Miller was impressed by our reputation as an early leader in technology and STEM fields, our connection to the space program and our success expanding into other areas. In fact, UCF boasted one of the highest certified public accountant (CPA) pass rates of any public university — impressive to an aspiring accountant.

So Miller applied, was accepted and committed to UCF sight unseen. It was the beginning of a journey that would change his family’s trajectory, along with the university’s.

Today, he committed a transformational $50 million gift — the largest single philanthropic investment in the university’s history — to position UCF as a global leader in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and business innovation by establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

First-Generation Student

Miller is president and co-founder of both Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health. He also founded and sold another successful business in his entrepreneurial career.

But back when Miller was attending UCF, he was paving the way as the first in his family to go to college. His dad, a self-taught contractor and developer and a single father, saw the value of higher education for his son.

“My father had a deeply ingrained work ethic that he passed on to me,” Miller says. “In the summer, he would get me out of bed early and have me carrying lumber and working on roofs. I learned to work hard, but I also learned that [it] was a tough job to do for 50 years. I wanted to try a different path.”

Once he started on that path, there was no stopping him.

Building Foundations

At UCF, Miller became a star student. He excelled in accounting, learned numerical analysis and had a knack for understanding financial markets. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance.

“I learned how to really study and apply myself academically at UCF. Essentially, I was learning strategy and project management as I made my way through school,” Miller says. “I didn’t know how impactful those habits would be until later in life. I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success.”

“I realize now that everything I learned at UCF has been foundational to my success.”

Outside of class, Miller became a student-athlete, playing football when he initially came to UCF. That’s where he met then-quarterback Darin Hinshaw ’90 ’94MBA, who encouraged him to join his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), and became his big brother.

“Initially, I wasn’t interested in joining a fraternity. I had this idea that fraternities weren’t serious about school or life, and I was,” Miller says. “But my experience in PIKE ended up being formative. It’s where I learned about being a gentleman, dressing for success, networking and more.”

“To this day, so many of my friends are former fraternity brothers, including one of my best friends, Sean Hayes ’95, who has also been my business partner for nearly 30 years,” Miller continues. “As I look back, everything in my life has a connection to UCF — my friends, my business partners, my career and even my wife Rosie ’95, since we met in college.”

Leaving a Legacy

As he built his career and found success in the business and financial world, Miller wanted to give back to UCF. Over time, he has invested in first-generation and STEM student scholarships, UCF Athletics’ Knights Leadership Academy, the John T. Washington Center mural and more.

Each gift has been based on a personal connection or conviction.

“Being a first-generation student myself, having that opportunity to support students who are the first in their families to go to college is personal to me,” Miller says.

As his capacity to give grew, Miller wanted to make a transformative gift that would have an impact today and for generations to come. That led to conversations with university leaders about the opportunity to establish as a global leader in fintech, AI and business innovation.

To help bring that vision to life — and to build early momentum for , UCF’s comprehensive campaign to fuel bold ideas and build its future — Miller has committed to a $50 million gift, establishing the Barry S. Miller College of Business.

The investment will accelerate an innovative new model of business education��designed for a world��where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will prepare��students with the skills the marketplace demands.

“We are at a seminal moment in business, and AI and new technologies are creating fundamental shifts at a dramatically faster speed than ever before,” says Miller, who was inducted into the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame in 2022. “I want UCF to become the leader in business education, paving the way for everyone else.”

Inspiring Others

“Finding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.”

Until recently, Miller has made most of his gifts to UCF anonymously. But as UCF unveiled Go For Launch, he saw a powerful opportunity to step forward and encourage others to do the same. By sharing his commitment more openly, Miller hopes to help build momentum and invite broader participation in UCF’s vision.

“I hope this gift inspires people to be part of UCF’s mission to create a bold new future and give at whatever level they can. Maybe it’s $10, $100 or $1,000 — it all makes a difference,” Miller says.

“I want to tell people this: If it’s not your time to make a gift today, maybe it will be a year from now, or five years from now,” he continues. “Finding a way to have an impact is one of the most gratifying things you can do with your time and money.”

“Ů��AV is being trusted to lead, and Barry’s investment reinforces that Ů��AV is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don’t just succeed in the world — they come back to help build what’s next.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, UCF President

The investment will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable, and it will position UCF as a national leader in emerging fields that prepare students to lead with the skills the marketplace demands.

“This is a defining moment for UCF and for the College of Business,” says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA. “As an alumnus, I have seen firsthand how UCF transforms lives by opening doors to opportunity, and this extraordinary gift takes that mission to an entirely new level, giving future generations of Knights access to a world-class business education and an opportunity to achieve their full potential.”

“We are deeply grateful to Barry for his extraordinary belief in this university and in the impact our students make. This is a defining moment for UCF and a powerful signal of who we are and where we are going,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Ů��AV is being trusted to lead, and Barry’s investment reinforces that Ů��AV is a place where talent is developed at scale, where opportunity is expanded, and where our graduates don’t just succeed in the world — they come back to help build what’s next.”

“UCF gave me the opportunity to build my future,” Miller says. “This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others — and ensuring students are prepared for a world where technology and business are constantly evolving.”

A Defining Moment for UCF

Few universities of UCF’s��young��age��have alumni giving back at this level.

At the center of this��milestone��is longtime��supporter and entrepreneur Barry S. Miller,��president of��the Florida-based����and��Voloridge��Health.��Miller is��a first-generation��college��graduate whose early partnership and belief in the university helped accelerate UCF’s trajectory.

His leadership and commitment to widening��opportunity helped lay the groundwork for a future-focused strategy that will transform how students learn, innovate and launch their careers. Miller’s��latest��investment reflects UCF’s ability to��produce��talent that succeeds at the highest levels and inspires��that talent to return��not just with pride, but with capacity and conviction to shape��what’s��next.

Building the Future of Business Education

“UCF gave me the opportunity to build my future. This investment is about creating that same opportunity for others.” — Barry Miller ’95, ��Voloridge Investment Management and Voloridge Health president

will��operate��as a hub for technology-driven business leadership where students, faculty and industry collaborate in real time to solve complex challenges��in emerging fields like artificial intelligence,��fintech��and digital risk.

The focus is not simply on technical skills, but on empowering graduates to take action to address organizational obstacles and lead in fields fueled by rapid technological change.

This vision is grounded in the region UCF calls home.

Orlando has rapidly��emerged��as one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology hubs,��with��demand for talent in fintech and��AI continuing��to��evolve.��Across Florida, one of the largest clusters of banking and insurance firms in the country is fueling new opportunities in financial technology,��risk��and data-driven decision-making.

UCF sits at the center of this momentum,��uniquely positioned to develop the talent and ideas that will power��the future.

The investment will support��a multi-phase strategy designed to position UCF as��the��destination for business and technology education, including:

• Five endowed faculty chairs in fintech, AI strategy, cyber risk,��trust��and disinformation
• A new��master’s��in��technology��leadership and��innovation
• Expanded access to applied learning, including internships, simulations, Bloomberg��training��and industry-led projects
• Growth of UCF’s corporate partnership ecosystem.

Together, these investments will create a learning environment that mirrors modern workplaces — fast��moving, data��driven and deeply connected to industry.

“Technology is advancing rapidly, and the real opportunity is in how organizations use it to perform,” says��College of Business Dean��Paul��Jarley. “This investment allows us to build a business school focused on how the work actually gets done��—–��where students learn to apply judgment, navigate ambiguity, and lead in environments shaped by technology, data, and organizational complexity.”

Accelerating Momentum

Miller’s leadership gift��marks a milestone in����— a��$3.5 billion��campaign to��expand��opportunity,��advance��discovery,��and drive impact across the university.

It sets the tone��for what comes next,��accelerating the pride and vision that will inspire others to invest in UCF’s future.

“This is what momentum looks like,” says��Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation. “It reflects confidence in UCF’s vision and signals to partners, alumni and investors that this university is building something meaningful and worth being part of.”

Together, talent, opportunity and partnership are converging,��positioning��UCF��to��be a leading force in shaping��what’s��next in business,��technology��and innovation.

“Ů��AV is not waiting to be recognized. We are being chosen, invested in and trusted to lead,” Cartwright says. “This milestone gift reflects a growing sense of pride across the university and signals the momentum others will want to help build — and it is only the beginning.”

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth — we’re counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this UCF Day of Giving.

As Knights, we challenge status quo. We charge boldly ahead toward industry evolutions and technological advancements. We dare to build a future the world has only begun to imagine. And it’s all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together,��we’re��launching Knights to new heights.

When the unexpected arises,��help��sometimes��comes in the form of .��Created to support��Knights��facing��hardship that may��hinder��their education,��this fund��provides��financial support��for textbooks,��fees��and other education-related��expenses��for qualifying students.

Your gift ensures that��when��life’s��trials��test our��Knights,��they��pass��with flying colors,��securing��the education��and future��they��deserve.

The  provides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at UCF.

helps ensure��that��those who have served and their connected students are fully supported as they pursue their educational and career goals.

UCF has been recognized��with a��Gold Award��on the��Military Friendly��Schools list, as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a Best Military-Friendly Online College and on the Military Times’ ��2025��Best for Vets Colleges List.��Help us��continue that legacy��of��serving those��who’ve��served.

offers an intensive, comprehensive therapy program��to those��navigating Aphasia, a��language��disorder that can arise from��health challenges such as��stroke,��brain��cancer��and brain injury,��and��affects��an individual’s ability to��read, write,��speak��and��comprehend��language.

Through the program,��individuals are��empowered to��make progress on their long-held goals, like talking with their grandchildren or ordering their favorite restaurant meal.

��on UCF Day of Giving��supports the continuation of this��important��service for our community, as well as the hands-on experience UCF student clinicians��receive.

Support UCF College of Medicine researchers as they��break��into new realms of��understanding��around��the��country’s��second leading cause of death��— cancer.��Through��innovative science,��they’re��exploring key��avenues of discovery��including��the role that��genes play��in��determining��a person’s cancer risk, what causes cancer to spread��and how to harness the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells.

The goal: to prevent cancer and find new therapies that improve quality of life��for patients.�� brings��us one��step closer��to��lives saved,��families unburdened��and a cure��realized.

Did you know��that UCF has one of the top Moot Court��teams in the nation, ranking��among the top 15��overall��by the American Moot Court Association?��Supervised by the , these student advocates��are challenged��with arguing��mock supreme court cases��on constitutional amendments.

and��national��leadership��by��making a gift on UCF Day of Giving.��Help��cover��competition travel expenses, as well as��the��cost of��the��annual tournament��hosted��at UCF Downtown��each fall.

It’s��time for launch, Knight Nation! Join us��as��we rally around��our favorite causes, and��maybe even��uncover some��new��ones, during UCF Day of Giving.��Find��more areas of support��by��exploring��the��, and��save the date to����on Thursday, April 9.����

Spanning multiple years, Go For Launch is the most ambitious revenue-generating effort in UCF’s history. The campaign builds on decades of momentum and reflects a clear-eyed understanding of what it will take for a modern, metropolitan research university to deliver at the scale the future demands.

Founded to power America’s space race, UCF has always been an institution built for moments of possibility. Go For Launch draws directly from that legacy, reaffirming UCF’s role as Florida’s Technological University and calling on Knights, partners and visionaries to help shape what comes next.

Campaign Goals and Timeline

The Go For Launch campaign seeks to generate $3.5 billion over a multi-year period through philanthropy, partnerships and aligned revenue strategies, advancing priorities that will shape UCF’s trajectory for decades. Funds will fuel innovation across the university, from breakthrough research and talent development to infrastructure and partnerships that extend UCF’s impact far beyond campus.

The campaign follows a successful pre-launch phase that quietly engaged donors, volunteers and community partners around a shared vision. As of Feb. 21, UCF has secured more than $2 billion in early commitments from individuals, families and partners who believe in the university’s bold future.

“This campaign is about matching UCF’s ambition with the resources required to deliver on it,” says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “It is an investment in discovery, talent and solutions that will shape Florida’s future and improve lives far beyond our campus.”

Four Pillars Driving a Transformational Vision

Go For Launch is anchored by four integrated campaign pillars, each essential to UCF’s ability to deliver impact at scale.

Elevating Student Success
Elevating Student Success ensures every Knight has the support, resources and opportunities to thrive, from enrollment through graduation and beyond. Campaign investments will expand scholarships, strengthen proactive advising and success coaching, enhance career preparation and sustain innovative support systems that remove barriers before they derail progress. This pillar reflects UCF’s commitment to access and outcomes, preparing graduates who are confident, career-ready and equipped to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Fueling Discovery and Innovation
Fueling Discovery and Innovation accelerates UCF’s role as a driver of breakthrough research and real-world solutions. Support will advance faculty-led research, interdisciplinary collaboration and student-driven discovery across areas such as space, cybersecurity, health, energy and advanced technologies. With strong industry partnerships, a thriving research ecosystem and a culture of commercialization, Ů��AV is poised to move ideas faster from lab to impact, creating jobs, improving lives and addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.

Advancing Future Frontiers
Advancing Future Frontiers positions UCF at the forefront of what’s next, including artificial intelligence, digital twins, space exploration, immersive technologies and aerospace medicine. Commitments will support research infrastructure, interdisciplinary institutes and bold experimentation that push beyond today’s limits and shape tomorrow’s industries. As technology and humanity converge, Ů��AV is not waiting for the future to arrive. The university is actively inventing it, translating discovery into global impact and economic vitality.

Maximizing Competitive Excellence
Maximizing Competitive Excellence positions UCF to compete and win at the highest levels nationally. Campaign investments will strengthen faculty recruitment and retention, expand university-wide technology integration, enhance athletics and academic competitiveness, and continue building a destination campus that attracts top talent, industry partners and research opportunities. As Florida’s Next-Generation Preeminent Research University, Ů��AV is focused on translating ambition into sustained performance, elevating our standing, sharpening our edges and ensuring excellence is not episodic but institutionalized.

Why This Campaign and Why Now

Go For Launch represents a clear evolution from UCF’s prior comprehensive campaigns, with specific focus on directly addressing the rising complexity and cost of delivering a world-class education and research enterprise. It recognizes that sustained excellence requires continued investment in people, ideas and infrastructure.

“Go For Launch will bring our university community together around our boldest aspirations,” says Rodney Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO, UCF Foundation Inc.�� “It will empower students, support faculty excellence, fuel innovation that strengthens our region and maximize competitive excellence. This campaign reflects our shared belief in what is possible and our commitment to creating a brighter future for generations to come.”

A Launch Worth Celebrating

The public phase of Go For Launch was unveiled at campuswide launch events that brought together thousands of alumni, donors, faculty, students and community leaders. The immersive experience reflected the campaign’s spirit, featuring interactive installations, storytelling and moments that highlighted UCF’s impact across research, innovation and student success.

Campaign volunteer leadership was celebrated during the event, underscoring the personal commitment many leaders feel toward UCF’s mission and future.

Impact in Action

Investments generated through Go For Launch will directly advance research with real-world consequences, from improving health outcomes to accelerating breakthroughs in assistive technologies.

Go For Launch is both a continuation of UCF’s founding mission and a declaration of where the university is headed next. It signals confidence in UCF’s people, our ideas and our ability to lead.

To learn more about Go For Launch or to get involved, visit