Meet UCF’s 2026 Pegasus Professors These four researchers are driven to think big and work with purpose as they address some of society’s biggest problems. March 27, 2026
UCF Earns 2026-27 Gold Award for Support of Military, Veteran Students The honor illustrates UCF’s commitment to our military-connect students’ academic progress, graduation rates, career placement and support services.
2 UCF Faculty Earn Prestigious IEEE Recognitions in Virtual Reality Agere Chair Professor Carolina Cruz-Neira and Pegasus Professor Gregory Welch have been honored by the IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Academy, receiving lifetime achievement and service awards, respectively, for their significant contributions to immersive technology.
Zhihua Qu Earns UCF’s 2026 Medal of Societal Impact for Contributions to the Power Systems Industry The Pegasus Professor of electrical engineering will receive the award during the Founders’ Day event on April 1.
UCF’s Video Game Design Programs Rank Among World’s Best for 2026 UCF’s stellar graduate and undergraduate programs are setting the standard globally and top ranked in the South.
Founders’ Day 2026: Celebrating Student, Faculty and Staff Knights Employees, faculty and students will be recognized at three separate ceremonies in the Pegasus Ballroom on April 1.
Joshua Colwell Leads UCF’s College of Sciences as Dean UCF has appointed Pegasus Professor of Physics Joshua Colwell as dean of the College of Sciences, ushering in a new chapter of leadership for the university’s largest college.
UCF Chemistry Instructor’s Creative Approach Earns Excellence in Online Teaching Award Nicole Lapeyrouse ’16MS ’18PhD is the latest winner of UCF’s Chuck D. Dziuban Excellence for Online Teaching Award, which she’ll receive during Founders’ Day on April 1.
UCF Researcher Receives DARPA Young Faculty Award to Develop Novel 3D Printing Technique Associate Professor Dazhong Wu will receive a nearly $500,000 grant to improve the additive manufacturing testing and inspection process.
UCF to Compete in the International Collegiate Programming Contest’s 2026 World Finals After Top 5 Finish After a strong performance at the ICPC North America Championship, the team of three computer science students will advance to the World Finals in Dubai this November.
UCF College of Medicine Leads the Way in Bilingual Medical Training UCF medical students are better prepared to provide more comprehensive care thanks to a Spanish language program and national certification offered to meet the state’s healthcare needs.
UCF Researchers Unlock Scalable Entanglement for Next-Generation Quantum Computing The breakthrough enables larger capacities for quantum information using complex states of light that are less affected by imperfections, paving the way for potential innovations in medicine, materials science, data management and security.
Deborah Beidel Honored at Founders’ Day as a Big 12 Faculty of the Year Beidel is a Pegasus Professor internationally known for her ground-breaking research and effective treatments for veterans, first responders and emergency workers with PTSD.
UCF College of Medicine Exceeds Nation’s Match Placement Rate The UCF medical school’s newest graduates will be addressing physician needs in Florida and beyond at some of the country’s top residency programs.
Orlando Magic Inducts UCF Alum Into Hall of Fame UCF Board of Trustees chair Alex Martins ’01MBA earns the honor after 30 years of leadership and service with the Orlando Magic.
Staci Zavattaro Celebrated at Founders’ Day for Inaugural Big 12 Faculty Fellowship The award provides faculty with new opportunities for travel, discovery and impact, highlighting the academic value of UCF’s membership in the Big 12 Athletic Conference.
UCF Researchers Receive Meta Support to Study Motor Learning in EMG-Based Interfaces Meta funding will support research on gamified muscle-based human-computer interaction while embedding ethics directly into engineering design.
UCF Student Research Week Celebrates 20 Years of Showcasing Student Achievement From one-day research forums to a university-wide celebration, Student Research Week marks two decades of elevating scholarship and experiences that help prepare students for careers.
5 Things to Know About UCF Day of Giving 2025 Thursday, April 10 is UCF Day of Giving! Join us in celebrating all things Black & Gold by making your gift at dayofgiving.ucf.edu.
Florida’s Slice of NASA’s Artemis Pie Nets Thousands of Jobs, Billions of Dollars Each Year Orlando Sentinel