��ӽ紫ý Alumni Archives | University of Central ��ӽ紫ý News

��ӽ紫ý Alumnus Engineers Wonder Across Generations

Camille Dolan ’98 | Photos courtesy of Doug Akers ’07 — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:25:48 +0000

A child clutches a wand before stepping into Hogsmeade for the first time. Nearby, a father smiles, remembering his own first visit years earlier. Grandparents pause for a photo. Teenagers race toward their favorite coaster. Doug Akers ’07 notices all of it.

As senior vice president of operations for Universal Destinations & Experiences, the ��ӽ紫ý hospitality management alumnus helps oversee the intricate systems that make those moments possible. But after more than 20 years in the themed entertainment industry, he’s learned that operations isn’t really about attractions, transportation or crowd flow.

It’s about protecting something surprisingly fragile: wonder.

Finding the Right Path

Akers’ love of theme parks began early. He found himself happily spending hours designing his own theme parks inside video games and paying far more attention to the operational details than anyone else his age thought necessary. While friends obsessed over bigger roller coasters and taller drop towers, he wondered where deliveries arrived, where maintenance crews parked and what made the fantasy feel believable.

“I had my own little fan website,” he says. “People think I’m obsessive, but I’d ask myself, ‘Where’s my service road? Where’s my warehouse? The park doesn’t look real. It needs the support buildings.'”

As a child, Akers helped his parents with the annual school carnival, arriving before the crowds to watch an empty schoolyard transform into something magical.

Looking back, though, the curiosity started even earlier. As a child, Akers helped his parents with the annual carnival at his elementary school, arriving before the crowds to watch vendors transform an empty schoolyard into something magical.

“I think that’s really where I got my roots,” he says, reflecting on early mornings spent watching adults solve problems, adapt to surprises and somehow make it all look effortless.

By high school, that curiosity had become impossible to ignore. He enrolled in Honors Physics after hearing about a key design project that challenged students to apply scientific principles to something they cared about. He knew immediately that he wanted to create a theme park.

At ��ӽ紫ý, he discovered that operations offered the same intellectual challenge that first drew him to engineering.

The project quickly grew beyond a classroom assignment.�� Along with crafting miniature toothpick landscapes and designing attractions, Akers wrote fictional press releases announcing the park’s grand opening and carefully mapped out how every element fit together. He wasn’t just building rides — he was creating an experience.

Engineering seemed like an obvious choice when Akers began college. He had always been fascinated by how systems worked and how their pieces fit together. At ��ӽ紫ý, he discovered that operations offered the same intellectual challenge that first drew him to engineering, while adding a dimension he hadn’t expected: human behavior.

How do thousands of moving parts and people come together so seamlessly that guests never stop to think about them? How do all those unseen details shape what people remember long after they return home?

Those questions ultimately led him to , where he discovered an academic environment that blended entertainment, finance, guest service, leadership, operations and strategic thinking.

Learning to See the Invisible

Doug Akers ’07 at Mel’s Drive-In during his time in food and beverage at Universal Studios ��ӽ紫ý.

A college job at Universal Orlando Resort became something much bigger — a cauldron of knowledge, more wondrous than anything else he had known. Each new opportunity brought greater responsibility. Akers worked in transportation, attractions, food and beverage, entry operations and special events across multiple parks and international projects. By building a reputation for thoughtful leadership and a willingness to learn every corner of the business, he rose from a college employee to one of the company’s senior executives.

Along the way, he learned one lesson that has shaped his career: the most exceptional operations are often the least visible.

When every detail is executed seamlessly, guests never think about logistics, staffing or transportation. They’re focused on making memories with family and friends.

That’s when Akers realized operations were never the end goal. They were the foundations that made those meaningful experiences possible.

Wonder Doesn’t Have an Age Limit

Spend a day in the parks with Akers and one thing becomes clear: he spends as much time watching guests as he does monitoring attractions. A child experiences a beloved story for the first time. Parents revisit childhood memories. Grandparents watch a new generation imagine and dream.

For Akers, those moments are the true measure of success.

Wonder doesn’t disappear as people grow older. It simply takes on new meaning with every stage of life, creating memories and connections that span generations.

Creating and operating the spaces where those moments take place has quietly become the work of his career.

Leading Through Curiosity

Today, Akers oversees operations on a scale he never imagined as a college student. His career has taken him across the U.S. and around the world, including helping open Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Beijing.

Doug Akers ’07 (middle right) stands with colleagues at Universal Studios Singapore.

Those experiences also help shape the future of the industry. Through the first-of-its-kind housed within ��ӽ紫ý’s Rosen College — created in partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences — students will learn how storytelling, technology and operations work together while designing experiences that inspire wonder, with Universal helping craft the curriculum.

At ��ӽ紫ý, professors and mentors challenged Akers to think differently and encouraged him to pursue opportunities he hadn’t considered. They helped him recognize that careers rarely follow a straight path and that curiosity is often a better guide than certainty.

It’s the same advice he shares with ��ӽ紫ý students: Don’t become so attached to your original plan that you miss the opportunity in front of you. The best experiences are the ones held together by thousands of invisible details working in perfect harmony, Akers says.

Somewhere today, another child will step through Universal Orlando Resort’s gates carrying a wand almost as tall as they are. Years from now, they may return with children of their own.

Akers hopes they never think about the thousands of unseen details that made the day possible.

He hopes they remember only how they felt.

He hopes they remember the wonder.

is about more than reaching a destination. It’s about creating the conditions for bold ideas, transformative experiences and life-changing opportunities, similar to the ones that shaped Akers’ career. Join us in investing in students, strengthening our university and helping ��ӽ紫ý continue to reach ever higher.

��ӽ紫ý Grad Helps Shape Humanity’s Next Giant Leap

Robert Stephens — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:30:56 +0000

When Alex Williams ’09 says, “these are exciting times,” just consider where he’s been and where he believes humanity is going.

Williams recently traveled between Virgin Galactic’s headquarters in Tustin, California, and its spaceship factory in Mesa, Arizona, 350 miles from Spaceport America near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Today, fewer than 800 people have traveled to space. But Virgin Galactic projects that soon 750 or more people — “astronauts” — will ride its spaceships annually.

“My wheelhouse, [going] back to Disney and ��ӽ紫ý, is designing experiences that are different, larger than ourselves.”

As the company’s senior manager of program design, Williams is among those responsible for producing a full “experience” around each pinnacle moment.

“My wheelhouse, [going] back to Disney and ��ӽ紫ý, is designing experiences that are different, larger than ourselves,” Williams says. “Here, I get to be part of opening space as the next layer of humanity.”

While Virgin Galactic’s early flights made headlines for carrying company founder Sir Richard Branson and a few private astronauts, those brief trips had a bigger purpose.

“We believe deeply in making space accessible for all,” Williams says. “Each spaceflight brings everyone closer. The day is coming for everyday people who watched Apollo and Artemis missions with wonder. It’s coming for the person looking for perspective or the next adventure. They can be astronauts.”

Inside and Outside a Flight to Space

The official term for a flight with Virgin Galactic is “spaceflight expedition.” Passengers don’t board a rocket.

“It’s a spaceship,” Williams says.

Part of the experience, then, is knowing your way into a spacesuit and into your seat aboard the spaceship. It’s bonding with crewmates and being prepared for Mach 3 speed. Preparation is critical, but it’s designed to be much less intense than fortifying oneself for a Mount Everest expedition.

“You’re in New Mexico for less than a week,” Williams says. “We don’t want it to be physically taxing because we want you fully immersed in this monumental experience.”

(Photo courtesy of Alex Williams ’09)

The spaceflight expedition is approximately 90 minutes from boarding to landing, including several minutes of weightlessness.

“Safety is paramount, so we use an air launch system where a launch vehicle carries our spaceship to a release point of 45,000 feet,” Williams says. “Then the rocket motor kicks in, and the spaceship accelerates to Mach 3. The astronauts are sent back into their seats comfortably. When the motor shuts off, you coast to your highest point. And then the spaceship glides back to Spaceport for a graceful runway landing.”

The immersion surrounds those 90 minutes. It includes hospitality, food and beverage, and bringing astronauts and their families into the culture of the Las Cruces area.

“We test everything,” Williams says. “I’ve learned, for example, that I like hatch chiles.”

They are now part of the carefully designed experience.

Stretching His Own Mind

After four years at Virgin Galactic, Williams has explained the experience so many times that he feels as if he’s taken flight himself.

Even so, he still occasionally struggles to find the words.

“It’s indescribable,” he says.

The technology of safe spaceflight is mostly beyond his understanding, which only adds to the fascination for a kid at heart who grew up in Citrus County, just 90 minutes from Orlando’s theme parks, where he first began stretching his imagination.

“Disney had this unbridled positivity for what the future could be,” Williams says. “I wanted to be a part of something like that, helping push humanity forward, but I wasn’t sure how.”

He began to discover how at ��ӽ紫ý, where he majored in art and says he had the freedom to “Frankenstein my educational program together.” The first day he walked into the Student Union, he happened to be walking into auditions for Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights.

“That experience became a piece to the puzzle,” he says.

A themed attraction class, where he helped design a ride, added another piece. So did operations courses through his hospitality management minor at .

He used all these lessons during his 16 years with Disney, including Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and D23.

“And then my ears perked up when I heard about the direction of Virgin Galactic,” Williams says. “I saw it like my own story — in a constant state of becoming.”

“This is a rare experience that can connect us to each other, to our planet and to possibilities to do something good.”

His mindset also parallels Virgin Galactic’s ultimate intent for spaceflight.

“It comes down to optimism,” he says. “This is a rare experience that can connect us to each other, to our planet and to possibilities to do something good. You don’t go up on our spaceship to look out at space — you go up to look back at Earth. As more people do that, we can’t begin to imagine how much good can result from those few minutes.”

New ��ӽ紫ý Grad Spreads the Value of Financial Literacy

Robert Stephens — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:30:25 +0000

Natalie Otero ’26 may have missed her graduation ceremony this spring, but she had a good excuse. She’d just landed in Japan for a long-awaited vacation that was three years in the making. She says the trip — where she discovered new interests (sword-making), traversed a mountain and bonded with friends — symbolized her ��ӽ紫ý experience.

“Building knowledge and strengthening friendships,” Otero says. “That’s my story at ��ӽ紫ý.”

Those relationships led her to pivot from pre-med to accounting and opened her up to learn new skills like coding. Friends fueled her drive, brought her joy and encouraged internships, all of which she credits for her induction into the Order of Pegasus, the highest honor for ��ӽ紫ý students.

“When I started at ��ӽ紫ý, I didn’t know anyone,” says the Jacksonville, ��ӽ紫ý, native. “Everything changed quickly.”

��ӽ紫ý President Alexander N. Cartwright (left) and Provost John Buckwalter (right) recognize Natalie Otero ’26 during an Order of Pegasus ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Otero)

Discovering Her Own Calling

Otero didn’t really want to be a doctor. She just heard she was supposed to be a doctor.

“When you do well in high school, people say, ‘Oh, be a doctor and cure cancer.’ That’s where my mind was when I arrived as a freshman,” says Otero, who began her ��ӽ紫ý journey studying biomedical sciences.

Then an elective class, Principles of Financial Accounting, intervened.

“The professor, Jeff Reinking ’13PhD, broke the mold of what it means to be an accountant,” she says. “The concepts made such perfect sense that I switched my major to accounting and saw a clear path ahead. For a freshman, that’s exciting.”

Natalie Otero (right) found a community at ��ӽ紫ý when she joined the student organization KnightHacks. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Otero)

That same year, Otero’s friends introduced her to KnightHacks, a student organization that hosts ��ӽ紫ý’s biggest software-building marathon annually for hundreds of students from throughout the nation.

“I said I’d go for fun. Only one girl in our group was a computer science major, but we were able to use basic coding theories to build a program from scratch in 36 hours,” she says. “We didn’t need to win. Learning and becoming closer, those were our awards.”

A Powerful Cycle for Success

Otero needed no push but says her friends at ��ӽ紫ý became like iron sharpening iron. They’d talk about work experiences, which made Otero feel as if she needed to catch up. As a sophomore, she applied for the (CWEP), a year-long paid opportunity that enables undergraduate and graduate students to gain real-world work skills and abilities relevant to their academic and career goals.

“I guess they sensed something genuine because they offered the position to me,” she says.

Before graduating, Otero completed an internship with one of the big four accounting firms, Deloitte. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Otero)

A few months later, she was chosen for another internship, this one with Deloitte. By the time she started her junior year, she had experience with two corporations, had become a hackathon regular and developed a hunger for accounting coursework.

“It all comes full circle. The instructors bring business experiences to the lessons, and we take lessons into businesses,” she says. “I’d leave [Associate Professor] Sean Dennis’s class and think auditing must be the most exciting subject ever. All along, my friends and I kept encouraging each other.”

Her True Inspiration

Word about Otero’s accounting skills spread until people began asking her to help with their taxes. She routinely gives her time and skillset to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, where she serves people limited by income, language and disabilities.

“My dad walked me through financial knowledge, and with VITA I have the privilege of doing the same for others,” she says.

Otero has drawn more than financial knowledge from her family. Her paternal grandparents came to the U.S. from Cuba at young ages as part of Operaçion Pedro Pan, an agreement of cooperation between the U.S. State Department and Catholic Charities of Miami in the 1960s that saw more than 14,000 unaccompanied children sent by their parents to Miami, away from the growing communist regime in Cuba.

“This has been so much better than I imagined when I came to ��ӽ紫ý and didn’t know anyone.” — Natalie Otero ’26

“It was hard, but my grandparents talk about how happy they were to be in the U.S., even with limited resources and not knowing when they’d see their parents again,” Otero says. “They’ve always been optimistic because they know the value of opportunities and they worked hard to make the most of them.”

Otero’s own optimism engages friends, and her work ethic has led to the Order of Pegasus award, another internship with Deloitte this summer and graduate school in the fall at UNC Chapel Hill.

“It’s hard to believe,” Otero says. “This has been so much better than I imagined when I came to ��ӽ紫ý and didn’t know anyone. Everything is more rewarding, too, because of all the people who have made it possible.”

After graduating from ��ӽ紫ý, Natalie Otero is pursuing a graduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Otero)

��ӽ紫ý’s Summer 2026 Commencement Set for July 31-Aug. 1

Jenna Marina Lee — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:58:16 +0000

��ӽ紫ý will award more than 4,900 degrees during this summer’s ceremonies, continuing its record-setting momentum in preparing highly skilled graduates for in-demand fields, including engineering, computer science, business, nursing, and digital and emerging media.

Worth noting among this graduating class:

Roughly 30% of the undergraduate students receiving their degrees are the first in their families to earn their diploma.
More than 25% of this term’s degrees are tied to STEM majors.
About 30% of the undergraduate graduating class are Pell Grant recipients.

��ӽ紫ý is the leading producer of talent among ��ӽ紫ý’s universities, awarding roughly 19,000 degrees annually to Knights who go on to work in high-demand industries. About 85% of our alumni stay in ��ӽ紫ý because of the ample opportunity to thrive as part of our state’s workforce.

Graduates will hear from��three��esteemed speakers��— all ��ӽ紫ý graduates —��whose leadership and impact��have��benefited��our region:

Psychology alum��Allen Johnson��’81,��chief��venue��officer for��City��for��Orlando Venues
Journalism alum Tanya (Easterling) Hill ’97, market president for Central ��ӽ紫ý for ��ӽ紫ý Blue
��Բ��ܲ��پ��ܳ��Fred Kittinger ’80, ��ӽ紫ý’s former��senior associate vice president for government and community relations

(Left to Right): Fred Kittinger ’80, Tanya Hill ’97 and Allen Johnson ’81 will return to their alma mater as this summer’s commencement keynote speakers.

Commencement Festivities

Held in the Addition Financial Arena, summer commencement will take place over three ceremonies spanning Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1.

All guests, including children and infants, need a ticket for admission. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate will receive five commencement ceremony tickets when they pick up their regalia packet.

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be .

Commencement Photo-ops Across ��ӽ紫ý

��ӽ紫ý Downtown’s most photographic locations for grad pictures.

Graduating Knights are unable to take photos at the Acrisure Bounce House football stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.

Grad Walk

On Thursday,��July��30,��4:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.),��summer��graduates are invited to a photo-op — Grad Walk — within the Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. Graduates��are required to��register at��.

All commencement ceremonies are livestreamed. (Photo by Antoine Hart)

Commencement Schedule

Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony��dates��and streaming links:

��岹��,��ܱ��31

6��.��.

College of Arts and Humanities

College of Community Innovation and Education

College of Graduate Studies

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Saturday,��Aug. 1

9 a.m.

Barry S. Miller��College of Business

College of Health Professions and Sciences

College of Medicine

College of Nursing

2:30��.��.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Optics and Photonics

College of Sciences

For more details and FAQs about��Summer��2026 commencement celebrations, visit��ucf.edu/graduation.

Commencement Speakers

Allen Johnson ’81 graduated with a degree in psychology.

Allen Johnson ’81

Chief Venues Officer, City of Orlando Venues

Allen Johnson ’81 has served as chief venues officer of Orlando Venues since 2004, overseeing the City of Orlando’s diverse portfolio of Kia Center, Camping World Stadium, Tinker Field, Leu Gardens and the Mennello Museum of American Art.

Johnson brings decades of venue management experience from leadership roles across ��ӽ紫ý. Under Johnson’s leadership, Orlando Venues has evolved into a premier, globally recognized destination for sports, entertainment and culture, welcoming millions of guests each year while strengthening Central ��ӽ紫ý’s reputation as a world-class destination.

A proud ��ӽ紫ý graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, he has earned numerous honors, including the 2025 International Association of Venue Managers Foundation Legacy Award, the SPORTYS Executive of the Year Award and the Downtowner of the Year Award.

He remains active in the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), serving as past chairman and trustee of the foundation board, while also contributing to organizations that include the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, ��ӽ紫ý Citrus Sports, Victim Service Center and the .

Tanya Hill graduated with a degree in journalism.

Tanya (Easterling) Hill ’97

Market President for Central ��ӽ紫ý, ��ӽ紫ý Blue

Tanya Hill ’97��is ��ӽ紫ý Blue’s market president for Central ��ӽ紫ý,��responsible for��regional business and community engagement in a 9-county region.

Throughout her more than 25-year career, she has worked with reputable brands including Chick-fil-A, Target and Walt Disney World to drive business results through strategic partnerships.

Hill is passionate about investing time in the community and has been involved with��numerous��community and civic organizations. She currently serves on the board of directors for the��African American Chamber of Commerce of Central ��ӽ紫ý, 4Roots Foundation, Orlando Economic��Partnership��and the Winter Park Health Foundation.

Hill holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from ��ӽ紫ý.

Fred Kittinger graduated with a degree in criminal justice.

Fred Kittinger ’80

Former Senior Associate Vice President for Government and Community Relations, ��ӽ紫ý

A native of central ��ӽ紫ý, Fred Kittinger ’80 recently retired as senior associate vice president for government and community relations at ��ӽ紫ý, where he served for more than 22 years.

He worked alongside local and state leaders to help foster some of ��ӽ紫ý’s most transformative achievements, including the approval of ��ӽ紫ý’s College of Medicine, the creation of the world-class ��ӽ紫ý Interactive Entertainment Academy, the development of ��ӽ紫ý Downtown, the expansion of the ��ӽ紫ý Business Incubation Program and investments that enhanced the student experience and advanced regional impact.

Prior to his career at ��ӽ紫ý, Kittinger served as chief of staff to Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood and previously as vice president of government relations for the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce. He began his career as a legislative aide to state Senator George Stuart of Orlando.

Reflecting his commitment to the community, Kittinger currently serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Central ��ӽ紫ý (past chair), Central ��ӽ紫ý Council for Scouting America and Legacy Pointe at ��ӽ紫ý.

Kittinger graduated from ��ӽ紫ý’s criminal justice program and earned his master’s degree in public administration from ��ӽ紫ý State University.

2 Engineering Professors, 1 Alum Inducted Into ��ӽ紫ý Inventors Hall of Fame

Marisa Ramiccio ’11 — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:50:58 +0000

��ӽ紫ý researchers are known worldwide for their innovative studies, groundbreaking discoveries and contributions to patented technologies that have impacted society and influenced other leaders in the field.

Two College of Engineering and Computer Science professors and a three-time ��ӽ紫ý alum-turned-courtesy faculty appointee are now being recognized for their achievements that have advanced the quality of life for the state of ��ӽ紫ý and the nation.

Professors Reza Abdolvand and Ni-bin Chang and Lockheed Martin Fellow Clara Rivero Baleine ’01 ’03MS ’05PhD have been named 2026 inductees of the ��ӽ紫ý Inventors Hall of Fame (FIHF). This initiative celebrates pioneering inventors and empowers future problem-solvers and changemakers.

This initiative celebrates pioneering inventors and empowers future problem-solvers and changemakers.

This year, 10 inventors from ��ӽ紫ý will be inducted during a formal ceremony in Tampa on Nov. 6. Since FIHF was founded in 2013, five faculty inventors from ��ӽ紫ý have been recognized with the distinction.

“Induction into the ��ӽ紫ý Inventors Hall of Fame represents the ultimate validation of a lifelong commitment to translating academic research into industry practice,” Chang says. “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame, which includes over 90 inventors in different fields is also a testament to the thriving ��ӽ紫ý innovation ecosystem and the power of continuous, groundbreaking discovery.”

Ni-bin Chang’s research is focused on sustainable water treatment technologies that improve water quality.

A Career in Environmental Innovation

Chang was selected for induction based on his groundbreaking invention of green sorption media (GSM) and sustainable water treatment technologies that improve water quality.

GSM is a cost-effective and sustainable type of filtration media that uses recycled byproducts and natural minerals to treat stormwater runoff, wastewater effluent, groundwater flow and agricultural discharge.

There are a variety of patented GSM blends that can filter heavy metals, pathogens and contaminants from water systems. This process not only restores aquatic ecosystems but halts the transmission of waterborne diseases, and eliminates cyanotoxins and “forever chemicals” from water that can harm both humans and animals.

“Removing these diverse contaminants from water matrices provides profound, cascading benefits for both human health and aquatic ecosystems,” Chang says. “By eliminating the risk pathways associated with both acute exposure and chronic bioaccumulation, these GSM-based treatment technologies support fundamental ecological balance and public well-being.”

GSM blends are already used at more than 300 water treatment sites across the U.S.

Reza Abdolvand serves as chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The Inventor of Advanced Electronics

Abdolvand, the chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was named an inductee for his contributions to the field of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) — incredibly small devices that have mighty power. Specifically, he is the inventor of a class of microelectronics called Thin-Film Piezoelectric-on-Substrate (TPoS) devices, which improve the reliability and efficiency of a wide range of electronics, including cell phones.

“By improving the efficiency and reliability of the components that make up these systems, the impact, while often invisible to the end user, is very real,” Abdolvand says. “Better performance, lower power consumption, and more reliable devices are the kinds of improvements that quietly make everyday technology work better for everyone.”

Abdolvand’s interest in innovation stems from his natural sense of curiosity. He says his tendency to connect the dots between seemingly unrelated events or systems has served him well throughout his career in research and academia.

“The moment it all clicked was during my Ph.D., when I was first given the opportunity to work on genuinely hard technical problems,” Abdolvand says. “I realized I could come up with solutions that simply did not exist yet. That realization was a turning point.”

As his career progresses, Abdolvand hopes to leave behind a legacy that is less about devices and innovation and more about people. His passion for educating, inspiring and creating opportunities for students means more than the impacts of his inventions.

“What excites me most is seeing students take the seed ideas developed at the university and carry them forward into their own companies, their own inventions, their own contributions to society,” Abdolvand says. “That chain of innovation — from a research lab to a startup to a product that improves people’s lives — is what I find truly meaningful. If I can play even a small role in setting that chain in motion for as many students as possible, that is the legacy I would be interested to leave behind.”

Clara Rivero Baleine continues to maintain strong ties with ��ӽ紫ý through a courtesy faculty appointment at CREOL and serves on the CREOL Dean Advisory Board and the ��ӽ紫ý Material Science Industrial Advisory board.

On the Cutting Edge of��Infrared��Materials and Optics

Driven by a desire to protect people and advance technologies that matter, Rivero Baleine joined Lockheed Martin, a ��ӽ紫ý Pegasus Partner, in 2005 after completing three degrees in six years at ��ӽ紫ý.

Rivero Baleine now serves as a Lockheed Martin fellow, contributing to cutting‑edge innovation in infrared materials and optics.

Rivero-Baleine’s gradient refractive index optical materials and metamaterial coatings transformed infrared sensing systems for defense and advanced photonics applications.

“I am profoundly proud and deeply humbled to be welcomed into such an extraordinary community of inventors and innovators,” Rivero-Baleine says. “What inspires me most is knowing that these��innovations will��become part of systems that protect service members, strengthen national security and expand the capabilities of the platforms we rely on. That sense of purpose continues to��drive��my work every day.”

Rivero Baleine continues to maintain strong ties with ��ӽ紫ý through a courtesy faculty appointment at CREOL and serves on the CREOL Dean Advisory Board and the ��ӽ紫ý Material Science Industrial Advisory board.

Rivero Baleine is a Burnett Honors Scholar and earned a bachelor’s degree in physics, and a ��ٱ��’s and a doctorate in optics.

Hospitality Alumna Forges Her Own Path While Giving Back to Others

Jen Cramer — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:48:54 +0000

When it came to deciding her career path, there was only ever Plan A for��Bella Cortier ’22: theme parks

The native Floridian��dreamed of working��in��one someday��and knew ��ӽ紫ý —��located��next door to some of the world’s premiere theme parks with a solid pipeline to the industry — was her ticket to get there.

Never��mind that at the time of her enrollment to the��in 2020, a global pandemic��had quite��literally closed the doors on the industry.

Nothing could derail her from her goal.

Today,��the��hospitality management alum is a senior technical coordinator at��in Orlando, the division of��that��designs, develops��and produces��immersive theme park attractions,��resorts��and experiences worldwide.

As a child, Cortier frequented theme parks with her family. This snapshot is from her first trip to Universal Islands of Adventure. (Photo courtesy of Bella Cortier )

Making a��Bold Move

As a��junior in��high school,��Cortier got her first real glimpse of career options in hospitality when she��attended an industry-focused��summer camp that��Rosen College��hosted at��the��time.��As a senior,��she��focused her��AP��capstone project��on hydroponics in��the theme park industry. She��knew��the project��would��help her��make��connections, because��it��required��a professional mentor.

Cortier took the initiative to��reach out to��,��dean of��Rosen College, who at that time was��interim��chair��of the��college’s��Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management.

Mejia appreciated Cortier’s interest in the industry and her courage in reaching out. She invited her for a campus tour and connected her to a local hydroponics expert. Cortier’s bold plan had worked.

“It is so rare to get a cold call from a high school student who, at such��a young age, was so certain she wanted to build a career in hospitality leadership. You just do not see that kind of passion every day,” says Mejia, who continued to mentor Cortier throughout her time at ��ӽ紫ý. “Bella continuously challenges and pushes herself past her comfort zone, which is why she is so successful and a model for the students who come after her. I am so proud of her.”

During her last semester of school, Cortier became an intern on the Universal Orlando Resort Operations Safety & Compliance team, and she has been with the company ever since.

Turning the Unexpected��Into��a��Winning Situation

Cortier continued to demonstrate that dedication and initiative once she was a full-time student. She was part of a core group who attended nearly every virtual meet-and-greet with faculty and staff that the Rosen College organized.

“When the faculty and staff saw that I was showing up, and they understood the passion that I had to be there, they started inviting me to take part in different events,” says Cortier, who was invited to be a student representative on the Dean’s Advisory Council, provide college tours for industry leaders and be part of a project team to enhance the student experience post-pandemic.

Meanwhile��she also��joined the Rosen College Leadership Council, became a tour guide with��ӽ紫ý��Undergraduate��Admissions��and��joined the��student��chapter of the Future Theme Park Leaders Association.��Cortier��also joined��the��as a member of��the drum line,��and��that’s��where she met her fiancé,��Erik��Solberg ’24.

Through a $10 million investment, Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management is a catalyst to help develop future industry leaders, ushering in the next era of themed entertainment.

Forging a Path and Finding Her Place

When her marching band responsibilities ended in fall 2020, Cortier landed her first part-time job in a local theme park, SeaWorld Orlando. She discovered her love of working in rides and attractions and parlayed that into two summer internships focused on hospitality leadership development at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania and another job at Universal Orlando Resort.

“I��loved��Universal��right away, and I knew��I wanted to ultimately end up there,” Cortier says.

During her last semester of school, Cortier became an intern on the Universal Orlando Resort Operations Safety & Compliance team, and she has been with the company ever since.

In 2023, she made the move from a front-line job to a backstage role with Universal Creative after attending an internal career fair to explore opportunities.

“I always loved attractions so much,��and��I��didn’t think I’d ever want to leave,��but I made the jump to explore something new, and I’m so glad I did,” says Cortier, who��supports��the��engineering and safety��team��at��Universal��Creative, which��helps bring new��experiences��to life.

Moving Forward,��Giving Back

Cortier��still values��networking, and she has��developed��a passion for helping others find their way.��She��is��involved with��IAAPA, a global��association for the attractions industry,��and serves��on��its��North American Education Committee and��as��chair of��its��Young Professionals��Education��Task��Force.

“Rosen College gave me a foundation in hospitality, leadership, operations, teamwork and creating meaningful guest experiences.”
— Bella Cortier

“Rosen College��gave me a foundation in hospitality, leadership, operations, teamwork and creating meaningful guest experiences,” Cortier says.��“When I get calls��to come back and speak or be part of an event��at Rosen College, I always say yes.��I had people feed into me, and��that’s��my way of giving back — sharing my experience and talking to students who��are finding��their path.”

Cortier shared her story at the announcement��of��the , a first-of-its-kind addition to the No. 1 hospitality college in the nation, backed by a $10 million investment from Universal Destinations and Experiences.

This new Pegasus Partnership��is part of ��ӽ紫ý’s��campaign, a bold mission for the future of the university.

7 Knights Earn 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Andrew Miller — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:00:39 +0000

What does it take to study how some of the earliest galaxies in the universe evolved, develop cleaner energy technologies or better understand the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth?

For a group of seven ��ӽ紫ý graduate students and alums, it starts with curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown.

Researchers studying topics ranging from galaxy formation and invasive fire ant species interactions across ��ӽ紫ý ecosystems to sustainable propulsion systems, harmful algal blooms and organic chemistry with potential pharmaceutical applications have earned recognition through the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). One of the nation’s most competitive honors, the fellowship supports students pursuing research-based ��ٱ��’s and doctoral degrees in STEM fields while helping develop the next generation of innovators and scientific leaders.

The 2026 ��ӽ紫ý recipients of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship are:

Charlotte Moore ’25
Physics, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
Jennifer Hughes ’25
Environmental engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Burnett Honors College
Melissa Deinys ’26
Chemistry, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
Noah Swann ’24
Chemistry, College of Sciences
Kalissa Moseley
Integrative biology, College of Sciences
Emilio Pereira ’25
Aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Burnett Honors College
Brendan Shrader ’25
Mathematics, College of Sciences, and Burnett Honors College

Chasing Challenges

The fellows’ research spans different disciplines, but many are driven by a common goal: developing solutions to better our world.

��ӽ紫ý mathematics and physics alum Charlotte Moore ’25 studies galaxy evolution in the early universe, a field that has rapidly advanced thanks to new observational technologies such as the James Webb Space Telescope.

Charlotte Moore ’25

“We’re in an era of very rapid improvement in observing technology,” says Moore, an astrophysics doctoral student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “There is a lot of data from very early times in the universe I can use that just wasn’t available before the past five years or so.”

Jennifer Hughes ’25, a ��ӽ紫ý environmental engineering and biology alum, became interested in research after seeing a graduate student demonstrate a microbial fuel cell powered by bacteria in research lab during her first semester at ��ӽ紫ý.

Jennifer Hughes ’25

“I was immediately fascinated by the idea that bacteria could generate an electrical current,” says Hughes, an incoming ��ٱ��’s student in biological and environmental engineering at Cornell University whose research at ��ӽ紫ý focused on harmful algal blooms and algal bioremediation.

Melissa Deinys ’26, a ��ӽ紫ý biotechnology alum and current chemistry doctoral student whose research focuses on environmental health and ecosystem protection technologies, says her passion for science stems from a curiosity about how the world works and encouragement from her parents to keep asking questions.

Melissa Deinys ’26

“What I love most about research is that it allows me to combine my natural curiosity with a meaningful impact,” Deinys says.

Scientific Curiosity and Discovery

Moore said her interest in astronomy began early through physics courses and science programs she explored while growing up. She later became interested in studying galaxies through undergraduate research experiences and opportunities to work directly with researchers in the field.

Deinys says one of the experiences that most shaped her perspective on research came while presenting mangrove disease research during a community outreach event.

“As researchers, we often focus on experiments, data analysis and publications, but at the end of the day, the purpose of research is to help people,” Deinys says.

The Reality of Discovery

While scientific breakthroughs may be the end goal, several fellows say the real work of research happens in the setbacks, uncertainty and persistence that lead to discovery.

For chemistry alum Noah Swann ’24, whose work focuses on organic chemistry and natural product synthesis, repeated setbacks are an expected part of lab research.

Noah Swann ’24

“I was told when I first started in the lab that 90% of the reactions you run won’t work,” says Swann, a chemistry doctoral student at the University of Chicago. “At the end of the day, you realize that there is no failure, only learning.”

Kalissa Moseley, a ��ӽ紫ý integrative biology doctoral student who studies invasive fire ant interactions across ��ӽ紫ý ecosystems, says one of her earliest undergraduate research projects helped reshape how she approached experimental design and scientific problem-solving.

Kalissa Moseley

“Even though this project was [challenging], I walked away with a much better skillset in experimental design,” Moseley says.

Working through uncertainty has become one of the most important lessons for ��ӽ紫ý aerospace engineering alum Emilio Pereira ’25, whose research focuses on hypersonics and detonative combustion for propulsion and power generation systems.

Emilio Pereira ’25

“Nothing worth doing has ever been easy,” says Pereira, a mechanical engineering doctoral student at Purdue. “The ability to recognize this and not beat myself down and be empowered by my own inadequacies, is what’s allowed me to succeed.”

The Power of Mentorship

Many fellows credit ��ӽ紫ý faculty mentors, undergraduate research opportunities and hands-on lab experiences with helping shape their academic and professional journeys.

Moore points to undergraduate research experiences with Professor of Physics , which helped prepare her for graduate research and provided early exposure to scientific collaboration and conference opportunities.

Participating in undergraduate research and completing her Honors Undergraduate Thesis strengthened Hughes’ research skills for graduate study and the NSF fellowship.

Swann credits Professor of Chemistry with empowering him to lead his own research project and pursue research professionally.

Looking Ahead

Whether they’re studying distant galaxies, invasive species, sustainable energy systems, environmental resilience or future medicines, the fellows share a belief that research can make a meaningful difference.

Several hope to advance scientific discovery. Others envision mentoring the next generation of STEM students and researchers.

These ambitions are already taking shape in labs, field sites and research centers — one question, experiment and discovery at a time.

For Hughes, that future includes continuing research focused on biological systems and environmental resilience. For Moore, it includes continuing astronomy research as new observational technologies expand scientists’ ability to study the early universe.

Moseley says she hopes her future research can contribute to improving invasive species management strategies and understanding how invasive ants affect ecosystems across ��ӽ紫ý.

Deinys says she hopes to eventually build a career that combines research, mentorship and public impact while helping future students see themselves represented in STEM fields.

Brendan Shrader ’25, a ��ӽ紫ý mathematics alum and Burnett Honors Scholar, also received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and will pursue graduate studies in mathematical biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Students interested in applying for the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship program or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at��opa@ucf.edu.

��ӽ紫ý Sport Business Students Stand Out in Competitive U.S. Golf Internship Program

Jenna Marina Lee — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:42:15 +0000

Knights affiliated with the are landing some of the most sought-after opportunities for professional experience on the biggest of stages.

Alums Erica Carnegie ’26MSBM ’26MBA, Aliya Everett ’26MSBM ’26MBA and current graduate student Zuri Sims represented ��ӽ紫ý in the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) 2026 Pathways Discover Program during this summer’s 126th U.S. Open Championship.

Through the hands-on learning experience, students had access to professionals from some of USGA’s partners including Deloitte, NBCUniversal, Ally, American Express, Cisco, Lexus and Rolex.

(From left to right): Aliya Everett ’26MSBM ’26MBA, Zuri Sims and Erica Carnegie ’26MSBM ’26MBA on the job during the U.S. Golf Association’s Pathways Discover Program. (Courtesy of USGA photography team)

Of the 25-member intern class for 2026, ��ӽ紫ý’s three accounted for more than any other university in the country. The cohort was selected from the largest and most competitive applicant pool in the Pathways program’s five-year history, with 782 applications submitted from candidates representing 44 states and nine countries.

“It is a tremendous honor that the USGA continues to choose DeVos students for these positions.” — Adrien Bouchet

“Aliya, Erica and Zuri represent all the best qualities of the DeVos program,” says Adrien Bouchet, who serves as Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation endowed chair and eminent scholar of the DeVos sport business management program. “They are ambitious, hard-working, and community focused. It is a tremendous honor that the USGA continues to choose DeVos students for these positions.”

Resume-Building Experience

Over the 10-day program in June, participants benefitted from an immersive internship experience designed to introduce students from a wide range of backgrounds to career opportunities across the golf industry through networking, mentorship, executive leadership sessions and hands-on operational learning with golf-industry executives and senior business leaders.

Erica Carnegie ’26MSBM ’26MBA says her biggest takeaway from the internship experience was realizing just how many job opportunities are tied to the professional golf industry.

Everett, who is now working as a creative services marketing fellow for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a post-graduate internship, says she feels she most benefitted from conversations with members of the USGA Executive Committee at The Meadow Club of Southampton, and a fireside chat with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

“She gave us some insight into her perspective on the recent WNBA-CBA negotiations, and the committee members were genuinely curious to learn our stories and passionate about our aspirations, so both opportunities were more of the exclusive parts of this experience that I am very, very grateful for,” Everett says.

The program also connected this year’s interns for one-on-one mentorship with 25 alumni of the program, who could help advise how to best leverage the invaluable experience.

“I’m looking forward to applying what I learned about the business side of sport from the USGA to my coursework as well as my day-to-day at my business strategy and innovation residency with the Orlando Magic this year,” Sims says.

Recent ��ӽ紫ý grad Erica Carnegie on site at the 126th U.S. Open Championship as part of the 2026 Pathways Discover Program.

��ӽ紫ý-USGA Connections

USGA has turned to ��ӽ紫ý before when it needed qualified candidates.

Andy Smith ’23MSBM ’23MBA was selected for the 2024 USGA Pathway Interns Class. He now serves as an account manager for partnership marketing for Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of New York’s Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Liberty.

Tiesha Scott ’24 ’26MSBM ’26MBA was named to the inaugural class of the Pathways Launch Internship program this year. Her paid internship opportunity is with the LPGA in Miami.

��ӽ紫ý Grad’s Career Pivot Leads to Historic NBA Championship Experience

Jenna Marina Lee — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:55:15 +0000

It’s been about three weeks since the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship title in 53 years, and Olivia White ’16 is just now nearly recovered from the euphoric chaos that has been her daily life for months.

In September, one month before the Knicks tipped off their 2025-26 season, White was promoted to manager of event presentation at Madison Square Garden. From hosting New York’s first NBA Finals game in 26 years to the Knicks’ unbelievable 29-point comeback in Game 4 to the celebratory ticker-tape parade on Manhattan’s streets that drew an estimated 2 million fans, the ��ӽ紫ý aerospace engineering alum had a front-row view and played a supporting role to the team’s success this year.

“Madison Square Garden and the Knicks organizations have brought so many people across the world together, and getting to be a part of that kind of impact will really change your perspective forever in the best way possible,” White says.

White, a former Burnett Honors Scholar and ��ӽ紫ý dance team member, finally had a moment to breathe to share about her experience.

(Photo courtesy of Olivia White)

You serve as manager of event presentation. What does a day on the job look like?

Event presentation is everything that happens on the court during a game that is not the actual basketball game. This includes our in-game entertainment such as our Knicks City Dancers and 7th Ave Hype Squad as well as our halftime performances, in-game fan contests, T-shirt tosses, and other elements like on-court presentations and recognitions.

I was first hired as a coordinator in 2021, and over my time with the team, I have taken on more responsibilities. I now fully manage all 40 members of our 7th Ave Squad in addition to serving as the floor director for all in-game elements during Knicks games.

You earned your degree in aerospace engineering. How did you end up in sports business?

This is a bit of a wild pivot. I grew up dancing my entire life and was a member of the ��ӽ紫ý dance team. I loved having the ability to keep dancing while earning my degree. When I graduated college and got a full-time role in the defense industry and later the tech industry, I found a way to keep dancing with the Orlando Magic dance team. I had so many positive experiences during my three seasons working for the Magic and got to travel with the team numerous times to participate in NBA global events. I worked my 9-5 during the day and then headed to the arena at night for rehearsals and games and found myself enjoying my role in the professional sports industry more than my full-time job.

I chose to go back to school to pursue a degree in sports business so that I could properly transition into the industry. I pursued a degree in global sport business from New York University while continuing to work full-time in Orlando and was fortunate to travel to New York City and Tokyo for educational residencies.

In 2020 I landed a remote internship with Madison Square Garden and was able to meet so many passionate members of the MSG sports team. I maintained the professional connections I had created during my time in the program. About five months after my time as an MSG student associate ended, I applied for my dream role with the Knicks event presentation team, and the rest is history.

After having a hand in preparations and day-of logistics, Olivia White marched in the New York Knicks’ celebratory parade that drew an estimated 2 million fans. (Photo courtesy of Olivia White)

How did your experience at ��ӽ紫ý play into your success today?

“My time at ��ӽ紫ý as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation.” — Olivia White ’16

My time at ��ӽ紫ý as a student-athlete pursuing a rigorous degree taught me invaluable lessons in perseverance, time management and self-motivation. I got to dance at every ��ӽ紫ý football and basketball game, perform at the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, compete in Universal Dance Association Nationals every January, and perform at numerous events in the community, including Orlando Magic halftimes. Getting to take part in all of these incredible experiences at such a young age, while also having to balance school and part-time jobs prepared me to thrive under pressure and become comfortable in chaotic environments.

This season is one for the record books. What are some of your most memorable moments?

This season was my favorite season yet. There were so many moments that will stick with me forever. The historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 is something I’ll never forget. If this postseason run taught me anything, it’s to never count the Knicks out — and this belief never failed me.

A few of my other favorites include getting to celebrate on stage at Radio City Music Hall when the Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years and getting to hold the NBA Cup back in December when the Knicks brought home their first hardware of their historic season.

Olivia White celebrates the Knicks’ victory at Radio City Music Hall. (Photo courtesy of Olivia White)

When you do eventually look back on this season, what do you think are going to be your biggest takeaways from the experience?

My biggest takeaway from this entire season is definitely just pure gratitude. It’s not lost on me how lucky I was to have a front row seat to one of the most historic runs in professional sports, especially with one of the most iconic franchises of all time. And to get to be a part of something so meaningful in a city like New York at a venue like Madison Square Garden, is literally a dream that I will forever be thankful for.

What is the hardest decision you had to make that has led you to where you are today?

Packing up my life in Orlando and moving to New York to pursue a whole new career. I have always been a risk-adverse individual, so giving up the familiarity and comfort of my hometown for place as big as New York City was a huge decision for both me and my then boyfriend, now husband, Logan Cloak ’17. As hard of a decision as it was, I would make it 100 times over and am so thankful every single day that I took that leap out of my comfort zone.

��ӽ紫ý Elementary Education Alum Turns Chronic Illness into Platform for Education, Community

Evan Chiovari ’21 — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:06:17 +0000

Few people lose the career that defines them and manage to rebuild it in an entirely new arena. For Mondeson “Moe” Mondesir ’17, that reinvention began with a life-altering diagnosis and grew into a global platform for education and advocacy.

After the elementary education grad’s chronic kidney disease diagnosis prevented him from teaching in his fourth-grade classroom, Mondesir redirected his passion and expertise into a podcast that helps connect people affected by chronic illness across the globe.

“If you’re living with a chronic illness, your life can become a masterpiece — as long as you keep painting.”

“If you’re living with a chronic illness, your life can become a masterpiece — as long as you keep painting,” he says.

Identity Shifts

Mondesir was a criminal justice administration major at ��ӽ紫ý when he discovered his was instead meant for a life in education while working at a summer camp in Belize. He found a mentor in senior lecturer ’94 ’98MEd ’12EdD, for whom he once interned at Red Bug Elementary.

“Right before my final exam, I lost my mom,” Mondesir says. “Lee-Anne Spalding was the coach I needed to get me through that. She has been the catalyst to my success as a teacher and a major inspiration for my outlook on life.”

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, Mondesir worked as a fourth-grade mathematics and science teacher at Seminole County and Lake County Public Schools.

Just a few years into his career, Mondesir’s life took another major turn.

While the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging enough to navigate for classroom teachers, Mondesir faced the added hurdle of recurring pneumonia, which prompted his doctor to recommend weight loss in hopes of mitigating his symptoms. After losing over 100 pounds through diet and exercise, Mondesir became ill again and went to the hospital. There, he got bad news.

“The doctor told me my kidneys were filtering at only 24%, which is stage 4 chronic kidney disease,” Mondesir says. “I also had malignant hypertension, when you have high blood pressure without feeling any symptoms. When I was working out, my high blood pressure had been damaging the tissue in both kidneys, and I’d had no idea.”

“I taught fourth grade for seven years. When that was stripped away, I had to look in the mirror and ask, ‘Who am I anymore?’”

Mondesir’s condition worsened when his left kidney atrophied and his right one suffered further damage. A renal stent and a partial nephrectomy stabilized his health, but a kidney transplant remained his long-term goal.

During this time, he faced the painful realization that he could no longer work as a schoolteacher.

“When my doctor told me I couldn’t keep taking the demands of the classroom, my grief was astronomical,” Mondesir says. “I taught fourth grade for seven years. When that was stripped away, I had to look in the mirror and ask, ‘Who am I anymore?’”

After earning certification as a kidney health coach, Mondeson Mondesir now teaches CKD-focused classes at a local community center.

Figuring Out a Way Forward

Inspired by his wife, who encouraged him to share his story with others, Mondesir made an account on Instagram under the name Mr. Cool Beans (a reference to the kidneys’ shape) and introduced himself as a CKD patient.

Combining his newfound interest with his teaching skills, Mondesir began to research and publish informative posts about kidney health while relaying his personal experiences. Before long, his channel drew the attention of fellow CKD patients eager to connect. His platform has since expanded to be inclusive of anyone living with chronic illnesses — and there are a lot of them.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in four American adults have at least one chronic condition and over half have more than two.

In February 2025, Mondesir started his podcast, The Chronic Brew, to explore topics of chronic illness and invite people to share their own perspectives. He’s welcomed patients, caregivers and medical professionals, reaching audiences as far away as Ireland, the Netherlands, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

By fostering conversations about chronic illness, Mondesir seeks to deepen public understanding and build community among those affected. He says he also hopes to ease people’s anxiety by helping them navigate complex medical information.

“If I can help break down complex terms and concepts, listeners will be more confident walking into any medical situation,” he says.

Always an Educator

Eager to expand his work beyond digital spaces, Mondesir earned a kidney health coach certification through the American Kidney Fund as well as a health and wellness coaching credential from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Equipped with these qualifications, he began teaching CKD-focused classes at a local community center.

His efforts drew the attention of the Marion County Kidney Foundation, leading to broader community involvement.

Nearly 10 years since Mondesir first interned in her classroom, Spalding says he is just as much an inspiration to her for his tenacity and continued dedication to educating others.

“Moe’s kind disposition is infectious,” she says.

As Mondesir now waits to qualify for a kidney transplant, he continues to reflect on how living with chronic illness has reshaped his sense of identity and purpose. His motto centers on embracing the good and the bad equally because both lead to growth.

“In a lot of ways, a chronic illness refines us,” Mondesir says. “While it takes some things away from you, it also brings you closer to the center of who you are. In that center, you find your strength, your passion and a renewal of your purpose.”

���ӽ紫ý Alumni Archives | University of Central ���ӽ紫ý News

���ӽ紫ý Alumnus Engineers Wonder Across Generations