UCF College of Community Innovation and Education

Last week, Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education Chair RoSusan Bartee traveled to Los Angeles on the department's behalf to accept its newly minted status of full membership to the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). This research-based consortium of higher-education institutions requires programs to undergo rigorous review, and the UCEA emphasized our innovative community partnerships and commitment to student success as key factors in the department's acceptance. Read more about this exciting accomplishment ?? https://lnkd.in/eXwe7z2A

Kat Wilson McCoy, a UCF School of Public Administration public affairs PhD candidate, has been awarded a prestigious 2024 Equity and Inclusion Student Fellowship through the Association of Public Policy Analysis & Management! This opportunity sets the stage for her to connect with industry leaders and help create meaningful change. "I'm very interested in data analysis, and this fellowship will allow me to network with professionals doing similar work and discuss the job market."

What's the next big idea for improving our communities? Earlier this week, UCF School of Public Administration students in Chris Bellingham's Fiscal Management course took center stage to present their innovative fiscal policy solutions at UCF Downtown. They tackled pressing issues such as energy usage, healthcare, foster care and homelessness, proposing research-based improvements for real-world change. Special guests from Orange County Government and the City of Orlando provided valuable feedback to support these future policy leaders. ??

Yesterday, some of our elementary education students and faculty partnered with the Florida Education Association to facilitate integrated arts stations at?Orange County Public Schools’ Andover Elementary for the school's Teach-In day! Our future educators gained invaluable teaching experience engaging third- through fifth-grade students in fun, hands-on learning activities that encouraged the children to tap into their creativity through art. ???

Throughout her career in criminal justice, Associate Professor Kristina Childs has seen many children and adolescents struggle with behavioral and mental health issues. In fact, it’s what sparked her interest in researching ways to improve the juvenile justice system and help youth receive critical mental health support. Most recently, that includes a project focused on equipping school officers with the resources necessary to support students in crisis. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eSYbsBHn

Researchers at the University of Central Florida are working with Florida A&M University, Florida International University and the University of South Florida on a five-year, $50 million U.S. Department of Education grant that is helping us all to upscale the impact of Florida’s university-assisted community schools! These schools operate through a partnership with a university or college, which provides the schools with additional resources to serve students and families while simultaneously advancing the university’s goals of serving its community. See how UCF Center for Community Schools and our state university partners are using this grant to multiply the impact and reach of community schools across four school districts. ?? https://lnkd.in/eVPjs4uq

Three Noyce Fellows were recently recognized as Teacher of the Year at their respective schools within Orange County Public Schools! Congratulations to Nisha Phillip Malahoo, Kayla Blankenship and Julia Keith on this outstanding achievement, which is a peer-nominated award from fellow teachers and staff. Learn more about the Noyce program below! ? https://lnkd.in/e5FSTchs

Groundbreaking docuseries "A Break for Impact," spearheaded by UCF Legal Studies Senior Lecturer Irene Pons and UCF's Center for Distributed Learning, received a record-breaking 10 Suncoast Regional Emmy nominations for its latest installment, "Beneath the Same Sky." The project highlights our college's commitment to innovative education — in this case, documenting how our legal studies students get hands-on learning experience in immigration law at the U.S.-Mexico border. Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/eAe-C4UZ

Are you a student or faculty member who conducts research that focuses on addressing complex public problems? The UCF Center For Public and Nonprofit Management is now accepting proposals for its annual Public Administration Research Conference (PARC). Submissions should follow this year’s conference theme of “a bridge from research to empowering communities to solve complex problems.” The goal is to gather a diverse group of both emerging and seasoned researchers under the public affairs umbrella to discuss their work in this area. Be sure to submit your proposal by the 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 2 deadline: https://lnkd.in/eGK-uTcn

Meet Sarah Al Asmar, a graduate student from Lebanon and a newly awarded Fulbright Scholar pursuing her master's in public policy here at UCF. After witnessing the challenges her home country of Lebanon faces, she's dedicated to creating meaningful change through reforming systemic issues. Al Asmar believes her Fulbright experience will empower her to bridge cultural divides and foster mutual understanding. Learn more about what inspired her to continue her education at UCF. ?? https://lnkd.in/eDNE_7Ky