Overview
What would inspire a graduate entering the marketplace with a bachelor's degree to return to school to pursue a master's degree? Why would a successful professional with years of experience in her field add to her load to pursue her doctorate? Because they recognize, like the more than 7,500 other University of Central Florida graduate students, the many opportunities of advanced studies through UCF.
They are people of vision, with talents waiting to be developed, with goals to achieve. Where some see limits, they see possibilities. Where some see problems, they see potential solutions. UCF embraces their vision, empowers them to break down boundaries and propels them toward a future filled with innovation.
With 25 doctoral programs, 94 master's programs and 77 graduate certificate programs, UCF graduate students have the distinction of being affiliated with an internationally respected institution. It's the UCF major advantage.
A small sample of UCF's outstanding graduate students is highlighted below.
 |
|
|
Joanna Gribble, who is pursuing her master's degree in Social Work, feels that UCF provides a base from which she can continue to grow professionally. "My classes have taught me the basic theories for practice and opened my eyes to being a more culturally competent professional," she says.
Gribble's list of accomplishments is impressive. In addition to her graduate studies, she holds office as the president of the Master in Social Work Student Association and was a member of the Dean's Student Leadership Council in fall 2005. After graduating in May 2006, she plans to add to that list. "I hope to get a job working with children and their families related to mental and/or physical health and well-being," Gribble says.
Gribble will begin a project this coming semester with fellow classmates and two professors, assisting them with two separate research studies. The first study involves working with the Center for Drug-Free Living, Inc., doing household drug use surveys to determine the trends within Orange County households. The second study will have her working with the City of Life Program to develop a system for tracking children and adolescents who age out of the foster care system when they turn 19. "I am most intrigued with these projects knowing that the research is going toward something that will have results," she says.
|
|
 |
|
|
Stacy Martin, a master's degree student in the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF knows firsthand about the triumphs and tragedies that come with sports. After competing at the 2004 Olympic Track and Field Trials, an injury forced her career to a close. But this did not stop Martin's desire to be involved in sports, "I know how important sport is to our society. It has the power to influence positive changes in society, and I want to be an agent of that change," she says.
As a graduate assistant for the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, Martin recently helped Dr. Richard Lapchick write his latest book, 100 Heroes, about former NCAS Giant Steps Award winners who are trying to make a better world through sport. Martin also researches the hiring practices of all of the major sports leagues and compiles the data for the annual Racial and Gender Report Card that Dr. Lapchick authors.
Martin's goals are simple. "I wish to make the research findings more accurate and provide solutions to those leagues that may not receive good grades. My ultimate goal is to work with these organizations to hire a diverse, qualified staff so that there is no research needed, "she says. |
|
 |
|
|
After finishing her bachelor's degree at UCF, Jessica Maykrantz quickly decided that the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program was perfect for her. Concurrently pursuing a graduate certificate in Crime Analysis, Maykrantz is on the right track to achieve her lifetime goal of becoming a crime analyst. "The program has given me the tools I need to succeed," she says.
With graduation in August 2006 coming soon, Maykrantz hopes to find a job with a local law enforcement agency by the fall. "I want to get a couple of years of experience and then get a job with a federal agency. My ultimate goal is to work in the FBI Behavioral Science Unit in Quantico and the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC)," she says.
Currently, Maykrantz is part of an independent study where she is conducting research in conjunction with her supervisor, Dr. Michael Reynolds, who is researching data sharing in law enforcement. "One thing I do want to look at down the road is how the recent data sharing system in Florida has affected the crime solving percentage," she says. |
|
 |
|
|
For Hans Meyer, a master's student in the Social Work program, research can bring great opportunities. As a graduate research assistant on a team of faculty from UCF and the Center for Community Partnerships, Meyer is working on an organizational assessment and strategic planning project for the Orange County Department of Health and Family Services.
"As part of the process, our project team is assessing the current organizational structure of the department, reviewing the department's program structure and evaluating the department's use of program performance measures," Meyer says. He is excited that as the process continues, he has begun to see the results of his research.
Meyer feels that "being a part of a research team has given me multiple learning opportunities in a variety of areas. It has allowed me to better understand the work of local government, how to assess organizations on a large scale and how to recognize the appropriate inner workings of a diverse group of team members."
|
|
 |
|
|
Currently working at UCF as a postdoctoral researcher, Anurag Pande knows a thing or two about being fast; he finished both his master's and his doctorate in Civil Engineering along with a graduate certificate in data mining in only three years.
Originally receiving his undergraduate degree in Bombay, India, Pande has achieved many accomplishments since arriving at UCF. A Presidential Doctoral and Provost's Fellow, Pande also received a travel award to chair a session at an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference in Vienna, Austria, and is currently under consideration for UCF's award for outstanding dissertation.
Pande is currently engaged in a project to develop a system that can predict traffic crash occurrences on freeways in real-time. "The findings of this research may potentially change the way freeway traffic is managed," he says. "Instead of some vague message about the congestion downstream, drivers may be provided with warnings that might help them avoid potential crashes." After completing his research, Pande hopes to become a university professor.
|
|
 |
|
|
Hayden Smith, a UCF doctoral student in the Public Affairs program, feels he is using his knowledge to help others by working with the Center for Community Partnerships investigating the efficacy of Orange County jail diversion programs designed for the mentally ill. "Currently, mentally ill populations are being warehoused in jails rather than more appropriate settings. My role is to survey inmates with mental illness and substance abuse issues who may be eligible for jail diversion," Smith says.
Smith's mentor, Dr. Lawrence Martin, and the staff at the Center for Community Partnerships feel passionately about their research. "This research has provided me a unique insight into the systematic failure of our society to address the needs of the mentally ill. I intend to use this experience to pose real-world questions to students; particularly by recognizing the county-level perspectives of community stakeholders, service providers, and organizations," he says.
After graduating, Smith, a Presidential Doctoral Fellowship recipient, is contemplating a future in academia. |
|