Rosen College of Hospitality Management

🚨 RCHM in the news alert! 🗞️ We’re excited to share that our very own Assistant Professor of Theme Park & Attraction Management, Dr. Carissa Baker, has been featured in the Washington Post! She offers her expert insights on the latest Disney rides and attractions coming to Florida and California, and the massive investments fueling these exciting developments.

🎢 Check out the full story here:

What Disney parks could build with billions in new investment Disney World and Disneyland are clearing legislative hurdles to make giant investments in new attractions.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Cynthia Mejia has been named the permanent Dean of UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management! 🎉 Since October 2023, Dr. Mejia has led our college with exceptional vision and dedication as interim dean. Now, after a comprehensive national search, she has been appointed by UCF Provost Michael D. Johnson.

👉 Read the Provost’s full message by clicking the link in our bio!

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Cynthia Mejia has been named the permanent Dean of UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management! 🎉 Since October 2023, Dr. Mejia has led our college with exceptional vision and dedication as interim dean. Now, after a comprehensive national search, she has been appointed by UCF Provost Michael D. Johnson.

👉 Read the Provost’s full message on UCF Today: https://www.ucf.edu/news/cynthia-mejia-named-dean-of-rosen-college/

Happy National Higher Education Day! 🎓 If you’re a new or returning student, here’s a friendly reminder to complete your FAFSA by June 30 and learn about the changes to the FAFSA 2024-2025 aid year.

Learn more about these changes by visiting this link on UCF’s Financial Aid website: ucf.edu/financial-aid/apply/fafsa/

In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, our own Dr. Robertico Croes reflects on a presentation he shared at the United Nations General Assembly after he was personally invited to present by president of the Assembly.

Dr. Croes’ fascinating insights and advocacy for integrating broader perspectives into tourism education propel our college’s mission forward and offer a compelling vision for the future of tourism.

👉 Read the full story on UCF Today: https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-professor-shares-tourism-insight-with-united-nations/

U.S. Travel Association University of Central Florida

UCF Professor Shares Tourism Insight with United Nations In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, Rosen College Professor Robertico Croes reflects on a presentation he gave related to the observances’ theme this year, which is how travel is vital to economic vitality and the well-being of people.

This National Travel and Tourism Week, we’re celebrating the adventurous spirit of tourism! ✈️

Today our Associate Dean Alan Fyall was featured in a USA Today article about the thrilling world of tornado tourism and storm chasing tours, highlighting the rising popularity of adventure tourism 🌀🌪️ Read the full story below! https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/05/20/tornado-tourism-storm-chasing-tours/73687994007/

U.S. Travel Association

Tourists flock to Tornado Alley, paying big bucks for the chance to see dangerous storms The National Weather Service is very much not in favor of the public going out in severe weather. But tour operators say they take safety seriously.

We’re thrilled to announce that May 9th, 2024 was proclaimed UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Day in Orange County! 🖤🍍💛

Signed by Mayor Jerry L. Demings, the proclamation recognizes our college’s significant contributions to hospitality education, research, and the broader community during the month of our 20th anniversary. We look forward to continuing to provide the best education and experiences for our 15,000+ alumni at local, national, and global levels.

Thank you to Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association for celebrating with us! 🥳

💫 Today, May 13, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in our college's history — the 20th anniversary of the elevation of the Rosen School of Hospitality Management to the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

🏆 Just last week, we celebrated two decades of excellence in hospitality education at an event graciously hosted by the International Drive Chamber of Commerce at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. During this event, we had the honor of seeing Dr. Abraham Pizam, our founding dean, and Mr. Harris Rosen, our cherished benefactor and namesake, receive the 2024 I-Drive Chamber Innovator Award.

🤝 Our deepest thanks go to the I-Drive Chamber of Commerce not only for hosting this memorable celebration but also for their steadfast support over the past two decades. Their dedication to fostering a vibrant hospitality community has been crucial to our success. We thank our industry partners, stakeholders, and the wider I-Drive Chamber community for their ongoing support, which empowers our students to unleash their potential and lead our industry forward. Thank you also to UCF President Alexander Cartwright for joining us for this momentous occasion. We are profoundly grateful for each memory and milestone we have achieved together!

Thank you to everyone who has played a pivotal role in our journey. We look forward to continuing to innovate and inspire for many more decades to come! 💛🍍🖤

📸 View all photos from the ceremony here: https://ucfrosengallery.smugmug.com/College-Events/I-Drive-RCHM-Celebrates-20-Years-Honoring-Dr-Pizam-Mr-Rosen

🎓 UCF Rosen College is thrilled to share that we recently hosted the inaugural Florida Deans and Directors Hospitality & Tourism Summit, joining the forces of Florida’s leading hospitality education institutions: FAU College of Business, Florida Gulf Coast University, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance, University of South Florida Muma College of Business, and University of West Florida.

🤝 Together, we've embarked on a groundbreaking journey to deepen our partnership and further support higher education and the hospitality and tourism talent pipeline sectors across Florida.

🌟 This alliance is more than just a commitment — it's a promise to cultivate future leaders and drive innovation throughout our state's educational landscape. We're excited to pool our resources, share our expertise, and work collaboratively to uplift the standards of hospitality higher education.

💡 As we move forward, we're eager to see the impact of our united efforts on both our students and the industry. Cheers to a future of innovation and excellence for Florida’s hospitality and tourism!

UCF Rosen College’s Dr. Carissa Baker was featured today in the Los Angeles Times for her expert commentary on Disney's recent strategic investments in theme parks!

🎠 Her insights highlight the importance of theme parks as a core element of Disney's business strategy, particularly during challenging times in other entertainment sectors. Read the full article by visiting latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-04-24/disney-parks-investment-60-billion-anaheim

🎢 Learn more about our theme park and attraction management degree program by visiting ucf.edu/degree/theme-park-and-attraction-management-bs/

Why Disney is doubling down on theme parks with a $60-billion plan Disney's nearly $2-billion expansion plan for Disneyland highlights the importance of the company's theme parks for its bottom line.

🎉We’re thrilled to share that our own UCF Rosen College alumna Kristina Lavallee, co-owner of 🍰The Cake Girl has been honored by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners for her entrepreneurship and community leadership.

Her journey from our classrooms to becoming a celebrated business leader shows how Rosen College prepares graduates for real-world success. Join us in congratulating Kristina, and discover how Rosen College can unleash your potential at hospitality.ucf.edu. ✨

Rosen Alumna Recognized for ‘Extraordinary Achievements’ by Hillsborough County Kristina Lavallee ’13 recently received a commendation from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners for “her extraordinary achievements as an entrepreneur and community leader” that “have left an indelible mark on her community.”

Tomorrow is ! Join us over on our Instagram at instagram.com/rosencollege to participate in 10 fun photo challenges and share your favorite UCF moments for a chance to win $1,000 toward your favorite fund 🫶

We’re so proud of our students Jida Awa and Eduin Rodriguez for receiving honors at this year’s University of Central Florida Founders’ Day event. They truly exemplify excellence in academics, service, and leadership and continue to make UCF Rosen College proud. ✨

Jida was inducted into the prestigious Order of Pegasus and Eduin received a Founders’ Day Undergraduate Award. Join us in congratulating them! 🏆

Read the full article below!

UCF’s 2024 Order of Pegasus, Other Distinguished Student Honors The Founders’ Day event on April 3 honors 51 Knights — including Order of Pegasus inductees — who exemplify excellence in academics, service and leadership.

Congratulations to our staff members honored at yesterday’s UCF Founders’ Day Celebration for their remarkable teamwork, dedication, and service! 🏆

Awardees include:
* Margaret Zorrilla (Employee Excellence Award)
* Regina Dennison (Employee Excellence Award Nominee)
* Stacy Little (Employee Excellence Award Nominee)
* Amy Perry (30 Years of Service)
* Lori Safford (30 Years of Service)
* Fredrick Okumu (20 Years of Service)
* Fazal Jameer (15 Years of Service)
* Stephanie Gavarrete (5 Years of Service)
* Tijuana Rollins (5 Years of Service)

Read the full article below

Celebrating Employee Excellence on Founders’ Day 2024 UCF celebrates the remarkable spirit of teamwork, commitment and dedication of our talented employees this Founders' Day.

Congratulations to our faculty members who were honored at University of Central Florida's Founders’ Day celebration for their commitment to academic excellence and service! 🏆

Awardees include:
- Steven Brinkman (Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching)
- Juhee Kang (Excellence in Graduate Teaching)
- Arthur Huang (Excellence in Research)
- Hans Hagglund (20 Years of Service Award)

Read the full article at the link below!

UCF Celebrates, Honors Faculty with 2024 Founders' Day Awards In addition to Pegasus Professor and Reach for the Star honorees, more than 150 faculty will be honored for their commitment to excellence during the Founders' Day celebration Wednesday.

👉 CAMPUS UPDATE: As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance campus security, the back vehicle gate will be closed to unauthorized traffic starting April 2nd, and we will be introducing an access code system. For further information, please refer to your UCF email. Thank you for your cooperation!

Last week’s Career Fair was picture PERFECT! ✨📸 Check out the full photo gallery here: ucfrosengallery.smugmug.com/Rosen-College-Events/Career-Fair-Spring-2024

Our Spring 2024 Career Fair is only 1️⃣ week away! Celebrate 20 years of sound-sational memories at UCF Rosen College at our hallmark career and networking event on March 13th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 🎶

Register now by visiting linktr.ee/rosencollegecareerfair

John Rivers, founder and CEO of 4 Rivers Smokehouse & 4Roots, joined us on campus this Wednesday for Rosen Professional Internship’s Leadership Workshop series 🌱

Mr. Rivers gave an inspiring and important talk about philanthropic entrepreneurship, leading by example, and the importance of dedicating yourself to your community.

View the full image gallery here: ucfrosengallery.smugmug.com/Rosen-College-Events/Leadership-Development-Workshop-John-River-2-28-24s

Check out this fascinating research study led by UCF Rosen College's Dr. Sergio Alvarez!

UCF Rosen College Study Reveals Economic Impact of Florida’s Red Tide on Tourism | University of Central Florida News One of the most striking conclusions of the study is the relationship between the severity of red tide blooms and their economic impact on tourism.

Congratulations to Rosen AlumKnights Elizabeth Rutkovsky and Naddav Rubina for winning UCF Alumni’s 30 Under 30 Awards! We’re so proud of your achievements and can’t wait to see what else you achieve 💛🍍

👉 Read more on UCF Today: ucf.edu/news/ucf-announces-2024s-30-under-30-alumni-award-recipients

Hey theme park enthusiasts! 🎢✨ As we get pumped for this magical new ride, it’s the perfect time to think about turning your passion for theme parks into a fulfilling career by pursuing our degree in Theme Park and Attraction Management!

👉 Learn more about this one of a kind degree program by visiting hospitality.ucf.edu/bachelor-of-science-in-theme-park-and-attraction-management

JUST ANNOUNCED 📣 Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens at Walt Disney World in Summer 2024! 💚 💜 💛 Five exciting reasons to join the celebration: http://di.sn/6188VsiOG

Thank you so much for joining us yesterday for Love Your Career at Universal Day, our third annual event with Universal Orlando Resort! We hope you made valuable connections, explored new possibilities, and had a great time with us this Valentine’s Day ❤️

👉 Click here to see the full photo gallery: ucfrosengallery.smugmug.com/Rosen-College-Events/Universal-Day-Love-Your-Career-2-14-24

Looking for a last minute Valentine? 💘 Be ours at Love Your Career at Universal Day, happening tomorrow at 10 am! Register now by visiting ucf.joinhandshake.com/stu/events/1436613

❤️ Love Your Career at Universal Day! ❤️

Join us on Wednesday, February 14th, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management for our third annual Universal Day, featuring leadership sessions, career opportunities, food, music, and much more! 🌎

This exclusive event is open to all UCF students and alumni only and registration is required! Register on Handshake by visiting ucf.joinhandshake.com/stu/events/1436613

🌟 Rosen Research Review highlight — More Than Income: How Americans feel about their finances and how it affects their travel plans 💵

UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Associate Professor Jorge Ridderstaat’s dynamic study provides valuable behavioral insights for authorities and policymakers when managing tourist destinations effectively. Read it now by visiting hospitality.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/RRR009-Jorge-Ridderstaat.pdf

👉 For all the exciting research insights in this issue, visit hospitality.ucf.edu/rosen-research-review