Department (OPD) Academy two days before the university’s Spring 2026 commencement ceremony. Sam-German was class president of his cohort at OPD.

Training for Impact

Since early December, Sam-German has attended OPD’s in-house academy full-time as his required internship. The rigorous experience consists of intensive training in law enforcement policies and procedures, physical training and defense tactics. That includes five consecutive weeks of high-liability training with firearms, first aid and driving patrol cars.

“It’s very paramilitary,” he says. “Every day we have to shine our boots, iron our clothes, make sure everything is up to par and come ready. It’s essentially changing our point of view from the civilian mindset to an officer mindset. We’ve learned to watch our surroundings, never be complacent, know policy and rules, and know when to apply them.”

“Our job is public service, and we’re there to help. I really wanted to do something that was bigger than me, and I think this is one of the best occupations to fulfill that.” — Latrell Sam-German, student

When all is said and done, he will have completed 772 hours of training that concludes at the culmination of his first week as a sworn officer. In mid-May, he’ll begin field service alongside a field training officer.

Right now, he’s most looking forward to learning about community patrol.

“I have always been interested in getting out there in community, speaking with people, learning a city’s cultural fabric and how I can help,” he says. “My biggest focus right now is to be great in patrol because sometimes people just need somebody to talk to. After all, our job is public service, and we’re there to help. I really wanted to do something that was bigger than me, and I think this is one of the best occupations to fulfill that.”

Persistence That Delivers

The fact that he’s about to cross the finish line won’t hit him until he puts on the cap and gown — and the official OPD officer uniform. But Sam-German is already reflecting on how quickly his time at �鶹ԭ�� has gone by, and how the decision to pursue the professional track helped launch his career trajectory.

That’s thanks in large part, he says, to the faculty who have helped foster connections and provided opportunities to explore different career paths.

“My professors have been great,” he says. “Many of them are retired law enforcement who came over to �鶹ԭ�� and can speak about the career and what to expect. Being able to come straight from college into the academy has given me the upper hand because a lot of what we talked about in class now pertains to my police academy experience.”

“Being able to come straight from college into the academy has given me the upper hand because a lot of what we talked about in class now pertains to my police academy experience.” — Latrell Sam-German, student

Sam-German’s story is exactly what Watkins hopes to see for years to come — more graduates like him who will go on to impact change in the criminal justice system.

“Working with and assisting Latrell along his professional journey is exciting, fulfilling and a testament to the work of many,” he says. “Developing and promoting the professional track has taken many years and considerable work with our police and correctional professionals in and around Central Florida.”

Professor and Chair adds that the program was intentionally designed to be mutually beneficial to students and law enforcement agencies in reinforcing the workforce pipeline.

“The professional track is our department’s way to give back to the surrounding law enforcement and correctional community in the form of producing high-quality, motivated and practitioner-ready students like Latrell,” Paoline says.

As he prepares to reap both the academic and professional rewards of his work, Sam-German also finds personal reward in having become someone his classmates turn to for advice as they consider pursuing the professional track. He tells them that if they’re willing to put the work in, good things will happen.

“I don’t think it was luck; it was the result of hard work,” he says of his success. “It’s really about not being afraid to put yourself out there and talk to these agencies, even when it can feel intimidating. That door is going to open. You just have to step through it.”

Inclusive Education Services Student Leverages College Experience in Forging Path Toward Independence

Evan Chiovari ’21 — Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:38 +0000

A few years ago, Nina Johnston wasn’t sure she wanted to attend college. Now, looking back, she considers it one of the best challenges she has ever accepted.

Johnston, who was born without arms, joined �鶹ԭ��’s program in Fall 2024 and is now graduating this May. IES, housed by the in the College of Community Innovation and Education, is a state-recognized, two-year certified transition program that immerses students with disabilities into campus life while helping them develop the independence necessary for long-term employment.

Johnston says she learned about IES online and became interested when she researched the program.

“I feel more outgoing since I started the program. I was homeschooled and used to hang out with only three or four friends, so I was really shy when I first came here.” — Nina Johnston, IES student

“Two months after I graduated high school, my mom saw the application for IES on Facebook and asked if I wanted to apply,” Johnston says. “I wanted a college experience, but I didn’t want to go to college for four or six years. Two years sounded perfect, so I thought it would be a good idea. After looking into the program, I thought, ‘This looks really fun.’ ”

Program Director says Johnston made a strong first impression even before she arrived at �鶹ԭ��.

“As part of her application, Nina sent a video of herself cleaning, doing her daily routine and even horseback riding,” Best says. “We were amazed when we watched that video. When she came here, we saw firsthand how independent and determined she is.”

Johnston started IES in August 2024, and it wasn’t long before she jumped right into various campus activities. While pursuing a major in hospitality, she joined Knights Exemplar and Best Buddies, two clubs that provide social and academic support to students with intellectual disabilities. In fact, she’s now a Buddy director with Best Buddies.

Her growing involvement even led to a part-time job at the information desk in the �鶹ԭ�� Student Union. She says these experiences have greatly improved her confidence and social skills.

“But having all these classes and opportunities made me realize, ‘OK, I can do this. I can talk to people.’ IES helped me come out of my shell.” — Nina Johnston, IES student

“I feel more outgoing since I started the program,” Johnston says. “I was homeschooled and used to hang out with only three or four friends, so I was really shy when I first came here. But having all these classes and opportunities made me realize, ‘OK, I can do this. I can talk to people.’ IES helped me come out of my shell.”

Best says she has blossomed into an inspiring and beloved member of the IES community.

“Nina is a true leader,” Best says. “Many students in the program go to her for advice even before they come to us. They look up to her because she thrives in her academics while holding down a job. She’s always looking to pick up extra hours, and she never falls behind on her assignments while she’s working. She is a committed and hardworking student.”

In her newfound social circle, Johnston made a connection that developed into something deeper over time. Soon after starting in the program, she met fellow student Zackary Bruns. Their friendship grew into a relationship, and they are now engaged to be married in November 2026.

As she plans for her wedding, Johnston has also been working to prepare other logistical aspects of her future. One of these is a major personal and practical achievement: her driver’s license, which she earned after practicing with IES’s AI-powered driving simulation.

“The driving simulation at IES gave me a good idea of how traffic happens in real time,” Johnston says. “And it worked perfectly: I got my license on the first try.”

Students with disabilities often lack adequate opportunities to practice driving, so many never earn their licenses — something TJEEI Program Director says can be a barrier to employment.

“Our driving simulator helps students get more comfortable behind the wheel, and Nina is a great example of that.” — Christine Parsons, TJEEI Program Director

“If students can’t drive and don’t have a car, they can’t get to work without public transportation,” Parsons says. “That can be a huge issue, especially here in Central Florida. Our driving simulator helps students get more comfortable behind the wheel, and Nina is a great example of that.”

Equipped with her license, Johnston and Bruns are now focusing on two main goals: securing full-time employment and finding an apartment. They have decided to move to Ocala, Florida, where they plan to be close to Johnston’s parents as they begin the next stage of their lives.

Looking ahead, Johnston says she is excited for her next chapter and grateful for all her experiences at �鶹ԭ��.

“When I was in my first semester of IES, it felt like it took forever,” Johnston says. “But now that I’m here, it’s like, ‘Where did the time go?’ I’m sad to leave the program, but I’m happy I did it because I’ve met so many wonderful people.”

How One Student Turned Tragedy and Self-Doubt into Success at �鶹ԭ��

Jenna Marina Lee — Tue, 05 May 2026 14:02:22 +0000

As Preston Strenth prepares to cross the stage at commencement, he finds himself flashing back to the moment his journey to this milestone started in 2023 with the South Carolina National Guard.

Strenth was on deployment in Kuwait with his unit. Among his fellow infantrymen was 20-year-old Jayson Haven. Haven had been accepted to his dream school, the University of Michigan, and was fulfilling the final two months of his year-long assignment before shipping off to college. He was tragically killed in a non-combat vehicle rollover accident.

“I think all of us who were on that deployment understood you’re here and somebody else isn’t. What are you going to do with your life?” Strenth says.

“I think all of us who were on that deployment understood you’re here and somebody else isn’t. What are you going to do with your life?”

Seven months later, Strenth envisioned that life and voiced his goals to his wife, Kriselle. He proposed a two-year timeline to earn a college degree in computer science and start a new career path.

“I feel like everything in my life now is all clicking together,” says Strenth, who landed three job offers before graduating and is in the process of purchasing his first home. “I have achieved the American dream in a sense.”

As a member of the South Carolina National Guard, Preston Strenth connected with the Office of Military and Veteran Students Services at �鶹ԭ�� and accessed their resources to land an internship with BNY, which he turned into a full-time job. (Photo by Daniel Schipper)

The Right Place

A Central Florida native, Strenth moved to South Carolina at 17 and joined the National Guard two years later. He extended his contract twice — his current contract ends in 2027 — as he pursued a degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina.

He took advantage of the educational benefits the U.S. Army offers and obtained a certification in computer programming, which introduced him to coding software.

After that fateful deployment in Kuwait, he and his wife set their sights on Orlando and �鶹ԭ��, where Strenth knew of the university’s reputation as one of the nation’s top military friendly schools, its strength in computer science and our many industry partnerships.

“Without a doubt, coming to �鶹ԭ�� is the best thing I ever did,” he says.

His credits from the University of South Carolina transferred over to help keep him on track for his two-year timeline. He thrived, in part, because of his willingness to take advantage of the many resources offered through the .

His experience here also tested him in ways that led to great growth and confidence.

In his second semester, while taking Computer Science I, he was stuck on his first programming assignment. Every time he willed the coding to work, he was met with the same result: fail.

His frustration turned to tears as he voiced his doubts to his wife. What if he just screwed up his life? What if he couldn’t do this?

She encouraged him while leveling with him at the same time — he wasn’t the first to attempt this class or this degree. If he wanted to be here, he was going to figure it out.

She was right.

“I think that is kind of the point — they will make you go to that line and ask yourself, ‘Do you want to be here?’ ” Strenth says. “Because it’s a program that can lead you to a financially stable future. I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before. But you’ve got to work for them.”

Preston Strenth on his first day of a summer internship with BNY in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Preston Strenth)

Opportunity Calls with BNY

He applied that same grindstone mentality to maximizing opportunities outside of the classroom — all the while driving to South Carolina once a month to fulfill his National Guard duties.

“I have offers that no one in my family has ever had in front of them before.”

In Spring 2024, he attended a lunch and learn with BNY, which was organized by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. The leading global financial services company announced a formal partnership with �鶹ԭ�� that establishes a co-located educational innovation hub on �鶹ԭ��’s main campus — the first-of-its-kind in Florida.

Strenth turned the connection he made with the BNY recruiter into a summer internship as a software engineer and vowed to himself to secure a job offer.

He wasn’t deterred by the fact that many of his fellow interns had started programming as middle-schoolers while he, at 24, had just learned the basics a year prior.

He committed to being the first one in the door and one of the last to leave. He reached out to fellow veterans he found in an interdepartmental staff directory to seek advice about integrating into the company. He emailed a weekly recap to his supervisor that listed how his accomplishments that week aligned with BNY’s core values.

“I was trying to showcase that I wanted to be here, and I wanted this job offer more than anything,” Strenth says.

When the internship ended, he stayed connected, even as he lined up another software engineering internship with Hatalom Corporation, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

Strenth had three job offers lined up before graduation day with BNY, Hatalom and Northrop Grumman. BNY’s career growth potential, military leave policy and proximity to his home were too good to pass up.

“BNY has a future leaders program that I’ve already expressed interest in even though I’m not eligible for another two years. But I’m already telling them, ‘This is something I want to do. How can I?’ ” he says.

He draws upon that memory of his conversation with his wife from years ago — in his story, he refers to it as “the gamble” — as he sits here today, once again, betting on himself.

“Now two years later, I’m like, ‘We won. We did it,’ ” he says. “Celebrating this moment at graduation is a testament to the sacrifices that my wife has made, my family has made, and the countless other people who have supported me to get to this point.”

One Stage, Thousands of Beginnings: How �鶹ԭ�� Graduates Power Florida’s Workforce

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:14:05 +0000

A first-generation Knight crosses the stage — the first in their family to turn years of hard work and sacrifice into a moment that reshapes their life’s trajectory.

A future nurse adjusts their cap, preparing to enter a hospital where the need for care continues to grow.

An engineer looks out into the crowd, knowing the next step leads into an industry building what’s next.

At �鶹ԭ��, these moments don’t happen one by one. They happen all at once — thousands of stories, each with a different starting point, moving forward together.

Opportunity, Provided at Scale

At �鶹ԭ��, scale has always meant more than size.

It means access. It means opportunity. It means students who arrive with ambition and leave with proof.

More than 10,000 Knights make up the Spring Class of 2026.

Additionally, about 37% of bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, and about 22% are the first in their families to earn a college degree — reflecting a university built to open doors and help students move through them.

This is scale with purpose.

Where Talent Meets Demand

�鶹ԭ�� graduates move directly into high-demand fields — from hospitals and schools to tech firms, startups and public agencies.

This is a workforce built not just in classrooms, but for real-world impact.

Each year, the university awards nearly 19,000 degrees — more than any other institution in Florida — including leading the state in bachelor’s degrees in engineering and nursing. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida’s economic growth and meeting the needs of an expanding population.

Turning Studies Into Real Skills

Before they graduate, Knights are already building career-ready experience.

That same hands-on approach extends into high-impact research across fields from computer vision to biotechnology to pediatric prosthetics.

Career Prep From the Start

Support starts early, and it’s designed to carry students all the way through.

From day one, students connect with career counselors who help them build resumes, practice interviewing, find internships and connect with employers.

And when it’s time to take the next step, campus-wide career fairs open the door. They’re a gateway for students to explore a wide range of career paths, get real insight from industry professionals and stay ahead in a fast-moving job market.

Retaining Talent Across Florida

The impact of a �鶹ԭ�� education doesn’t leave with its graduates. In many cases, it stays — and grows.

But where graduates go next tells an even bigger story.In and around Orlando — the No. 2 Best City to Start a Career in America (WalletHub) and one of the fastest-growing hubs for innovation — that talent doesn’t just fill jobs.

It builds industries. It strengthens economies. It accelerates growth.

More Than a Milestone

Commencement is what everyone sees.

The walk. The tassel. The celebration.

But at �鶹ԭ��, it’s also something more.

Before students cross the stage, they’ve already built experience. By the time they graduate, they’re aligned with real-world demand. After they leave, they power the industries shaping Florida’s future and beyond.

Each commencement adds thousands more to that momentum. Each graduate strengthens the pipeline.

And across the state — and far beyond it — you can already see what they’re building.

A Family’s Unlikely Journey to Become Knights

Robert Stephens — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:52:49 +0000

When StaceyAnn Castro Tapler and her 21-year-old-son, Johnny, graduate this week, it won’t be the first time a parent-child duo has simultaneously celebrated commencement at �鶹ԭ��. But to understand why this particular family’s story is remarkable, you must first appreciate the journey.

StaceyAnn Castro Tapler (49) and her son Johnny (21) graduate together this week. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

We could start 33 years ago to when Castro Tapler first visited �鶹ԭ�� and dreamed of becoming a Knight.

Or jump to when she lost sight of that dream in the whirlwind of life after enlisting in the U.S. Marines, completing an overseas deployment, getting married and raising a family.

Or here, in present day, as the 49-year-old graduates alongside her oldest, each with degree choices influenced by Johnny’s struggle with neurological hearing loss — hers, early childhood development and education and his, communication sciences and disorders. And don’t forget her other son, Michael, an emergency management major, close behind and husband, John, graduating later this year from Valencia College, a partner.

Their story is one of many subplots and selfless acts, and so much love for family — a family that pulled strength from each other on the road to this long-awaited, triumphant moment.

“People doubted us for moving here from Long Island to become Knights,” Castro Tapler says. “We said, ‘Just watch.’ “We’re proving that you can do anything you put your mind to doing by adapting and overcoming.”

StaceyAnn Castro Tapler first visited �鶹ԭ�� in 1993 as a teenager and always dreamed of earning a degree from the university. At 49, she’s finally achieving her goal. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

A Dream Put on Hold, But Never Forgotten

Castro Tapler’s mind first fixed on �鶹ԭ�� in 1993 when the family of her friend, David Konits ’01, paid for her to visit them in Orlando to thank her for saving their son’s life after a serious injury. Putting others first had already become ingrained for Castro Tapler, then 16, despite a childhood without means. She lived with her mother in another friend’s basement and had never traveled beyond New York.

“They brought me to the �鶹ԭ�� campus and I was blown away,” she says. “I’d never seen such nice kids studying together in such a beautiful environment. If I could ever afford college, I wanted it to be here.”

Castro Tapler went back home, finished high school and joined the U.S. Marines. Shortly after 9/11, she was deployed to Kuwait. The idea of college continued to dim as she fulfilled her military duty, returned to Long Island, went to work and raised a family.

“The goal was always out there,” she says, “but I just couldn’t get to it.”

She wanted a more streamlined path for her sons, Johnny and Michael, so she and her husband always included tours of universities during family trips.

“When we came to �鶹ԭ��, the boys and John fell in love,” Castro Tapler says, “and to me, that feeling of belonging was still there after so many years.”

On the day of Johnny’s high school graduation, they loaded up the car and moved to Orlando — placing her within reach of the dream she never gave up on.

Planting Roots on Campus

As a U.S. Marine veteran, Castro Tapler has chilling stories about how she calmly put out oil fires in open combat zones. On her first day of classes at �鶹ԭ��, she — like a good Marine — arrived 30 minutes early with food and hydration. An emotion consumed her: Fear.

Here she was, surrounded by students half her age using tablets and carrying backpacks while she pulled around a wagon and used a spiral notebook. She would need to relearn how to learn. Three encounters quickly made her feel at ease.

“The sound of a piano in the lobby soothed my nerves. Then a group of girls in my first class invited me to work with them. And I found the ,” she says. “A college campus is a different world from what veterans are used to. The people in that office helped me understand aid, tutoring and the culture. They’re veterans, too, so they know how difficult the transition can be.”

Her fear turned to joy and a genuine belief she belonged. She felt even more connected knowing Johnny and Michael were on the same campus feeling the same pride.

Johnny Castro intends to use his communications and sciences disorders degree as the first step toward a medical degree in audiology. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

The Start of a New Future

We come to the most surreal moment: mom and son graduating together. She points out this is a goal achieved, but not the goal.

“Our degrees open doors to serve others,” Castro Tapler says.

She’ll teach first grade, knowing each child is unique, perhaps with a challenge that hasn’t yet been identified. Johnny intends to use his communications and sciences disorders degree as the first step toward a medical degree in audiology. He visualizes being the first person parents see when their babies are diagnosed with a complication. He already knows what he’ll say:

“It’s going to be OK. Look at me. I have a hearing disorder, too, and now I’m a doctor,” Johnny says.

Michael will apply his emergency management degree from �鶹ԭ�� to help communities on a larger scale. And John, after finishing at Valencia College, will consider an online business master’s program at �鶹ԭ��, so he can provide financial planning and support for those facing their own challenges.

“He wants so badly to be a Knight like the rest of us,” Castro Tapler says.

It makes sense. Knights are known for their grit. And this family has plenty of it.

“I think back to people saying you’ll never afford college, you’re too old, and Johnny can’t become a doctor with hearing loss,” Castro Tapler says. “Now we’re going to walk to the stage together and hear our names called.”

�鶹ԭ��’s Spring 2026 Commencement Set for May 8–9

Jenna Marina Lee — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:32:38 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� will award nearly 10,000 degrees during this spring’s ceremonies, continuing its record-setting momentum in preparing highly skilled graduates for in-demand fields, including engineering, computer science, business, nursing, and digital and emerging media.

�鶹ԭ�� is the leading producer of talent among Florida’s universities, awarding nearly 19,000 degrees annually to Knights who go on to work in high-demand industries. About 85% of our alumni stay in Florida because of the ample opportunity to thrive as part of our state’s workforce.

Graduates will hear from six esteemed speakers whose leadership and impact span some of Central Florida’s most influential industries:

Barry Miller ’95, president of Voloridge Investment Management
Brian Adams ’04MBA, president and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division
Gloria Caulfield, vice president of strategic alliances, Tavistock Development Company
Barbara Gellman-Danley, president of Higher Learning Commission
Maj. Gen. James Smith, commander, space training and readiness command at Patrick Space Force Base
Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Science

Commencement will be held at Addition Financial Arena and all ceremonies are streamed online.

Commencement Festivities

Held in the Addition Financial Arena, spring commencement will take place over six ceremonies spanning Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.

All guests, including children and infants, need a ticket for admission. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate will receive five commencement ceremony tickets when they pick up their regalia packet.

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed .

Commencement Photo-ops Across �鶹ԭ��

Best locations on �鶹ԭ��’s main campus for grad photos.

Best locations at �鶹ԭ�� Downtown’s campus for grad pictures.

Graduating Knights are unable to take photos at the Acrisure Bounce House Stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.

Grad Walk

On Thursday, May 7, 2:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.), spring graduates are invited to a photo-op — Grad Walk — within the Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. Graduates are required to .

Commencement Schedule

Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony dates and streaming links:

Friday, May 8

9 a.m.

College of Business

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

2 p.m.

College of Health Professions and Sciences

College of Medicine

College of Nursing

7 p.m.

College of Arts and Humanities

Nicholson School of Communication and Media

Saturday, May 9

9 a.m.

College of Community Innovation and Education

2 p.m.

College of Sciences (excluding Nicholson School of Communication and Media)

7 p.m.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Graduate Studies

College of Optics and Photonics

For more details and FAQs about Spring 2026 commencement celebrations, visit ucf.edu/graduation.

Commencement Speakers

Barry Miller ’95

President of Voloridge Investment Management

Barry Miller ’95 serves as president of Voloridge Investment Management, quantitative hedge fund manager, and Voloridge Health, a data science-based health tech company, both Florida based.

Miller, who graduated with honors from �鶹ԭ�� with a bachelor’s degree in finance, recently made a transformational $50 million gift this spring to establish the Barry S. Miller College of Business at �鶹ԭ��. The largest single philanthropic investment in �鶹ԭ�� history, the gift will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable.

Miller, also a member of the �鶹ԭ�� College of Business Hall of Fame, brings years of executive experience, having previously served as CEO of LASAS Technologies, a finance and insurance company that he co-founded in 1998. His career experience includes financial analysis, capital raising, financial markets, actuarial experience, software development and in-depth company infrastructure formation.

After gaining valuable experience as an entrepreneur and chief executive officer, Miller’s ambition led him to join and invest in Voloridge Investment Management and then Voloridge Health. For both companies, he is responsible for many facets of leadership, including trading, back-office operations, compliance, sales and marketing, vendor relationships and strategic planning.

Brian Adams

Brian Adams ’04MBA

President and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division

Brian Adams is president and CEO of AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, one of the nation’s largest faith-based health systems, whose 37,000 dedicated team members provide care for more than 3 million patients.

Known for building high-performing teams and ensuring the organization grows to meet the care needs of the community, Adams has led efforts to expand access to care, elevate quality and bring innovative solutions to rapidly growing communities. His leadership has continued to position AdventHealth as a trusted and innovative partner in Central Florida.

As a part of AdventHealth for more than 24 years, Adams has held senior leadership roles across the organization, including CEO positions in Tampa and Polk County, where he oversaw major expansions, facility investments and quality improvements.

He earned his master’s of business administration from the �鶹ԭ�� and a bachelor’s degree from Union College in Nebraska. Originally from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Adams and his wife have two teenage sons.

Gloria Caulfield

Vice president of strategic alliances, Tavistock Development Company

In her multifaceted role as vice president of strategic alliances at Tavistock, Gloria Caulfield manages business development and corporate partnerships, collaborates with national and global stakeholders to advance health innovation, and leads the development of cutting-edge strategies for the Lake Nona community.

She is the chief architect and creative force behind the Lake Nona Impact Forum. The revered global health innovation summit brings together many of the world’s most preeminent thought leaders and serves as a signature event of the Tavistock Group.

Caulfield serves on boards that reflect her passion for advancing the future of human health, including the StartUp Health Impact Board, which focuses on mobilizing entrepreneurs to solve the biggest health challenges of our time, and the LFE Capital Advisory Board, which supports female founders and impactful, wellness-oriented companies.

Prior to joining Tavistock, she had a distinguished career at AdventHealth. As senior executive director for community development, she provided strategic leadership for corporate partnerships and spearheaded critical community initiatives across Central Florida. Caulfield is an alumna of the University of Arizona and brings visionary leadership to every aspect of her work.

Barbara Gellman-Danley

President of Higher Learning Commission

Barbara Gellman-Danley is president of the Higher Learning Commission, which accredits colleges and universities to ensure they meet high-quality standards and continuously improve.

Prior to beginning this role in 2014, she was president of the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. She previously served as vice chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, president of Antioch University McGregor, vice president at Monroe Community College and vice chancellor at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Gellman-Danley sits on the boards of Credential Engine, which she chairs, and GlobalMindED. Her career includes previous board and commission memberships with the Association of Governing Boards Council of Presidents, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, the American Council on Education’s Education and Attainment group and the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning.

Gellman-Danley holds degrees from Syracuse University, Simmons University, Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma. She did post-graduate work at New York University, Cornell, Harvard, the University of Chicago and MIT.

An honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, she is a professional certified coach, certified executive coach and certified life coach. She holds certifications in change management, Agile and Lean Six Sigma, a professional credential validating expertise in data-driven process improvement aimed at reducing waste and defects.

Maj. Gen. James Smith

Commander, space training and readiness command at Patrick Space Force Base

As commander, Maj. Gen. James E. Smith is responsible for preparing the U.S. Space Force and more than 14,000 military and civilian guardians to prevail in competition and conflict through innovative education, training, doctrine and test activities.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Maj. Gen. Smith commissioned in 1997 as the top graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His career spans numerous space operations and acquisition positions, including command at the squadron, group, wing, garrison and Field Command levels.

Maj. Gen. Smith has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Smith served as the vice director, Joint Force Development, J-7, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Virginia.

Peter Lee

President of Microsoft Science

Peter Lee is president of Microsoft Science, where his responsibility is to accelerate the pace of discovery in the physical, biological and medical sciences through the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Previously, he led the world laboratories of Microsoft Research. Before joining Microsoft in 2010, he established a new technology office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense, creating operational capabilities in machine learning, data science and computational social science.

From 1987 to 2010, Lee was a professor and the head of the computer science department at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the boards of several institutions in AI and medicine, including the board of trustees of the Mayo Clinic and the board of directors of the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine. He served on President Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and has testified before both U.S. House and Senate committees.

He is the co-author of the book, The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond. In 2024, Lee was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in health and life sciences.

�鶹ԭ�� Graduates Prove to Be STEM Talent Real-World Needs

Wendy Sarubbi — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:02:03 +0000

Michael Bassett wants to use his �鶹ԭ�� engineering and medical training to create better surgical instruments. Melissa Deinys is a graduating Knight who is helping save Florida’s mangroves.

The two are among 6,000 undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. students who will graduate from �鶹ԭ�� Dec. 12-13.

Bassett and Deinys, both Florida natives, credit �鶹ԭ�� with instilling in them a spirit of scientific discovery and a passion to use their love of science to help others.

A Burnett Honors College Scholar, Michael Bassett completed multiple internships at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

Transforming Healthcare Through Tech

Bassett will graduate with a medicine-engineering double degree in molecular and cellular biology and mechanical engineering. The degree program, one of �鶹ԭ��’s most challenging, recognizes that the future of healthcare is in technology, and the workforce needs trained professionals who can understand both the biology of disease and the engineering principles to create new healthcare solutions.

The double major requires 163 credit hours and a lot of time management skills. With back-to-back engineering and biomedical sciences labs as part of his routine, Bassett jokes he could actually feel his mind transform as he walked from one classroom to the next to absorb and process two vastly different topics.

While at �鶹ԭ�� Bassett completed multiple internships at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. A Burnett Honors College scholar, he served as a teaching assistant and a chemistry undergraduate lab researcher.

Bassett says �鶹ԭ�� helped him understand the medical “whys” of the medical engineering he creates and wants to go into an industry that will allow him to design and test better medical tools that can make surgery less invasive, more efficient and safer.

“With my training, I know the what and the why,” he says. “I can use that knowledge to solve more medical problems. I hope I can help my colleagues understand why something is happening in the body.”

Through her research at �鶹ԭ��, Melissa Deinys helped create a sustainable nutrient to help protect Florida mangroves against a pathogen she discovered in high school. The product has been approved for use across Florida, and Deinys hopes it will soon receive EPA clearance for use nationwide.

Making Florida’s Mangroves More Resilient

Born in Miami, Deinys knew science was her passion at an early age while attending a STEM-focused middle and high school. During an internship at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, she discovered a pathogen that was threatening to kill Florida mangroves.

Later, in collaboration with the Marine Resources Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, they determined that 80% of the mangroves they had sampled tested positive for at least one of the pathogens.

Through her research at �鶹ԭ��, she helped create a nutrient of magnesium and sulfur nanoparticles called “Mag Sun” (MgSuN) that acts like an antimicrobial solution while helping nourish the plant. Mag Sun is also sustainable so it’s safe for the environment. The product, which reduced pathogens by 95%, has now been approved for use across Florida, and Deinys hopes it will soon receive EPA clearance for use nationwide.

“I grew up in South Florida and developed a deep love for the beach and coast,” she said. “And I knew something was happening to my mangroves. I’m committed to the community I’m from and I want to help people – that’s the goal.”

As an undergraduate, she was lead research assistant in an agricultural artificial intelligence effort between �鶹ԭ�� and Cornell University and �鶹ԭ��’s Material Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Lab. She also served as an Office of Undergraduate Research peer mentor and has presented her research at conferences across the state and nation.

An Order of Pegasus honoree, Deinys will stay at �鶹ԭ�� to earn her Ph.D. in chemistry with a specialization in nanoscience. She said her goal is to be a “jack-of-all-trades,” in science because she’s excited by too many opportunities to use her inquisitive mind to solve real-world problems. As she speaks from her lab office filled with plants, she says she wants to use her love of agriculture to help find ways to link plant life and space travel.

First-Generation �鶹ԭ�� Grad Leverages AI to Boost Nonprofits’ Impact

Danielle Hendrix ’15 ’24MA — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:36:38 +0000

There was once a time when Ketty Dones ’23 believed college was an unattainable reality.

Today, the 24-year-old is on the cusp of earning two graduate degrees simultaneously, having elevated �鶹ԭ��’s reputation as a community and society changemaker along the way with the AI for Nonprofits course she helped develop. These milestones aren’t just personal. They’re also serving her biggest passion: helping others.

That’s the thing about opportunity. Sometimes all you need is a chance, a dash of inspiration and someone who believes in you.

Charting Her Own Path

Dones, who was born in Cuba, was just 2 years old when her family immigrated to Miami. Growing up, she viewed attending college as a somewhat unattainable goal.

“I remember discussions with my parents where they would say that college is for the wealthy, or that we’d cross that bridge when we get there,” she says. “I didn’t have anyone to rely on for mentorship because my parents didn’t know anyone that had been to college before, and all of our family was in Cuba.”

In high school, she joined the International Baccalaureate program and learned about financial aid opportunities such as Bright Futures scholarships. A teacher encouraged her to seek out more scholarship opportunities from Miami-based nonprofits and foundations. That’s when she realized college was within her reach.

“I thought, ‘If everyone around me is doing this, what’s stopping me?’” she says.

Dones connected with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps students achieve their educational goals like the ones of her own. With assistance from the foundation and other nonprofits, Dones ended up receiving $20,000 in scholarships to attend �鶹ԭ��.

The support not only sparked her academic career; it also inspired a calling to give back to others.

She pulled up others with her along the way as an undergrad, serving as a mentor for local high school students and impressed upon them the importance of internships. She realized how much she loved positively impacting them.

That’s when her own mentor, Josefina Rosario — assistant director for access and student support at — suggested enrolling in the public administration and nonprofit management dual-degree graduate program next. It was a decision that would further fuel her passion for helping others.

Through the program, housed in , Dones has engaged in real-world experiences that simulate what it’s like to work in the nonprofit and public sectors. Through service-learning, she evaluated and helped develop a strategic fundraising plan for a local nonprofit. She’s also created budgets for the City of Orlando and analyzed how both the city and Orange County Sheriff’s Office use social media. She attended her first professional conference.

Perhaps some of the most invaluable experience she has gained involves the industry’s intersection with artificial intelligence.

More than 25 Orange County nonprofits graduated last month from the AI for Nonprofits course that Dones helped develop. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Leveraging AI for Community Impact

Through the �鶹ԭ�� Applied AI Innovation Initiative, Dones has been working with associate lecturer and initiative lead ’11�ʳ�� in using generative AI tools to find innovative solutions for challenges in educational and behavioral interventions. During her time as a student fellow for the initiative, Dones has learned to harness the power of AI to create apps, websites, data dashboards, chat bots, online courses and even a board game that enhances financial management skills — all without having a technical background.

“I never thought I would be able to build an app, but now we can with the help of AI,” she says. “When I saw that I can do something like that or create a website with the help of AI, I wanted to continue doing it. Nonprofit organizations tend to get left behind when there’s new technology out there. I imagined how AI can help a nonprofit with time or resource constraints, and that’s how my passion for learning about it started.”

“I imagined how AI can help a nonprofit with time or resource constraints, and that’s how my passion for learning about it started.” — Ketty Dones ’23

Dones has played a significant role for the Applied AI Innovation Initiative in helping local nonprofits leverage AI to boost creativity and efficiency in advancing their missions. She contributed to creating an AI Impact Hub, an app that serves as a one-stop shop to connect nonprofits with resources and engage with other nonprofit leaders through a discussion forum. She’s also assisted in hosting workshops that explore how AI can be used as a tool to assist nonprofits with social media, fundraising, compliance and evaluation.

Most notably, Dones helped the team develop an in partnership with that covers topics ranging from grant writing, evaluation, storytelling and prompting with AI to ethical guardrails, accountability and security when using the technology, as well as best practices for integrating AI tools in day-to-day operations. The course is also used in the Innovation and Technical Assistance Program, which provides hands-on assistance to local nonprofits engaging with AI-powered tools to help strengthen their organizational capacity.

In fact, 26 Orange County nonprofits graduated from the program last month with an AI for Nonprofits certificate.

Thanks to the �鶹ԭ�� Applied AI Innovation Initiative, Ketty Dones and associate lecturer and initiative lead Maritza Concha ’11�ʳ�� have made a community impact and formed a lasting bond. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Full Circle and Ever Upward

If it helps bridge the gap between AI and nonprofit organizations, count Dones in.

“I always like to think of AI as a thought partner and ask how it can help elevate ideas, not create them,” Dones says. “That’s why I think it’s so important for the public and nonprofit sectors to leverage this technology. Continuing education in the nonprofit and public administration sectors is always important, but especially now with learning how to integrate AI tools.”

Although AI has served as her assistant in creating innovative solutions for others, it’s the combination of her grit and determination to succeed along with a passion for serving others that assists her in unlocking the potential not just within herself but also in the community.

“Ketty has impressed me since day one,” Concha says. “Between her contributions to the AI for Nonprofits course and developing impactful resources using AI and advanced prompting techniques, she is a prime example of a student without a technical background using AI for social good.”

For now, Dones will continue working with Concha and the Applied AI Innovation Initiative to further develop AI tools and solutions, working toward certifications and mentoring nonprofit partners along the way. Although she is considering pursuing a career in AI product management or sales down the road, it’s using her knowledge to set up nonprofits for success that she finds most rewarding.

After all, her accomplishments thus far and her bright future wouldn’t have been possible without some help from nonprofit organizations along the way.

“I always think about the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and other nonprofit organizations that helped me receive funding to go to school,” she says. “It’s kind of full circle for me now. I feel that I can give back to my local community in understanding not just the challenges nonprofits face but also how I can help them in the future.”

�鶹ԭ��’s Fall 2025 Commencement Set for Dec. 12-13

Juzanne Martin — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:30:03 +0000

Leaders transforming aviation, finance, science learning and higher education will take the stage to address fall graduates during four commencement ceremonies Dec. 12-13 at Addition Financial Arena.

Graduates will hear from four esteemed speakers — Lance Lyttle, CEO for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority; Joe Nunziata, CEO for Acrisure Mortgage; JoAnn Newman, president and CEO for the Orlando Science Center; and Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College — whose leadership and impact span some of Central Florida’s most influential industries.

�鶹ԭ�� will award more than 6,000 degrees during this fall’s commencement ceremonies, continuing its record-setting momentum in preparing highly skilled graduates for in-demand fields, including engineering, computer science, nursing, and digital and emerging media. The university awards over 18,000 degrees annually, including more bachelor’s degrees in engineering and nursing than any other institution in the state. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida’s economic and population growth.

�鶹ԭ�� serves more of Florida’s students than any other university. More than 90% of �鶹ԭ��’s undergraduate students are Florida residents, and most will stay in Florida after they graduate, with 85% of �鶹ԭ��’s new graduates remaining in Florida.

Of all degrees, the College of Sciences will award 25%, with fields like digital media, chemistry and physics. The College of Business will award 15%, including disciplines such as finance and accounting. The College of Engineering and Computer Science will award 15%, representing fields such as aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.

About 54% of the bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, showcasing the university’s commitment to students of all backgrounds. Additionally, about 31% of all bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to first-generation students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college.

Commencement Festivities

Held in the Addition Financial Arena, fall commencement will take place Dec. 12-13.

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed on .

Commencement Photo-ops Across �鶹ԭ��

Main Campus

Two photo-ops are available for students to celebrate their accomplishments.

The Reflecting Pond is one of the most iconic spots on campus for grad photos. Strike a pose and make memories Dec. 1-14.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, 2:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.), fall graduates are invited to a photo-op — — within the Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. .

Graduating Knights are unable to take photos at the Acrisure Bounce House Stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.

�鶹ԭ�� Downtown

�鶹ԭ�� Downtown offers several great locations for unforgettable graduation photos. Here are our top picks of the best spots to memorialize your academic achievement.

Celebrate your college journey by honoring your support system at the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons West Lobby donor wall. Use the iconic phrase, “If you want to go far, go together,” on the donor wall as a backdrop to pay homage to those who helped you along the way.

The Seneff Plaza, located between the East and West Wings of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, is where so many campus events and gatherings take place. The towering columns and reflective glass of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons capture the modern campus where you worked so hard to earn your degree.

Enhance your graduation photos by venturing beyond campus into the surrounding Orlando area. You barely have to step off campus to encounter the iconic Orlando sign locatedat Luminary Green Park. The 2.3-acre park features a large, welcoming lawn that leads up to the oversized “Orlando” letters at the end of the park, creating the ideal environment to mark your time in The City Beautiful.

Commencement Schedule

Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony dates and streaming links:

Friday, Dec. 12
2 p.m.

College of Business Administration
College of Health Professions and Sciences

Friday, Dec. 12
7 p.m.

College of Arts and Humanities
College of Community Innovation and Education (includes the School of Interdisciplinary Studies)

Saturday, Dec. 13
9 a.m.

College of Sciences

Saturday, Dec. 13
2 p.m.

College of Engineering and Computer Science
College of Graduate Studies
College of Medicine
College of Nursing
College of Optics and Photonics
Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Commencement Speakers

Lance Lyttle

CEO for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

As chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), Lance Lyttle oversees the operations and management of Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport — two premier gateways to Central Florida, one of the most visited destinations in the world. Both airports are integral to Florida’s transportation network.

Before his role as GOAA CEO, Lyttle held key leadership positions at three major U.S. airports, where he guided significant capital projects and elevated the standard for customer service. As managing director of Aviation for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, he oversaw major milestones including the completion of the N Concourse Modernization, the International Arrivals Facility and the expansion of the Central Terminal. He also advanced significant progress on the C Concourse expansion. Under his leadership, Seattle-Tacoma earned the prestigious 4-Star Airport Rating from international rating agency Skytrax, becoming only the second large U.S. hub airport to receive the designation.

Lyttle also served in leadership roles at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the U.S. by passenger volume, and within the Houston Airport System.

His aviation experience is complemented by his involvement with several professional organizations. Lyttle currently serves on the boards of the International Association of Airport Executives and the Airport Cooperative Research Program. From 2019 to 2024, he was chair of Federal Affairs for the American Association of Airport Executives and testified before the U.S. House and Senate committees on aviation-related matters.

Joe Nunziata

CEO for Acrisure Mortgage

Joe Nunziata is a driving force in the financial industry, serving as CEO for Acrisure Mortgage (formerly FBC Mortgage), one of the nation’s largest independent mortgage banks. His entrepreneurial footprint extends across Central Florida as the founder and director of One Florida Bank, a Central Florida–based community bank; and the founder and director of Trident Reciprocal Insurance, a Florida-based insurance company. He also lends his expertise as a director of FBCInsurance Agency. Nunziata’s leadership has earned him appointments by Governor Ron DeSantis to the boards of both the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and the Central Florida Expressway Authority. He has also served on the boards of several financial institutions, including Sunshine Bank (NASDAQ), Southern Community Bank, Florida Bank of Commerce and Fifth Third Bank of Central Florida (NYSE: FITB).

Nunziata’s career is marked by moments of bold strategy and impactful transitions. After FBC Mortgage was acquired by The Sterne Agee Group in 2012, he took the lead as president and CEO. Three years later, he played a key role in the company’s successful re-acquisition from Sterne Agee in 2015 and guided it through its next era of growth. His earlier leadership roles in his career include serving as senior vice president at First Horizon Home Loans (NYSE: FHN) and vice president and shareholder at American Heritage Mortgage Corp., where he served from 1989 to 2003.

Beyond business, Nunziata is deeply committed to civic engagement and philanthropy. He currently serves on the boards of the Advent Health Foundation; the Orlando Police, Seminole, Osceola, Winter Park and Orange County Sheriff Foundations; and the FBC Mortgage Charitable Foundation. He and his family also operate the Joe and Jodi Nunziata Charitable Foundation, supporting a range of community initiatives.

A Certified Mortgage Banker through the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, Nunziata has served on the MBA’s Legislative Committee, the City of Longwood’s Board of Adjustment and the Florida Council 100. His industry expertise has made him a sought-after commentator for CNBC and Fox News and a frequent speaker at mortgage industry conferences and leadership panels.

Nunziata earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, attended summer courses at �鶹ԭ�� and completed sessions at the London School of Economics. His leadership and entrepreneurial achievements have earned him many honors, including Executive of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

JoAnn Newman

President and CEO for the Orlando Science Center

Originally from Pennsylvania, JoAnn Newman holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Penn State University and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University. She began her career as an engineer at AT&T Microelectronics in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and relocated to Orlando with the company in 1989. By the time she left the corporation in 2003, she had risen to vice president of manufacturing, overseeing a 650-person staff.

Newman joined the Orlando Science Center in 2003, bringing her leadership experience to the nonprofit sector.�� Before being named president and CEO in 2009, she served in key roles, including as director of exhibits, vice president of operations and chief operating officer. Under her leadership as CEO, the Orlando Science Center has seen tremendous growth and now reaches more than 650,000 people annually through its mission to inspire science learning for all.

Newman remains dedicated to guiding the Orlando Science Center as a premier educational institution focused on informal science and STEM education, family engagement and workforce development.

Kathleen Plinske

President of Valencia College

Kathleen Plinske serves as president of Valencia College in Orlando.  A first-generation college graduate, she’s committed to expanding access to higher education and workforce training.

Plinske previously held several leadership roles at Valencia College, including executive vice president and provost, as well as campus president. She began her higher education career at McHenry County College in her hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois, where she advanced through multiple positions, ultimately serving as vice president of institutional effectiveness and interim president.

A Herman B Wells Scholar at Indiana University, Plinske graduated with the highest distinction, earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and physics and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Spanish from Roosevelt University and a doctorate in education from Pepperdine University — all while working full-time. She later earned both a master of business administration and a master of science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida.

An avid lifelong learner, Plinske is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in philanthropy at Indiana University, where her research focuses on improving fundraising success within the community college sector.

For more details and FAQs about Fall 2025 commencement celebrations, visit ucf.edu/graduation.��