We are very proud of the faculty and staff at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management who have earned various honors and awards. Our talented faculty and lift our society through their research, scholarship, creativity, work ethic and dedication to service. Go Knights! Charge On!

 

Research Incentive Award (RIA)

The UCF Research Incentive Award (RIA) program recognizes outstanding research, scholarly, or creative activity that advances the body of knowledge in a particular field, including interdisciplinary research and collaborations.  The Research Incentive award recognizes in-unit employee contributions to UCF’s key goal of achieving international prominence in research and creative activities.

Award Year	Honoree	Department
2022-2023	Dr. Jorge Ridderstaat, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2022-2023	Dr. Asli Tasci,  Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2021-2022	Dr. Bendegul Okumus, Assistant Professor	Department of Foodservice & Lodging
2021-2022	Dr. Tingting Zhang, Assistant Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2020-2021	Dr. Edwin Torres Areizaga, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2020-2021	Dr. Wei Wei, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2019-2020	Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2019-2020	Dr. Ady Milman, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2018-2019	Dr. Nan Hua, Department Chair, Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2018-2019	Dr. Fevzi Okumus, Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2017-2018	Dr. Alan Fyall, Associate Dean, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2017-2018	Dr. Asli Tasci, Interim Department Chair, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2016-2017	Dr. Manuel A. Rivera, Assistant Dean, Associate Professor	Department of Food Services & Lodging Management
2015-2016	Dr. David Kwun, Associate Professor, Master’s Degree Coordinator	Department of Hospitality Services
2015-2016	Dr. Ahmet Ozturk, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2015-2016	Dr. Dipendra Singh-Mann, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2015-2016	Dr. Robertico Croes, Associate Dean, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attractions
2014-2015	Dr. Heejung “Cheyenne” Ro, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2014-2015	Dr. Kevin Murphy, Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2013-2014	Dr. Fevzi Okumus, Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2012-2013	Dr. Khaldoon Nusair, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2011-2012	Dr. Po-Ju Chen, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2010-2011	Dr. Denver Severt, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2009-2010	Dr. Robertico Croes, Associate Dean, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2009-2010	Dr. Tadayuki Hara, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2008-2009	Dr. Youcheng Wang, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2006-2007	Dr. Paul Rompf, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2005-2006	Dr. Dana Tesone, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2004-2005	Dr. Deborah Breiter, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2002-2003	Dr. Randall Upchurch, Professor	Department of Food Services & Lodging Management
2001-2002	Dr. Ady Milman, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions

Teaching Incentive Program (TIP)

The UCF Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) rewards teaching productivity and excellence. The TIP award recognizes in-unit employee contributions to UCF’s key goals of offering the best undergraduate education available in Florida and achieving international prominence in key programs of graduate study.

Award Year	Honoree	Department
2021-2022	Dr. Robin Back, Associate Professor	Department of Foodservice & Lodging
2021-2022	Dr. Ray Eddy, Lecturer	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2020-2021	Dr. Hyung-il Jung, Associate Lecturer	Department of Hospitality Services
2020-2021	Ms. Deborah Weissberg, Associate Instructor	Department of Hospitality Services
2020-2021	Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2019-2020	Ms. Vicki  Lavendol, Associate Instructor	Department of Hospitality Services
2019-2020	Dr. Jeeyeon “Jeannie” Hahm, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2018-2019	Dr. Wei Wei, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2018-2019	Dr. Kelly Semrad, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2018-2019	Dr. Asli D.A. Tasci, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2017-2018	Dr. Cynthia Mejia, Associate Professor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management
2017-2018	Dr. Edwin Torres Areizaga, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2016-2017	Dr. Amy Gregory, Associate Professor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management
2015-2016	Dr. Jill Fjelstul, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events and Attraction
2014-2015	Ms. Vicki  Lavendol, Associate Instructor	Department of Hospitality Services
2013-2014	Dr. Tammie Kaufman, Associate Professor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management
2013-2014	Mr. Michael “Doc” Terry, Senior Instructor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management
2013-2014	Dr. Heejung “Cheyenne” Ro, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2013-2014	Dr. Denver Severt, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2012-2013	Dr. Ady Milman, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2011-2012	Dr. David Kwun, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2010-2011	Dr. Jill Fjelstul, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2010-2011	Dr. Kevin Murphy, Professor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management
2009-2010	Dr. Duncan Dickson, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2009-2010	Dr. Hyung-il Jung, Associate Lecturer	Department of Hospitality Services
2009-2010	Mr. Robert Ashley, Program Director, Instructor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management
2008-2009	Dr. Denver Severt, Associate Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2006-2007	Dr. Po-Ju Chen, Associate Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2005-2006	Dr. Dana Tesone, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2004-2005	Dr. Christopher Muller, Professor	Department of Hospitality Services
2002-2003	Dr. Ady Milman, Professor	Department of Tourism, Events & Attractions
2001-2002	Mr. Robert Ashley, Program Director, Instructor	Department of Food Service & Lodging Management

Excellence Awards

There are several UCF excellence awards categories.

• The Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award recognizes outstanding graduate-level teaching.
• The Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate-level teaching.
• The Excellence in Research Awards presented by the University Research Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
• The Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising awards to recognize the outstanding efforts of UCF’s faculty advisors in retaining undergraduate students, improving communication of information to peers and students, and helping undergraduate students realize their potential.
• The Division of Student Learning and Academic Success sponsors the Pegasus Advisor award to recognize the outstanding efforts that UCF’s professional academic advisors play in retaining students, providing accurate and timely information to students, creating a caring and supportive environment, and helping students realize their potential. Prior to 2020 the award was known as the UCF Award for Excellence in Professional Academic Advising.

 

Award Year 2022-2023	Honoree
2022-23 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Carissa Baker, Assistant Professor
2022-23 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Wei Wei, Associate Professor
2022-23 Excellence in Research	Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu, Associate Professor
2022-23 Excellence in Professional Service	Dr. Murat Kizildag, Associate Professor
2022-23 Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising	Dr. Tingting Zhang, Associate Professor
2022-23 Excellence, Graduate Teaching Assistant	Bingna Lin, Ph.D. student, Dept. of Tourism, Events & Attractions
Award Year 2021-2022	Honoree
2021-22 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Jorge Ridderstaat, Assistant Professor
2021-22 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Jorge Ridderstaat, Assistant Professor
2021-22 Excellence in Research	Dr. Tingting Zhang, Assistant Professor
Award Year 2020-2021	Honoree
2020-21 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Mr. Ray Eddy, Instructor
2020-21 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu, Associate Professor
2020-21 Excellence in Research	Dr. Wei Wei, Associate Professor
Award Year 2019-2020	Honoree
2019-20 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Wei Wei, Associate Professor
2019-20 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Jeeyeon “Jeannie” Hahm, Associate Professor
2019-20 Excellence in Research	Dr. Edwin Torres Areizaga, Associate Professor
Award Year 2018-2019	Honoree
2018-2019 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Asli D.A. Tasci, Professor
2018-2019  Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Asli D.A. Tasci, Professor
2018-2019 Excellence in Research	Dr. Xiaoxiao Fu, Associate Professor
Award Year 2017-2018	Honoree
2017-2018 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Murat Kizildag, Associate Professor
2017-2018 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Amy Gregory, Associate Professor
2017-2018 Excellence in Research	Dr. Nan Hua, Department Chair, Professor
Award Year 2016-2017	Honoree
2016-2017 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Manuel Rivera, Associate Professor
2016-2017 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Alan Fyall,  Professor
2016-2017 Excellence in Research	Dr. Juhee Kang, Associate Professor
Award Year 2015-2016	Honoree
2015-2016 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching	Dr. Jill Fjelstul, Associate Professor
2015-2016 Excellence in Graduate Teaching	Dr. Fevzi Okumus, Professor
2015-2016 Excellence in Research	Dr. Asli D.A. Tasci, Professor
The University Award for Excellence in Professional Academic Advising	Ms. Vanessa Cogswell, Academic Advisor