With specialized programs in hospitality and themed experience design — alongside robust engineering opportunities through student-led clubs and industry partnerships — UCF has played a critical role in preparing the workforce behind Epic Universe’s debut and has built a direct talent pipeline into the park.

Now as the park prepares to open its gates this week, it’s also transforming how students learn.

Epic in Curriculum

At �����’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, located less than a mile from Epic Universe, the park has become a living case study for both faculty and students. Ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education by CEOWORLD magazine for 2025, the college is globally recognized for its leadership in shaping future professionals in tourism, attractions and entertainment.

“Anyone looking to build a career in the global attractions industry would not find a better place to attend than UCF.” — Carissa Baker ’08MA ’18PhD, Rosen College assistant professor

Carissa Baker ’08MA ’18PhD, assistant professor of hospitality, has embedded Epic Universe into multiple classes across the theme park and attraction management curriculum. In one course, students analyze the park’s community and economic impacts. In another, they follow the site creation process from research and development to operations and guest experience. Students have also designed guest experience concepts based on Universal’s creative parameters and presented them directly to leaders at the company.

“Several of my students were involved in design, construction and operations development for the park,” Baker says. “Dozens were in attractions commissioning roles, and many are working at the park full time, part time and through internships.”

Culinary Spectacle as Storytelling

Epic Universe is also reshaping �����’s approach to culinary education. Chef Jonathan “Jay” Judy, assistant chair of the Department of Foodservice and Lodging Management, and senior instructor, uses the park’s immersive lands to explore how food enhances themed environments.

“Our students aren’t just studying the industry. They’re helping shape its future.” — Jonathan “Jay” Judy, Rosen College faculty member

In his course, Culinary Experiences in Theme Parks and Attractions, students study the full lifecycle of culinary operations in destination attractions — from food concept development to intellectual property (IP) integration and guest immersion.

“When Universal Orlando announced the themes for the various worlds, my students created sample menus based on the IP for each world. We have also used Epic extensively as a class discussion topic,” Judy says. “Watching a park like Epic Universe launch is a masterclass in themed food innovation. From kitchen concept to culinary spectacle, this course gives students the tools to imagine and execute food experiences that could exist in any world, real or fictional.”

Epic Economics, Real-World Impact

The scale of Epic Universe also offers powerful insights into economic development, infrastructure and regional transformation — areas that Rosen College Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat is bringing into the classroom.

“Epic Universe presents a valuable opportunity to view a theme park not just as an attraction, but as a major investment with measurable economic impact — something I’m looking to incorporate into my Hospitality Industry Finance class,” Ridderstaat says.

He notes that the park’s projected $7 billion investment and estimated 17,000 new jobs could generate up to $2 billion in economic impact in its first year, while driving new infrastructure and expanding the region’s global tourism appeal. But he also encourages students to consider other related topics — such as housing affordability.

A Creative Pipeline to Universal

“Epic has solidified Orlando as the international hub of the themed entertainment industry.” — Peter Weishar, director of UCF’s themed experience graduate programs

�����’s themed experience M.F.A. program, based in the College of Arts and Humanities, is providing a direct pathway into the creative engine of the industry. The programs — which are among the first of their kinds nationally — teach students the unique creative skills, processes, and concepts needed to design and produce themed environments and attractions. Many graduates go on to become show set designers, architects, show writers, coordinators, project managers, producers, art directors and even creative directors at some of the top themed entertainment companies.

Through the UCF/Universal Creative Lab, students work directly with Universal Creative’s show producers, engineers and designers, gaining rare access to behind-the-scenes development processes.

According to program director and professor Peter Weishar, approximately 40% of themed experience students go on to work for Universal Creative.

“Our students, alumni and even faculty have worked for years to help make Epic Universe a reality,” Weishar says. “Now that it’s opening to the public, it’s serving as a working laboratory for new ideas, innovation and experiential learning.”

“Ů��AV is in the perfect location to collaborate with some of the top creatives in the field,”  Weishar adds.

Engineering the Experience

At the intersection of innovation and imagination, �����’s STEEL Club — the Society of Themed Entertainment Engineers and Leaders — is creating new pathways for engineering students to enter the attractions industry. Founded in early 2024, the club has quickly become a hub for students eager to apply technical skills to the world of themed entertainment.

Focused on disciplines like ride control, show systems, mechanical safety and systems integration, the club regularly hosts industry speakers from Universal Creative, Disney, SeaWorld, and third-party vendors. Members also participate in technical workshops on topics ranging from Arduino programming and LED integration to mechanical modeling and wiring — all aligned with the demands of modern attraction engineering.

“We’re building a great program,” says Mikel Garner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and STEEL Club vice president. “We look at design, manufacturing, and maintenance — not just how a ride looks, but how it runs and how you troubleshoot it to keep guests safe.”

Garner, who was a Compliance and Auditing intern for Universal Creative, says his experience applied Advancing Standards Transforming Markets (ASTM International) safety standards and engineering best practices to support the development of the park.

STEEL President Bryanna Price, also a senior mechanical engineering major, says the club was founded to fill a gap at UCF for students who wanted hands-on, engineering-focused experience in themed entertainment.

“We’re helping students develop tangible technical skills that translate directly into the industry,” Price says.

The club recently competed in the Ride Engineering Competition, where student teams design and build operational ride models under strict time and size constraints. In the latest event, held at The Ohio State University, Price’s team built a fully functioning flat ride model from scratch — applying controls, mechanics and problem-solving under real-world pressure.

“It’s exciting to know we’re helping prepare the next generation of engineers for the theme park world — right here at UCF.” —  Bryanna Price, student and STEEL Club president

Beyond competitions, STEEL students are attending industry events like the ASTM F24 Conference, which develops global engineering safety standards for amusement rides and devices. They’re also partnering with other UCF organizations to grow their board, expand student participation and bring in even more professional mentorship.

“We’re still a young club, but we’ve already seen members go on to internships with companies like SeaWorld and Universal,” Price says.

For UCF, Epic Universe is more than a neighbor — it’s a living laboratory. From immersive design to food and beverage innovation, and from economic modeling to technical prototyping, UCF students aren’t just learning about the future of themed entertainment — they’re building it.

Thankfully, Florida is home to many champions dedicated to ending human slavery. Eighteen of those champions recently were honored with Polaris Star Awards by �����’s and

“Collectively, our honorees have invested decades of their lives to stopping human traffickers, helping victims rebuild their lives and advocating for survivors,” says Jessica Wickey, director of the center. “We are fortunate in Central Florida to have so many advocates and organizations working closely together with a shared mission of ending the horrors of trafficking.”

The Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery focuses on comprehensive community engagement, as well as research, educational programs and raising awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery in Florida. The center became a part of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management in 2023, a significant step forward in its curriculum, as many human trafficking cases occur in hotels and other hospitality-related businesses.

In addition to the center, anti-trafficking collaborators include the Central Florida Human Trafficking Task Force, the Tri-County Alliance on Human Trafficking and Valencia College. Each year they host the Annual Human Trafficking Forum, where 27 state task forces, coalitions, commissions, residential programs, universities and other experts come together to share best practices, new trends in trafficking and challenges they face in their pursuit to end human trafficking. This collaborative system-wide approach allows the community to advance anti-trafficking efforts as a united community of abolitionists.

Florida ranks third nationwide in reported human trafficking cases, just behind California and Texas, and many cases involve multiple victims. The state mandates all lodging establishments provide training for their staff about human trafficking via House Bill 851, and the center’s mission includes strengthening education and training within the hospitality industry on how to identify and respond to trafficking.

At Rosen College, more than 5,700 students — the future leaders of the hospitality industry — have participated since 2020 in a curriculum demonstrating how to identify and report trafficking in their workplaces.

The 15th-annual Polaris Star Awards honored the following 18 individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the fight against trafficking:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Sue Aboul-Hosn

Aboul-Hosn is a retired child welfare expert who worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families for more than 20 years. She specialized in child risk assessment, missing children and human trafficking. With a background in international social work, she contributed to policy development, training programs and academic research, including co-authoring multiple publications on human trafficking.

• William Wilberforce Award: Doug Gilmer

Gilmer is a board member for the center and the president and founder of Resolved Strategies LLC, a global justice solutions group focused on combating human exploitation through collaboration, training and resource development. A 35-year law enforcement veteran, he spent 25 years with the Department of Homeland Security, culminating as senior advisor and law enforcement liaison at the Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C.

• Frederick Douglass Award: Ezekial McKine Sr.

McKine is an advocate and former educator from Fort Lauderdale. He is now a regional advocate II with the F.L.I.T.E. Center, where he provides trauma-informed support to young survivors of human trafficking. Drawing on his personal experiences as a father and educator, he connects with survivors and families to foster trust and drive meaningful change.

• Spotlight Award: McKibbon Group (Ally Martin & Greg Burnes)

Martin and Burnes are seasoned hospitality leaders in Orlando with extensive experience in hotel management and community engagement. Martin, general manager of Hyatt House Orlando Airport, has been with McKibbon for more than a decade, earning accolades for her leadership and commitment to local schools. Burnes, general manager of Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Airport, brings 30 years of operational expertise, having led various hotel brands and received multiple awards for his dedication to hospitality and community service. Both are actively involved in the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association and have been recognized for contributing to the industry and local community.

• Catalyst Award: Evan Patel

Patel, a Lake Highland Preparatory School senior, is dedicated to advocacy, marine conservation and mentorship. During the pandemic, he worked with United Abolitionists, a network of first responders to the national human trafficking crisis, raising funds and donating hundreds of essentials-filled backpacks to their cause. He plans to continue this commitment in college.

• Volunteer of the Year / Carol Welker Award: Misti Spencer ’18

Spencer, a UCF alumna with a degree in psychology, is a leader and advocate dedicated to empowering trafficking survivors through her life coaching platform, Reflections and Impressions. As an advisory board member for the UCF Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, she works to shape survivor-centered policies, raise awareness and provide pathways for healing and growth.

• Survivor Champions / Individual: Kim Figueroa

Figueroa, a survivor of abuse, exploitation and homelessness, now advocates for victims of human trafficking through her work with law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families and various human trafficking boards. Recognized as Survivor Advocate of the Year 2023 and with more than six years at MoreTooLife, she is passionate about legislative reform and justice for victims’ rights.

• Survivor Champions / International: A21

A21 is a nonprofit dedicated to ending human trafficking and slavery worldwide by raising awareness, protecting survivors and prosecuting traffickers. Their mission also includes sharing resources with other anti-trafficking organizations.

• Survivor Champions / Regional Organization: Her Song (Kelly Posze)

Posze is the co-founder and national programs director of Her Song, a ministry of The Tim Tebow Foundation dedicated to providing hope and support to human trafficking survivors. She oversees outreach, survivor care and safe house programs and has been recognized for her collaboration with law enforcement in combating trafficking.

• Survivor Champions / Well-being: Christine Frederick, FLITE Center

Frederick, a Puerto Rican-born New York native, is the CEO of FLITE Center, an organization supporting youth aging out of foster care and survivors of human trafficking. With more than 12 years of leadership experience, Frederick has grown FLITE Center’s impact across Florida, increasing its budget from under $600,000 to more than $6 million. She has expanded its services to several counties, including opening a new location in West Palm Beach, Florida.

• Agent of Change / Law enforcement: Undercover special agent, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office human trafficking special agent collaborates with local, state and federal agencies to combat trafficking. More than 200 investigations have resulted in multiple arrests and the rescue of survivors. They continue to use trauma-informed methods to help victims access services and rebuild their lives.

• Agents of Change / Major Events: Rotary District 6980 (Sonya Hightower LaBosco)

Hightower LaBosco is the district governor for Rotary District 6980, leading more than 1,550 Rotarians across five counties and empowering them to create impactful change. With a distinguished 24-year law enforcement career and a focus on human trafficking prevention, Hightower LaBosco is driving collaborative statewide efforts to combat trafficking and support survivors through education, community engagement and strategic partnerships.

• Agents of Change / Legal: Janet Owen

Owen’s remarkable contributions to the fight against human trafficking have been transformative, especially in her role at UCF, where she champions anti-trafficking initiatives. As vice president for government and community relations, Owen has played a pivotal role in fostering relationships with legislators and advocating for vital funding and policy changes.

• Agents of Change / Media: Angel Studios (Jordan Harmon)

Sound of Freedom is a gripping film based on a true story that follows a federal agent who rescues a young boy from traffickers and embarks on a dangerous mission to save his sister. The film became a surprise box office hit, grossing $250.6 million worldwide on a $14.5 million budget. It has sparked important conversations about human trafficking and raised awareness of the ongoing fight against this global issue.

• Education/Nonprofit Education: Dawn Hawkins, The National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Hawkins has served as the director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation for 14 years and continues as a senior advisor, driving bipartisan public policy and coalition-building efforts that have led to significant changes in federal and state legislation and corporate policies. She co-founded the Law Center with Patrick Trueman to challenge those profiting from sexual exploitation through civil litigation, and her leadership has been key in addressing the demand for commercial sex, weakening the pornography industry and advocating for stronger child safety measures on technology platforms.

• Education / Corporate Partners: G6 Hospitality (Sean Walker and Devon Burch)

Walker, managing director of Safety and Security at G6 Hospitality LLC since 2018, oversees initiatives focused on safety, security, loss prevention and anti-human trafficking efforts while building strong relationships with local, state and federal agencies to mitigate risks and reduce criminal activity around G6 properties. Since 2021, Burch, director of talent development at G6, has led the development of impactful programs like the anti-human trafficking training program The Room Next Door, which educates and empowers employees across industries and is freely available to external organizations to foster broader safety and security.

• Education / International: ECPACT, Yvonne Chen

The mission of ECPACT is to protect every child’s right to grow up free from sexual exploitation and trafficking. They achieve this through education, legislative advocacy and strategic partnerships.

• Education / Community: Shelly Wagers, University of South Florida BRIGHT Project

Wagers is director of the BRIGHT Project, a digital platform connecting human trafficking service providers to support victims and survivors with individualized resources. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, Wagers has contributed to developing evidence-based practices, publishing research and collaborating with community partners to expand BRIGHT statewide, and securing multi-million-dollar funding from state and federal agencies.

Center Stage is a dynamic hub where students, faculty, and industry professionals can share insights, experiences, and creative ideas. This versatile venue will allow students to produce live events, simulate trade shows and engage in various activities. It provides a platform to showcase the exceptional talent fostered within Rosen College’s globally recognized programs, including the entertainment management and event management degree programs.

“Center Stage is more than a venue — it’s a launchpad for student innovation,” Dean Cynthia Mejia says. “It is an exciting addition to our learning environment, giving students yet another opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world yet experiential settings.”

Rosen College is proud to collaborate with leading industry sponsors for Center Stage:

• BeMatrix: Headquartered in Belgium, BeMatrix operates worldwide and is a global expert in modular systems for event displays.
• ETP (Entertainment Technology Partners): Headquartered in Orlando, ETP is a global multi-brand entertainment technology company.
• LMG: Also based in Orlando, LMG is a full-service audiovisual provider known for creating stunning live experiences through cutting-edge technologies.
• Freeman: A global leader in event production and logistics, Freeman specializes in designing and executing trade shows, conferences and experiential marketing events.
• Cort: A nationwide leader in furniture rental, offering high-quality furniture solutions for event spaces, office environments and temporary housing.

Center Stage will debut during the Spring 2025 semester with a variety of student-led events, showcasing the exceptional skills developed through Rosen College’s hands-on programs. Open for booking by students and faculty across all degrees, Center Stage exemplifies Rosen College’s mission to provide innovative, experience-driven education that equips students to lead the industry.

In addition to fostering creativity and collaboration, BeMatrix will equip students with access to advanced CAD (computer-aided design) technology, enabling them to design trade show layouts, stage setups and other event plans — valuable technical skills in high demand across the workforce. This new venue will complement other academic spaces like the Darden Auditorium, Walt Disney World Dining Room, Universal Orlando Foundation Library, and Anheuser-Busch Beer & Wine Lab, providing students with more opportunities to engage in production simulations, class projects, workshops and student-led events. Sponsored by leading industry partners, these spaces mirror real-world environments, offering students invaluable exposure to sector-specific practices.

The funding for the collaborative research project comes from the UCF Strategic Investment Program, supporting UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright’s vision that UCF will become a “University for the Future” as a top public institution and the world’s leading public metropolitan research university

The Infectious Disease and Travel Health Initiative has three major areas of focus:

• To provide an advance warning system through its data collection methods.
• To bring travelers and those who serve them closer to science, bridging the gap between basic science and behavioral science.
• To create a resource for small to medium-sized businesses in tourist areas to help them manage future health crisis situations that may arise.

The primary investigator on the initiative, Professor Robertico Croes, focuses his research on tourism economics, human development, poverty, and tourism management with a special interest in small and developing economies.

Croes says the Infectious Disease and Travel Health initiative is critical given travelling’s economic impact on the world and its ability to alleviate poverty and elevate human development.

“We began this project in the early days of the pandemic,” Croes says. “Health crises like this are not an anomaly, they are becoming more and more frequent. Sometimes they are isolated to one area of the globe, but as we saw with COVID, they can devastate entire segments of the economy and small businesses often can’t recover as they don’t have the resources that large corporations have in order to mitigate a crisis.”

Griffith Parks, a collaborator on the initiative and professor and director of the at �����’s College of Medicine, says he is enthusiastic about the project.

“We are thrilled to have the support from the university on this important and unique initiative,” Parks says. “We aspire to build an initiative that will draw in faculty and students from other colleges, not just the three currently involved, such as nursing and health professions, who have an interest in population health, travel and tourism and in infectious diseases. Most importantly, a goal of the initiative is to have a strong impact on our Central Florida communities by creating connections that will help to improve and support the health of our tourism workforce and industries.”

Pandemics can have devastating consequences for regions where tourism and travel are the economic lifeblood. According to Visit Florida it’s estimated the local economy in Central Florida took a $40 billion hit from lower rates of travel during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taj Azarian, an assistant professor at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences who investigates the emergence and spread of bacterial infectious diseases is collaborating on the project.

“Florida is a major tourist destination, as well as an international corridor to the United States. Further, its recent history has been marked by several notable public health events, as such, Florida is an ideal location to focus translational infectious disease research.” Said Azarian. “Here, or initiative will serve to strengthen business continuity, improve health and safety of travelers, and establish a sentinel network for early detection of emerging threats.”

Rosen College Associate Dean and Professor Alan Fyall, a collaborator on the initiative, says the work could have a global impact.

“The pandemic has woken the world up to the fragility and vulnerability of the global tourism industry,” Fyall says. “The time is thus ripe to bring together an internationally recognized and highly experienced interdisciplinary team to develop new science-based solutions and strategies to build future economic and social strength for Central Florida and beyond.”

The initiative’s collaborators also includesReseResea Kenneth Alexander, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, who says this is crucial work for future generations.

“It is important that Nemours Children’s Hospital joins in this initiative with UCF for two reasons,” Alexander says. “First, many of our tourist guests here in Florida are children. Second, many in our tourism labor force are raising families. Therefore, the health of children is central to the success of our tourism industry.”

The Infectious Disease and Travel Health Initiative research project received funding in the Academic Excellence Category of the UCF Strategic Investment Program. The funding will help in hiring research faculty who can secure additional funding for the project; establishing new courses and a Travel & Health track of study within the Master of Public Health degree program; and developing partnerships within the hospitality, healthcare, and science industries. Current UCF faculty from several disciplines are engaged with the initiative.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the project and the involvement of engineering and nanoscience will have a tremendous impact on combatting future infectious disease and travel health,” says Sudipta Seal, chair of the in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and co-principal investigator on the grant.

Seal’s statement was echoed by project collaborator Jane Gibson, a professor of pathology at �����’s College of Medicine.

“We are excited to harness the collective expertise at UCF to support the health and well-being of our tourist industry colleagues, visitors and community,” Gibson says.

The Infectious Disease and Travel Health Initiative is ongoing with work on the initiative starting this summer.

“We have to be creative,” she says, “because everyone expects the next event to be better than the previous one.”

The task, then, is progressively tougher. Mullenax has designed spaces in the past few months for a celebrity-packed Super Bowl party and a VIP experience at the Formula One race in Miami. She had to make everything just right for people who could have chosen to attend any party or event in town.

“I enjoy the challenge,” Mullenax says of the rising expectations from year to year.

Apply by July 1 for the Fall 2022 term of the new master’s in event leadership program.

Her career itself has been on an upward trajectory since graduating from UCF with a degree in hospitality and event management in 2012. Among her accolades: �����’s 30 Under 30 Award, Alumna of the Year by the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the BizBash 40 Under 40 List, and president-elect of the Orlando Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.

Which leads to the question: Why is Mullenax returning to her alma mater in the fall as a student?

“I understand why someone would ask that,” Mullenax says. “The events industry has changed a lot in the past 10 years, into a niche all its own. There’s an opportunity for people who want to lead the change. It’s no surprise that Ů��AV is out in front.”

Mullenax will be among 30 professionals who will make up the first cohort in the nation’s first online master’s program in event leadership. They’ve applied for the coveted spots from around the country (which explains why the program is online), and they all echo Mullenax when she says: “I know anything the Rosen College produces will be next level.”

Rosen’s hospitality program is rated No. 1 in the country and No. 2 in the world, according to the latest ShanghaiRankings of universities internationally. The master’s in event leadership will make UCF stand apart even further.

“We’re in the epicenter of hospitality and events,” says Associate Professor Jeannie Hahm ’04MS ’12PhD, who collaborated with professors Michelle Holm and Deborah Breiter-Terry to develop the new program.

“The location gives us the advantage of collecting expertise from people who live in the hospitality and events space every day,” Hahm says.  “Central Florida is where everything is happening, so it’s where everyone looks for direction.”

�����’s 50-person Event Management Advisory Board is a dream team of professionals from hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and sports and entertainment venues. They work on events as far-ranging as conventions and weddings to World Cup soccer and the Special Olympics. They’re keenly aware of the skillsets needed to create first-class events — including technology, risk management and sustainability — without ever losing focus of the “wow” factor.

“A formal graduate level program focused on developing leadership skills for senior-level event management professionals will allow this dynamic industry to grow and evolve beyond our current vision,” says Joe Dzaluk, president and CEO of the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games, which will be hosted in Orlando in June. “It is important that graduates have an advanced ability to critically think through existing and emerging challenges, analyze and assess global industry trends and market forces, and have the proficiency to build and execute a strategic plan.”

Hahm is no stranger to inaugural graduate programs at UCF. In fact, her role with the master’s in event leadership is worthy of a little background. She grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and earned her first college degree there — a bachelor’s in social work. The social work had its rewards, but it also weighed on Hahm emotionally, so she took a job helping to open a hotel in the late 1990s. A plummeting economy kept the hotel from ever opening, but the work gave her a taste of the hospitality and events industry.

“I never forgot it,” Hahm says.

When she and her husband eventually moved to Orlando, Hahm found out about the Rosen College at UCF.

“I had no idea there was a school for hospitality management, so I started on another bachelor’s degree because my mother used to tell me, ‘Always further your education if you have the chance,’ ” she says.

Early in her first semester at UCF, a professor told Hahm she instead might like to be part of the school’s first master’s cohort in hospitality and tourism management. For field work, she volunteered at the Orange County Convention Center, and explored hotels and parks. She enjoyed the research so much that she went on to earn a Ph.D. in another inaugural program at UCF: education with a hospitality track.

And then she landed a job as an assistant professor — at the University of Alabama.

“I enjoyed it there, but something wasn’t quite right,” Hahm says. “I’d be teaching about hospitality and events, and every illustration I gave would be from the Orlando area.”

Hahm jumped at an opportunity to return to ��AV in 2015, where she would soon work with faculty and the event management advisory board to wed experience with research in forming the much-needed graduate program.

“This has become like a lot of industries where an undergraduate degree is no longer enough for leadership positions,” Hahm says, “but right now employers can only ask for an MBA. We’re going to change that.”

Two years from now, the 30 students in this initial cohort will be the first to tell employers they have a master’s degree in event leadership.

“The idea that we’ll be learning from each other is a big part of why I want to do this,” Mullenax says. “It’s a reflection of how the event industry works today — it’s more collaborative than competitive. I specialize in decor, so I’m always working with people from other companies who specialize in areas like software or sound and lighting. Now we’ll be in the same cohort, going through the program together. I’m excited to get started.”

“Rosen College has consistently proven that its culture of global hospitality education, integrated curriculum and industry partnerships makes it a top choice for educating the future leaders of the hospitality industry,” says Youcheng Wang, dean of the college. “We are extremely proud to hold the honored position of being one of the top programs in the world.”

Last year, �����’s hospitality programs were ranked No. 1 in the nation and No. 2 in the world in the ShanghaiRankings’ listing of 500 of the world’s top universities.

Located in the heart of hospitality in Orlando, Florida, Rosen College excels in teaching, research and scholarship. Its in-depth level of course work supported by the HOSPITALITY+ curriculum strategy that incorporates classroom and practical learning through hands-on experience in internships and jobs guarantees that when students graduate they have a deep, robust understanding of the industry they are entering. The college offers five bachelor’s degree programs, five undergraduate certificate programs, three master’s degree programs and one Ph.D. program.

To further the research and scholarship leadership, the college will host the , in partnership with world renowned research journal publisher Elsevier. The two-day summit, scheduled for December 14-15, 2021, will be completely virtual. The conference website is accepting registrations and abstract submissions.

“Our dedication to providing an innovative, real-world education and the integration of our curriculum into Central Florida’s tourism community is making an undeniable impact on the hospitality industry, both domestically and abroad.”
— Youcheng Wang

“Our placement among the world’s most notable hospitality schools are a reflection of the strategic direction of our college, the experiences and expertise of our faculty, and the success of our students and alumni,” says Youcheng Wang, dean and William C. Peeper Preeminent Professor in Destination Marketing. “Our dedication to providing an innovative, real-world education and the integration of our curriculum into Central Florida’s tourism community is making an undeniable impact on the hospitality industry, both domestically and abroad.”

CEOWorld analyzed more than 115 hospitality and hotel management schools. Among other measures, the rankings considered the quality of an institution’s programs, job placement rates upon graduation, efforts towards student success, and surveys from industry professionals.

Founded in 2004, the Rosen College has the distinction of being the only hospitality school in the nation to offer a selection of comprehensive and innovative degree programs. These programs include a bachelor’s degree in entertainment management, a bachelor’s degree in event management, a bachelor’s degree in senior living management and a doctoral degree in hospitality management.

Rosen’s faculty represent 17 different countries and are known worldwide for their research, teaching skills and professional experiences. Many of them have served in executive roles in the hospitality industry, planning major conventions and events and holding leadership roles in numerous professional organizations. Last year, Dean Wang and Alan Fyall, an associate dean, were awarded membership in the International Academy for the Study of Tourism.

Rosen students consistently boast a job placement rate above 95 percent upon graduation. Nearly half of the first 18 graduates of �����’s new Disney Aspire Program — which provides free tuition for UCF students who are also Disney employees — were from Rosen College. Earlier this year, �����’s Knights Helping Knights Food Pantry opened a branch location on Rosen’s campus, offering non-perishable food items and basic hygiene goods for Rosen students.

CEOWorld’s international ranking is just the latest recognition of Rosen’s prominence amongst hospitality schools. In 2019, the College was ranked as the world’s No. 5 school for hospitality and tourism academics by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. It’s Hospitality and Tourism Management online program and the Entertainment Management program were ranked among the top 10 in the nation by BestCollege.com in 2018.

“Our research confirms that Florida’s lodging industry for vacations, beyond traditional hotels and resorts, which include rentals like houses, apartments and condos, boosts the economy significantly. Renters remain in the state longer, some up to 30 days, and spend more money, on average $1,000 per person,” says Robertico Croes, associate dean of research at UCF Rosen College. “These long-term stays also provide more than 100,000 jobs for people supporting the vacation rental businesses.”

“Renters remain in the state longer, some up to 30 days, and spend more money, on average $1,000 per person.” — Robertico Croes, UCF associate dean

The report notes several other key findings:

• The 2018 economic impact of Florida’s vacation home rental industry represents $16.6 billion in direct spending and $10.8 billion in indirect spending, totaling $27.4 billion.
• The direct spending amounts to nearly $46 million a day and approximately $1.9 million every hour.
• The direct spending supports roughly 115,000 jobs with one job created for every $144,181 spent.
• In 2018, the total amount of tourists staying in vacation rental homes in Florida was 14,233,274, which equates to 11.2 percent of the total 127 million tourists that came to Florida in 2018.

The report focuses on 25 Florida counties: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gulf, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Volusia and Walton. The research shows that when combined, these 25 counties include 89.3 percent of the total amount of registered vacation rental homes like Airbnbs and condos in the state of Florida.

“Floridians have long-known that the state’s vacation home rental industry has a significant impact on our economy, but the numbers in this report are simply staggering,” says Florida Realtors President Barry Grooms, a realtor and co-owner of Sarabay Suncoast Realty Inc. in Bradenton.

“Having fresh vacation rental industry data at our fingertips affords the industry and elected officials the opportunity to make informed and data driven decisions about public policy, which is critical here in the state of Florida,” says Denis Hanks, executive director of the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association.

The data and conclusions provided in the report were derived from data received from the three primary stakeholders involved in the vacation rental home sector: homeowners, management companies and tourists/visitors.

In total, 6,240 tourists, 1,748 vacation rental homeowners and 143 vacation rental home management companies were surveyed. That survey data was then triangulated with data from Key Data, the Survey Center of the Bureau of Economic and Business Center, Airbnb, the Florida Tourist Development Tax Association, multiple county tax collectors’ offices and the Florida Department of Revenue.

The report was commissioned by Florida Realtors and conducted in partnership with the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association. .

The goal of the magazine is to help hospitality and tourism practitioners navigate the future of how we enjoy all aspects of hospitality, attractions, events, entertainment, foodservice, restaurants and more.

“This magazine takes some of the best research Rosen College has to offer and presents it in publication that’s enjoyable to read, with great photos, while delivering news that can be used to help hospitality businesses succeed.” — Robertico Croes, Ph.D., associate dean at Rosen College

“This is truly a breakthrough in the sharing of research,” says Robertico Croes, Ph.D., associate dean at Rosen College, director of the Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies and co-editor of the Rosen Research Review. “Most research is presented in journals, which is great for fellow scholars, but challenging for industry, community leaders and partners. This magazine takes some of the best research Rosen College has to offer and presents it in publication that’s enjoyable to read, with great photos, while delivering news that can be used to help hospitality businesses succeed.”

Each article speaks to a different segment of the hospitality industry and introduces experts in the field who are members of the Rosen College faculty. Industry experts and thought leaders are also profiled, the first being Sebastian Bazin, CEO of Accor, the largest hotel group in the world outside the United States; and Misty Johantgen, COO of Experience Kissimmee, a region that’s home to thousands of vacation homes and attractions. The magazine is in both electronic and hard copy; it’s easy to read, save, bookmark and share the content. Issues will be distributed twice annually.

1. Pop Parlour

Serving up sweets is practically in graduate Brandon Chandler ’10’s DNA. In 2013, Chandleropened Pop Parlour, a shop offering fruity, creamy and boozy frozen treats as a tribute to his grandfather PopPop, who sold similar items after World War II. Pop Parlour has grown to two locations and serves coffee, tea, craft beer and wine, depending on which spot you visit.

���dz����پ��DzԲ�:��4214 E. Plaza Drive on the UCF campus; 431 E. Central Blvd., Suite C; ThePopParlour.com
(Pop Parlour’s UCF location will be closed on Small Business Saturday due to campus closures, but you can still visit the downtown location or stop by another day.)

2. Six28 Boutique

Six months after graduating with a degree in elementary education, Rachel Ledbetter ’16 took a risk to pursue entrepreneurship by opening clothing boutique Six28. Located near UCF, Six28 sells trendy, affordable women’s clothing and accessories, which can also be purchased on the store’s online site.

Location:12082 Collegiate Way; 407-630-3890; Six28Boutique.com

3. Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux

Cycling enthusiasts Darrell Cunningham ’93 and Jen Cunningham ’95 ’96MSW opened Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux to provide a space for people to bond over good food, drinks and company. With a commitment to health in mind, the shop sells breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, beer, wine and more daily and at special events each month. While at UCF, Darrell studied civil engineering and Jen majored in social work.

Location:3022 Corrine Drive; 407-427-1440; BikesBeansandBordeaux.com

4. Deli Fresh Threads

Marketing major Anthony “Biggie” Bencomo ’98 merged his love of sandwiches with another creative passion by opening Deli Fresh Threads, a clothing store? with designs inspired by what he considers the #KingOfMeals. You can buy foodie fashion in the form of T-shirts, hats, pins and stickers on the online shop. Bencomo also hosts a monthly #SandwichEatUp at local shops around Central Florida to help support other small businesses.

Location: 321-303-5129; DeliFreshThreads.com

5. Tactical Brewing Company

Owned and operated by veteran and psychology graduate Doug Meyer ’14 ’16MBA, Tactical Brewing Company serves craft brews created on-site to veterans, first responders and all beer lovers alike.

���dz����پ��Dz�:��4882 New Broad St.; 407-203-2033; TacticalBeer.com

6. Retrolando

Retro Orlando captures the City Beautiful’s history while giving back to others. The online T-shirt company offers men and women’s clothing inspired by former iconic Orlando businesses, organizations and landmarks. Each purchase is something you can feel good about because owner and English major Shannon Flesch Couillard ’04, donates a new shirt to a local homeless shelter for each shirt sold.

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7. Yaupon Brothers Tea Co.

Brothers — UCF senior hospitality major Kyle White and legal studies graduate Bryon ’09— have revived an ancient Native American superfood with their yaupon holly tea company. The brothers sustainably harvest their organic crop and distribute their product at restaurants and shops. Online purchases can also be made on their official site and Amazon. Yaupon Brothers also offers sustainable agricultural consulting services for Florida farmers looking for alternative crops.

���dz����پ��DzԲ�:��Various local shops such as Lucky’s Market, Credo Coffee, Infusion Tea and Dandelion Communitea Café; YauponBrothers.com

8. A Piece of Work

Started by marketing graduate Curtis Young ’04 in 2007, A Piece of Work apparel company creates custom embroidery and screen printing. Through partnerships with companies such as the Orlando Magic, Funky Buddha and more, the online site offers quality work clothing. A Piece of Work also sells eco-friendly items such as recycled journals and organic cotton totes.

���dz����پ��Dz�:��321-662-3836; APieceofWorkGear.com

9. Just Save the Date

Whether you need to put together a small intimate gathering or a major extravagant event, Just Save the Date can help make any occasion special. Communication graduate and owner Kelly Erickson Fowler ’02 started the event planning company after planning her own destination wedding. Just Save the Date operates from two locations in the Orlando and Key West areas.

���dz����پ��DzԲ�:��Orlando – 407-258-1944; Key West – 305-767-3774; JustSaveTheDate.com