Over the course of nearly a full academic year, peers, departmental and college leadership, and the university promotion and tenure committee engaged in a rigorous, multi-stage review to ensure candidates met 麻豆原创鈥檚 high standards in teaching, research, and service. Ultimately, they recommended 100 faculty members for promotion, including 23 for tenure.

Following the review process, the president and provost make final decisions on promotions, while the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees provides final approval for tenure candidates. These decisions directly advance 麻豆原创鈥檚 strategic plan and its focus on recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty 鈥� especially those who elevate student success, accelerate discovery and research, and strengthen the talent pipeline that drives innovation and economics for the state of Florida.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, promotion and tenure reflects a thoughtful, rigorous review process and the high standards we set as an institution and state,鈥� says John Buckwalter, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a significant moment for these faculty, not just for the years of hard work it recognizes, but for what promotion and tenure represents: a sustained commitment to excellence, a deep dedication to student success, research that boldly improves lives, and the future we鈥檙e building together.鈥�

Promotions and tenure conferrals annually take effect on Aug. 8.

The faculty members recognized below represent the continued strength and momentum of 麻豆原创.

Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

• John Gardiner, College of Arts and Humanities
• Tadashi Ishikawa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sara Raffel, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jeffery Redding, College of Arts and Humanities
• John Bush, College of Business
• Seongho An, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Cynthia Williams, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jiannan Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Chinwendu Enyioha, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ozlem Garibay, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yao Li, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Miguel Bandres, College of Optics and Photonics
• Robert Fitak, College of Sciences
• Shyam Kattel, College of Sciences
• Kelsey Larsen, College of Sciences
• Kangsang Lee, College of Sciences
• Xialing Lin, College of Sciences
• Emily Zavodny, College of Sciences
• Kayode Aleshinloye, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Carissa Baker, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• YunYing Zhong, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine with Tenure

• Taj Azarian, College of Medicine
• Thomas Kean, College of Medicine

Promotion to Professor (Tenured)

• Thaddeus Anderson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Ann Gleig, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lanlan Kuang, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sandra Sousa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities
• Melanie Guldi, College of Business
• Xin He, College of Business
• Laurie Campbell, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Eric Merriam, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Woo Hyoung Lee, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Thomas Wahl, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yang Yang, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacqueline Towson, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Romain Gaume, College of Optics and Photonics
• Jacopo Baggio, College of Sciences
• Matthieu Baudelet, College of Sciences
• Karin Chumbimuni Torres, College of Sciences
• Geoffrey Cook, College of Sciences
• Amy Donley, College of Sciences
• Hsin鈥慔siung Huang, College of Sciences
• Brigitte Kovacevich, College of Sciences
• Arkadiy Lyakh, College of Sciences
• Peter Smith, College of Sciences
• Xiaohu Xia, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine

• Maria Farooq, College of Medicine

Promotion to Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine

• Naziha Slimani, College of Medicine
• Sharon Wasserstrom, College of Medicine

Promotion to Clinical Professor of Medicine

• Mariana Dangiolo, College of Medicine

Promotion to Research Associate Professor

• Crystal Maraj, Office of Research

Promotion to Associate Lecturer

• Jonathan Barker, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sara Willox, College of Business
• Elizabeth Yost, College of Business
• Michael Gilbrook, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Alison Redd, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Redd, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Chetta, College of Sciences
• Heather Edwards, College of Sciences
• Seongchun Kwon, College of Sciences
• Adam Parrish, College of Sciences
• Jamie Vega, College of Sciences
• Tong Wan, College of Sciences
• Rong Zhou, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

• Christy Flanagan鈥慒eddon, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities
• Deborah Leitch, College of Arts and Humanities
• Amanda Snyder, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jeanine Viau, College of Arts and Humanities
• Constance Goodman, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Daniel Stephens, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Shane Trenta, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Marino Nader, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sudeshna Pal, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Rachid Ait Maalem Lahcen, College of Sciences
• Cynthia Bayer, College of Sciences
• Martha Hubertz, College of Sciences
• Tamra Legron鈥慠odriguez, College of Sciences
• Hyung Park, College of Sciences
• Widaad Zaman, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Instructor

• Meeghan Faulconer, College of Arts and Humanities
• Yukari Nakamura, College of Arts and Humanities
• Carolina Salazar, College of Arts and Humanities
• Punam Desormes, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Jorri Bright, College of Sciences
• Richard Hall, College of Sciences
• Nicholas Zuccarello, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Instructor

• Rita De Luca Guerriero, College of Arts and Humanities
• Steven Ton, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Todd Fix, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Julie Matura, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Lance Speere, College of Sciences
• Abigail Ferreira, 麻豆原创 Global

Promotion to Associate Instructional Designer

• Rebecca McNulty, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Senior Instructional Designer

• Amy Sugar, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Associate Librarian

• Renee Montgomery, 麻豆原创 Libraries

Promotion to University Librarian

• Sai Deng, 麻豆原创 Libraries
• Sarah Norris, 麻豆原创 Libraries
• Andrew Todd, 麻豆原创 Libraries

Presented by the SCHOTT Group and the Ernst Abbe Fund, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to research and technology in glass, glass-ceramics and advanced materials. Richardson shares this year鈥檚 honor with Iowa State University researcher Steve Martin.

Together, their work reflects how advances in material structure can translate into real-world applications across industries including healthcare, energy, electronics and advanced technologies.

A Career of Innovation

Over the course of her career, Richardson has focused on advancing the science of optical materials, helping to expand how glass can be used in increasingly complex and demanding environments.

Her work has contributed to the development of materials that can be precisely engineered for performance, supporting innovations in imaging, sensing and optical systems.

鈥淭his award recognizes a lifetime of investment in know-how, specialized facilities creation and professional development of skilled personnel, which has resulted in unique prototype materials and technology development,鈥� Richardson says. 鈥淭hese efforts have resulted in products that have gone on to be licensed to partners in this critical application space. I am truly honored to be recognized by one of the global leaders in advanced optical materials for our team鈥檚 sustained work in IR materials.鈥�

Advancing Optical Materials

Richardson is recognized for her contributions to the development of optical glasses and infrared materials 鈥� specialized materials that control how light is transmitted and detected.

Her research focuses on designing glass compositions at the atomic level to achieve precise optical properties, enabling high-performance systems for infrared imaging, sensing technologies and advanced optics.

鈥淒r. Richardson鈥檚 sustained career has driven significant advancement in infrared material technologies, laying the foundation for next-generation sensing capabilities,鈥� says Winston Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation at 麻豆原创. 鈥淗er relentless pursuit of discovery in optical and infrared materials illuminates 麻豆原创鈥檚 expanding impact on the frontiers of advanced technologies that continue to shape the future.鈥�

From Fundamental Science to Application

The Otto Schott Research Award highlights the critical connection between fundamental research and industrial application, a hallmark of Richardson鈥檚 work. By advancing how glass materials are engineered and processed, her research helps expand the performance limits of existing materials while opening the door to entirely new classes of optical systems.

These innovations include glasses with improved infrared transmission and tailored properties that support emerging technologies in fields including aerospace, electronics, energy production and medical technologies.聽 Her work has benefited from diverse support ranging from government to industry (local and international) as well as state funding from Florida鈥檚 High Technology Corridor (FHTC) which has provided extensive matching funds that have leveraged state funds to support education and training of several dozen graduate and undergraduate students from the Richardson group, over her career.

Why Infrared Materials Matter

Infrared materials play a critical role in technologies that rely on detecting and transmitting light beyond the visible spectrum. These systems are used in applications ranging from medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring to advanced imaging and sensing technologies.

Unlike conventional optical materials, infrared (IR) glasses must be carefully engineered to maintain transparency and performance under demanding conditions, including extreme temperatures and radiation.聽聽 Their chemistry is difficult requiring specialized facilities unique to 麻豆原创, present in the University鈥檚 Optical Material Laboratory, which houses the Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL). 聽As a result, workforce training in such novel optical material science benefits not only local industry, a stronghold in IR optical materials manufacturing and systems, but government agencies as well.

Richardson鈥檚 work focuses on developing glass compositions that meet these challenges while offering greater flexibility than traditional crystalline materials, which are often more expensive and difficult to manufacture.

By enabling more adaptable and scalable materials, her research supports continued advances in imaging systems, sensing technologies and other applications that rely on precise optical performance.

A Global Recognition

The award, endowed with about $29,000, was presented April 13 during the annual meeting at the International Commission on Glass in Lyon, France.

鈥淭he research of Steve Martin and Kathleen Richardson clearly shows how essential a deep understanding of material structures is for technological progress,鈥� says Matthias M眉ller, head of research and development at SCHOTT. 鈥淭hese insights form the basis for developing new glass solutions that perform reliably in real-world applications and expand the boundaries of what is possible.鈥�

Awarded every two years, the Otto Schott Research Award recognizes scientists whose work bridges scientific discovery and practical innovation.

About the Awardee

Richardson is a 麻豆原创 trustee chair and Pegasus Professor of optics and materials science and engineering in CREOL. She is also Director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL).

She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in ceramic engineering and her master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in glass science from Alfred University. Richardson has spent more than two decades at 麻豆原创, following earlier work at Clemson University.

麻豆原创 Trustee Chair and Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel, who serves as executive director of 麻豆原创 RESTORES, has been named a finalist for the Orlando Sentinel‘s 2026 Central Floridian of the Year award, an honor recognizing those whose leadership and community impact shape the region.

The award recognizes Beidel 鈥� representing the entire 麻豆原创 RESTORES team 鈥� for building a national model for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. Since its founding in 2011, 麻豆原创 RESTORES has treated more than 2,150 individuals, including nearly 600 military members and more than 1,350 first responders. All treatment is provided at no charge, supported by state funding, federal grants and private donations.

鈥淲hen we founded 麻豆原创 RESTORES, we set out to prove that PTSD treatment could be faster, more effective and accessible to everyone who needs it,鈥� Beidel says. 鈥淥ver the past 15 years, that mission has grown into something larger: a comprehensive system of treatment, training, and crisis response that meets people wherever they are in their journey toward healing. This recognition reflects the clinicians, researchers and staff who have made that vision a reality.鈥�

The center鈥檚 intensive outpatient program produces outcomes that exceed national standards 鈥� 76% of participants no longer meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD following treatment, and the program boasts a relapse rate of less than 1%.

Several states are now establishing similar programs, sending clinicians and researchers to Orlando to study 麻豆原创 RESTORES’ approach.

What began as a research-focused treatment program has expanded into a comprehensive ecosystem of care encompassing clinical treatment, peer support training, crisis response and family resources.

, 麻豆原创 RESTORES clinicians:

• Delivered more than 2,100 hours of evidence-based care;
• Trained more than 450 first responders through the center’s REACT peer support program;
• Unveiled a first-of-its-kind mobile Resiliency Command Center to deliver psychological support at disaster scenes; and,
• Integrated the 麻豆原创 RESTORES 2nd Alarm Project, extending capacity-building and behavioral health navigation services to agencies across Florida’s Panhandle.

麻豆原创 RESTORES has also responded to large-scale tragedies including the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and the 2021 Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside, FL, providing on-site mental health support to survivors, families, and emergency personnel. All treatment is provided at no charge, supported by state funding, federal grants and private donations.

鈥淒r. Beidel鈥檚 work reflects the very best of 麻豆原创. She combines compassion, research and innovation to address one of the most complex challenges facing our local communities,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淭hrough 麻豆原创 RESTORES, she has redefined how PTSD is treated, turning breakthrough ideas into real solutions for those who need them most. Because of her work, first responders, trauma survivors, and so many others across Central Florida, and beyond, are finding a path forward.鈥�

The Central Floridian of the Year finalist recognition follows Beidel’s selection as the Big 12 Conference’s 2025 Faculty of the Year for 麻豆原创. Now in its second year, the award showcases the academic excellence, research breakthroughs and educational opportunities available to students at Big 12 institutions.

The National Leader in Emergency and Crisis Management

麻豆原创 earned the No. 1 Homeland/National Security and Emergency Management Graduate Program ranking in the nation for the聽 third consecutive year.

At the forefront of this year’s ranking is the College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE)’s online emergency and crisis management program, signaling 麻豆原创鈥檚 long-standing leadership in programs that keep people safe from disasters of all kinds.

鈥淭o maintain the U.S. News No. 1 ranking of graduate programs in homeland security and emergency management is truly a team endeavor,鈥� Associate Professor of Public Administration Yue ‘Gurt’ Ge says. 鈥淚t reflects our nationally and internationally renowned faculty in education and research, our stellar students and alumni 鈥� who have become the backbone of the emergency management profession in Florida and beyond 鈥� and our signature staff members and advisory board representing government, nonprofit, and business sectors across Central Florida.鈥�

That strong connection to practice is central to the program鈥檚 success. Faculty research influences policy nationwide, while students gain real-world insight through close partnerships with emergency managers at the local, state and federal levels. Graduates leave prepared to respond to complex crises, from natural disasters to public health emergencies, at a time when the need for highly trained professionals continues to grow.

A Top-10 School Preparing Student Counselors

麻豆原创’s College of Community Innovation and Education also earned the No. 9 ranking for Student Counseling and Personnel Services Graduate Programs in the nation.

Recognition for CCIE’s student counseling聽 graduate program reflects 麻豆原创鈥檚 high-touch faculty mentorship model and its emphasis on integrating research, service, and professional preparation.

For Benoit Aubin, a first-year doctoral student in counselor education, that support has been transformative. A former firefighter and medic, Aubin now works as a mental health clinician for his former fire station while serving as a graduate research assistant with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Marriage and Family Research Institute (MFRI).

With guidance from Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology Chair and MFRI Executive Director Sejal Barden, Aubin has conducted clinical research focused on trauma and relationship stress among first-responder couples. His work has already contributed to a funded grant, conference presentations, a published book and the development of a training program 鈥� achievements he credits to a highly supportive learning environment.

鈥溌槎乖� knows how to prepare us to compete professionally,鈥� Aubin says.

A 34-Spot Rise in Advanced Nursing Education

麻豆原创’s College of Nursing jumped 聽34 spots to No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Programs in the nation 鈥� the highest ranking in the college鈥檚 history.

麻豆原创’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP) improved ranking reflects a continued investment in academic rigor, faculty expertise and hands-on clinical training designed to address the nation鈥檚 growing need for nurse practitioners.

Graduates from the DNP program consistently outperform national first-time pass rates on nurse practitioner certification exams. They also often receive job offers before they even complete their degrees, according to Christopher Blackwell 鈥�00 鈥�01MSN 鈥�05PhD, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program. All full-time faculty hold at least one doctoral degree, more than half remain actively practicing clinicians and many are nationally recognized fellows. Through partnerships with healthcare organizations across Central Florida students gain applied experience alongside expert preceptors in varied clinical settings.

鈥淭he incredible amount of support I鈥檝e received from 麻豆原创鈥檚 nursing professors and the opportunities to make an impact through my research and clinical practice solidified that I made the best choice in my graduate degree,鈥� says Mimi Alliance 鈥�21, a family nurse practitioner doctoral student who provides care and conducts research on the 麻豆原创 Mobile Health Clinic.

Some of that training is anchored in the college鈥檚 Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center, an internationally recognized simulation facility that strengthens clinical skills and decision-making before students enter patient-care environments. The STIM Center, as well as 麻豆原创鈥檚 nursing programs, are housed in the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which opened in Lake Nona in Fall 2025 thanks to generous state and industry support 鈥� a proof point of 麻豆原创’s ability to solve real-world issues.

Building on a Legacy of Aerospace Engineering Excellence

As Florida鈥檚 Technological University, 麻豆原创 continues to build on our strength in technology-driven fields by ranking No. 38 for Aerospace Engineering Graduate Programs in the nation.

The 麻豆原创 College of Engineering and Computer Sciences‘ aerospace engineering graduate program ranking reinforces the university鈥檚 legacy in a field deeply tied to Florida鈥檚 Space Coast and NASA’s recent Artemis II launch.

鈥淚t is gratifying to see the hard work and exciting research of our faculty and students recognized by our peers,鈥� says Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jeffrey Kauffman, noting that since launching the aerospace engineering doctoral program in 2019, 麻豆原创 has steadily climbed in rankings while program enrollment has grown to more than 100 doctoral students.

Fueling that growth are advances in hypersonic flight, space exploration and defense research, with 麻豆原创鈥檚 HyperSpace Center serving as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty success in securing competitive federal research funding has strengthened infrastructure and expanded opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students.

The result is a vibrant research environment where students engage directly in cutting-edge projects and build industry connections well before entering the workforce.

Across disciplines, 麻豆原创鈥檚 growth in the U.S. News & World Report’s graduate rankings reflects a shared commitment to student success 鈥� driven by faculty who mentor closely, curricula that align with real-world needs and an institutional culture focused on impact. As 麻豆原创鈥檚 graduate programs continue to climb, they reinforce the university鈥檚 role as a national leader preparing professionals to tackle society鈥檚 most urgent challenges.

Florida is turning to 麻豆原创 experts to find better ways to prevent domestic violence and give survivors a stronger voice in the services they need.

Through a $257,384聽two-year grant聽from the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence,聽faculty from聽麻豆原创鈥檚聽Violence Against Women聽research cluster聽are聽conducting聽a聽statewide聽domestic violence needs assessment.聽Their findings will聽help policymakers and local agencies聽develop better strategies to fund and support聽domestic violence prevention聽programs聽that聽empower survivors.

鈥淭he collective goal of our work is to give people聽working in these programs and people using these services聽a voice,鈥澛爏ays聽Bethany聽Backes,聽associate professor of social work at聽, who leads the Violence Against Women cluster and is the project鈥檚 principal investigator. 鈥淗aving research that practitioners can understand and interpret in a way that鈥檚 helpful is important to us. “What we’re creating now is hopefully something that can be used for years to come.”

The World鈥檚 Women

Violence against women is a global issue. According to UN Women, nearly one in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life. In 2024, around 50,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at criminal justice, sociology, health, and so much more that altogether could create solutions beyond any one discipline.鈥� 鈥� Kim Anderson, Professor of Social Work

麻豆原创鈥檚 faculty cluster 鈥� working across the disciplines of education, social work, criminal justice, sociology and medicine 鈥� was created a decade ago to change these outcomes. 鈥淲e know how complex this social problem is,鈥� says Kim Anderson, a professor of social work and cluster member. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at criminal justice, sociology, health, and so much more that altogether could create solutions beyond any one discipline.鈥�

Informing Florida鈥檚 Strategy

The聽researchers聽have already聽identified聽some key聽needs for the state to聽examine.

鈥淔or example,聽we鈥檙e seeing people facing abuse who are having to spend more on food or other necessities as聽they navigate shifts in funding for certain assistance programs,鈥澛燘ackes聽says.聽鈥淲hat we鈥檙e also seeing is the effect of population booms, and how rapid growth and rapid decline in some areas聽affects聽the need for services.鈥�

The researchers are analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Florida鈥檚 Departments of Law Enforcement and Children and Families and are surveying organizations that provide domestic violence services. They are interviewing survivors who sought services and those who didn鈥檛 to understand access to care and risk factors.

Creating聽opportunities where more people feel聽comfortable sharing their聽domestic violence聽experiences is聽cluster聽member聽Karina Villalba鈥檚聽expertise.

鈥淢y focus is on intimate partner violence, specifically within the Hispanic community,鈥� says Villalba, an assistant professor in the聽鈥檚 Population Health Sciences Division.聽鈥淭here聽are聽certain beliefs, like the concept of聽鈥榤achismo鈥�,聽that聽may give聽an avenue for some men to pursue this kind of violence.聽Because it can be part of the cultural acceptance, it might not even be seen as violence聽by the survivors.鈥�

She hopes efforts to聽prevent domestic violence in the U.S.聽will have impact globally.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e seeing a ripple effect in countries聽in Latin America where people are becoming more aware,鈥� Villalba聽says.聽鈥淚t helps us keep pushing forward with our work so we cannot just be a beacon here in Florida and the United States, but to show the world what we can do.鈥�

Keys to Preventing Violence

Preventing domestic violence means聽identifying聽early warning signs and behaviors and聽providing services to lower the risk of continuing violence, Backes聽says.

Domestic violence is 鈥渘ot always聽physical聽and it鈥檚 not just seeing someone with a black eye,鈥澛爏he聽says.聽鈥淧hysical violence can happen after there鈥檚聽been psychological abuse such as coercion, controlling, isolation or stalking.鈥�

Cluster member聽Alison Cares,聽associate professor of sociology at聽, says聽preventing domestic abuse involves changing misconceptions.

鈥淭here鈥檚聽this expectation of how abusers or survivors look.聽It鈥檚聽easy to think the people doing this聽abuse聽look like monsters,鈥� she聽says. 鈥淏ut the reality is these are people we know. They can be friends or family members or people we work with.鈥�

The researchers say they are encouraged by the resilience of the survivors and service providers they have met.

鈥淲e聽see incredible聽bravery聽of聽people who talk to聽a support person,鈥澛燗nderson聽says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that information we get from this assessment can elevate the voices of staff and survivors.鈥�

During the 2026 Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress, thousands of healthcare professionals gathered to advance patient care and recognize the experts leading the way 鈥� including 麻豆原创 Nursing Associate Professor Brian Peach.

Peach was the only nursing expert in Florida inducted into this year鈥檚 class of fellows of the American College of Critical Care Medicine, a prestigious distinction recognizing healthcare leaders who鈥檝e made outstanding contributions to critical care through clinical excellence, program development and scholarly activities.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Peach has dedicated nearly two decades to improving critical care 鈥� from the patient bedside as an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse and leader to advancing the field as an educator and researcher.

“… the best patient care and research outcomes are achieved through interdisciplinary teamwork.”

His clinical career spanned three teaching facilities 鈥� the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Florida Health Shands Hospital and Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center 鈥� where he advanced into leadership roles and collaborated across disciplines to improve patient outcomes and drive quality initiatives, including improving time-sensitive sepsis care to save lives.

鈥淚 firmly believe that the best patient care and research outcomes are achieved through interdisciplinary teamwork, where each professional鈥檚 expertise enhances the collective effort,鈥� Peach says. 鈥淢y experiences have reinforced my commitment to fostering collaborations that drive meaningful improvements in healthcare.鈥�

Advancing Education and Science

While his clinical work laid the foundation, Peach recognized a broader purpose: preparing future nurses and advancing the science behind critical care.

At 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Nursing, he鈥檚 led a critical care course that emphasizes essential concepts through case-based learning that prepare future nurses for real-world practice. He also serves as the college鈥檚 Honors Undergraduate Thesis liaison, advising nearly 25 undergraduate and graduate students in independent research in the field.

Nationally, Peach extends his impact through leadership and service. He’s served as a reviewer for multiple critical care publications and collaborates with experts on projects like the next tier of the Society of Critical Care Medicine鈥檚 Centers of Excellence program, which will recognize hospitals for excellence in ICU care.

His award-winning research, shared globally through publications and presentations, focuses on improving outcomes for septic patients and, more recently, advancing care for ICU delirium and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).

Advocating for Intensive Care Survivors

PICS 鈥� a syndrome involving new or worsened physical, cognitive and mental health impairments following an ICU admission 鈥� affects a significant portion of survivors. Of the more than 5.7 million Americans admitted to ICUs each year, about 70% survive, and it鈥檚 estimated that more than half experience lasting impairments.

Peach has become an advocate for critical illness survivors, dedicated to raising awareness and improving care. He currently leads a virtual reality exposure therapy trial for the treatment of PICS in critical illness survivors and frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, healthcare facilities and to the media.

鈥淗elping shed light on the hidden burden carried by ICU survivors 鈥� and the gap between survival and true recovery 鈥� motivates my work,鈥� he says.

As a member of the PICS Advocacy Network, he was inspired to co-found Orlando鈥檚 Walk-4-PICS campaign in 2024. It鈥檚 now one of the largest events in a global effort to raise awareness and connect survivors and their families with resources and research opportunities.

“… by allowing researchers to track data nationwide, [the diagnostic code] could help make the case that PICS research warrants greater investment.”

Earlier this month, Peach presented a proposal to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocating for a PICS ICD-10 diagnostic code. If approved, the code would allow providers to formally diagnose PICS and enable researchers to track its prevalence. A decision is expected by Summer 2026.

鈥淭his code has the potential to dramatically influence health policy and research funding,鈥� Peach says. 鈥淢illions of people across the U.S. suffering from PICS conditions will officially be able to receive a diagnosis. Furthermore, by allowing researchers to track data nationwide, it could help make the case that PICS research warrants greater investment.鈥�

For Peach, it鈥檚 the people behind the statistics that inspire his work. It鈥檚 the personal stories of the ICU survivors he meets, the achievements of the students he mentors and the thought leaders he collaborates with to create change.

鈥淚 look forward to [continuing] to advance critical care through collaboration and mentorship,鈥� he says, 鈥渁nd to improving care for patients, survivors and their families.鈥�

If you’re a critical illness survivor living with new or worsened physical, cognitive or mental health conditions, you may qualify for one of Peach鈥檚 studies.

The prestigious recognition is awarded to scholars who have made outstanding contributions to advance practice, education, research and policy in a healthcare profession and who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to interprofessional practice.

麻豆原创鈥檚 inductees and their respective academies are: Mindi Anderson (Nursing), Morris Beato (Physical Therapy), Susan Dyess (Nursing), David Eddins (Audiology), Julie Feuerstein (Speech-Language Pathology), Kristine Gauthier (Nursing), Valerie Martinez (Nursing), Jacqueline Towson (Speech-Language Pathology), and Asli Yalim (Social Work).

The awardees were inducted during the National Academies of Practice Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on March 14.

College of Nursing Fellows

Mindi Anderson

Mindi Anderson, interim associate dean of academic affairs and professor at the College of Nursing, is one of the world鈥檚 leading experts in healthcare simulation. Her research, which has established best practices in healthcare simulation education, includes developing and evaluating simulation experiences to prepare healthcare students for clinical practice. She is also part of an interdisciplinary team at 麻豆原创 whose research has contributed to multiple patents to advance simulation and training.

Susan Dyess

With over 30 years of academic, clinical, and administrative experience, Professor Susan Dyess is a nationally recognized leader in interprofessional education, curricular design and holistic nursing. An expert in aging, vulnerable populations and quality, safety and patient outcomes, she has played a pivotal role in advancing interprofessional learning through institutional councils, statewide initiatives and community-based partnerships. Previously, she held senior academic leadership positions that strengthened cross-disciplinary education and fostered student success through innovative models.

Kristine Gauthier

Kristine Gauthier, assistant dean for clinical affairs in the College of Nursing, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who collaborates on interdisciplinary teams to improve health outcomes for underserved pediatric populations. Her collaboration extends into academic settings with curriculum development and research to address childhood health and wellness. In addition to her 麻豆原创 appointment, Gauthier leads a national center on child health and safety where she collaborates to develop resources, metrics, policies and research.

Valerie Martinez

As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Valerie Martinez collaborates across disciplines as a researcher and educator to improve health outcomes for children and families. In her role as director of the advanced practice in 麻豆原创鈥檚 doctor of nursing practice program, Martinez has designed courses and simulations to prepare future nurse practitioners to collaborate effectively across health professions. Her research seeks to generate evidence to improve care across healthcare professions.

College of Health Professions and Sciences Fellows

Morris 鈥淩ick鈥� Beato

Morris 鈥淩ick鈥� Beato, a clinical associate professor in the , has extensive experience in multidisciplinary clinical settings, including the 麻豆原创 Huntington鈥檚 Clinic. He educates physical therapy students in IPE competencies and has received multiple national and state awards for teaching and professional service. His scholarly contributions include multiple collaborations in neurology and geriatrics. He is the director of the 麻豆原创 and Orlando Health Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program.

David Eddins

Professor David Eddins is a nationally recognized certified clinical audiologist in the . Eddins is the founding director of the Communication Technologies Research Center at 麻豆原创, an interdisciplinary center that focuses on hearing technologies, simulation, auditory neuroscience, voice and aerodigestive systems, and simulation and virtualization. His contributions to the interprofessional community include extensive research, mentoring and editorial service focused on improving diagnostics and treatment in hearing, speech and voice.

Julie Feuerstein

Assistant Professor Julie Feuerstein is a speech-language pathologist, educator and clinical researcher who leads interdisciplinary initiatives uniting professionals in speech-language pathology, physical therapy and assistive technology. Her research and service in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders are centered around improving systems of care for young children with complex communication needs. Feuerstein鈥檚 expertise spans early intervention, augmentative and alternative communication, and implementation science.

Jacqueline Towson

Jacqueline Towson is a speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders committed to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Towson has published and presented extensively on her research focusing on dialogic reading, early language and literacy and training. She has led multiple large-scale interdisciplinary projects, designed to deliver statewide training to ensure the use of evidence-based practices in serving children with high-intensity needs.

Asli Yalim

Associate Professor Asli Yalim has served as the School of Social Work鈥檚 Interprofessional Education Research Liaison since 2024. She develops and leads IPE activities that integrate wellness content into her coursework, creating experimental learning opportunities that foster collaboration across different professions. Yalim has collaborated on several funded projects, including an interprofessional, evidence-based virtual program to prevent burnout, suicide and mental health conditions among healthcare workers.

Additionally, six 麻豆原创 faculty members from the Colleges of Health Professions and Sciences and Nursing were elected as new professional members. Membership is extended to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and dedication to interprofessional healthcare.

麻豆原创鈥檚 new professional members and their respective academies are: Frances Armstrong (Nursing), Jonathan Decker (Nursing), William Hanney (Physical Therapy), Ilana Logvinov (Nursing), Ayse Malatyali (Nursing), and Shari Norte (Athletic Training).

麻豆原创鈥檚 new distinguished fellows join 17 previously inducted faculty, 11 from the College of Health Professions and Sciences and six

Big ideas don鈥檛 wait 鈥� and neither do the researchers behind them.

The 2026 Reach for the Stars honorees 鈥� six 麻豆原创 assistant professors 鈥� are already making a substantial impact on their respective fields through meaningful research and creative work that extends far beyond campus, with national and international influence.

Across disciplines, their work and research reflect a shared mission to advance ideas into impact 鈥� uncovering what shapes ethical decision-making in the workplace; exploring the origins of our solar system; developing computational solutions to meet future energy demands; designing more intuitive and reliable software experiences; strengthening education for students with disabilities; and engineering faster, more energy-efficient artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Together, this brilliant group represents the kind of bold, forward-thinking innovation 麻豆原创 continues to champion.

Each year, the Reach for the Stars awards recognize early-career faculty opening new doors for what鈥檚 possible across their fields. The prestigious award is second only to Pegasus Professor as 麻豆原创鈥檚 highest faculty honor.

In recognition of their achievements, each honoree will receive a $10,000 annual research grant for three years in addition to the distinction of being an award recipient.

The 麻豆原创 community is cordially invited to come and congratulate the recipients from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, in the Pegasus Ballroom at the Student Union as part of the 2026 Founders鈥� Day Faculty Honors Celebration.

This year鈥檚 Reach for the Stars honorees are:

John Bush

Assistant professor of management in the College of Business

What鈥檚 something few people know about you?

Working at 麻豆原创 is a homecoming for me. Growing up in Florida, I had the opportunity to experience all the great things this state and its universities have to offer. And while my younger self might not have predicted I’d end up in Black & Gold, 麻豆原创 and Orlando have been incredible homes.

What does your research focus on?

I study when, why, and how employees cross ethical lines, and what role leaders, management policies, and organizational systems play in those decisions. A big part of what makes my work unique is that I focus on an important puzzle: how things we typically think of as “good” can promote unethical behavior. We tend to assume that well-intentioned management practices will always lead to good outcomes. However, my research shows that’s not always the case, and the unintended consequences can be significant.

What drives you to take on this challenge?

Before I entered academia, I worked in corporate finance and accounting. That experience meaningfully shaped how I think about ethics in organizations.

There’s a common assumption that unethical behavior is a 鈥渂ad apple鈥� problem, or rather, that it comes down to an individual’s character or integrity. But as my work has shown, it’s often a 鈥渂ad barrel鈥� problem. The environments organizations create, the systems they put in place and the ways managers approach leadership profoundly influence how people behave.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place for you to do this kind of work?

I’m a firm believer that the people make the place 鈥� and the faculty, staff and students of 麻豆原创 are truly what make it such a great place to be. The College of Business has a management department full of colleagues who are both excellent scholars and genuinely collaborative people.

What鈥檚 next for you or your research?

I’m excited about several new directions, each of which builds upon my existing work. I’m particularly interested in examining more nuanced, less studied drivers of ethical decision-making. For example, what happens when someone becomes an accidental witness to unethical behavior? How does that experience shape what they do next and the moral burden that鈥檚 placed on them?

Ana Carolina de Souza-Feliciano

Assistant professor at the

What鈥檚 something few people know about you?

While many people know I鈥檓 not afraid to face challenges, few know that I鈥檓 afraid of roller coasters.

What does your research focus on?

I study the small bodies of our solar system (objects such as asteroids, Trojans and trans-Neptunian objects) from an observational perspective to try to understand how our planetary system formed and evolved. The small bodies that remain from the early solar system still preserve clues about the materials and conditions that existed when planets formed. By observing their surfaces, compositions and physical properties, we can piece together the history of how the solar system came to be.

What drives you to take on this challenge?

The solar system still holds many unanswered questions, and every observation has the potential to reveal something completely new about its history. I鈥檓 especially motivated by the idea that these small and distant objects preserve a record of the earliest stages of planetary formation, and since we still don鈥檛 know much about them, we need to better characterize these groups to have a chance of getting closer to important scientific answers.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place for you to do this kind of work?

麻豆原创 provides a dynamic research environment with strong collaborations and access to facilities that help me achieve my scientific goals.

What鈥檚 next for you or your research?

I aim to expand my research group and continue developing new projects exploring the composition and physical properties of small bodies in the outer solar system.

Shyam Kattel

Assistant professor of physics in the College of Sciences

What鈥檚 something few people know about you?

I enjoy long, quiet walks or runs. It鈥檚 when I do my best thinking and come up with new ideas for teaching and research.

What does your research focus on?

My research group is interested in understanding chemical processes through computer simulations. These chemical processes are central to many energy and fuel generation and energy conversion processes. We are exploring the design of catalytic materials that selectively convert abundant small molecules, such as CO2, N2, NO3, O2 and H2O, to a wide variety of synthetic chemicals and fuels in a carbon-neutral way to fulfill the growing energy demand of the future.

What drives you to take on this challenge?

I鈥檓 a huge advocate of sustainability. I鈥檓 fascinated by the rapid development and advancement of modern computers, machine learning (ML) and AI, which have enabled us to understand complex science on a time scale that鈥檚 impossible with traditional trial and error methods. This unique opportunity to utilize supercomputers with ML and AI to tackle energy and sustainability challenges keeps me awake at night.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place for you to do this kind of work?

By training, I鈥檓 a physicist, but my research focuses on looking into chemical reactions. 麻豆原创鈥檚 physics department is among a handful of institutions in the U.S. with a very strong catalysis program. This allows me to collaborate within the department and teach a physics course, which I enjoy. Additionally, the university鈥檚 large size and research facilities present opportunities to recruit the best students and to collaborate both within and beyond the department.

What鈥檚 next for you or your research?

My lab is developing capabilities to integrate ML and AI into our methods for understanding structure-materials property relationships across a large set of materials, driving the development of the next generation of clean and sustainable energy and fuel generation technologies. Our goal is to develop an integrated materials design framework that anyone can use for their research and for teaching research-based undergraduate and graduate courses.

Kevin Moran

Assistant professor of computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, director of the Software Automation, Generation and Engineering Research Lab and affiliate of the Cyber Security and Privacy faculty cluster initiative

What鈥檚 something few people know about you?

I was a Division 1 rower as an undergraduate at the College of the Holy Cross. Our team competed in the national championship regatta my senior year and was ranked among the top 20 teams in the country.

What does your research focus on?

If you鈥檝e ever been frustrated by glitches in apps or websites, my students, collaborators and I aim to give engineers the tools they need to build more reliable software. My group has pioneered work in user interface engineering, focusing on user-facing systems and making software easier to use.

What drives you to take on this challenge?

Since I was young, I鈥檝e enjoyed building things, taking them apart and understanding how they work. I view software as the ultimate engineering medium, where abstract ideas can quickly become reality. What excites me most is tackling the complexity of modern software systems by developing tools that engineers can easily adopt. Seeing those tools save engineers hours or days of time is truly fun.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place for you to do this kind of work?

麻豆原创 has been an excellent place to grow as an early-career researcher. I鈥檝e received invaluable mentorship from department and college leadership, as well as senior faculty. The university鈥檚 connection to the local tech industry is also exciting, and I look forward to forming connections with local companies to put our tools into practice.

What鈥檚 next for you or your research?

Software engineering is rapidly shifting toward agentic workflows, where AI-powered agents perform engineering tasks autonomously. While this increases speed, it also introduces complex errors that are harder to spot. My lab aims to understand these software engineering agents, improve their reliability and create tools that help developers use them effectively.

Soyoung Park

Assistant professor of teacher education in the College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE)

What鈥檚 something few people know about you?

When I travel for conferences, I love to explore local bookstores and cafes.

What does your research focus on?

My research focuses on transforming educator preparation to better support students with disabilities. Supported by more than $3.75 million in U.S. Department of Education funding, my work prepares special education teachers, speech-language pathologists and school psychologists to serve students with autism spectrum disorders and high-intensity needs. I also develop evidence-based mathematics interventions for students with learning disabilities.

What drives you to take on this challenge?

Mathematics remains an area where both research and practice need stronger alignment. Teachers need accessible, evidence-based guidance on how to teach effectively, but it isn鈥檛 always easy to find or interpret. Students need consistent access to high-quality instruction that meets their individual needs. I鈥檓 interested in helping bridge that gap so that research can better support educators and the students they serve.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place for you to do this kind of work?

麻豆原创鈥檚 strong infrastructure for research and collaboration further amplifies my work. Support from the Office of Research has been instrumental in advancing my research development, grant capacity and interdisciplinary collaboration. As a CCIE research fellow and affiliated faculty member at the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute, I have valuable opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges.

What鈥檚 next for you or your research?

Our next project focuses on synthesizing large data sets to help educators identify mathematics interventions that align with their students鈥� needs. We鈥檙e also exploring how AI can support this process through pedagogical AI chatbots and interactive web-based platforms that guide educators in interpreting and applying research evidence in practice. Ultimately, this work aims to strengthen both instruction and student outcomes at scale.

Hao Zheng

Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science

What鈥檚 something few people know about you?

I enjoy traveling, especially visiting national parks and exploring new cities. Each trip helps me recharge, and I often come back with fresh perspectives and new ideas.

What does your research focus on?

My research focuses on making today鈥檚 AI systems faster, more energy-efficient and more reliable by bridging the gap between algorithms and hardware. AI has reshaped daily life, but behind the scenes, modern AI models require enormous amounts of computation and energy. My work explores new ways to co-design hardware and software so AI can run efficiently, especially for irregular or sparse data structures, such as graphs.

What drives you to take on this challenge?

I鈥檓 driven by both the importance and the difficulty of the problem. We鈥檙e at the turning point of rethinking future computing systems. Defining a new computing paradigm, despite its challenges, can have a far-reaching impact across society. Our research can fundamentally reshape how future computers are designed and how AI is deployed at scale.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place for you to do this kind of work?

麻豆原创 is an ideal place to pursue bold research ideas, supported by strong momentum in engineering, computing and interdisciplinary collaboration. The university also offers an exceptional and supportive community of mentors and collaborators, including students, who set a high bar for excellence. I鈥檝e been fortunate to work with many outstanding colleagues, and those experiences have shaped how I think about building a high-impact research program and growing as a scholar.

What鈥檚 next for you or your research?

Next, we鈥檙e expanding our work toward real-world deployments, including applications in healthcare and robotics. We鈥檙e also continuing to strengthen our research in building processors for AI and scientific computing so that our ideas can translate into improvements in performance and energy efficiency.

麻豆原创鈥檚 faculty are renowned thinkers, doers and creators delivering high-quality education and leading-industry research with purpose. They are the campus culture-setters 鈥� inspiring ingenuity while upholding our mission to change lives and livelihoods.

The most exceptional among them are recognized annually with the distinction of the university鈥檚 highest honor, the Pegasus Professor award. This year, Hassan Foroosh (College of Computer Science and Engineering); Carmen Giurgescu (College of Nursing); Annette Khaled (College of Medicine); and Matthew Marino (College of Community Innovation and Education) become the newest inductees of this esteemed group.

Their work and research have been motivated by a pursuit to positively impact society 鈥� redefining our capabilities with artificial intelligence (AI) systems; improving pre-term birth outcomes for mothers and their babies; curing cancer; and enhancing quality of life for people with disabilities.

Each will be recognized during Founders鈥� Day, which is April 1 this year and receive $5,000.

Meet the 麻豆原创 Pegasus Professors for 2026:

Hassan Foroosh

CAE-Link Professor of computer science
Director of the Computational Imaging Laboratory

One day your research will solve:

My聽goal has always been not to solve one specific聽problem but聽build聽a machine that is聽the聽problem solver.聽I work with explainable AI and efficient or high-performance AI. My goal is to build general-purpose machines, whether in robotics or autonomous driving or data analytics, etc. I have always thought that there is a way to find a general solution to almost any problem. We just then have to specialize the machines and models to solve specific problems.

What motivates you to pursue this line of research?

I was fascinated by sci-fi movies as a kid. Not many people know this, but I鈥檓 a Trekkie. What always fascinated me were the technologies in that world 鈥� tele-transportation, warp speed, and others. I had not even seen a computer as a kid. Because back then, computers fit in rooms five times the size of my office. I was always interested in electronics and building things. In 1992, I moved back to France to do my Ph.D. and my advisor pushed me in the direction of AI and it鈥檚 been that ever since.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place to do what you do?

When I first came to 麻豆原创 24 years ago, I saw opportunity for growth, and I saw all the industries around here. I saw Kennedy Space Center next door. I like to build partnerships. I like to see my research used in practice. 麻豆原创 has given me the ability to do that throughout my career.

What has been your favorite moment as a professor?

There are many I can think of. But, once I was vacationing with my family in North Carolina about 10 years ago or so. We were in a mall, and this young man ran toward me. I said, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 going on?鈥� He shook my hand and said, 鈥淒r. Foroosh! I wanted to thank you. You affected my life.鈥� Back then I was teaching classes of 200 students every semester, so it wasn鈥檛 easy to build relationships with every student or remember everyone鈥檚 name. It felt humbling to know that he felt that way and that I impacted his life like that. It was a very good moment.

Carmen Giurgescu

Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair in Nursing聽Associate聽Dean of聽Research聽
Professor of nursing聽

One day your research will:
Reduce the rate of pre-term births. For the past 20 years, my research has been examining how social determinants of health influence maternal health and birth outcomes, including preterm birth. Pre-term infants, born at less than 37-weeks gestation, are more likely to have developmental delays, hearing problems and blindness than infants born at term. Their mothers are more likely to have stress, depression, and anxiety. I am focused on improving the health of mothers and their babies.

What motivates you to take this on?
I鈥檝e always been passionate about obstetrics, even since childhood. One of my aunts was pregnant with my cousin when I was a young child, and she was a physician, so she felt comfortable telling me about fetal development. I came to the United States in 1990, and I started working in a mother-baby unit. I had the opportunity to talk with mothers and provide care for their babies. And that put me on the trajectory and my passion for pregnancy and birth outcomes.

In what ways do your students inspire you?
They聽come聽up聽with聽new, innovative ideas that I never thought of.聽It鈥檚聽not a matter of聽just them聽learning from me, but聽me聽also聽learning from them. When I see their passion for what they are doing and when I see them being successful, it drives me to be more innovative, to keep pursuing opportunities, and be more resilient.

What contributions聽at 麻豆原创 are you most proud of?
I came here in fall of 2019, and back then the College of Nursing had $1.7 million in research funding. In the 2024-25 academic year, we had $3.8 million.聽That鈥檚聽a 124% increase in funding in five years. I am聽really proud聽of聽the聽commitment of our faculty聽and聽the interprofessional collaboration聽that聽has聽increased聽research and聽advanced聽scholarship聽in our college.

Annette Khaled

Professor of Medicine Cancer Division Head
Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs聽

One day your research will solve:
Cancer. Today, even if you聽treat聽it, the patient聽isn鈥檛聽sure if it will come back. Cancer diagnosis is聽almost like聽a lifetime death threat. I want to get to a place where, much like when we have a cold and take an antibiotic, I want people to be able to say, 鈥淚 have cancer, take my medicine,聽I鈥檓聽done.聽It鈥檚聽not going to come back.聽It鈥檚聽not going to kill me.鈥�

What motivates you to take this on?
I grew up in California, and my grandparents visited us when I was a teenager. I remember my grandfather asked, 鈥淲hat do you want to do?鈥� And I told him, 鈥淚 want to cure cancer.鈥� I think for some reason my whole life聽I鈥檝e聽been aware of this deadly disease. I want to help people. I want to make a difference.

What聽are you most proud of聽during your tenure at 麻豆原创?
I think the resiliency. We are a young college and have struggled with the ups and downs that the world throws at you. Sometimes you won鈥檛 have funding, sometimes you will have tons of funding. Sometimes things go your way with your studies, but this might be after 20 years of doing experiments that 诲颈诲苍鈥檛听work.聽So聽I think what聽I鈥檓聽most proud of is that I聽haven鈥檛聽given up,聽and I still see that聽there鈥檚聽an optimistic future.

奥丑补迟鈥檚听苍别虫迟?
Cancer is a聽really difficult聽disease because everybody鈥檚 cancer is different.聽But personalized drug therapies 鈥� although good in theory 鈥� is聽very hard聽to implement because you would have to have 100聽different聽drugs for each person.聽That鈥檚聽how complicated it is. Our research and method take聽a different聽track.

We鈥檝e聽found that all cancer cells share something in common, a protein-folding complex. With this insight we developed a drug that聽we鈥檙e聽partnering with the Orlando VA聽Healthcare System, thanks to the generous support of Orlando Sports Foundation and聽Alan Gooch聽鈥�84聽鈥�89MA,聽聽to test with patient聽specimens. We have a lot more to聽do聽鈥� this is very preliminary. But I am so pleased with the data. I want to eventually get this into clinical trials and get this into the hands of people.

Matthew Marino

Professor of聽Exceptional聽Student聽Education
Director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute聽(TJEEI)

One day your research will:
Empower independence for people living with disabilities. People with disabilities struggle to find and maintain employment. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Labor noted a workforce participation rate of just 42% for people with disabilities, compared to 78% for those without. This lack of employment leads to downstream effects such as the inability to live independently. Our dynamic team is utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to leverage emerging technologies in a way that enhances the lives of people with disabilities across our community.

What motivates you to take this problem on?
When I was in college, I suffered a severe spinal cord injury while playing rugby. I had no idea what a disability was prior to that event, but when you are confined to a聽wheelchair,聽you quickly learn how challenging life can be. It took me years of rehabilitation to recover from the injury. I have been working to improve the lives of people with disabilities who are less fortunate than me ever since.聽My goal is to help them find聽the tools聽to open the doors of employment.

What makes 麻豆原创 the right place to do what you do?
The work we do at TJEEI is based on interdisciplinary partnerships and efficient, effective teamwork.聽I have traveled to universities throughout the country and have not found an institution where there is more ambition to change the world for the better, technology resources to make the change,聽and collaborative vigor to make it happen than there is at 麻豆原创. We are truly blessed to work in this environment.

奥丑补迟鈥檚听苍别虫迟?
When we published聽our聽first article on聽 no one was talking about the impact it would have on education. AI has tremendous potential for people with disabilities, which is something we are actively exploring at the National Center on Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning, where I am a co-principle investigator. I鈥檓 not sure where it will take us, but I am extremely optimistic that it can enhance the lives of people with disabilities while improving employment and independent living outcomes.

Beidel will be recognized for this honor during 麻豆原创鈥檚 2026 Founders鈥� Day, which takes place Wednesday, April 1, in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union.

Beidel founded 麻豆原创 RESTORES as a clinical research center dedicated to changing how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is understood, diagnosed and treated. A psychologist and international leader in her field, Beidel鈥檚 use of virtual reality to treat PTSD among veterans, first responders and emergency workers has led to treatments that are two to three times more effective than standard psychological treatments.

In May, Beidel and 麻豆原创 Restores unveiled a first-of-its-kind mobile Resiliency Command Center to provide safe on-site treatment of first responders at crisis scenes, such as natural disasters, line-of-duty tragedies and mass casualty events. The center originated from a partnership with the Florida Legislature, the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal and Lockheed Martin (a 麻豆原创 Pegasus Partner).

鈥淒r. Beidel innovates with purpose and the unwavering belief that no one should bear the weight of trauma or PTSD alone,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淪he brings that vision to life every day through 麻豆原创 RESTORES by turning compassion into action and research into hope. This recognition from the Big 12 honors her extraordinary impact and leadership in creating solutions that transform lives.鈥�

The Big 12 award adds to the major honors Beidel has earned since joining 麻豆原创 in 2007. She is a trustee chair and Pegasus Professor, the highest faculty honor at 麻豆原创.

Over her career, Beidel has combined prolific scholarship with groundbreaking research. She has authored more than 300 scientific publications and secured more than $31 million in federal funding to develop and translate treatments for anxiety and PTSD into real-world clinical settings. State and federal governmental agencies and community organizations consult with her regularly on how to deal with the aftermath of mass violence.

Big 12 institutions nominated their faculty of the year candidates in collaboration with faculty athletics representatives, provosts and other university leaders. Now in its second year, the award showcases the academic excellence, research breakthroughs and educational opportunities available to students at Big 12 institutions.

麻豆原创 joined the Big 12 in 2023 as the youngest school among the nation鈥檚 major athletic conferences. In the latest聽U.S. News & World Report聽Best Colleges Rankings, 麻豆原创 ties for second among Big 12 public institutions and fifth overall.