Main Departments

Current Status

Kudos Archive

• Katie Connolly, Ranetta Guinn, Vanessa Nixon

  Congratulations to the following recipient of the College of Health and Public Affairs' 2011-2012 Employee of the Year Award!
  
  Employee of the Year - University Support Personnel System (USPS) employee category
  Katie Connolly, office manager, Department of Legal Studies
  
  Employee of the Year - Administrative and Professional (A&P) employee category (tied winners)
  - Ranetta Guinn, associate director, Graduate Services
  - Vanessa Nixon, coordinator of administrative services, Dean's Office

  - April, 2012

• J. Stephen Lytle

  Congratulations to Steve Lytle, associate professor of health services administration, on his selection to be featured in The Best 300 Professors, published by The Princeton Review. His selection was based on data from survery findings and ratings collected by both The Prince Review and RateMyProfessors.com. While at UCF, Lytle has taught 62 different courses and helped to invent and foster the concept of online teaching and learning. Learn more

  - April, 2012

• Sophia Dziegielewski, Marixa Salgado

  The Osceola County Commissioners have proclaimed March 2012 as "Social Work Month" to recognize UCF's M.S.W. program in Kissimmee, Fla. Interim Director Sophia Dziegielewski and Instructor Marixa Salgado, who coordinates the program, received a formal proclamation document from Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones. Read the proclamation

  - March, 2012

• Thomas T. H. Wan, Natthani Meemon ('11)

  Thomas T. H. Wan, associate dean for research and professor of public affairs, and Natthani Meemon, a 2011 graduate of the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs, are the editors of a new special issue of the International Journal of Public Policy titled, "Public Affairs and Health Informatics Research." The issue includes articles co-written by Wan and Meemon and by three other UCF-affiliated authors: Lynn Unruh, professor of health services administration; Ning Jackie Zhang, associate professor of public affairs; and Bernardo Ramirez, assistant professor of health services administration. Learn more: Title Page. Table of Contents.

  - March, 2012

• Melvin Rogers (1)

  Melvin Rogers, associate dean for student affairs and instructor of public administration, was honored for his contributions to the campus by UCF's Gospel and Cultural Choir at the Second Annual Gospel Music Symposium, held Feb. 25, 2012, at the Orlando campus.

  - February, 2012

• Andrea-Li Medina, Yisell Rodriguez, Leslie Shillington

  Three students from the College of Health and Public Affairs -- Andrea-Li Medina (Legal Studies), Yisell Rodriguez (Legal Studies) and Leslie Shillington (Athletic Training) -- have been awarded UCF's highest honor, the Order of Pegasus. They are among just 19 undergraduates campuswide selected to receive this honor for 2012. The Order of Pegasus recognizes "exemplary performance" by UCF undergraduates in the areas of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership and community service, according to the UCF Office of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

  - February, 2012

• Barbara Howell

  Congratulations to Barbara Howell, research coordinator for the college and adjunct instructor for the School of Public Administration, on her receipt of a Service-Learning Faculty Recognition Award from the UCF Office of Experiential Learning! Howell received the award on Feb. 14, 2012, to honor her "distinguished service and outstanding commitment to service-learning at UCF." Through her course, "Introduction to Grantwriting" (PAD 5850), she teaches students the art and science of grantwriting while working on significant service-learning projects for community nonprofit, education or government agencies. Learn more.

  - February, 2012

• College Excellence Awards - 2011-2012

  Congratulations to the following recipients of the college's Excellence Awards for 2011-2012!

  Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
  Denise Gammonley, Social Work
  Ross Wolf, Criminal Justice
  
  Excellence in Graduate Teaching
  Michael Abels, Public Administration
  Reid Oetjen, Health Management and Informatics
  
  Excellence in Professional Service
  Thomas Bryer, Public Administration
  
  Excellence in Research
  Thomas Bryer, Public Administration
  
  Excellence in Undergraduate Faculty Academic Advising
  Alice Noblin, Health Management and Informatics

  - February, 2012

• Dean's List - Fall 2011

  Congratulations to all undergraduates in the College of Health and Public Affairs who made the Dean's List in the fall semester of 2011.  For a complete list of these students, see Dean's List - Fall 2011.
  
  According to universitywide regulations, "The Dean's List is compiled in recognition of scholastic honors to degree-seeking undergraduate students who earn a minimum 3.4 GPA, complete a minimum of 12 credit hours, earn no grade less than "C" (2.0) and no "I," "U," "N," "NC" or "WF" grades during a term."
  
  

  - January, 2012

• UCF ASL Team

  The Orlando Magic has invited UCF's ASL (American Sign Language) Team back to sign the national anthem at each of its home games during the 2011-2012 basketball season. "The Magic is the only professional sports team to provide this service," said Jason Hurdich, an ASL adjunct instructor at UCF and the team's advisor. "Our program [is having] an impact on a million or so fans per season."

  - January, 2012

• Mock Trial Team Wins

  The weekend of Nov. 12-13, 2011, was incredibly successful for the Mock Trial Team at UCF. At the 19th Annual Middle Tennessee State University Invitational Tournament, UCF teams competed against 48 teams from across the country and placed second, fourth and sixth. And at the University of Florida's Growlin' Gator Invitational, a UCF team placed third and one student earned an Outstanding Attorney Award.

  - November, 2011

• Kenyatta Rivers, Barbara Ehren

  Two faculty members in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders have been honored recently. On Oct. 21, Associate Professor Kenyatta Rivers received The Israel Tribble Award for Outstanding Alumni Support from the Florida Education Foundation, which oversees the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program. Earlier in the month, Professor Barbara Ehren, director of the doctoral program, was selected as a fellow of the International Academy of Research in Learning Disabilities.

  - October, 2011

• Lynn Unruh

  Professor Lynn Unruh is co-investigator of a new study titled "Benchmarking Patient Safety and Quality in U.S. Hospitals: The Stochastic Frontier Approach." The two-year project is funded by a $97,446 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the National Institutes of Health. She will conduct the study with co-investigator Richard Hofler from the UCF Department of Economics.

  - August, 2011

• Chad Nye

  Congratulations to Professor Chad Nye, executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), for being elected a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Fellowship in ASHA is given to members who have made oustanding contributions to the profession and is one of the highest honors that ASHA can bestow. All of the full professors in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders have been awarded this special honor.
  

  - June, 2010

• Athletic Training

  Five athletic training students from UCF presented case-study posters at the 13th Annual Florida Hospital Sports Medicine Conference, held July 18 at the Orlando Science Center. In addition to gaining experience presenting at a professional conference, two students, Molly Kordsmeier and Merritt Henderson, earned monetary awards. Click here to learn more.
  

  - July, 2010

• Kerry Gajewski, Kathleen Harris, Noreen Hodapp, Mary Lou Brunell, Teresa Daly, Marva Ellington, Kim MacLennan, Patricia Means, Brenda Posey

  Congratulations to the following COHPA employees who were recognized for their years of service to UCF at the 38th Annual Employee Award Program on Aug. 17, 2010:
  Kerry Gajewski - 20 years
  Kathleen Harris - 15 years
  Noreen Hodapp - 15 years
  Mary Lou Brunell - 10 years
  Teresa Daly - 10 years
  Marva Ellington - 10 years
  Kim MacLennan - 10 years
  Patricia Means - 10 years
  Brenda Posey - 10 years
  
  

  - August, 2010

• Kerry Gajewski, Nicole Phanstiel

  Congratulations to Kerry Gajewski, director of budget and research administration, and Nicole Phanstiel, coordinator of research administration, on becoming Certified Research Administrators (CRAs). The national Research Administrators Certification Council awarded them certification after they met specific education and experience criteria and successfully completed a certification exam. All staff members in the COHPA Office of Research are now CRAs.

  - August, 2011

• William Hanney

  William Hanney, instructor of physical therapy, received the 2011 Editorial Excellence Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in recognition of his high-quality reviews of manuscripts submitted to the Strength and Conditioning Journal. He has been a reviewer for the NSCA for more than four years and a member of the association since 1994. The NSCA honored Hanney during an awards banquet at its 2011 national conference, held July 6-9 in Las Vegas. Learn more

  - July, 2011

• Cynthia Brown

  Cynthia Brown, assistant professor of legal studies, recently attended the 19th Annual National Security Law Institute conducted by the Center for National Security Law and the University of Virginia School of Law. This year's institute was held June 5-17 at the law school in Charlottesville, Va. Brown was one of just five professors selected to attend the institute, following a national competitive process. The participants also included 27 government practitioners with responsibilities in national security.

  - July, 2011

• Marixa Salgado

  A video developed by Instructor Marixa Salgado, who coordinates the M.S.W. program at UCF Valencia Osceola, and UCF's Level2 Productions is a 2011 Award of Excellence Winner in the Education Film/Video category in the 17th Annual Communicator Awards program run by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. Salgado developed the video as an introduction to the course "Diverse Client Populations." Watch the video
  

  - June, 2011

• Jennifer Kent-Walsh

  Jennifer Kent-Walsh, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, was selected to attend the first Summer Research Training Institute on Single-Case Intervention Research Design and Analysis sponsored by the National Center for Special Education Research in the U.S. Department of Education. She is attending the weeklong institute from June 27 through July 1 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The program is designed to "increase the national capacity of education researchers to conduct single-subject intervention studies that have scientifically credible methodology and analysis." The program pays for all travel, accommodations and meals.

  - June, 2011

• Denise Gammonley

  Associate Professor Denise Gammonley has been reappointed as a member of the Council of Social Work Education's (CSWE) Council on Global Learning, Research and Practice for a three-year term. Among the council's responsibilities are promoting the development of social workers who are competent in international practice. Learn more at the link above.

  - June, 2011

• Legal Studies

  The Executive Committee of the American Collegiate Moot Court Association has voted to accept UCF's proposal to host a national collegiate qualifying tournament on Dec. 2 and 3, 2011. "Given the quality of UCF's program in mock trial, and reputation as a tournament host, I am anticipating that this will be a very fine regional tournament," wrote ACMCA President Frank Guiliuzza. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

  - June, 2011

• Social Work, Olga Molina

  Faculty and student researchers from the School of Social Work attended the Advancement of Social Work with Groups' 33rd Annual International Symposium, held June 2-5 aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. Each researcher presented a paper or poster. The presenters were (above, left to right) public affairs doctoral student Lloyd Duran, Master of Social Work student Yiny Poveda, Associate Professor Olga Molina, and M.S.W. students Julie Clifton and Tiffany Vanterpool.
  

  - June, 2011

• Linda Rosa-Lugo

  Linda I. Rosa-Lugo, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, received the Honors of the Association Award at the Annual Convention of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, held May 26-29 in Marco Island, Fla. She is the third UCF faculty member in four years to win the award. In addition, graduate students Karen Davis and Michele Cardona won first place in the convention's poster competition. Other communication sciences and disorders students were recognized as well. Learn more.
  

  - May, 2011

• Michael Frumkin, Nancy Ellis

  Michael Frumkin, dean of the College of Health and Public Affairs; Nancy Ellis, director of the Center for Community Partnerships; and Rex Culp, associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Education, received a "Certificate of Appreciation" in May 2011 from Orange County Public Schools in recognition of their commitment to develop the Evans High Community School in Orlando.

  - May, 2011

• Marva Ellington

  Congratulations to Marva Ellington, coordinator of academic support services for the Department of Criminal Justice, on her selection as a 2011 Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit recipient in the Academic Advising-Primary Role category by the National Academic Advising Association. She will be honored formally this October at NACADA's Annual Conference in Denver.

  - May, 2011

• Kim MacLennan, Tish Sheppard

  Congratulations to the college's 2011 Employee of the Year winners! Kim Maclennan (above, left), a program assistant in Health Professions, received the EOY award for the University Support Personnel System (USPS) employee category. Tish Sheppard (right), administrative services coordinator for Health Professions, received the EOY award for Administrative and Professional (A&P) employee category. The awards were announced by Dean Michael Frumkin (center) at a collegewide Staff Appreciation Luncheon held on April 27.

  - April, 2011

• Theodore Angelopoulos, Martine Vanryckeghem, Kendall Cortelyou-Ward, Donna Malvey, Ning "Jackie" Zhang, Kathy Cook, Ana Leon

  Health Profession's Theodore Angelopoulos was selected to receive a 2011 Research Incentive Award (RIA) in recognition of his outstanding research accomplishments.
  
  In addtion, the following faculty members were selected to receive a 2011 UCF Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) Award in recognition of their outstanding teaching accomplishments:
  
  Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Martine Vanryckeghem
  Health Management and Informatics
  • Kendall Cortelyou-Ward
  • Donna Malvey
  • Jackie Zhang (also Public Affairs)
  Legal Studies
  • Kathy Cook
  Social Work
  • Ana Leon

  - April, 2011

• Chad Cronon

  Two members of the college have been selected to receive UCF Keeper of the Creed Awards for 2010-2011. M.S.W. student Michael Freeman has been selected for the award "under the pillar of Community." Legal Studies Instructor Chad Cronon has been selected for the award "under the pillar of Integrity." They were honored by UCF Student Development and Enrollment Services at an Appreciation Celebration planned for 9 a.m., April 19, in the Student Union Pegasus Ballroom.
  

  - April, 2011

• Kristen Schellhase, Layla Archer, Naim Kapucu, Alice Noblin, Reid Oetjen, Thomas Bryer, Anthony Pak Hin Kong

  FOUNDERS' DAY 2011
  
  UNIVERSITYWIDE AWARDS
  • Excellence in Undergraduate Faculty Academic Advising: Kristen Schellhase
  • Excellence in Professional Academic Advising: Layla Archer
  • Excellence in Professional Service: Naim Kapucu
  • Most Outstanding Honors in the Major Thesis: Brenna Eagen
  
  COLLEGEWIDE AWARDS
  • Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Alice Noblin & Reid Oetjen
  • Excellence in Graduate Teaching: Thomas Bryer
  • Excellence in Research: Anthony Pak Hin Kong
  • Most Outstanding Student: Eric Boehm
  

  - April, 2011

• Jennifer Tucker

  Physical therapy Instructor Jennifer Tucker led a team of nine Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) students, along with a speech therapist and a wheelchair specialist, on a six-day humanitarian trip to Kingston, Jamaica during spring break. Their objective was to help meet the needs of children living in orphanges. Read more

  - March, 2011

• Lee Ross

  Lee Ross, associate professor of criminal justice, received a 2011 Outstanding Mentor Award at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, held March 1-5, in Toronto, Canada. The award recognizes significant contributions to the professional development of students and colleagues.
  

  - March, 2011

• Legal Studies (1)

  Team 870 and Team 871 of the Mock Trial Team at UCF have qualified to compete at the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament, planned for April 15-17, 2011, in Des Moines, Iowa.

  - March, 2011

• Social Work

  Alissa Mooney, a social work graduate student and intern at the Orlando Veterans Administration Medical Center was a "hero" at the Feb. 27 "Topping Out" ceremony, which recognized the half-way point in construction of the new VA hospital at Lake Nona. "The planned singer of the national anthem and the backup both cancelled," said Steve Shea, chief of psychology for the medical center. "With 20 min. notice, Alissa volunteered to sing. With a large audience, a stage full of dignitaries and TV cameras rolling, Alissa stepped up and saved the day. And she did a beautiful job too!"

  - February, 2011

• William Hanney (1)

  William Hanney, instructor of physical therapy, and his colleague Morey Kolber gave a two-hour lecture on the implications of posterior shoulder tightness in individuals with shoulder pain to an audience of more than 600 at the American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting, held Feb. 9-12 in New Orleans.

  - February, 2011

• Melvin Rogers

  Melvin Rogers, associate dean for student affairs and instructor of public administration, was honored as an "esteemed" faculty member who is a "great asset" to the UCF community at the Annual Black History Month "Gospel Explosion," Feb. 6, at 12 p.m. in the Student Union.

  - February, 2011

• Thomas T. H. Wan

  Thomas T. H. Wan, associate dean for research and professor of public affairs, participated in a series of workshops organized by the University of Costa Rica and Ministry of Health, from Feb. 7 to 11. He gave a formal presentation on Global Health Care Informatics Research at the university on Feb. 10.

  - February, 2011

• Communication Sciences and Disorders

  Cheran Zadroga, a speech-language pathologist at Moss Park Elementary School in Orlando and doctoral student in communication sciences and disorders at UCF, is profiled in a recent issue of Lifestyle, a regional news publication (see Someone You Should Know: Cheran Zadroga).

  - January, 2011

• Public Administration, Social Work

  Two students from the college have been selected as UCF Legislative Scholars for spring 2011: Chelsea Anderson, a graduate student in public administration, and Diane Suddes, an undergraduate student in social work. The internship will enable them to spend three months working at state legislative offices in Tallahassee. Anderson has been assigned to Rep. Eric Eisnaugle's office and Suddes has been assigned to Sen. Mike Haridopolos' office. Each will receive housing, a $3,000 stipend and academic credit for their efforts.
  
  

  - January, 2011

• Barbara Ehren, Tom Ehren

  Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor Barbara Ehren, director of the doctoral program, and Clinical Instructor Tom Ehren were awarded the Annie Glenn Leadership Award at a national conference on language and literacy held Oct. 24-26 in Columbus, OH. Annie Glenn, wife of former Ohio Sen. John Glenn, was on hand to present the award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify excellence in leadership and are committed to innovative change through sustained clinical or research interests in communication, language and literacy.

  Photo: (Left to right) John Glenn, Annie Glenn, Barbara Ehren and Tom Ehren
  
  

  - October, 2010

• Doctoral Program in Public Affairs

  UCF's Doctoral Program in Public Affairs is among the nation's top 25 percent of doctoral programs in the field of "Public Policy, Public Affairs and Public Administration" according an assessment conducted by the National Research Council. The NRC assessed comprehensive data for the years 2000 to 2006 submitted by 54 doctoral programs in the field. The assessment considered 20 different program characteristics - including research activity of program faculty, student support and outcomes, and diversity of the academic environment - and results from surveys of randomly selected faculty members and students from the program. The NRC reported its findings in late September 2010.

  - October, 2010

• Alumni

  Congratulations to the college's inaugural group of OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD winners!
  
  Communication Sciences and Disorders
  Todd Fix, '97
  
  Criminal Justice
  Kenneth Cox, '81 & '01

  Health Management and Informatics
  Sherrie Sitarik, '93
  
  Health Professions
  Cori Thompson, '05
  
  Legal Studies
  Larry Deal, '77
  
  Public Administration
  Howard Tipton, '90
  
  Social Work
  Joan Nelson, '06

  - September, 2010