{"id":3138,"date":"2025-10-20T13:33:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T13:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/?page_id=3138"},"modified":"2026-02-10T21:41:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T21:41:37","slug":"college-of-sciences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/college-of-sciences\/","title":{"rendered":"Dean of the College of Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The University of Central Florida seeks an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as Dean of the College of Sciences. The Dean will provide inspirational vision and strategic leadership to advance excellence in research, teaching, and community engagement across the sciences. This leader will champion interdisciplinary collaboration, foster faculty and student success, and build upon transformative partnerships that amplify the impact of UCF\u2019s largest college across the state and beyond. Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean will cultivate a culture that values academic excellence, discovery, and innovation. They will join a talented community of faculty and staff dedicated to providing a world-class education that unleashes potential, critical thinking, and creativity while preparing graduates to boldly invent the future.<\/p>\n

The Dean oversees eight departments, two schools, and multiple centers and institutes, with broad responsibility for academic planning, policy, and program development; strategic and long-range planning; fiscal management; personnel supervision; and research advancement. The role also includes strengthening external partnerships and fostering meaningful engagement with the College\u2019s more than 70,000 alumni to further elevate its reach and impact.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n\t\t\t

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Finalist Candidates<\/h2>\n\t\t\t
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Joshua Colwell<\/h3>\n

CV<\/a> | Bio<\/a><\/p>\n

Interim Dean of the College of Sciences and Pegasus Professor<\/em>
\nUniversity of Central Florida<\/p>\n

Open Forum:<\/strong>
\nThursday, Feb. 12
\n2-3 p.m.
\nCharge On Chamber, Student Union<\/a>,
Room 340<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Brad Schmidt<\/h3>\n

CV<\/a> | Bio<\/a><\/p>\n

Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Psychology Chair, and Director of Anxiety and Behavioral Health Clinic<\/em>
\nFlorida State University<\/p>\n

Open Forum:<\/strong>
\nMonday, Feb. 16
\n2-3 p.m.
\nSPRK<\/a> (formerly UCF Global),
Room 101<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Christopher Culbertson<\/h3>\n

CV<\/a> | Bio<\/a><\/p>\n

Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor<\/em>
\nKansas State University<\/p>\n

Open Forum:<\/strong>
\nThursday, Feb. 19
\n2-3 p.m.
\nSPRK<\/a> (formerly UCF Global),
Room 101<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Candidate feedback can be provided by completing the Dean of College of Sciences Search form<\/a> by Monday, February 23.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

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Search Committee<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Co-Chairs<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Adrienne Frame<\/dt>\n
Vice President for Student Success and Well-Being<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Eduardo Mucciolo<\/dt>\n
Professor, Physics, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Committee Members<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Vasileios Anagnostopoulos<\/dt>\n
Associate Professor, Chemistry, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Deborah Beidel<\/dt>\n
Trustee Chair, Pegasus Professor and Executive Director, UCF RESTORES<\/em><\/dd>\n
Elle Beneche<\/dt>\n
Senator for the College of Sciences, Student Government<\/em><\/dd>\n
Meredith Chaput<\/dt>\n
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Seresa Cruz<\/dt>\n
Senior Budget Director, Finance Business Center, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Martin Dupuis<\/dt>\n
Senior Associate Dean, Burnett Honors College<\/em><\/dd>\n
Jason Ford<\/dt>\n
Chair and Professor, Sociology, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Patrick Green<\/dt>\n
Assistant Librarian, Research Engagement, UCF Libraries<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Eric Hoffman<\/dt>\n
Chair and Professor, Biology, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Lindsay Hudock<\/dt>\n
Senior Instructor and Ad\/PR Program Coordinator, Nicholson School of Communication and Media, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Chelsea Piner<\/dt>\n
Director for Advancement, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Beatriz Reyes-Foster<\/dt>\n
Interim Associate Dean, Student Services, College of Graduate Studies<\/em><\/dd>\n
Kim Smith<\/dt>\n
Associate Vice President, Research Administration, Office of Research, and Chief Operating Officer, Research Foundation<\/em><\/dd>\n
Larry Tang<\/dt>\n
Professor, Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n
Austin Wilson<\/dt>\n
Manager for Public Affairs, Government and Community Relations, and College of Sciences Alumnus<\/em><\/dd>\n
Widaad Zaman<\/dt>\n
Associate Lecturer, Psychology, College of Sciences<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n
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More About UCF<\/h2>\n

UCF is a metropolitan research university located in Orlando, the heart of Central Florida\u2019s world-class hospitality, technology and creative industries. Our reach extends far beyond our four campus locations, from regional campuses that serve 11 Florida counties to our fully online programs.<\/p>\n

The faculty and staff at UCF create a welcoming environment and opportunities for our more than 69,000 students to learn, grow and succeed. And through strong partnerships around Central Florida, we\u2019re able to make a difference in our community through collaborating on innovative research and providing top talent that fuels our future.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExplore what makes UCF great\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n

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Working in Orlando<\/h2>\n

Orlando is a dynamic city that has seen rapid growth and economic expansion in recent years. Plus, the sunshine and warm climate create a perfect environment to live, work and explore. A center for the life sciences, medical innovation and technological developments, The City Beautiful offers boundless possibilities.<\/p>\n

Ranked No.1 on Forbes<\/em>\u2019 hottest metro job markets \u2014 and the coolest in 2019, Orlando was also the fastest-growing of the 30 largest regions in the U.S. in 2018. UCF\u2019s newest campus that opened in August 2019 is located downtown and generates opportunity for partnerships and learning engagement in the creative, cultural and economic hub of Orlando.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullscreen.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-3138","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDean of the College of Sciences - UCF Leadership<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dean of the College of Sciences - UCF Leadership\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/college-of-sciences\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCF Leadership\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-10T21:41:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/college-of-sciences\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/college-of-sciences\/\",\"name\":\"Dean of the College of Sciences - 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