Our Leaders of the Center
At the Hospitality+ Center for Innovation and Training at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, our leadership team is committed to reimagining hospitality education for a rapidly changing world. Through innovation, applied research, and global collaboration, we develop future-ready learning experiences that connect education to industry needs. We empower students and professionals not just to succeed, but to lead meaningful change across the hospitality sector and beyond.
Dr. Manuel Rivera
Assistant Dean & Director of Hospitality+ Center
for Innovation and Training
Ms. Margaret Zorrilla
Project Manager of Hospitality+ Center for Innovation and Training & Associate Editor Rosen Research Review
Andreina Gonzalez, M.S.
Program Coordinator | Fall 2023 – Present
Working at the Hospitality + Innovation Center has been one of the most rewarding parts of my Master’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management. I’ve learned to use new technology tools to design creative e-learning materials and discovered how much attention to detail matters when producing high-quality projects. What excites me most is knowing that our work directly supports hospitality professionals in developing their skills and delivering excellent service, while also giving me the opportunity to collaborate with a multicultural team that makes every project meaningful and inspiring.
Our Learning Experience Designers
Abeer Shirbini
Team Lead, Learning Experience Designer | Fall 2023 – Present
Working at the Center has been a rewarding journey where I grew into the role of lead video designer, creating e-learning materials and mastering AI image generation. Leading AI training sessions was a key achievement, boosting my confidence, creativity, and critical thinking. This experience has shaped my professional growth and shown me how curiosity and collaboration drive meaningful work.
Jomana Felemban
Team Lead, Learning Experience Designer | Summer 2024 – Present
As a Hospitality Management student, working at the Center has been transformative, boosting my confidence in sharing ideas with professionals from diverse backgrounds. I learned to bring event concepts to life using technology and AI, including creating step-by-step Synthesia videos for easy production. To future students, I’d say: embrace the learning, enjoy the process, and value the connections you’ll make with this talented team.
Giovanna Amorim
Learning Experience Designer | Summer 2025 – Present
As a graduate student in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a background in game development, working at the Center has been invaluable to my growth. I collaborated with the team to design engaging educational content and learned to use AI tools to enhance video lessons and guides. The collaborative environment encouraged idea sharing, initiative, and innovative approaches.
Raneem Albenayan
Learning Experience Designer | Spring 2025 – Present
As an Event and Entertainment Management student, my work at the Hospitality+ Center has been invaluable to my academic and professional growth. I applied classroom knowledge to real projects, creating multimedia learning materials and using innovative tools to enhance training experiences. Collaborating with the team strengthened my creativity, critical thinking, and project management skills, allowing me to create meaningful resources that inspire future learners to explore, create, and make an impact.
Meaad Almotairi
Learning Experience Designer | Summer 2024 – Present
As an international graduate student at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management aspiring to pursue a PhD, working at the Center has been a transformative part of my journey. I’ve strengthened my skills in data analysis, research methods, and strategic hospitality management while designing multimedia training materials and leveraging AI tools to create culturally adaptable resources. This experience has expanded my confidence, creativity, and professional abilities, showing that the Center is where ideas grow into meaningful projects and learning creates real impact.
Past Cohorts of Learning Experience Designers
