The University of Central Florida will recognize about 280 faculty members for their academic excellence and service during the annual Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom on April 1.
The event highlights significant contributions by faculty, underscoring their impact on teaching, research, and university life. Awards given at the ceremony represent some of UCF’s highest honors for faculty achievement.
Honorees this year include recipients of the Pegasus Professor Award, Medal of Societal Impact, Reach for the Stars Award, Big 12 Faculty Member of the Year Award, and Champion of Student Success and Well-Being. The university will also acknowledge those who have reached milestone years of service, received excellence awards in various categories such as undergraduate and graduate teaching or research, served on the Faculty Senate, achieved emeritus or emerita status, or retired recently.
A special recognition will be given to Chuck Dziuban for his remarkable 55-year career at UCF. Dziuban was UCF’s first Pegasus Professor and founding director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. Starting this year at Founders’ Day, a new award—the Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching—will be presented to highlight outstanding online instruction.
Faculty from across colleges are among those recognized with major awards: Hassan Foroosh (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Carmen Giurgescu (College of Nursing), Annette R. Khaled (College of Medicine), and Matthew Marino (College of Community Innovation and Education) are this year’s Pegasus Professor honorees. Additional distinctions include awards for excellence in mentoring doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars as well as professional service.
The annual celebration not only acknowledges individual achievements but also emphasizes UCF’s ongoing commitment to academic distinction through its diverse community of educators.
