Dr. Andrea I. Guzmán serves as Vice President for Access and Community Engagement at the University of Central Florida, where she is a key member of the University’s executive leadership team. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Guzmán is a nationally respected leader recognized for building scalable, data-informed strategies that expand educational access, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve student success outcomes—particularly for first-generation, military-affiliated and veteran students, students with disabilities and unique abilities, and students with limited financial resources. She holds a Doctorate of Education from the University of Michigan.
Since joining UCF in 2021, Dr. Guzmán has led significant organizational transformation by realigning and expanding institutional units to form the Division of Access and Community Engagement. Under her leadership, the division includes Student Accessibility Services, First-Generation Student Success, Grant Initiatives and Partnerships, Military and Veteran Student Success, and UCF Global, which houses international student services, study abroad, global research initiatives, and workforce development programs. She also led the creation of UCF’s first Digital Accessibility Lab, strengthening institutional effectiveness and compliance.
Dr. Guzmán’s tenure is marked by exceptional fundraising and resource development success. She led the establishment of the Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement through a $5 million endowment and subsequently leveraged the Center to acquire five additional endowments totaling $2.7 million, significantly strengthening the University’s long-term financial sustainability and strategic priorities.
In addition, Dr. Guzmán has helped secure more than $30.5 million in federal, corporate, and foundation funding. She currently serves as Principal Investigator on three U.S. Department of Education grants, including the recently awarded FIPSE grant, Civil Interactions and Viewpoints for Interpersonal Competence (CIVIC): A Campus-wide Model, and serves as senior personnel on multiple National Science Foundation grants. She has also generated nearly $100,000 in institutional revenue through strategic initiatives.
Dr. Guzmán is widely respected for her ability to align mission, resources, and outcomes while fostering environments that support open dialogue and student-centered innovation. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to academic excellence, operational integrity, and the long-term vitality of the institutions she serves.