Now, researchers at 麻豆原创 are collaborating with scholars from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), Florida International University (FIU) and the University of South Florida (USF) in elevating community schools across the state to the next level. Collectively, the four universities were awarded a Full-Service Community Schools grant to enhance and build upon the work of Florida鈥檚 community schools.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), the five-year, $50 million state-scaling grant provides necessary capacity to partner universities and school districts, equipping them to leverage institutional resources and support community schools in their regions. A聽University-Assisted Community Schools聽approach involves a mutually beneficial partnership between a school or school district and a university or college. The school receives additional resources and support for its students, families and school community. At the same time, the university advances its goals of serving the community while providing its students with further educational opportunities.

鈥淭his federal funding allows us to forge interdisciplinary partnerships among community schools, universities across Florida, and nonprofits to empower students to achieve their dreams and uplift families to build a strong community together,鈥� says Eleazar 鈥淭rey鈥� Vasquez, professor of exceptional education and the project鈥檚 co-principal investigator.

According to data from the Florida Department of Education, about 66% of the state鈥檚 K-12 students are classified as economically disadvantaged, leaving them socially and academically vulnerable. Along with helping to provide more resources for high-need districts, the grant will meet the ancillary needs of 16 current community schools 鈥� including Community Partnership Schools 鈥� and upscale the university-assistance arm to 24 new community schools.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 expect students to be successful in the classroom if their basic needs aren鈥檛 being met,鈥� says , director of and the project鈥檚 principal investigator. 鈥淐ommunity schools bring needed resources to the schools so students can learn, achieve and reach their greatest potential. The impact of the community-schools model is amplified through community connections and resources; we can鈥檛 continue to do our work alone. What we accomplish over the next four years will deepen and accelerate Florida students鈥� achievements by placing them on a trajectory of lifelong success.鈥�

Each partner university聽will work with its corresponding school district to invest in unique community needs. Although this grant supports four school districts 鈥� Hillsborough, Leon, Miami-Dade and Orange counties 鈥� all partner universities will expand on the knowledge and expertise gained to positively impact all Florida community schools. By leveraging existing collaborative efforts, university partners are empowered to scale up to a total of 40 enhanced or newly added University-Assisted Community Schools statewide in their respective regions. The project also scales up technical assistance by creating a statewide training academy that includes virtual learning opportunities, continuous improvement and coaching for participating community schools.

At Florida A&M University, that involves focusing on North Florida regional schools through the FAMU Developmental Research School and Leon County Public Schools.

鈥淚 look forward to the impactful changes that will benefit K-12 students and families within our regional community and throughout the state,鈥� says Allyson Watson, provost and vice president for academic affairs at FAMU. 鈥淎s the only HBCU (Historically Black College and University) partner, we fully understand our responsibility to聽be a part of solutions聽that聽seek聽to聽enhance our schools and optimize聽the academic, social and cognitive abilities of the communities we serve.”

The funding allocated to Florida International University will provide critical funding to scale FIU鈥檚 13-year University-Assisted Community Schools efforts, known as The Education Effect, to a total of 19 schools across six Miami-Dade communities.

鈥淲e equally value the opportunity for greater collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools leadership to help ensure that FIU can be a key differentiator in accelerating tangible impact for the nation鈥檚 third-largest school district,鈥� says Phillip Lloyd Hamilton, assistant vice president for student belonging and support at FIU. 鈥淭ogether, we are cultivating a statewide movement encouraging the active engagement of communities in the success of children, families, educators, schools and public-school districts.鈥�

USF looks to deepen its partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools and leverage university resources to support the implementation of programs and services in local community schools.

鈥淧art of our mission is to partner with schools, families and communities to advance innovative participatory research, services and program evaluation,鈥� says Stacy-Ann January, co-director for USF鈥檚 Institute for School-Community Partnerships, Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health and Educational Policy. 鈥淲e are also looking forward to expanding our partnership with the other institutions across the state who are part of the UPI initiative. Engaging in this important work together over the next five years and beyond only strengthens the impact community schools across the state will have in the lives of students and families.鈥�

Florida increased its investment in the strategy of community schools over the past decade, and now national support for community schools is catching up.鈥疌ongress has been increasingly investing in the Full-Service Community Schools grant program for several years, from $10 million in 2013 to $150 million in 2023. Combined, such collaborative efforts enhance existing work and open the door to fast-tracking goals of better student outcomes.

鈥淯pscaling the University-Assisted Community Schools model allows us to build upon our success by partnering with state universities, school districts and other agencies with the purpose of uplifting Florida鈥檚 students,鈥� says , dean of the College of Community Innovation and Education. 鈥淯niversities are important partners in this effort, and we are honored to play a crucial role in expanding upon the foundation that鈥檚 already in place with the work of community schools.鈥�

Researcher Credentials
Ellis joined 麻豆原创 in 2015 and leads the university鈥檚 Center for Community Schools in its dedication to developing and sustaining high-quality community schools that support the whole child. She has three decades of experience in scaling initiatives, honing educational strategies and supporting underrepresented student populations. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from 麻豆原创.

Vasquez is the director of the and professor for the College of Community Innovation and Education鈥檚 . He holds affiliate faculty status with , SREAL Synthetic Reality Lab and the 麻豆原创 Learning Sciences Cluster. His research focuses on the evaluation of academic and behavioral outcomes for traditionally marginalized populations with executive functioning deficits. His research has been supported with over $85 million from the National Science Foundation, the USDOE Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the USDOE Office of Special Education Programs.

The Luminary Awards 鈥� established in 2017 鈥� are designed to recognize some of 麻豆原创鈥檚 brightest stars who shine a positive light on the university and in their respective fields, as well as illuminate a path of discovery for those who will come after them.

Honorees were selected based on nominations by deans, chairs and directors from across the university. The event was attended by the recipients, their close family and friends, as well as former awardees and special guests from the community.

麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Johnson, Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld and Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence Joel Cramer were on hand to recognize each winner.

The 2024 Luminary Award recipients are:

Robertico Croes

Professor, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

For over two decades, Croes has focused his academic career on the critical intersection of socially sustainable tourism, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. In recent years, he has made waves with pioneering research on travel health and infectious disease control. Leading the charge as principal investigator, Croes secured $4.5 million in funding to help mitigate the severe social and economic impacts of pandemics on the hospitality and tourism industry. His work emphasizes the survival of small businesses and the well-being of disabled people, aiming to protect the future of both.

One of the most notable outcomes of this funding is Rosen College鈥檚 first intellectual property: a personalized health-based travel app.

Croes鈥� expertise has also garnered global recognition, leading to his recent invitation by the president of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss sustainable development goals as they pertain to tourism鈥檚 role in alleviating poverty.

Croes鈥� contributions to sustainable tourism have had far-reaching impacts, benefiting 麻豆原创, the Rosen College, and impacted populations both in the U.S. and internationally. His commitment to mentoring students and faculty has helped shape the future of the tourism industry while enhancing global economic sustainability.

Craig Crossley

Associate professor, Department of Management, College of Business

Crossley has earned global recognition for his impactful research and leadership, most notably through his prestigious role as the Fulbright-Hanken Distinguished Chair in Helsinki, Finland. Each year, fewer than 30 scholars worldwide receive this distinction, the Fulbright Program鈥檚 highest honor designated for eminent figures across all academic disciplines. Despite the demanding nature of this position, Crossley has continued to fully serve 麻豆原创 while fulfilling his Fulbright obligations over two consecutive summers.

Crossley鈥檚 research excellence is well-reflected in his citation count, with more than 6,000 citations, nearly half of which were garnered in the last three years alone. His work puts him in the top 3% of scholars in his field, demonstrating his growing influence in the management discipline. Over the past three years, he has given nine presentations at international conferences, serving as chair or keynote speaker for four of them.

Beyond academia, Crossley鈥檚 work has widespread societal impact. He has formed partnerships with organizations such as the Children鈥檚 Home Society of Florida and global entities like the Irish and U.K. governments, helping organizations with difficult business environments and business challenges, such as navigating Brexit.

Matt Marino and Eleazar Vasquez

Professors, School of Teacher Education, College of Community Innovation and Education

Marino and Vasquez, leaders of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute in 麻豆原创’s School of Teacher Education, have earned national recognition for their impactful contributions to exceptional student research and education. Together, they have transformed the institute into a vital ecosystem serving regional, statewide, and national communities through innovative policy and practices.

As the institute鈥檚 director and former interim director, respectively, Vasquez and Marino have created strong collaborations with school districts and stakeholders like Orange County Public Schools, the nation鈥檚 eighth-largest district. Their partnerships benefit countless students, educators and families, and extend to supporting students with intellectual disabilities through the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities.

Vasquez鈥檚 leadership earned him a White House and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee invitation in May to discuss artificial intelligence and education, and he is part of a team securing several federal research awards, including a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Full Service Community Schools Programs to enhance community partnership schools in Florida.

Marino, likewise, has recently secured several awards, including $6.5 million over five years from the Office of Special Education Programs and a three-year grant from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities to expand the institute鈥檚 work. Their collective efforts have positively impacted 1.5 million scholars, 35,000 teachers, and hundreds of families. They consistently publish research studies in high-impact journals, present at key conferences, and have secured more than $82 million in grant funding since 2017. These achievements demonstrate excellence in education, research and societal impact.

Matt Dombrowski 鈥�05 鈥�08MFA

Associate professor, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities

Dombrowski has demonstrated exceptional dedication to interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching, and impactful service. His contributions to the field of animation and visual art and his role as creative director at Limbitless Solutions have significantly advanced 麻豆原创’s mission of fostering creative and scholarly excellence.

His scholarly work encompasses varying fields, with peer-reviewed articles exploring groundbreaking technologies such as electromyographic video game controllers for improving prosthetic outcomes, innovative 3D printing strategies for prosthetic components and control schemes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. His publications often include undergraduate researchers, underscoring his dedication to both mentorship and innovation.

In his role at Limbitless Solutions, Dombrowski has overseen a total of over 500 interdisciplinary students comprised of seven 麻豆原创 colleges. His leadership has forged partnerships with industry giants like Adobe, Autodesk and Microsoft, securing significant support, including over a quarter of a million dollars in funding from companies like Adobe, Unity, Epic Unreal and Disney. His work also extends to impactful community projects like bionic arm delivery with Arnold Palmer, Orlando Health and Oregon Health & Science University along with Project Xavier, a hands-free wheelchair initiative with the Mayo Clinic.

Dombrowski鈥檚 advocacy for Limbitless has taken 麻豆原创 undergraduates to prestigious venues such as the United Nations and the Smithsonian. His national recognition, including being named an Adobe Creator to Watch in 2023 by Adobe and Forbes magazine, reflects his transformative contributions to 麻豆原创 and the broader community.

Mindy Shoss

Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Sciences

Shoss has been instrumental in building and maintaining 麻豆原创 as a powerhouse of workplace psychology research, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, layoffs and the future of work. This includes helping 麻豆原创 become selected as a site for a targeted research training program funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Her research has been featured in Harvard Business Review and in leading media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Shoss has also delivered high-profile presentations for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the National Safety Council. Her influence has extended to advising the APA, U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Surgeon General鈥檚 Office on workplace mental health.

With over 100 published works, including 32 peer-reviewed articles since 2021, Shoss鈥� research is highly regarded. She has secured $3.8 million in external funding. Recognized as a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Shoss continues to shape the future of work and workplace well-being.

Mona Shattell

Professor, College of Nursing

Shattell, a distinguished scholar in psychiatric-mental health, has earned an international reputation for her groundbreaking research on the well-being of nurses and long-haul truck drivers. Her extensive work highlights her commitment to advancing mental health and well-being in often overlooked populations.

She has served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services for the past seven years, curating impactful content and co-authoring multiple editorials, including one with a doctoral student. In addition to her editorial duties, she co-authored nine articles in high-impact journals, focusing on workplace mental health issues.

Shattell鈥檚 contributions extend beyond academia. She is the lead author of Social Media in Health Care: A Guide to Creating Your Professional Digital Presence, a practical guide that has become a key resource for healthcare professionals. Her strong social media presence, with nearly 9,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), amplifies her influence and thought leadership in the mental health field.

Her expertise is frequently sought by the media, having conducted multiple interviews and appearing as a guest on national podcasts, including a Sirius XM show about mental health in the trucking industry. She has also delivered keynote addresses at international conferences and received the prestigious Melva Jo Hendrix Award from the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses in 2023.

With her national and international recognition, Shattell鈥檚 work continues to improve mental health care for populations in need, solidifying her impact on the field.

Ladda Thiamwong

Professor, College of Nursing

Thiamwong has earned international recognition for her innovative aging research and leadership, highlighting her significant contributions to the field. Over the past three years, Thiamwong has secured over $4 million in National Institutes of Health funding, with an additional $4 million pending, and has produced an impressive 76 scholarly works, including 62 peer-reviewed articles. Her research is collaborative and involves disciplines that span engineering, kinesiology, computer science, psychology, and statistics, helping to transform the field of geriatric nursing.

Thiamwong鈥檚 work has garnered widespread media attention, including a recent feature on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel. She has delivered 53 international presentations in the past three years, including a keynote address, and serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Public Health. Her expertise is frequently sought locally as well, including as a member of the Orlando Mayor鈥檚 Committee on Livability and Healthy Aging.

Among her numerous accolades, Thiamwong was inducted as a fellow in both the American Academy of Nursing and the National Academies of Practice. She also received the Excellence in Geriatric Nursing Research Mid-Career Award and was recently named the Florida Blue Endowed Professor for Healthy Communities.

Her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists and her contributions to aging research are promoting significant progress and innovations that will have long-lasting impacts in the field.

Thomas Wahl

Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Wahl has established himself as a leader on the impact of sea level rise and storm surges on the built environment. His work integrates engineering with atmospheric and oceanographic sciences and influences policy at national and international levels.

Since joining 麻豆原创 in 2017, Wahl has attracted nearly $6 million in research funding, contributing to projects totaling over $55 million. His scholarly output is remarkable, with more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers with over 5,000 Scopus citations. His research has been published in prestigious journals such as Nature, and his excellent ability to communicate the importance of his work to stakeholders and the media elevates 麻豆原创鈥檚 prominence nationally and globally.

Wahl鈥檚 numerous accolades include the Huber Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers and early career investigator awards from both NASA and the U.S. National Science Foundation. He is also a dedicated mentor, having guided students like Javed Ali, a recent Order of Pegasus awardee. His research has gained widespread media attention, appearing in The Washington Post, National Geographic and numerous state and local media outlets.

With his impressive achievements and significant contributions to addressing sea level rise, Wahl continues to push the boundaries of research and innovation.

The National Science Foundation awarded $300,000 to fund Project Adapting College Classrooms to Equally Support Science Students (ACCESSS), led by 麻豆原创 professors Jacquelyn Chini, Cherie Yestrebsky, and Eleazar Vasquez.

Class discussion and active problem solving activities have been shown to benefit the majority of students. However, the effectiveness of these strategies for students with executive function deficit (a cognitive difference common in 聽conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder) has not been extensively examined.

The team of investigators will observe active learning courses and interview students with disabilities about their experiences in these courses. These observations will identify existing support systems in place and barriers and will lead to recommendations for instructors.

鈥淭he project will take an important step towards increasing the impact of instruction in active learning courses, particularly for students with executive function disorders,鈥� said Chini, an assistant physics professor and principal investigator for the project.

The project will help instructors develop strategies based on a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. UDL, a set of principles for curriculum development, gives all individuals equal opportunities to learn, according to the National Center on Universal Design.

鈥淭hese strategies will lead to improved learning for students with disabilities, as well as students overall,鈥� said co-investigator Vasquez. He is an associate professor in the Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences.

In the second and third years, ACCESSS Learning Communities will be developed to implement recommendations. These communities will consist of 麻豆原创 faculty and graduate teaching assistants in the physics and chemistry departments.

鈥淭he goals of Project ACCESSS are to stimulate improved instruction for students with disabilities,鈥� said Yestrebsky, chair of the Department of Chemistry. 鈥淭he project will also generate knowledge about effective teaching strategies and effective instructor training models for postsecondary STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] instructors.鈥�

Yestrebsky hopes to apply the techniques used to implement Project ACCESSS to other groups of students.

鈥淲e will examine student learning outcomes for students with disabilities as well as for students in other specific sub-groups, such as women, underrepresented minorities, veterans, and first-generation college students,鈥� she said.

ACCESSS kicks off this fall and is expected to conclude in Summer 2019.