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Community CONNECTIONS University of Central Florida Division of Community Relations Game-Changer: UCF Downtown More than 400 business and community leaders gathered at the Ballroom at Church Street on September 23 to hear UCF pres- ident Dr. John C. Hitt formally announce the university’s plans to establish a campus in downtown Orlando. Currently, downtown is home to UCF’s College of Business Executive Development Center and the UCF Center for Emerging Media. A new partnership with the City of Orlando, Valencia College, and Orange County Public Schools has paved the way for UCF to expand its downtown presence within the Creative Village development. Possible programs under consideration for relocation to the downtown campus are digital media and visual arts, WUCF TV, and public administration. e proposed expansion remains contingent upon securing state funding and approvals from UCF’s Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors. While there are many logistical details and programmatic decisions remaining, President Hitt expressed confidence in the timing of the expansion, saying, “If we wait much longer I feel the opportunity will pass. If we’re going to do it, this is the time.” Additional event photos are available here. Dr. Hitt’s full remarks can be found here. Metro Center director moderates Roosevelts panel discussion WUCF TV, Central Florida’s PBS station, previewed Ken Burns’ latest documentary, “e Roosevelts: An Intimate History” on September 10, followed by a post-screening discussion of presidential history in Florida. Metro Center Outlook host Dr. Diane Trees moderated the discussion, which featured Jim Clark, author of Presidents in Florida, and Kimberlee Riley, assistant director of the Orange County Regional History Center. is event was free and open to the public, and the complete series was broadcast on WUCF TV starting on September 14. In This Issue: Page 1 • Game Changer: Downtown UCF • New Provost Page 2 • Heart Walk • Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon • Julian Bond Kicks Off Diversity Week • Constituent Relations Award Page 3 • Community Council: SDES Update • Building Healthy Places Initiative • Women & Leadership: A Global Perspective Page 4 • Upcoming Events Metro Center Outlook Schedule November 2014 • Volume VI, Issue 1 Connecting the University and the Community As the holidays approach, we reflect on another remarkable year at UCF. From our historic Fiesta Bowl win in January, to partnering with the U.S. Tennis Association in bringing a world- class training facility to Lake Nona, to taking the first steps in establishing a new downtown Orlando campus, UCF has, as President Hitt likes to say, continued to “make the impossible the inevitable.” We are proud to be “America’s Leading Partnership University™,” and during this season of thanks, we are grateful for the invaluable partnerships with public, private and non-profit organizations that have been a driving force in advancing the greater good of the university, the region, and beyond. Your hometown university continues to defy convention and chart its own course, and these bold collaborations remain essential in ensuring the suc- cess of each new venture. Yours in partnership, Helen Letter from helen Helen Donegan, Vice President, Division of Community Relations UCF welcomes new provost Following a nationwide search, Dr. Dale Whittaker became UCF’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs in August. Prior to joining UCF, Dr. Whittaker served as Purdue University’s vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs and acting vice president for student affairs. He has also served in faculty and leadership positions at Texas A&M University. UCF president Dr. John C. Hitt described Whittaker as “a professional who will help us become better in all areas of our operation and help us develop excellent educational programs that will meet the needs of Central Florida, the state and nation.” Dr. Whittaker’s priorities include increasing research, expanding opportunities for graduate students, and enhancing the university’s partnerships. He said, “UCF is an economic engine for and a mirror of the Central Florida community. It’s a great reflector of the community’s needs and its future economic development.”

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Community connectionsUniversity of Central Florida Division of Community Relations

Game-Changer: UCF DowntownMore than 400 business and community leaders gathered at the Ballroom at Church Street on September 23 to hear UCF pres-ident Dr. John C. Hitt formally announce the university’s plans to establish a campus in downtown Orlando.

Currently, downtown is home to UCF’s College of Business Executive Development Center and the UCF Center for Emerging Media. A new partnership with the City of Orlando, Valencia College, and Orange County Public Schools has paved the way for UCF to expand its downtown presence within the Creative Village development.

Possible programs under consideration for relocation to the downtown campus are digital media and visual arts, WUCF TV, and public administration. The proposed expansion remains contingent upon securing state funding and approvals from UCF’s Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors.

While there are many logistical details and programmatic decisions remaining, President Hitt expressed confidence in the timing of the expansion, saying, “If we wait much longer I feel the opportunity will pass. If we’re going to do it, this is the time.” Additional event photos are available here. Dr. Hitt’s full remarks can be found here.

Metro Center director moderates “Roosevelts” panel discussionWUCF TV, Central Florida’s PBS station, previewed Ken Burns’ latest documentary, “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History” on September 10, followed by a post-screening discussion of presidential history in Florida.

Metro Center Outlook host Dr. Diane Trees moderated the discussion, which featured Jim Clark, author of Presidents in Florida, and Kimberlee Riley, assistant director of the Orange County Regional History Center. This event was free and open to the public, and the complete series was broadcast on WUCF TV starting on September 14.

In This Issue: Page 1• Game Changer: Downtown UCF• New Provost

Page 2• Heart Walk• Countdown to Kickoff Luncheon• Julian Bond Kicks Off Diversity Week• Constituent Relations Award

Page 3• Community Council: SDES Update• Building Healthy Places Initiative• Women & Leadership: A Global

Perspective

Page 4• Upcoming Events• Metro Center Outlook Schedule

November 2014 • Volume VI, Issue 1Connecting the University and the Community

As the holidays approach, we reflect

on another remarkable year at UCF.

From our historic Fiesta Bowl win in

January, to partnering with the U.S.

Tennis Association in bringing a world-

class training facility to Lake Nona, to

taking the first steps in establishing

a new downtown Orlando campus,

UCF has, as President Hitt likes to say,

continued to “make the impossible the

inevitable.”

We are proud to be “America’s

Leading Partnership University™,” and

during this season of thanks, we are

grateful for the invaluable partnerships

with public, private and non-profit

organizations that have been a driving

force in advancing the greater good of

the university, the region, and beyond.

Your hometown university continues

to defy convention and chart its own

course, and these bold collaborations

remain essential in ensuring the suc-

cess of each new venture.

Yours in partnership,

Helen

Letter from helenHelen Donegan, Vice President, Division of Community Relations UCF welcomes new provost

Following a nationwide search, Dr. Dale Whittaker became UCF’s new

provost and vice president for academic affairs in August. Prior to

joining UCF, Dr. Whittaker served as Purdue University’s vice provost

for undergraduate academic affairs and acting vice president for

student affairs. He has also served in faculty and leadership positions

at Texas A&M University.

UCF president Dr. John C. Hitt described Whittaker as “a professional who will help

us become better in all areas of our operation and help us develop excellent educational

programs that will meet the needs of Central Florida, the state and nation.”

Dr. Whittaker’s priorities include increasing research, expanding opportunities for

graduate students, and enhancing the university’s partnerships. He said, “UCF is an

economic engine for and a mirror of the Central Florida community. It’s a great reflector

of the community’s needs and its future economic development.”

20,000 join in Heart WalkOn September 6, an estimated 20,000 walkers converged on UCF’s Memory Mall to partic-ipate in the 2014 Greater Orlando Heart Walk. This marks the second year UCF has hosted the event, which raises funds to support the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease and stroke through research, education and advocacy.

The university fielded 33 teams, for a combined total of 422 walkers. This year, UCF’s top fundraising team was the College of Education CEDHP Heartbeats, which raised more than $7,000. In all, UCF teams raised $40,768, surpassing the university’s $40,000 fundraising goal.

UCF president Dr. John C. Hitt and CFE Federal Credit Union president and CEO Joseph A. Melbourne, Jr. served as event co-chairs of the walk. The university’s internal Heart Walk efforts were again led by College of Medicine dean Dr. Deborah German, with assistance from the Office of Community Relations.

Additional event photos can be found here.

Constituent Relations nominated for international awardThe Office of Constituent Relations received national recognition on August 20 at the ISES LIVE conference in Seattle, Washington, for the planning and execution of UCF’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, which was named a finalist for best public event in the 2014 International Special Events Society (ISES) ESPRIT Awards program.

This globally-recognized competition honors exceptional professional achieve-ments across the ISES membership. Events considered for the 2014 competition took place between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. UCF was joined in this cate-gory by two other prestigious events: the 34th America’s Cup and the Official Tribeca Film Festival Award Selection for Transmedia.

2 | COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Civil rights activist Julian Bond kicks off Diversity Week celebrations

UCF’s 22nd annual Diversity Week kicked off with a keynote address

by civil rights activist and politician Julian Bond at the sold-out 2014

Diversity Breakfast. Bond’s speech was entitled “The Road to Free-

dom: From Alabama to Obama” and was in keeping with the Diversity

Week theme “Remember and Reflect—The Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

Bond served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1965 to 1975; he also served six

terms in the Georgia Senate from 1975-86. As a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he

helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and after college helped found

the Southern Poverty Law Center. Bond served 11 years as chair of the NAACP, and continues

with his activism as chairman emeritus.

The annual event is sponsored by the UCF Office of Diversity Initiatives, and Mr. Bond’s

appearance was arranged by the Office of Global Perspectives. Additional event photos can

be found here.

Knights fans raise $33,000 for student-athletes

The 2014 Countdown to Kick-

off Luncheon drew hundreds

of Knights supporters to the

CFE Arena on August 15 to

preview the upcoming football

season and raise funds for

UCF student-athletes.

The luncheon raised more

than $33,000 for the Golden

Knights Club, the official fund-

raising arm of UCF Athletics,

and was coordinated by UCF

Athletics and the Office of

Constituent Relations.

Since 2009, the lun-

cheon has raised more than

$200,000 benefitting UCF

student athletes.

Guests enjoyed entertain-

ment by Knightro, the UCF

Spirit Squad, KnightMoves

dance team, and the Marching

Knights, as well as a tail-

gate-style menu. One lucky

guest also won an all-expense-

paid trip to the inaugural

Croke Park Classic, which pit-

ted UCF against Penn State in

Dublin, Ireland, on August 30.

Additional event photos

can be found here.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS | 3

UCF Community Council: SDES UpdateMembers of the UCF Community Council met at the university’s new NorthView apartment community on September 16 for a Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES) update by UCF vice president Dr. Maribeth Ehasz.

Under Dr. Ehasz, SDES engages students in the total collegiate experience, from identification, recruitment, matriculation and investment to successful progression, graduation and employment in a global workforce. “With 60,000 students, it’s vital for each of them to find their own niche. We emphasize accent on the individual to ensure their per-sonal growth and academic success. Ultimately, we want them to leave different than they came,” she said. SDES is comprised of a wide range of programs and resources to enhance the student experience, includ-ing Career Services, Student Government Association, Multicultural Student Center, and the First Generation Program.

Following Dr. Ehasz’ remarks, council members toured North-View, an upscale community offering students the best of both worlds: the luxury and independence of off-campus living with the safety and security of UCF housing. Residents enjoy high-end amenities such as a sky deck and tiki hut overlooking a resort-style pool, and units feature walk-in closets and granite countertops. NorthView is also home to an interfaith campus ministry center for Catholic and Jewish students, as well as retail space.

Additional photos can be found here.

Metro Center, ULI partner on Building Healthy Places initiative

Metro Center director Dr. Diane Trees is leading the Urban

Land Institute’s (ULI) Building Healthy Places statewide

steering committee, formed in response to Florida being

ranked 34th out of the 50 states in the 2012 America’s Healthy Rankings® report issued by the United Health

Foundation. The goal of the statewide initiative is to

encourage the Florida real estate industry, business and

civic and community leaders to update policy and design

standards to include those that promote public health.

Under Dr. Trees’ leadership, Florida’s five ULI District

Councils were awarded a $25,000 grant in November 2013

to plan and execute the initiative. Beginning in February

2014, the five regional councils held local workshops,

one in each district, gathering best practices in designing

communities that support the physical, mental and social

well-being of the people who live, work, learn and visit

there. Dr. Trees then delivered the councils’ final recom-

mendations at the annual statewide ULI Florida Summit

held June 11–13 in Orlando, including 10 key principles for

building healthy places. Noting that each district faces a

unique set of challenges, Dr. Trees said, “The issue is com-

plex, but the opportunities for impact are abundant.”

Download the complete “Building a Healthier Florida”

report here.

Global Perspectives features daughters of the civil rights movement

The Office of Global perspectives

welcomed daughters of two historical

figures from America’s civil rights move-

ment at the 8th annual “Women and

Leadership: A Global Perspective” forum

on September 18. Cheryl Brown Hender-

son and Peggy Wallace Kennedy, both

civil rights activists, shared their family

stories and personal paths to becoming

leaders for the same cause.

Henderson is the daughter of the late

Rev. Oliver Brown of the Supreme Court

case Brown v. Board of Education. She

discussed her family’s involvement in the

case and underscored how ordinary their

lives were, in contrast to her father’s

extraordinary choice to join other fami-

lies in the case against the school board.

Henderson urged students to be civically

engaged, saying, “Being a U.S. citizen is

not a spectator sport.”

In sharp contrast,

Kennedy was 13 years old

when her father, then Ala-

bama governor George C.

Wallace, took his infamous

“Stand in the Schoolhouse

Door,” barring black stu-

dents’ entry to the Univer-

sity of Alabama in defiance

of the Brown v. Board rul-

ing. Kennedy said her father never talked

to her about the incident, and that she

has taken it upon herself to create a new

legacy for her and her children. Advocat-

ing for courage and compassion, she said,

“All of us here must be better, not bitter…

tolerance is more than what we believe,

but what we live.”

When asked about women’s role in

the future of social justice, both called

for more women in politics and public

leadership. The presentation was mod-

erated by Ambassador Harriet Elam-

Thomas and was the inaugural event of

UCF’s Civil Rights Series, which cele-

brates the 50th anniversary of the Civil

Rights Act. The event was also a feature

of the 20th anniversary celebration week

of the Women’s Studies Program. For

more information about the next event in

UCF’s Civil Rights Series, please visit

www.ucfglobalperspectives.org.

University of Central Florida Division of Community Relations UCF Downtown | 36 West Pine Street | Orlando, FL 32801Phone: 407.235.3935 | Fax: 407.317.7744 | Email: [email protected]

communityrelations.ucf.eduFor more photos and the latest updates, like us on Facebook.

The UCF Global Perspectives Office proudly presents the following university-wide

and community events. Please check website for updated schedule.

Join host Dr. Diane Trees on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. as she tackles issues of regional and national

significance on Metro Center Outlook. Don’t miss her exclusive, in-depth interviews with Central

Florida’s business leaders and elected officials. Check local listings for encores and additional

information: http://wucftv.org/. And keep up with the latest Metro Center Outlook episodes and

news by following the show on Facebook and Twitter.

Upcoming Events

january

4

America’s changing demographics, featuring Maria Hinojosa, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA on National Public Radio.

11

BP oil spill update with former U.S. Senator Bob Graham.

18

Spring legislative preview featuring State Senator David Simmons.

25

Florida’s State University System chancellor Marshall Criser III discusses the SUS and higher education in Florida.

10 Vivek Wadhwa “The Next Wave Globalization: China, India & How the U.S. Can Keep Its Competitive Edge in the Midst of Global Innovation”

Author of “The Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial Talent.”

10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Pegasus Ballroom, Student UnionA special open forum of the LIFE Global Issues Series.

24Sarah Shourd“A Sliver of Light”

Political hostage by the Iranian government from 2009–2010.

10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Pegasus Ballroom, UCF Student UnionA special open forum of the LIFE Global Issues Series.

262015 Florida International Summit

“Opportunities and Challenges for Human Society and Development”

8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.mPegasus Ballroom, UCF Student UnionAdvance registration required.

january

22Clarence B. Jones“The 21st Century Challenge of the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.”

Advisor and speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.Cape Florida Ballroom, UCF Student UnionOpen forum

27Kurdish Studies Conference

This is the first conference in a pair of collaborative, interdisciplinary forums organized by Soran University and UCF.

8:00 a.m–3:00 p.m.Cape Florida Ballroom, UCF Student UnionBreakfast and lunch provided; advance registration required.

february

3Heather Abbott“Overcoming Adversity”

Boston Marathon bombing survivor.

10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.Pegasus Ballroom, UCF Student UnionA special open forum of the LIFE Global Issues Series.