At the threshold of retirement on June 30, 麻豆原创鈥檚 first Pegasus Professor (honored in 2000) and original architect of online learning would rather talk about his ultimate inspiration.

鈥淢y greatest reward is that so many of my former students stay in touch with me,鈥� says Dziuban, an inaugural Online Learning Consortium (formerly Sloan Consortium) fellow.

鈥淢y greatest reward is that so many of my former students stay in touch with me.鈥�

Those students often showed up for Dziuban鈥檚 statistics and research design classes. Many of these students were daunted by the subjects only to find that the person teaching them listened intently, making himself, and the material, approachable.

This is Dziuban鈥檚 style 鈥� with students, colleagues, everyone. To effectively teach, he knows he must begin with the right questions. That curiosity-driven approach has guided 麻豆原创 to be a leader in online education, including the 麻豆原创 Online program which serves 9,000 students annually, for over 30 years 鈥� earning recognition among the nation鈥檚 best programs, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Here, 麻豆原创鈥檚 longest serving faculty member is finally on the other side of the questions, sharing insightful reflection and parting wise words.

Humble Roots

鈥淚 never set out to achieve any of this,鈥� he says, 鈥渂ut the smallest incidences can make significant impacts.鈥�

Dziuban grew up near Utica, New York, where most boys graduated from high school and followed their fathers into the mills. Dziuban, avid about hunting and fishing, began to develop a routine that exists to this day: reading two books every week.

鈥淭he truth is, I didn鈥檛 want to work in a mill,鈥� he says. 鈥淩eading led to college and college allowed me to reinvent myself. People had called me Charlie. I hated it. In college, I became Chuck.鈥�

Chuck earned degrees, moved, taught, and discovered a connection with statistics and research. At the University of Wisconsin, a mentor, Chester Harris, changed his life.

鈥淗e was terrifyingly smart,鈥� Dziuban says, 鈥渂ut he knew the importance of understanding students before expecting them to understand the subject. I still have a picture of Chester on my desk. It keeps me humble.鈥�

Humility was among the factors that drew Dziuban to a new university in Orlando, where parking lots were dirt and a cardboard box housed the university鈥檚 entire computing output.

鈥淚 saw FTU then, and 麻豆原创 now, as a place where you had room to develop ideas.鈥�

鈥淚 saw FTU then, and 麻豆原创 now, as a place where you had room to develop ideas,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was like a Silicon Valley startup. You weren鈥檛 sure how it might go, but at least the vibe was positive.鈥�

He developed one of his first ideas following a three-hour statistics lecture.

鈥淢y students should have been in an emergency room after that lecture,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 realized they鈥檇 learn better by running data first and then coming back for an abbreviated lesson 鈥� similar to what we call a 鈥榝lipped classroom.鈥� Students said, 鈥極h, I get it now.鈥� 鈥�

Pioneering Digital Learning

Dziuban was called upon to use his expertise in and research design to develop a plethora of ideas that would attract international attention to 麻豆原创.

One of those early ideas led to a seismic shift that thousands of 麻豆原创 and 麻豆原创 Online students are still benefitting from today.

While developing what would become the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness, Dziuban mentioned to the university鈥檚 fourth president, John C. Hitt, the concept of remote learning through the use of VHS tapes.

鈥淗e told me to innovate,鈥� Dziuban says, 鈥渟o we used computers instead of tapes. Eventually, we had the most sophisticated online learning model in the country, and the walls of classrooms came down.鈥�

This is why, the annual Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching, established in 2012, is bestowed to one 麻豆原创 instructor who teaches an exemplary online or video course.

鈥淟ike I said, I never planned any of this,鈥� he says.

Staying True to 鈥淒oing the Right Thing鈥�

If you ever stepped near Dziuban鈥檚 office, you鈥檇 see a poster featuring a child with hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen 鈥� namesake of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Rosen used an adage that鈥檚 echoed in Dziuban鈥檚 mind since they began to break barriers to education in communities in need 31 years ago: 鈥淒o the right thing.鈥�

With this as his guide, Dziuban helped The Rosen Foundation institute a program to ensure free preschool and resources through high school. College and trade school would also be free. Instead of directing the program, they empowered people in Orlando鈥檚 Tangelo Park and Parramore communities to lead it.

They鈥檝e expanded that impact across Florida as well, and the results have been remarkable 鈥� including a recent $50,000 donation from the Harris Rosen Foundation to Gainesville for All in honor of Dziuban鈥檚 work transformative community initiatives.

鈥淭he odds of earning a college education have gone from nine-to-one against to three-to-one in favor,鈥� Dziuban says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 immense talent in every community. We can鈥檛 let it go to waste. It鈥檚 why we start young and celebrate every success.鈥�

At the end of this school year, he will be on stage for just such a celebration.

鈥淚鈥檒l have the honor of moving tassels from the right to the left on the graduation caps of pre-k students,鈥� Dziuban says.

The man with six decades of achievements in higher education will stand back and enjoy a moment the 4- and 5-year-old kids can tell others about.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine anything more meaningful than that.鈥�

In 2004, after Rosen donated time, resources and millions of dollars, the 麻豆原创 Rosen College of Hospitality Management opened its doors, offering students an amazing opportunity to learn and work in the heart of the hospitality industry. The Rosen College, a strong pipeline of talent to the region鈥檚 and state鈥檚 tourism industry, is annually recognized as the best hospitality school in the nation.

Honored with multiple Lifetime Achievement awards 鈥� and an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from 麻豆原创 this summer 鈥� Rosen was known as one of the most generous, selfless, and kind-hearted individuals in Florida.

鈥淗arris Rosen has been an outstanding friend to the 麻豆原创, and to Melinda and me,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淎nyone who spent time with Harris like we did got to witness his passion for doing the right thing and inspiring future generations to do this same.

“His generosity of spirit and extraordinary contributions to the hospitality and tourism management industry have left an incredible mark on our university, our region, and the thousands of students and alumni who have come through the Rosen College and are making their mark in the industry.鈥� 鈥� Alexander N. Cartwright, 麻豆原创 President

“Through his vision and dedication, Harris was instrumental in establishing the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which became the nation鈥檚 leading hospitality program, while lifting countless lives through his philanthropy. As a charter member of the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees, he played a pivotal role in shaping our path as a leading metropolitan research university.

“His generosity of spirit and extraordinary contributions to the hospitality and tourism management industry have left an incredible mark on our university, our region, and the thousands of students and alumni who have come through the Rosen College and are making their mark in the industry. On behalf of all of us at 麻豆原创, we extend our deepest gratitude for his remarkable legacy.鈥�

麻豆原创鈥檚 honorary degree, one of the highest honors the university can award, recognized Rosen’s lifetime of selflessness, achievement and dedication to giving back to the community.

In nominating Rosen, Rosen College Dean Cynthia Mejia acknowledged his extraordinary achievements in public service over the last 50 years.

鈥淚 have learned from Mr. Rosen how modest beginnings can translate into hard work and how doing the right thing for his associates and company can transcend people鈥檚 lives,鈥� she wrote in her nomination letter.

Rosen is known as one of Central Florida鈥檚 leading entrepreneurs. After developing the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Fort Wilderness resorts at Disney, Rosen purchased a 256-room Quality Inn on Orlando鈥檚 International Drive. From that modest start, he grew Rosen Hotels & Resorts into one of the Southeast鈥檚 largest independent hotel chains, now celebrating its 50th anniversary with seven area hotels, multiple subsidiary businesses, and more than 4,000 employees. Today, the company boasts over 6,300 guest rooms and suites, more than 740,000 square feet of event space, and more than 30 unique dining options.

Rosen鈥檚 Tangelo Park Program, created in 1994, provides free preschool to children ages 2, 3, and 4 in this resource-limited community, in addition to full college scholarships once they graduate high school. As a result, the crime rate dropped, high school graduations soared to nearly 100%, and the program鈥檚 success led Rosen to start a similar program in another community in Orlando, Parramore. Together, more than 500 students have received college or vocational school scholarships to state schools, providing tuition, room and board and books.

After the passing of his youngest son, Adam, 26, to brain cancer in 2018, Rosen made a generous commitment to the University of Florida and the ReMission Alliance for an innovative laboratory center, now named the Adam Michael Rosen Neuro-Oncology Laboratories. This world-class collaborative facility creates an open environment in which doctors and experts can share equipment, labs and research results in hopes of ultimately providing better, faster patient care and someday finding a cure for cancer.

Mr. Rosen鈥檚 additional philanthropic efforts include founding the Jack and Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center in southwest Orlando; preventing the closure of what is now the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center; and providing drinking water, housing, and other relief supplies to people in Haiti after multiple natural disasters.

鈥淲hile I could write a book about his business success and how leaders all over Florida look to him as a beacon of light, it is the foundations, his generosity, and his selflessness which I would like to highlight,鈥� Rosen Hotels & Resorts Vice President Frank Santos wrote in a letter supporting the honorary degree. 鈥淨uite simply put, Mr. Rosen is a humble man who has positively impacted the lives of thousands of Floridians not for any other reason than, in his words, 鈥榖ecause it is the right thing to do.鈥� 鈥�

Meet the alumni, leadership and faculty singled out in various industries.

Education

Degrees: Bachelor of Science in elementary education; Master of Educational Leadership; Doctorate of Educational Leadership

麻豆原创 president

Tourism and Transportation

2019 麻豆原创 Honorary Alumni Award recipient, member of dean鈥檚 advisory board of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and a charter member of the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in journalism

Politics and Government

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies;听Master of Nonprofit Management; Master of Public Administration

Degree: Bachelor of Science in marketing

Entertainment, Sports and the Arts

Degree: Master of Business Administration

麻豆原创 School of Performing Arts faculty

Business

Degree: Master of Business Administration

Degree: Bachelor of Science in accounting

Degree: Master of Business Administration

Degree: Bachelor of Science in computer science

The Ones to Watch

Bachelor of Science in finance

Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice

Dziuban, director of the initiative, and Bush, editor/research associate, were presented the Collective Excellence Award and $15,000 to expand and increase their work. The inaugural presentation of the award was made during the university鈥檚 annual Founders鈥� Day Honors Convocation in the Student Union. Dziuban accepted the award for the team during the ceremonies.

Tangelo Park is a community just southeast of the International Drive tourist area. In the 1980s and 1990s, the urban community experienced low socioeconomic demographic conditions: drug problems, poor school attendance, declining test scores and high school dropout rates.

With the financial backing of Harris Rosen of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, the program has addressed the area鈥檚 educational, social and economic concerns with the collaborative support of several Tangelo Park community organizations. The community has become a model that assures childcare programs, parent-effectiveness training, and post-secondary education or training opportunities at no cost to the community.

For nearly 20 years, Dziuban and Bush have volunteered for the Tangelo Park Project as 麻豆原创 liaisons, consultants and advisory board members, said Dale Whittaker, 麻豆原创 provost and executive vice president.

鈥淭heir work monitoring student progress revealed a 17 percent increase in graduation rates and 31 percent increase in college attendance. And they discovered that for every dollar invested in the program, society receives a $7 benefit, from increased education and reduced crime,鈥� he said. 鈥�(They) have publicized the program鈥檚 success and encouraged its replication in underserved communities across the country. This includes a similar effort underway in the Parramore area, which ties now to the new downtown campus.鈥�

Whittaker said the new award will recognize a team each year whose work exemplifies one of seven categories: powering partnerships, creating access, dreaming big, unleashing potential, harnessing scale, amplifying impact or transforming lives.
Other awards announced at the ceremony were:

All of the recipients can be seen .

In high school, Crawford knew she wanted to study law. She had good grades. And she had a family pushing her towards choosing a university.

But how she would pay for college? That question stumped her.

鈥淚 always knew I had to go to college,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I would have had to take out loans, take on debt. I could not burden my family.鈥�

Crawford found the solution through the Tangelo Park Program, which is funded by hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen and, among other things, provides full college scholarships to students living in the neighborhood.

Crawford on Friday becomes the 18th Rosen Foundation Scholar to graduate from 麻豆原创, another success story from a community that has blossomed with Rosen鈥檚 support. The Tangelo Park Program, founded in 1993, is credited with elevating the community鈥檚 early childhood education programs, decreasing crime, and changing the lives of a generation of students who鈥檝e gone on to graduate from college with the financial help of the scholarships.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a good thing for the community,鈥� Crawford said. 鈥淧eople talk about it. It鈥檚 a big help.鈥�

Crawford had set her path to law school early. She was drawn to the words of a lawyer at an elementary school career day.

鈥淗e said they provide justice to people who feel wronged,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to do that. I had a sense of justice. I wanted to help those people. I would tell that to my family. They knew from a young age that I wanted to be a lawyer.鈥�

After her parents divorced, Crawford, her mother and siblings moved to Tangelo Park from Tampa when she was a high school sophomore to live with her grandmother. In Tangelo Park, she attended Cypress Creek High School.

Although money was tight, Crawford said she had a lot of support: Both of her parents have college degrees and encouraged her to work hard and go to college. And her school talked up the Rosen Scholarship, so she applied her senior year. She was accepted to UF, FAMU and other state universities. But when she visited 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus one Sunday, she felt at home.

鈥淥nce I saw the campus, I knew I wanted to be here,鈥� she said during a break from her job as a 麻豆原创 resident assistant. 鈥淚 liked knowing I鈥檇 be close to my family.鈥�

Crawford has been busy at 麻豆原创. Fiercely driven to succeed, she graduates as a legal studies major with three minors: business, aerospace and leadership studies. She鈥檚 a resident assistant at the Libra Community. She鈥檚 in the ROTC and already has been accepted at the University of Florida law school. She鈥檚 a member of the LEAD Scholars Academy, The Burnett Honors College and the President鈥檚 Leadership Council.

Earlier this month, she was awarded 麻豆原创鈥檚 highest student honor: the Order of Pegasus award. The award is given to graduating seniors and graduate students who demonstrate exemplary university and community involvement, leadership, academic achievement and service.

Her family was there, cheering her on.

鈥淔or me, the (Rosen) scholarship gave me the ability to work hard, and to be able to join educational and professional organizations that I would not have otherwise been able to join,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ithout it, I would have had to have a job. I didn鈥檛 have to worry about how I was going to pay, not just for school, but my car and insurance.鈥�

The Rosen Foundation Scholarship, started when Rosen adopted the community more than 22 years ago, covers tuition, housing and books. Students have to graduate from high school, apply for other federal grants and scholarships, and remain in good academic standing at their respective colleges or vocational schools, among other requirements. Pooled together, the scholarship and other aid can cover all the student鈥檚 college-related expenses, including housing and meal plans.

Since then, Rosen has become one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 most notable benefactors. He helped found the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and thus far has invested more than $12 million in the Tangelo Park project. He also previously served on 麻豆原创鈥檚 Board of Trustees.

His philanthropy has changed the community, one child at a time. While 22 years ago fewer than half of the high school students graduated, now almost all finish high school and of those who go on to college, 77 percent graduate, according to the program鈥檚 statistics. Crime has dropped dramatically, and the lifetime earning potential of students has risen dramatically.

Crawford plans to go to law school, but it鈥檚 deferred for now. She will commission in the fall as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and serve four years as a personnel officer. After that, she鈥檒l pursue her law degree, and hopes to serve as a judge advocate general in the Air Force. Eventually, she wants to do estate planning as a way to help others.

鈥淢y time at 麻豆原创 taught me that your past situation doesn鈥檛 define you,鈥� she said.

To other students she offers this advice: 鈥淕et out of your comfort zone. Don鈥檛 get complacent. This is a great place and a great opportunity. Take advantage of it, and use it to achieve your goals and do what you鈥檙e passionate about. Then, pay it forward.鈥�

The 12th annual list is made up of leaders in politics, business, education, sports, health, philanthropy and other fields.

麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt earned the No. 4 ranking, following Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; attorney, businessman and philanthropist John Morgan; and Lars Houman, president and CEO of Florida Hospital and Florida Division Adventist Health System.

Under Hitt, who has been president since 1992, 麻豆原创 has become the nation鈥檚 second largest university with about 61,000 students. The magazine praised Hitt for leading the effort in October of breaking ground with industry and government partners on the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center in Osceola County, a $270 million project to develop sensors for assorted electronic devices. Hitt also received the Historical Society of Central Florida’s 2015 John Young History Maker Award for lifetime achievements making a historic impact on the community.

Others with 麻豆原创 roles named to the list were:

In addition to alumni Martins and Marchena (College of Sciences, 麻豆原创 Class of 1982) several other 麻豆原创聽graduates are on the top-50 list:

The 11th annual list in the magazine鈥檚 July edition represents the region鈥檚 political leaders, educators, business owners, tourism officials and others who lead and inspire.

麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt earned the No. 4 ranking. The top three names on the list are Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, attorney and businessman John Morgan, and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Hitt, 麻豆原创鈥檚 president since 1992, leads the nation鈥檚 second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students. The magazine praised the development of high-tech and research areas at 麻豆原创, as well as the creation of the Blackstone LaunchPad to help students develop entrepreneurial ideas into successful businesses.

Others with 麻豆原创 roles who were named to the list are:

In addition to Martins, Marchena (College of Sciences, 麻豆原创 Class of 1982) and Atchison (College of Business Administration, 鈥�92), there are five other 麻豆原创聽alumni on the top-50 list:

A聽separate list in the Orlando article includes 12 people to watch in the coming years, including these 麻豆原创 graduates:

Senior restaurant and foodservice management major Ryan Burke received the Mentee of the Year Award and senior Jacqueline Gonzales, a hospitality management and event management double major, received the Mentor of the Year Award. Gabrielle Mourino, ’11 was honored with the Alumni Mentor of the Year Award.

鈥淚 am extremely proud of this year鈥檚 POMPers as they continue to make more and more contributions to the program,” said Vanessa Cogswell, POMP director and Rosen College academic services coordinator. “For example, Leigh Andrzejewski and Mauricio Claros created our first poster, Chaz Tommasini and Katrina Godlewski helped develop our first brochure, and even the families of several POMP participants donated to the 2014 Mentorship Ceremony. The success of the program is attributed to their hard work and the investments they have each made to make it better.鈥�

The program,聽which helps at-risk, probationary and readmitted students improve their grades through peer mentorships, has earned high marks and garnered accolades for its success. It currently boasts a 96.72% overall success rate and a 98% overall retention rate.

Rosen College would like to thank its partners for their generous contributions to POMP:

• 麻豆原创 Alumni Association
• 麻豆原创 Career Services
• Adamson鈥檚 Orchids
• Area 51 Graphics, LLC
• Lydia Sedely, Chick-Fil-A
• Rosen College Bookstore
• Bradley Loomis
• Julien Meyer
• Jamie and Tammie Sykes
• Barbara Thompson
• Sheila Vargas
• Katie Worthington
• Jennifer Wright

For more information about POMP, visit聽hospitality.ucf.edu/pomp. Students who wish to enroll in the program as a mentee or mentor should contact Vanessa.Cogswell@ucf.edu.

Hitt placed No. 7 on Maxwell鈥檚 annual compilation, which includes names from government, business, health care, legal and other fields.

Hitt has been president since 1992 and has built 麻豆原创 into the nation鈥檚 second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students.聽

鈥淗e’s respected and visionary,鈥� Maxwell said. 鈥淩ight now, Hitt’s top challenges are keeping college affordable and dealing with a Legislature prone to cutting education.鈥�

Hitt also founded the Florida High-Tech Corridor Council and has been involved with numerous local and state organizations, including the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission Fundraising Campaign, Council of 100, Orange County Chairman’s Transportation Commission, and others. Former Gov. Jeb Bush once called Hitt and Walt Disney the two most transformative figures in Central Florida鈥檚 history.

Others on the list with connections to the university are:

To see the complete list, click .

The new degree offered by the nation鈥檚 largest hospitality-management college will prepare students to teach, research and consult in the hospitality and tourism industry, and will replace the college鈥檚 previous doctoral track in Hospitality Education.

鈥淭his freestanding doctoral program strategically aligns with our purpose and objectives, and further solidifies 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College as a leader in hospitality management education,鈥� said Abraham Pizam, dean of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College.

The program will take an interdisciplinary approach to support research in hospitality and tourism. 鈥淭he field of Hospitality Management is relatively new, and [Rosen College] is taking a unique leadership role in defining this emerging field at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,鈥� according to the proposal to begin the program.

The 58-hour curriculum will include 16 credit hours of core courses, 27 credit hours of specialization courses and 15 credit hours of dissertation.

Paul Rompf, the college鈥檚 director of graduate studies, said the new curriculum will better align with other academic programs and have more variety in course selection. Students already enrolled in the Hospitality Education track have the option to continue with their existing curriculum or transfer into the new Hospitality Management program, he said. 聽Students will no longer be able to enroll in the Hospitality Education track.

The 麻豆原创 established its hospitality management program in 1983 within its College of Business. The program quickly experienced tremendous growth in enrollment, degrees and research to develop into one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 12 colleges.

Orlando hotelier Harris Rosen donated more than $18 million in cash, land, and scholarships to 麻豆原创 to create the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which opened its own satellite campus in 2004. The college has more than 3,000 students in its undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.

For more information about 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management and its degree programs, visit .

About 麻豆原创 Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Located in the heart of the tourism and hospitality industry, Orlando, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the 麻豆原创 is dedicated to the values of professionalism, leadership and service. The mission of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College is to develop future generations of global hospitality and tourism leaders representing all industry segments in the hospitality capital of the world, through innovative academic programs, cutting edge research and strong industry and community partnerships.