Founded June 10, 1963, The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a metropolitan research university built to make a better future for their students and society. UCF solves tomorrow’s greatest challenges through a commitment to academic, inclusive and operational excellence. Leveraging innovative learning, discovery and partnerships, UCF fosters social mobility while developing the skilled talent needed to advance industry for their region, state and beyond.
With 12 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 220-degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more.
UCF recently announced that it has satisfied all 12 metrics required by the Florida Board of Governors to be designated a Preeminent State Research University, a milestone that underscores the institution’s progress in areas such as student success, research output, innovation, and academic excellence. With $285 million in annual research expenditures, nationally recognized commercialization activity, and robust academic outcomes, UCF is positioning itself among the top public research universities in the nation.
To read the full article on UCF's impressive designation, click here.
The College of Sciences at UCF is the university’s largest academic college, serving more than 16,000 students and encompassing ten departments and schools across the natural, social, behavioral, and communication sciences. Its academic portfolio includes 91 undergraduate and 22 graduate degree programs, along with numerous minors and certificates, spanning disciplines from biology, chemistry, and physics to psychology, sociology, communication, and political science. The college is supported by more than 600 faculty and staff and is home to over 70,000 alumni worldwide. With nationally ranked graduate programs, award-winning faculty, and a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, the College plays a central role in UCF’s mission to provide accessible, high-impact education.
College of Sciences – Leadership Spotlight
Dr. Joshua Colwell – Interim Dean of the College of Sciences
Dr. Joshua Colwell
Interim Dean of the College of Sciences
Dr. Joshua Colwell is the interim dean of the College of Sciences (COS) at the University of Central Florida. Colwell received his B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Stetson University and a Ph.D. in Astrophysical, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has been on the faculty at UCF since 2006 and is a Pegasus Professor and most recently served as the associate dean for research in the College of Sciences.
Colwell studies the origin and evolution of the solar system and in particular small bodies such as planetary rings, asteroids, comets, dust, and small moons. He served as a Co-Investigator on the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on the Cassini spacecraft. He has analyzed observations of Saturn’s rings made by Cassini UVIS and modeled the structure and evolution of the rings. In his work, he has designed, built, and operated microgravity experiments to study the early stages of planet formation, the surfaces of small asteroids and moons, and the collisional evolution of planetary rings in the Stephen W. Hawking Center for Microgravity Research and Education. Colwell published a book about the Cassini mission to Saturn called “The Ringed Planet”, now in its 3rd edition.
Colwell joined UCF as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics in 2006 and has previously served as assistant director of the Florida Space Institute and associate chair and chair of the Department of Physics.
Colwell served as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar at the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées in Toulouse, France. He is an avid podcaster, leading conversations about space alongside Physics professor Addie Dove and Senior Lecturer in physics at the University of Vermont Jim Cooney on Walkabout the Galaxy. Beyond his work at the university, he is an avid runner and enjoys learning new languages.
UCF’s Advancement & Partnerships team, operating through the UCF Foundation, is the university’s engine for cultivating donor relationships, securing philanthropic support, and building strategic alliances that advance UCF’s academic mission and institutional impact. Founded in 1969, the UCF Foundation is staffed by more than 100 professionals across fundraising, donor relations, communications, finance, and operations, and guided by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Over the recent years, under the leadership of Rod Grabowski, the team has delivered notable results: in FY25 (July 1 2024 - June 30, 2025), Advancement & Partnerships exceeded its fundraising target, raising $126 million, which represented 115% of its $110 million goal. The department has also driven record participation on UCF’s Day of Giving (raising more than $5.6 million in a single day) and elevated visibility for high-impact gifts in areas such as health sciences, engineering, athletics, and student scholarships.
Looking ahead, UCF Advancement & Partnerships has articulated ambitious objectives aligned with the university’s strategic plan: it aims to sustain $100 million in annual philanthropic attainment with a FY26 $126 million goal, expand the university endowment, deepen alumni engagement (targeting tens of thousands of unique alumni interactions), and recently launched a corporate partnership program called Pegasus Partners to integrate academic, research, workforce, and philanthropic collaboration with external stakeholders.
Leadership Spotlights
Alexander N. Cartwright - President, UCF
Alexander N. Cartwright President
Alexander Cartwright was selected as UCF’s sixth president by the UCF Board of Trustees on March 20, 2020 following a nationwide search. He was confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors the following week.
Under Dr. Cartwright’s leadership, UCF is working toward becoming the world’s leading public metropolitan university, a top 50 public research university, determined to foster success for students of all backgrounds and to produce research and creative works that positively impact lives across our community and across the world. To achieve this vision, the university has been focused on achieving greater operational, academic and inclusive excellence, including building a senior leadership team that will help take the university to new heights.
As a first‐generation college student whose journey to higher education was not traditional, Dr. Cartwright understands and prioritizes the need to build successful outcomes for students from all backgrounds, and is dedicated to creating a culture of belonging at UCF.
An internationally recognized researcher and scholar in the area of optical sensors, he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, SPIE and the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Cartwright is a prior winner of both the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award. In addition, he earned the 2002 SUNY Chancellor’s award for excellence in teaching.
A native of the Bahamas, Dr. Cartwright holds a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Iowa. He and his wife Melinda have two children, Alyssa and Andrew.
Rodney M. Grabowski - Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc.
Rodney M. Grabowski
Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc.
Rodney M. Grabowski is UCF’s Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the UCF Foundation, Inc. A passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform lives, he oversees the university’s fundraising, alumni relations, partnership, communications and marketing efforts. Under his leadership, the Division of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships builds meaningful, fruitful connections that enhance UCF’s impact and result in new sources of revenue to fuel our excellence and unleash the potential of our students, faculty and community.
Mr. Grabowski has more than three decades of experience in nonprofit and advancement leadership, including extensive experience in higher education and health care philanthropy. He is a national leader in the use of artificial intelligence, data-driven strategy and innovative management strategies.
Before joining UCF in September of 2022, Mr. Grabowski served as Vice President for University Advancement with the University at Buffalo. His team surpassed the university’s fundraising goal of $650 million a full year early and increased the goal to $1 billion for the same time period of the campaign — an effort boosted by back-to-back record-setting years for UB.
Prior to his years at UB, Mr. Grabowski was at the University of Cincinnati as President of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Vice President of Advancement, and President and CEO of the UC Health Foundation. At Cincinnati, he successfully concluded a $1 billion campaign, surpassing the goal by 10 percent. In Florida, he served as the University of South Florida’s Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and campaign director, where he managed the university’s $600 million fundraising campaign. He also served in fundraising leadership positions at the University of North Florida and at Jacksonville University.
A native of Phoenix, New York, Grabowski holds the prestigious CFRE credential — Certified Fund Raising Executive. He earned an MBA from the University of North Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Syracuse University. He is an active member and leader in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. An Eagle Scout, he is active in the Boy Scouts of America.
Lee Williams-Lopapa – Senior Associate Vice President, Advancement & Partnerships
Lee Williams-Lopapa
Senior Associate Vice President, Advancement & Partnerships
A veteran in higher education fundraising leadership, Lee Williams-Lopapa has three decades of advancement leadership, specifically in higher education. From firsthand experience in both public and private universities—including a six month interim leadership contract at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL in 2017, a three-month interim leadership contract with Emory University in Atlanta, GA in 2022, and a four month contract with the University of Central Florida Foundation in Orlando, FL in 2022 & 2023—she quickly assesses issues, recommends service options, and implements agreed upon solutions.
Career highlights include advancement positions at the University of South Florida, Georgia Institute of Technology, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she also served as CEO of the Foundation.
In March of 2025, Lee joined the UCF Division of Advancement & Partnerships as Senior Associate Vice President of Advancement & Partnerships and Co-Campaign Director. She holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Mississippi State University, an M.S. in Public Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi and held the certified fundraising executive (CFRE) designation for more than a decade.
Shannon Duvall – Assistant Vice President for Development, Colleges and Programs
Shannon Duvall
Assistant Vice President for Development, Colleges and Programs
Shannon K. Duvall is Assistant Vice President for Development, Colleges and Programs, where she oversees fundraising in seven of UCF’s twelve colleges and two of UCF’s largest programmatic divisions. Duvall has 26 years of higher education development experience at both large public universities and small private colleges. She has extensive experience as a regional gift planner and previously served as both associate vice president and vice president of Advancement at other institutions. A seasoned advancement professional with a proven record of success in philanthropy and team leadership, over the course of her career she personally raised more than $100 million and is deeply committed to nurturing and developing her direct reports, many of whom advanced to higher leadership roles in the field. Shannon holds a Master of Social Work from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration from Queens University of Charlotte. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (Case). Shannon joined UCF in January 2022.
The Opportunity - Executive Director of Development, College of Sciences
As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, UCF is a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter your position, when you join Knight Nation, you play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in transformational work that makes a positive difference that goes well beyond a paycheck.
Advancement & Partnerships
Join UCF’s dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as they work together to power partnerships and transform lives through philanthropy.
Together, you can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on the team will help build the University for the Future.
Position Summary
The Executive Director of Development, College of Sciences, leads the advancement strategy for one of UCF’s largest and most dynamic academic units. This position develops and implements an annual fundraising plan in collaboration with the Assistant Vice President for Development, Colleges & Programs, the Dean of the College of Sciences, and university leadership. The Executive Director will manage development staff within the college, build and maintain a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, and serve as the lead fundraiser and strategist for philanthropic initiatives that support the college’s priorities. In FY 25, the College of Sciences realized a record fundraising goal of $9.4M.
Responsibilities, Qualifications and Expectations
Responsibilities:
Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships to secure transformative investments in support of the College of Sciences’ priorities.
Train, mentor, and manage the college’s advancement staff in cultivating relationships for major gift solicitation and stewardship, while partnering with Alumni Engagement to support and advance alumni engagement and annual giving initiatives.
Develop, execute, and track progress toward an annual fundraising and engagement plan in partnership with the Dean and AVP, setting goals and strategies that align with the college’s vision.
Recruit, retain, and manage volunteers for the College of Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board and other alumni or advisory committees; collaborate with the Dean on board agendas and engagement strategies.
Partner with volunteer leaders to support discovery, cultivation, and solicitation activities.
Prepare and present gift proposals and agreements in accordance with UCF Foundation guidelines and provide meaningful stewardship to donors.
Maintain accurate and timely prospect activity, reporting, and documentation in the donor database.
Schedule and conduct joint prospect visits with university academic leadership and/or key volunteers to advance cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated success in major and principal gift fundraising, preferably in higher education or complex nonprofit environments.
Experience contributing to or leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
Experience managing and mentoring development staff.
Strong knowledge of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and articulate complex priorities.
Proven ability to engage academic leaders, faculty, volunteers, and alumni in fundraising efforts.
Strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to set goals, measure progress, and adapt strategies.
Familiarity with fundraising databases (e.g., Blackbaud CRM) and data-informed development strategies.
Experience engaging advisory boards or volunteer leadership groups.
Benefits:
Working at UCF has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting its students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:
Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays
Retirement savings options
Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
Education assistance
Flexible work environment
And more…For more benefits information, go to the UCF Employee Benefits page here.
One of the Best Colleges in the U.S.
Top 15 Most Innovative University in the Nation: U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF as one of the most innovative in its annual list of best colleges.
UCF is an academic, partnership and research leader in numerous fields, such as optics and lasers, modeling and simulation, engineering and computer science, business, public administration, education, hospitality management, healthcare and video game design. In fact, in addition to being recognized as one of the best national universities by Washington Monthly, UCF consistently appears in U.S. News and World Report’s best college rankings.
U.S. News & World Report takes into account graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rates, alumni giving and peer assessment to rank the Best Colleges. See how the University of Central Florida measures up against other universities in the nation.
The first ranking listed encompasses all universities. The second, denoted in parentheses, is their ranking among only public universities.
Living in Orlando, the sun shines year-round, beaches are a trip up the road, high-rises are home to booming Fortune 500 companies and emerging tech, and world-class attractions are your weekend getaways.
Orlando’s diverse neighborhoods span a broad spectrum. From the bustling urban center of downtown Orlando to the old Florida charm of Osceola County, and from the ancient oak-canopies of Seminole county to the rolling hills of Lake County, the Orlando region is rich with history and character.
Cost of Living:
Living in Orlando means watching your dollar go far beyond where it goes elsewhere. From housing and healthcare to groceries and beyond, nothing compares to Orlando’s incredible cost of living.
Compared to New York, New York (Manhattan):
Housing in Orlando is 77.48% less expensive.
Groceries in Orlando are 17.63% less expensive.
Transportation in Orlando is 15.66% less expensive.
Healthcare in Orlando is 18.87% less expensive.
American City of the Future:
Orlando has been named Top 10 American City of the Future for three years running. While most people know Orlando for tourism and hospitality, the city and region has much more to offer:
2/3 of the workforce spans across life sciences and healthcare, innovative technologies, advanced manufacturing, and more.
No. 2 in the country for job growth, per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
An internationally-recognized semiconductor industry cluster.
Home to companies like AAA (headquarters), Blue Origin, Darden Restaurants (headquarters), Deloitte, Electronic Arts, FARO, Kroger, Lockheed Martin, Massey Services Inc. (headquarters), Mattrix Technologies, Mitsubishi Power, Northrop Grumman, Ocean Insight, Oracle, Photon-X, Rotech Healthcare Inc, Siemens, Silicon Assurance, skywater, Veritas, and much more.
Applications & Nominations
The University of Central Florida has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Wendy Wilsker has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.
Jill Coran brings a broad foundation in human resources and executive search to our Boston team, enabling her to make valuable contributions to search assignments. She is adept at understanding client needs, researching and identifying high-level potential candidates, and shepherding the search process with integrity and professionalism. In searches for hard-to-fill roles, her tenacity is invaluable.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
UCF College of Sciences – 2024-2025 Annual Report
