Pioneering UCF RESTORES Director Deborah Beidel of the College of Sciences is UCF’s 2025 Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award recipient. The annual honor highlights exceptional researchers, innovators and difference makers at each of the athletic conference’s 16 universities.
Beidel founded UCF RESTORES as a clinical research center dedicated to changing how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is understood, diagnosed and treated. A psychologist and international leader in her field, Beidel’s use of virtual reality to treat PTSD among veterans, first responders and emergency workers has led to treatments that are two to three times more effective than standard psychological treatments.
In May, Beidel and UCF Restores unveiled a first-of-its-kind mobile Resiliency Command Center to provide safe on-site treatment of first responders at crisis scenes, such as natural disasters, line-of-duty tragedies and mass casualty events. The center originated from a partnership with the Florida Legislature, the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal and Lockheed Martin (a UCF Pegasus Partner).
“Dr. Beidel innovates with purpose and the unwavering belief that no one should bear the weight of trauma or PTSD alone,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “She brings that vision to life every day through UCF RESTORES by turning compassion into action and research into hope. This recognition from the Big 12 honors her extraordinary impact and leadership in creating solutions that transform lives.”
The Big 12 award adds to the major honors Beidel has earned since joining UCF in 2007. She is a trustee chair and Pegasus Professor, the highest faculty honor at UCF.
Over her career, Beidel has combined prolific scholarship with groundbreaking research. She has authored more than 300 scientific publications and secured more than $31 million in federal funding to develop and translate treatments for anxiety and PTSD into real-world clinical settings. State and federal governmental agencies and community organizations consult with her regularly on how to deal with the aftermath of mass violence.
Big 12 institutions nominated their faculty of the year candidates in collaboration with faculty athletics representatives, provosts and other university leaders. Now in its second year, the award showcases the academic excellence, research breakthroughs and educational opportunities available to students at Big 12 institutions.
UCF joined the Big 12 in 2023 as the youngest school among the nation’s major athletic conferences. In the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, UCF ties for second among Big 12 public institutions and fifth overall.
