Christian Spencer ’23 ’26MS is pursuing his dream career, blending the art of world-class hospitality with the innovation of themed entertainment here in Central Florida, the theme park capital of the world.
Last year, Spencer was promoted to his first leadership role as a performance coordinator with the Entertainment Events team at Universal Orlando Resort — guiding performers, maintaining show quality, and collaborating with creative and technical teams to deliver live events and immersive guest experiences. He credits UCF with helping him achieve a decades-long goal.
That dream started during his childhood in Virginia, when his parents went through a difficult divorce, and he found his happy place at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. He went on to become a theater student, and in high school he took a job at the park as a performer.
That’s when he knew he could turn his passion into a career.
“As a kid, I could immerse myself in a show and have a reprieve from difficult times at home. I knew that someday I wanted to create that happiness for others,” Spencer says. “Once I had the opportunity to work there, I was fascinated by what it took behind the scenes to bring a theme park experience to life. I wanted a career filled with days like those.”
To pursue this path, he set his sights on attending UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in entertainment management in 2023. Just this week, UCF welcomed Universal Destinations and Experiences as its first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner and announced the creation of The Universal School of Experience Leadership and Innovation at Rosen College.
“When I found Rosen College, I knew it was the place for me,” he says. “On the first day of class, my professor talked about the joys of a career in the theme park industry. It was a dream I’d had for so long that it moved me to tears.”
He sent his mom a text that said, “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I’m exactly where I need to be.”
However, as an out-of-state student, tuition was a challenge for Spencer. His mom did all she could to help him, but he has worked hard to pay for his education. He became a resident assistant on campus and also received a Rosen College scholarship. Throughout school, he has worked as a performer in all three major Central Florida theme parks simultaneously.
He also became a leader on campus and in the industry, serving as vice president of UCF’s Future Theme Park Leaders Association while he was a Rosen College student.
He credits his professors with believing in him and supporting him throughout his journey, helping him to work toward his goal of becoming a show director in one of the local world-class theme parks.
The same professor who inspired him on day one later encouraged him to pursue a master’s degree in themed experience, part of UCF’s College of Arts and Humanities. This program is designed for the next generation of creators, artists and leaders who are redefining what it means to be entertained, and Spencer just graduated in early May.
“My UCF journey has been the experience of a lifetime,” he says. “And the best part is that I’ll spend my career creating experiences that are just as life-changing for others.”
Last year, Spencer received a Universal Orlando Impact Award recognizing his contributions to the grand opening celebration of Epic Universe, the resort’s newest theme park.
He shared his story on stage at UCF’s Go For Launch campaign liftoff, inspiring the UCF community and demonstrating the power of a Knight education to reshape what it means to be entertained and what the future of experiences holds for people everywhere.
The UCF-Universal Pegasus Partnership is a significant early milestone of Go For Launch — a $3.5 billion campaign to expand opportunity, advance discovery and drive impact across the university.
Spencer’s story shows why this campaign is so important: Investments in UCF help students ignite meaningful careers, discover new frontiers and create a bold tomorrow. Students like him are launching a new era of innovation and making their mark across every industry.
