Philanthropy Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� and the Darden Restaurants Foundation Announce $5 Million Partnership to Launch Next-Generation Student Success Center

�鶹ԭ�� — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:00:53 +0000

Building on 50 years of collaboration, �鶹ԭ�� and the Darden Restaurants Inc. Foundation (Darden Restaurants Foundation) today announced a landmark $5 million partnership expansion to launch a state-of-the-art student success center designed to streamline graduation pathways and cultivate future-ready workforce talent.

Often, the daily challenges of life block graduation more than academic ability. With support from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, �鶹ԭ�� aims to address these challenges and redefine how it champions upward mobility and student well-being. The future site of this center will be within Howard Phillips Hall on �鶹ԭ��’s main campus and will house a unified ecosystem that integrates enrollment, academic navigation, mental health resources, food security programs and emergency financial aid to serve nearly 70,000 students annually.

“Our partnership with �鶹ԭ�� reflects a shared belief that when you remove barriers and invest in people, you unlock potential at scale.” — Susan Connelly, Darden Restaurants Foundation president

“This investment from the Darden Restaurants Foundation reflects what is possible when partners share a commitment to students, opportunity and the future of our workforce,” �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “Together, �鶹ԭ�� and the Darden Restaurants Foundation are helping more Knights persist, graduate and step into meaningful careers that strengthen Florida’s economy and expand opportunity for generations to come.”

“Our partnership with �鶹ԭ�� reflects a shared belief that when you remove barriers and invest in people, you unlock potential at scale,” President of the Darden Restaurants Foundation Susan Connelly says. “The primary focus areas of the Darden Restaurants Foundation are helping fight hunger and investing in education. Through the Darden Restaurants Foundation Student Success Center, we are helping create a model that supports students holistically — from academic navigation to basic needs — so they can persist, graduate, and thrive in their careers and communities.”

This investment strengthens a comprehensive approach to student success by growing access to scholarships, enhancing proactive success coaching, and delivering innovative, integrated support systems that remove barriers before they can derail progress. It reflects a shared commitment to creating an environment where students are prepared to graduate with confidence, step into meaningful careers and lead in a rapidly changing world.

The $5 million investment also establishes the Darden Restaurants Foundation Student Success Fund, which will directly support four core pillars of the partnership:

Integrated Support: Implementing �鶹ԭ��’s next-generation student support system, a personalized, holistic coaching framework designed to empower students.
Persistence Initiatives: Strengthening student well-being and academic momentum by pairing individualized academic success coaching with wrap-around care.
Essential Care: Funding food security programs and emergency assistance, which provide comprehensive relief through free groceries, fresh meals and short-term financial aid.
Capital Infrastructure: Transforming Howard Phillips Hall into a modern student success hub designed to improve four-year graduation rates and career readiness.

Through this gift, — �鶹ԭ��’s $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact — continues to turn ambition into action, opening doors of opportunity and shaping a future where every student has the tools to succeed and the momentum to go further than they ever imagined. This gift powers the campaign’s Student Success pillar, advancing a bold vision to ensure every Knight has the support, resources and opportunities to thrive from enrollment through graduation and beyond.

Approximately 22% of �鶹ԭ�� students are the first in their families to attend college. The innovative hub will redesign student care from initial recruitment through graduation, helping to build upon �鶹ԭ��’s exceptional 93% first-year student retention rate and further accelerate our four-year and six-year graduation metrics.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (Darden) and the Darden Restaurants Foundation have been longstanding partners with �鶹ԭ�� for more than 47 years, supporting key areas across the university including the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the Barry S. Miller College of Business and Athletics. Most recently, this enduring relationship was strengthened by the establishment of the Joe R. Lee Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of the legacy of Darden’s first CEO.

�鶹ԭ�� Alum Helps Siemens Energy Power What Comes Next

Camille Dolan ’98 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:53 +0000

The Pegasus Partnership between �鶹ԭ�� and Siemens Energy is designed to accelerate innovation, fuel workforce development and strengthen the future of energy infrastructure. Few people embody that collaboration more fully than Joshua DeAscanis ’11 ’22MBA, business development manager at Siemens Energy.

On most days, DeAscanis is focused on something many people never think about: the invisible systems that keep modern life running.

Hospitals must power critical equipment. Cities endure record-breaking heat. Data centers aim to hum without interruption. Behind those moments are gas turbines the size of buildings, and a team of engineers determined to make them smarter, faster and more reliable.

At Siemens Energy, DeAscanis helps lead that charge.

Rising to Energy Design Challenges

His bold goal is ambitious: transform how turbines are tested, inspected and manufactured so they can be delivered at the speed and scale global demand now requires. As electricity needs surge worldwide, efficiency is no longer optional.

“If the turbines don’t work, the power doesn’t exist,” he says.

After earning his aerospace engineering degree from �鶹ԭ��, DeAscanis joined Siemens Energy located just steps from campus. He began on a small team of three engineers developing custom tools to test next-generation engines. The work was intensely hands-on and involved long days refining inspection systems, improving automation and solving problems in real time.

Colleagues describe DeAscanis as calm under pressure and relentlessly curious. He sees constraints not as roadblocks but as design challenges.

That perspective proved essential during lean years in the energy sector, when fluctuating demand forced teams to justify every investment. Rather than scale back, DeAscanis and his colleagues innovated their way forward — streamlining inspection processes, reducing testing time and building automation systems that improved both speed and precision.

Those efforts produced measurable results. DeAscanis now holds 11 patents, with dozens more innovations developed across his team. Some advances are patented; others remain proprietary trade secrets that strengthen Siemens Energy’s competitive position in a global marketplace.

Enhancing Expertise to Deliver Impact

Over the past decade, he has also helped grow his organization from fewer than five engineers to nearly 100. His role expanded from technical contributor to strategic leader, overseeing budgets, setting research priorities and securing U.S. Department of Defense contracts to accelerate development. Recognizing the importance of business fluency, he returned to �鶹ԭ�� to earn his MBA.

“I knew how to build technology,” he says. “I wanted to understand how to scale it.”

His journey traces back to his �鶹ԭ�� senior design project, where he and three classmates developed a system to manufacture thin carbon nanofiber sheets designed to reinforce aircraft structures against lightning strikes. The project demanded technical rigor, collaboration and applied problem-solving — the same qualities Siemens Energy looks for in its engineers. It also helped open the door to his first role at Siemens Energy, proving that classroom innovation can translate directly into industry impact.

Fueling the Energy Industry

Learn more about how are accelerating innovation, fueling workforce development and strengthening the future of energy infrastructure.

Today, more than half of the engineers in his facility are �鶹ԭ�� graduates. Through the Pegasus Partnership, Siemens Energy and �鶹ԭ�� are not simply recruiting talent — they are co-developing it. Students gain exposure to real-world challenges long before graduation. Industry gains engineers who are ready to lead from day one.

For DeAscanis, that cycle feels deeply personal.

“�鶹ԭ�� gave me the foundation to solve complex problems and the confidence to think bigger,” he says. “Now I get to help build the systems — and the teams — that will power what comes next.”

As global energy demand accelerates and infrastructure grows more sophisticated, the stakes are rising. The partnership between Siemens Energy and �鶹ԭ�� reflects a shared belief: that bold thinking, applied research and prepared graduates can shape not just an industry, but the future of how the world runs.

�鶹ԭ�� Alumnus Makes Epic Mark in��ٳ�� World of Themed Entertainment

Jen Cramer — Tue, 26 May 2026 19:00:04 +0000

Christian Spencer ’23 ’26MS is pursuing his dream career, blending the art of world-class hospitality with the innovation of themed entertainment here in Central Florida, the theme park capital of the world.

Last year, Spencer was promoted to his first leadership role as a performance coordinator with the Entertainment Events team at Universal Orlando Resort — guiding performers, maintaining show quality, and collaborating with creative and technical teams to deliver live events and immersive guest experiences. He credits �鶹ԭ�� with helping him achieve a decades-long goal.

Christian Spencer ’23 ’26MS in front of the Super Nintendo World portal at Universal Epic Universe. (Photo courtesy of Christian Spencer ’23 ’26MS)

That dream started during his childhood in Virginia, when his parents went through a difficult divorce, and he found his happy place at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. He went on to become a theater student, and in high school he took a job at the park as a performer.

That’s when he knew he could turn his passion into a career.

“As a kid, I could immerse myself in a show and have a reprieve from difficult times at home. I knew that someday I wanted to create that happiness for others,” Spencer says. “Once I had the opportunity to work there, I was fascinated by what it took behind the scenes to bring a theme park experience to life. I wanted a career filled with days like those.”

To pursue this path, he set his sights on attending , where he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in entertainment management in 2023. Just this week, �鶹ԭ�� welcomed as its first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner and announced the creation of The Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation at Rosen College.

“When I found Rosen College, I knew it was the place for me,” he says. “On the first day of class, my professor talked about the joys of a career in the theme park industry. It was a dream I’d had for so long that it moved me to tears.”

He sent his mom a text that said, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I’m exactly where I need to be.”

However, as an out-of-state student, tuition was a challenge for Spencer. His mom did all she could to help him, but he has worked hard to pay for his education. He became a resident assistant on campus and also received a Rosen College scholarship. Throughout school, he has worked as a performer in all three major Central Florida��ٳ��me parks simultaneously.

He also became a leader on campus and in the industry, serving as vice president of �鶹ԭ��’s Future Theme Park Leaders Association while he was a Rosen College student.

Christian Spencer ’23 ’26MS wears �鶹ԭ�� commencement regalia while balancing on stilts, which several performers at Universal Orlando Resort use. (Photo courtesy of Christian Spencer ’23 ’26MS)

He credits his professors with believing in him and supporting him throughout his journey, helping him to work toward his goal of becoming a show director in one of the local world-class theme parks.

The same professor who inspired him on day one later encouraged him to pursue a master’s degree in��ٳ��med experience, part of �鶹ԭ��’s College of Arts and Humanities. This program is designed for��ٳ�� next generation of creators, artists and leaders who are redefining what it means to be entertained, and Spencer just graduated in early May.

“My �鶹ԭ�� journey has been the experience of a lifetime,” he says. “And the best part is that I’ll spend my career creating experiences that are just as life-changing for others.”

Last year, Spencer received a Universal Orlando Impact Award recognizing his contributions to��ٳ�� grand opening celebration of Epic Universe, the resort’s newest theme park.

��, inspiring the �鶹ԭ�� community and demonstrating��ٳ�� power of a Knight education to reshape what it means to be entertained and what the future of experiences holds for people everywhere.

The �鶹ԭ��-Universal Pegasus Partnership is a significant early milestone of — a $3.5 billion campaign to expand opportunity, advance discovery and drive impact across the university.

Spencer’s story shows why is so important: Investments in �鶹ԭ�� help students ignite meaningful careers, discover new frontiers and create a bold tomorrow. Students like him are launching a new era of innovation and making their mark across every industry.

�鶹ԭ�� Researcher Develops “Smart, Tiny Bubbles” to Treat Cancer and Heart Disease

Wendy Sarubbi — Wed, 20 May 2026 14:21:52 +0000

A cell 500 times thinner than a human hair could heal hearts and kill cancer cells, thanks to a patent-pending technology created by a �鶹ԭ�� researcher and now licensed to a university donor in hopes of getting it to clinical trials.

Dinender Singla, professor and head of the College of Medicine’s Division of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences, developed a system that turns exosomes — vesicles that cells secrete to communicate with one another — into delivery vehicles for medical treatments.

This innovative technology, for which �鶹ԭ�� is seeking patent protection, places therapeutics inside exosomes and coats them with cell-specific markers that direct them to an exact area of the body to deliver the drug.

“I call these smart tiny bubbles,” Singla says. “Millions of people have heart disease, and they take multiple drugs in extremely high doses. But we have no way to be certain these drugs are getting to where they need to go. We need innovative technologies to get treatments exactly where they need to go to cure the problem.”

From left to right: Research Scientist Chandrakala Aluganti Narasimhulu, Jonatas De Mendonca Rolando ’23MS ’26PhD, a �鶹ԭ�� post-doc, �鶹ԭ�� doctoral student Omonzejie Imaralu ’22MS, Dinender Singla and Chakri Toleti.

How the Therapy Works

This discovery is part of Singla’s work to provide therapies to treat and prevent heart disease, including heart damage caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted radiation to the chest. That heart damage seems to be caused by inflammatory factors that treatments use to kill cancer cells. Technology developed by Singla encapsulates anti-inflammatory heart treatments in exosomes and then delivers the drug to the exact area of heart damage.

“They can treat cancer and protect the heart.” — �鶹ԭ�� Professor Dinender Singla

As part of this research, Singla’s team also developed technologies to deliver cancer-killing drugs inside exosomes. They chose triple-negative breast cancer for their research, the deadliest form of the disease, with a 77%–78% five-year survival rate. In the lab, the therapy showed significant promise in killing cancer cells – at much lower doses that are used in chemotherapy – while also protecting the heart. So the exosome therapy could help cancer patients without the severe side effects of chemotherapy.

“These therapies can work hand-in-hand,” Singla said. “They can treat cancer and protect the heart.”

Financial Investment is Key for Drug Development

The next step will be manufacturing the therapy for clinical use and advancing into FDA clinical trials for heart disease and cancer treatment. To help accelerate that path, Singla partnered with Orlando investor and �鶹ԭ�� donor Chakri Toleti, a healthcare technology entrepreneur focused on building category-defining businesses through AI and agentic platforms, biomedical innovation and ambient intelligence including most recently care.ai, which was acquired by Stryker in 2024.

Through his innovation fund, TCapital, Toleti backs transformative technologies designed to improve healthcare delivery and reduce human suffering at scale. Together, Singla and Toleti invested in and formed Exomic to fund continued research, clinical development, and commercialization of the technology.

“This was an opportunity to do something truly innovative in cancer and cardiovascular treatment.” — Chakri Toleti, �鶹ԭ�� donor

Toleti says his passion for advancing cancer research is deeply personal after losing his father to the disease.

“This was an opportunity to do something truly innovative in cancer and cardiovascular treatment,” he says. “Dr. Singla’s work represents a fundamental shift toward new biomedical platforms not only in how targeted therapies are delivered in the human body, but in how we think about treatment and healing itself.”

Such public-private partnerships are one of the goals of , which drives innovation, enterprise, and collaboration across disciplines.

“Dr. Singla’s groundbreaking exosome delivery system perfectly exemplifies how university innovation translates into significant, life-saving benefits for society,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation. “As demonstrated by the creation of Exomic, industry partnership is essential for driving such pioneering technologies towards successful translation and real-world clinical use.”

The effort is also providing exciting learning opportunities for College of Medicine graduate students. Jonatas De Mendonca Rolando ’23MS ’26PhD earned his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences earlier this month. He is staying at �鶹ԭ�� as a post-doctoral researcher to continue creating the exosome therapy.

He helped develop protocols and procedures for the delicate technology and saw its impact in the lab. He’s excited to have a financial supporter who can help take the therapy from lab to, he hopes, patients.

“It’s been amazing to part of a high-tech project and see leadership in science,” he says. “I am very excited for my future.”

Researcher Background

Singla is the AdventHealth Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Sciences at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences and is a faculty fellow with the �鶹ԭ�� Office of Research. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Punjabi University, Patiala, India, and his Ph.D. from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and has continually been funded by the American Heart Association and/or the National Institutes of Health since 2004.

About TCapital

TCapital is an AI, Frontier Tech and Life Sciences innovation fund investing in category-defining platforms and infrastructure. Founded by healthcare technology entrepreneur Chakri Toleti, T-Capital invests in companies shaping the future of treatment, care, and biomedical innovation. For more information, visit TCapital.com.

A Conversation on the Future of the �鶹ԭ�� College of Business

Erika Hodges — Fri, 15 May 2026 14:06:13 +0000

On the heels of a transformative $50 million gift from finance alumnus Barry Miller ’95 — the largest single philanthropic investment in �鶹ԭ��’s history — to establish��ٳ�� Barry S. Miller College of Business, Dean Paul Jarley discusses��ٳ�� impact of Miller’s investment on the college now and in the future.

What was your vision for the College of Business when you arrived in 2012?

When I arrived, �鶹ԭ�� had experienced tremendous growth, particularly coming out of the recession. But that growth made the college feel transactional. Faculty were stretched thin, technology had replaced in-person interaction and there wasn’t a strong sense of community.

What struck me most was that while we had excellent individual scholars, we didn’t yet have a true community of scholars. People didn’t know each other well, and without that, it’s very difficult to build a shared vision.

So, I started by listening. I met one-on-one with every faculty and staff member and asked three simple questions: What do you think about �鶹ԭ��? What would you do if you were me? And what is your role here?

What emerged was powerful. Many of our faculty were first-generation college graduates, just like our students, just like Barry and just like me. They are here because they wanted to help build something different. That became the foundation for our vision: creating a culture of engagement that would transform the college experience for everyone.

Faculty, students and staff here are expected to interact with each other and with people in industry and the community at large. This has helped make us fiercely practical. Faculty learn what is going on at the forefront of business. The college has a relevant curriculum with hands-on experiences for students. This helps students discover their path, develop professionally and fully engage with their future.

�鶹ԭ�� College of Business Dean Paul Jarley (right) introduces Barry Miller (left) at the announcement of his transformational investment. (Photo by Dana Weisman)

How would you describe the college’s culture today?

Today, that culture of engagement defines us.

There’s a quote from English philosopher Herbert Spencer we often reference: “The great aim of higher education isn’t knowledge, it’s action.” It’s not enough for students to learn concepts;��ٳ��y need to know how to apply them.

You see that in the building itself. It’s full. Students are here, working together, interacting with faculty, and engaging with corporate partners and alumni. That connection to the real world has become part of the fabric of the college, and it’s what makes the experience more meaningful and more transformative.

Changing culture is one of the hardest things a leader can do. It requires people to see a future they haven’t experienced yet. But over time, our faculty, staff and students have seen the value of what we’ve built together, and that’s what makes it sustainable.

��Ƿ��does��ٳ��Ѿ��investment accelerate that future?

“Great universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating the conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that.”

This investment allows us to recruit leading scholars at the intersection of business and technology — faculty who are working on the most pressing challenges facing industry and society.

They’ll help us tackle critical questions around trust in technology, cybersecurity, the concentration of power and how humans and intelligent systems interact. They’ll also help prepare our students to lead in that environment.

At the end of the day, great universities win by attracting great people (faculty and students) and creating��ٳ�� conditions for them to succeed. This gift helps us do exactly that.

The College of Business prepares graduates to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing economy.

What will distinguish��ٳ�� college over the next decade?

Our differentiation will come from deepening our engagement with industry and technology.

We want to be known as a place where innovation happens first, where companies come for talent and insight, and where students gain access to real opportunities.

Ultimately, it’s about outcomes. If we do this right, our graduates will be exceptionally well-prepared for high-impact, high-growth careers. That return on investment will set us apart.

What gives you optimism about the future?

I grew up during the Space Race, and at the time, the race to the moon was a sign of hope for people. Technology was seen as the path to a greater future. With the recent Artemis II launch, I would like to see us instill in our students, and in our leaders, a return to that kind of optimism around what technology can do. I think those flights are the definition of how technology can enhance the human experience, rather than replace it.

Universal Destinations & Experiences, �鶹ԭ�� Introduce New School to Develop��ٳ�� Future Leaders of Themed Entertainment, Immersive Experiences

�鶹ԭ�� — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:44:52 +0000

Universal Destinations & Experiences, the company behind some of the world’s most immersive entertainment experiences across global theme park and resort destinations and other new ventures, and the �鶹ԭ��, one of the most innovative universities in the country, introduce the Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation. Through a $10 million investment, the school is a catalyst to help develop future industry leaders, ushering in the next era of themed entertainment.

“The Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow’s leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences.” — Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences

The first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation is housed within the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, ranked No. 1 nationally. With the addition of Universal’s new school and the college’s School of Hospitality Leadership, students now have access to a dual-school model that brings together experience-focused education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership.

“The Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow’s leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences,” says Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences Mark Woodbury.

“�鶹ԭ�� was built to power what’s next for our students, for industry, and for the State of Florida,” �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “This collaboration with Universal Destinations & Experiences represents our mission at its best, creating an environment where students are learning in direct connection with the people and ideas shaping the future of immersive experiences.”

Universal Destinations & Experiences Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury (left) and �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright (right)

A First-of-its-Kind Model for Experience Education

The Universal and �鶹ԭ�� partnership will also support research through a new Hospitality Technology Lab, designed to be a creative sandbox for students to collaborate, test ideas, and gain practical hands-on experience working alongside �鶹ԭ�� faculty, Universal professionals, and industry stakeholders. Students will gain timely insight that reflects industry needs as part of their education. Built around innovation and interdisciplinary teaming, the lab embeds coursework, student projects, and faculty research in a shared space, equipping graduates with both current skills and the adaptability to lead in a constantly evolving technology ecosystem.

The new school’s research will build on �鶹ԭ��’s existing strengths, applying university expertise to one of the world’s most dynamic industries. Focus areas for teaching, learning, and research will include:

Service robotics and human-centered approaches to shape guest and employee interactions
AR and VR simulation technologies for training, operations, and immersive environments
AI and digital twins for optimizing and personalizing the guest experience

This work extends a decades-long partnership between �鶹ԭ�� and Universal rooted in collaboration and shared success. For more than 20 years, Rosen College has served as a key talent pipeline for Universal, with thousands of graduates contributing across its parks, experiences, and operations, alongside hands-on learning opportunities like the �鶹ԭ��/Universal Creative Lab.

“Together with �鶹ԭ�� we have opened doors for students and helped strengthen our industry with valued talent — and the next chapter will be even better,” Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences John Sprouls says. “We’re creating a distinctive academic home that will expand pathways into fulfilling and dynamic careers.”

“Rosen College has long been a global leader in hospitality education, and this next step reflects how our industry is evolving,” says �鶹ԭ�� Rosen College of Hospitality Management Dean Cynthia Mejia. “By strengthening our relationship with our longtime partners at Universal Destinations & Experiences, we are creating a first-of-its-kind two-school model that blends creativity, technology and leadership, preparing students to lead the future of guest experiences.”

Universal Destinations & Experiences Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury (left) and �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright (right) after signing the Pegasus Partnership agreement.

Pegasus Partners: Scaling Impact Through Collaboration

As �鶹ԭ��’s first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner, Universal Destinations & Experiences joins a group of industry leaders working with the university to solve real-world challenges, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the workforce talent pipeline. Universal is also the first Pegasus Partner to enter into a master research agreement with �鶹ԭ��, enabling collaboration at scale and unlocking new opportunities for applied research.

The Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy, and co-location at �鶹ԭ��.

As the first Pegasus Partner since the start of , �鶹ԭ��’s $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact, Universal’s commitment is a powerful model that combines philanthropy and strategic industry investment to drive innovation, expand opportunity, and fuel shared success.

A Legacy Built for What Comes Next

Laura J. Cole — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:46:36 +0000

For 25 years, members of have shared a powerful belief: investing in �鶹ԭ�� is ultimately an investment in students and the lives they’ll lead.

Through planned gifts such as bequests, estate plans and retirement assets, society members extend opportunity far beyond a single generation. Their support fuels scholarships, research and academic programs that prepare students to meet the evolving needs of industry and community.

In 2025 alone, planned gifts accounted for nearly one-third of all charitable support to �鶹ԭ��.

The society is named for �鶹ԭ��’s founding president, Charles Millican, a visionary who built the university with the future firmly in mind. During his tenure, Millican transformed 1,227 acres of Central Florida scrubland into an institution designed to support the space race and prepare students for careers in engineering and computer science. He championed what would become the Central Florida Research Park and helped shape �鶹ԭ��’s enduring ambition to reach for the stars.

Today, that vision lives on through more than 500 members of The Charles Millican Legacy Society — and through the students whose futures are shaped by their generosity.

A World of Possibility

Thiago Maillo’s path to a bachelor’s degree wasn’t linear — but it was driven by something unwavering: the pursuit of greater opportunity.

After his first year studying medicine at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Maillo realized he wanted a different future. He saw higher education in the United States as the place to build it. Just three months after applying to Valencia College, he moved to Florida and later .

“Scholarships have made all the difference. They’ve made it possible for me to achieve my dreams.” — Thiago Maillo, biomedical sciences major

Today, he’s a Burnett Honors Scholar and biomedical sciences major on the neuroscience track, with a minor in psychology. He’s conducted research at the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab, completed an internship with ThinkNeuro and serves as an undergraduate teaching assistant in Genetics and Embryology. He’s also found community as president of the Argentinian Student Association.

“Being at �鶹ԭ�� was my goal from the start,” says Maillo, who plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cognitive neuroscience. “I love being a Knight. Scholarships have made all the difference. They’ve made it possible for me to achieve my dreams — and pave the way for my two siblings to follow in my footsteps.”

Reimagining What’s Possible

Shannon Hankinson didn’t follow the traditional path to �鶹ԭ�� — she created her own.

A Tampa native and single mother of two, Hankinson spent years leading teams at Target before realizing that success and fulfillment aren’t always the same. Determined to change course, she saved money, left her job, earned an associate degree at Eastern Florida State College and transferred to �鶹ԭ��, becoming the first in her family to pursue a four-year degree.

“Donors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.” — Shannon Hankinson, electrical engineering major

Now a senior electrical engineering major, she has seized several opportunities at �鶹ԭ��. She completed two semesters in the , joined the Society of Women Engineers and works as a research assistant in �鶹ԭ��’s Radiation Effects Exploration Laboratory. There, she studies semiconductor reliability, hardware design and embedded systems under Assistant Professor Enxia Zhang. Through the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement program, she also gained hands-on experience with the U.S. defense sector.

This spring, Hankinson will graduate debt-free — supported by scholarships, research funding and a fellowship that’ll carry her directly into a �鶹ԭ�� master’s program. A doctorate is next.

“One of my goals was to show my children that it’s never too late to do what you want to do with your life,” Hankinson says. “Donors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.”

A Lasting Legacy

On May 2, �鶹ԭ�� celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Charles Millican Legacy Society. The milestone coincides with , which builds on the university’s commitment to accelerating student success, advancing research and driving societal impact.

On May 2, �鶹ԭ�� celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Charles Millican Legacy Society. .

“This university was founded to serve the next great frontier — America’s space race — and it’s support from dedicated individuals like our Charles Millican Legacy Society members that continue to power our innovators, educators and researchers as they move that mission forward,” says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the �鶹ԭ�� Foundation. “From driving the latest advances in AI to creating next-level immersive experiences and sparking breakthrough medical research, �鶹ԭ�� is building a future others have only imagined — one that this society’s namesake would be proud to see.”

Maillo is forging new frontiers for his family. Hankinson is showing her children what’s possible when you start again.

They aren’t outliers. They’re what happens when students with extraordinary drive meet extraordinary support.

This is the true legacy of �鶹ԭ��, of Millican and of the society members: students with the confidence to go further, supported by those who believe they can.

�鶹ԭ��, Orlando Health Co-Locate to Accelerate Healthcare Innovation

Robyn Lorfink — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:15:27 +0000

Yesterday, Orlando Health celebrated the opening of Orlando Health Strategic Innovations located within SPRK, �鶹ԭ��’s innovation building, expanding the health system’s presence at the center of �鶹ԭ��’s main campus.

Designed to accelerate innovation, the Orlando Health Strategic Innovations group connects real clinical and operational challenges with student and academic talent, creating a healthcare environment where ideas are tested, informed by feedback, and continually improved. The space serves as an extension of the system’s downtown headquarters and is jointly funded by Orlando Health Ventures and the Orlando Health Innovation teams.

Orlando Health’s presence within SPRK aligns with �鶹ԭ��’s broader co-location strategy, which brings industry partners onto campus to catalyze innovation through proximity. The approach emphasizes shared space, shared challenges and shared outcomes to accelerate problem-solving, support experiential learning and speed the translation of ideas into practice.

The co-location marks the latest milestone in Orlando Health’s long-standing partnership with �鶹ԭ��.

“By working side by side at SPRK, we are accelerating innovation and moving real-world healthcare solutions more quickly into the communities we serve.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, �鶹ԭ�� president

The Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute provides comprehensive, year-round care for �鶹ԭ�� student-athletes, including on-field coverage, primary care sports medicine, and specialized imaging. As a Pegasus Partner, Orlando Health pledged $5 million toward the , which supports nursing internships, scholarships, and hiring, helping to address the state’s nursing shortage. In addition, Orlando Health and �鶹ԭ�� collaborate on advanced technology projects — such as the AI for Medical Surgery system — jointly offer specialized residency programs and collaborate in many additional ways.

“Orlando Health has been an exceptional partner, demonstrating what is possible when industry and academia come together with shared purpose. This next phase of co-location builds on that foundation,” says �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright. “By working side by side at SPRK, we are accelerating innovation and moving real-world healthcare solutions more quickly into the communities we serve.”

Healthcare Innovation at the Center of Campus

Located in approximately 2,649 square feet within SPRK, the Strategic Innovations group was intentionally placed, here, to foster continuous collaboration with faculty and students across disciplines.

This co-location enables a new operating model. Orlando Health brings real health system challenges directly into the academic environment, and interdisciplinary teams of students, faculty, and Orlando Health innovators rapidly design, test, and refine solutions.

Early collaboration has already begun to generate impact in areas such as cancer research, digital health, creation of AI models and various orthopedic innovations.

“The opening of an Orlando Health Strategic Innovations space at �鶹ԭ�� represents our shared commitment to advancing healthcare delivery through bold new ideas,” says Jamal Hakim, M.D., chief physician officer, Orlando Health. “Through this partnership, we are creating a collaborative environment where clinicians, researchers, students and industry leaders can generate real-world solutions and drive innovations that will shape the future of how we care for patients.”

Built to Go For Launch

The latest milestone in , this co-location represents �鶹ԭ��’s deep commitment to the ecosystem of support powering our vision for the future.

Through a collective effort — combining philanthropy and transformational giving with corporate partnerships, research commercialization and other revenue-generating endeavors — �鶹ԭ�� is charting a bold new path forward and building a future the world has only begun to imagine.

“This co-location with Orlando Health exemplifies the kind of partnership that powers Go for Launch, bringing industry and academia together to create real-world impact,” says Rod Grabowski, �鶹ԭ�� vice president for Advancement and Partnership, and CEO of the �鶹ԭ�� Foundation. “By aligning visionary partners with �鶹ԭ��’s innovation ecosystem, we are accelerating discovery, expanding opportunity and advancing solutions that improve lives.”

Sharon Tucker Named Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing

Julie Harper — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:48:43 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� Pegasus Partner Orlando Health has named , dean of �鶹ԭ��’s College of Nursing, the Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing.

The prestigious endowed faculty position, which will support Tucker’s nursing research, teaching and scholarly activities, is just the latest example of how �鶹ԭ�� is leveraging industry partnerships to drive real-world impact.

Tucker is a distinguished scholar in both psychiatric mental health nursing and evidence-based practice who has made sustained impacts on the field, for nurses and patients alike. She is nationally board certified as an adult psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialist and integrative nurse coach.

Her research, which has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and presented around the world, focuses on behavior change through mental health and wellness interventions and organizational change through evidence-based practice.

“With its partnership, Orlando Health is elevating excellence in education and research to support future Knight nurses and improve the health of our communities.” — Sharon Tucker

“I am incredibly honored to be named to this esteemed endowed position, and grateful for Orlando Health’s support of the college,” says Tucker. “Partnerships are powerful and with its partnership, Orlando Health is elevating excellence in education and research to support future Knight nurses and improve the health of our communities.”

In addition to the new endowed chair appointment, Tucker holds the prestigious distinctions of fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and fellow of the National Academies of Practice in Nursing.

Orlando Health has been a long-standing partner of �鶹ԭ�� and the College of Nursing. The Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing was established in 2009, and Tucker is the second faculty member to be named to the appointment. It was formerly held by Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, the previous dean and a renowned critical care researcher.

Kelly Edmondson, Orlando Health’s senior vice president of nursing and patient care services, says the partnership speaks to the organization’s mission to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities they serve.

“Dr. Tucker’s research supports our efforts to empower nurses and elevate clinical excellence to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care,” Edmondson says. “It is an honor to continue to partner with �鶹ԭ�� to strengthen the nursing workforce and create a healthier future for all.”

In 2023, Orlando Health became one of �鶹ԭ��’s inaugural Pegasus Partners with a $5 million commitment to support the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion as well as provide tuition assistance and additional paid internships for �鶹ԭ�� nursing students.

to support the College of Nursing

Philanthropic support is critical to the creation of endowed faculty positions, helping �鶹ԭ�� attract and retain nursing experts, and support groundbreaking research that impacts the profession and the health of communities. Help launch more faculty experts to lead nursing into the future by joining �鶹ԭ��’s Go for Launch campaign.

First-Gen Alumnus Behind Transformational Gift Believes in Power of Philanthropy to Change Lives

Jen Cramer — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:04:36 +0000

When Barry Miller ’95 was graduating from high school, his dad decided to make a move from northeast Pennsylvania to the warmer climate of Daytona Beach, Florida. He urged his son, who was interested in business and accounting, to check out �鶹ԭ��. Since there wasn’t much information available online in the early 1990s, Miller ultimately sent a letter to �鶹ԭ�� requesting a brochure and an application.

Miller was impressed by our reputation as an early leader in technology and STEM fields, our connection to the space program and our success expanding into other areas. In fact, �鶹ԭ�� boasted one of the highest certified public accountant (CPA) pass rates of any public university — impressive to an aspiring accountant.

So Miller applied, was accepted and committed to �鶹ԭ�� sight unseen. It was the beginning of a journey that would change his family’s trajectory, along with the university’s.

Today, he committed a transformational $50 million gift — the largest single philanthropic investment in the university’s history — to position �鶹ԭ�� as a global leader in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and business innovation by establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

Barry ’95 and Rosie Miller ’95 with their two daughters.

First-Generation Student

Miller is president and co-founder of both Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health. He also founded and sold another successful business in his entrepreneurial career.

But back when Miller was attending �鶹ԭ��, he was paving the way as the first in his family to go to college. His dad, a self-taught contractor and developer and a single father, saw the value of higher education for his son.

“My father had a deeply ingrained work ethic that he passed on to me,” Miller says. “In the summer, he would get me out of bed early and have me carrying lumber and working on roofs. I learned to work hard, but I also learned that [it] was a tough job to do for 50 years. I wanted to try a different path.”

Once he started on that path, there was no stopping him.

Building Foundations

At �鶹ԭ��, Miller became a star student. He excelled in accounting, learned numerical analysis and had a knack for understanding financial markets. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance.

“I learned how to really study and apply myself academically at �鶹ԭ��. Essentially, I was learning strategy and project management as I made my way through school,” Miller says. “I didn’t know how impactful those habits would be until later in life. I realize now that everything I learned at �鶹ԭ�� has been foundational to my success.”

“I realize now that everything I learned at �鶹ԭ�� has been foundational to my success.”

Outside of class, Miller became a student-athlete, playing football when he initially came to �鶹ԭ��. That’s where he met then-quarterback Darin Hinshaw ’90 ’94MBA, who encouraged him to join his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), and became his big brother.

“Initially, I wasn’t interested in joining a fraternity. I had this idea that fraternities weren’t serious about school or life, and I was,” Miller says. “But my experience in PIKE ended up being formative. It’s where I learned about being a gentleman, dressing for success, networking and more.”

“To this day, so many of my friends are former fraternity brothers, including one of my best friends, Sean Hayes ’95, who has also been my business partner for nearly 30 years,” Miller continues. “As I look back, everything in my life has a connection to �鶹ԭ�� — my friends, my business partners, my career and even my wife Rosie ’95, since we met in college.”

Leaving a Legacy

As he built his career and found success in the business and financial world, Miller wanted to give back to �鶹ԭ��. Over time, he has invested in first-generation and STEM student scholarships, �鶹ԭ�� Athletics’ Knights Leadership Academy, the John T. Washington Center mural and more.

Each gift has been based on a personal connection or conviction.

“Being a first-generation student myself, having that opportunity to support students who are the first in their families to go to college is personal to me,” Miller says.

Barry ’95 and Rosie ’95 Miller at the Go For Launch campaign kickoff event. (Photo courtesy of Barry Miller ’95)

As his capacity to give grew, Miller wanted to make a transformative gift that would have an impact today and for generations to come. That led to conversations with university leaders about the opportunity to establish as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

To help bring that vision to life — and to build early momentum for , �鶹ԭ��’s comprehensive campaign to fuel bold ideas and build its future — Miller has committed to a $50 million gift, establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

The investment will accelerate an innovative new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will prepare students with the skills the marketplace demands.

“We are at a seminal moment in business, and AI and new technologies are creating fundamental shifts at a dramatically faster speed than ever before,” says Miller, who was inducted into the �鶹ԭ�� College of Business Hall of Fame in 2022. “I want �鶹ԭ�� to become the leader in business education, paving the way for everyone else.”

Inspiring Others

“Finding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.”

Until recently, Miller has made most of his gifts to �鶹ԭ�� anonymously. But as �鶹ԭ�� unveiled Go For Launch, he saw a powerful opportunity to step forward and encourage others to do the same. By sharing his commitment more openly, Miller hopes to help build momentum and invite broader participation in �鶹ԭ��’s vision.

“I hope this gift inspires people to be part of �鶹ԭ��’s mission to create a bold new future and give at whatever level they can. Maybe it’s $10, $100 or $1,000 — it all makes a difference,” Miller says.

“I want to tell people this: If it’s not your time to make a gift today, maybe it will be a year from now, or five years from now,” he continues. “Finding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.”