Knights Do That

Christopher Clifford ’22 is a UCF electrical engineering alum who is pursuing a Ph.D. in bioengineering at Harvard-MIT. Clifford’s research is centered around find a cure for and reducing the impact of Type 1 diabetes — a cause that’s personal to him. Before attending Harvard-MIT, he received the prestigious honor of being selected as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. However, Clifford turned it down to pursue another competitive path.

Here he shares his personal and professional insights into diabetes, finding your own version of success, and his hopes for the future of bioengineering.

Renowned composer and Pegasus Professor Stella Sung shares the importance of integrating science and the arts, as well as her research on using virtual and augmented reality in the classical concert setting.

Bethany Backes, an Assistant Professor in the Violence Against Women faculty cluster and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Criminal Justice and School of Social Work. Backes worked for more than 10 years as a social science analyst for the U.S. Department of Justice and joined UCF in 2019. 

Associate lecturer and Uzbekistan native Gulnora Hundley ’04MA ’08PhD shares why she’s provided free teletherapy sessions to Ukrainian mental health professionals, the importance of culturally competent mental health education and practices.

Fernando Rivera, the founding director of UCF's Puerto Rico Research Hub, highlights the local to global impact of the research center and how it helps uphold the university's Hispanic Serving Institution designation.

Over 30 years ago, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Johnson started at UCF as an assistant professor of physics, and over the years he has continued to serve Knight Nation through various leadership roles. He discusses strategic decision-making that serves a greater good, how universities serve a critical function to society and the future of higher education.

Peter Weishar is the Director of Themed Experiences Programs at the University of Central Florida’s School of Performing Arts. Weishar shares how UCF is ushering in the next cohort of creatives to redefine storytelling. Designing immersive and engaging spaces provides a whole new level of engagement for users. 

As UCF’s official podcast returns, James Evans will be sharing stories of the innovators, entrepreneurs and creators making an impact on the world. New episodes every other Monday starting 8/15!

View the transcript of this episode.

Follow UCF on social!

Alex Cumming, student and host of Knights Do That, joins you one last time to share some of his favorite moments from the hosting the podcast for the past year. He’ll highlight some of the most memorable guests and share snippets of insightful advice from UCF faculty, alumni, staff and more. Join us in August for another season of Knights Do That!

Adrian R’Mante ’96, UCF alum and Hollywood actor, joins host Alex Cumming to chat about everything about his journey at UCF to landing his hit role as Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and advice for young actors.

Desiree Diaz, associate professor and undergraduate simulation coordinator in the UCF College of Nursing, shares how UCF is leading the charge in virtual reality education, how teaching students about cultural congruence can remove preconceived notions in patients and how simulation technology is paving the way for the future of nursing.

Michael Chiang, the first UCF student to graduate with an MS in Hospitality and a MD in Emergency Medicine from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the UCF College of Medicine respectively, shares what drew him into these fields, how he plans to use both degrees in the future and the adversity he’s faced along the way. An inspiring episode of how education and life experiences can guide you.

Mindy Shoss, associate professor in the psychology department at UCF’s College of Sciences, shares her research and expertise when it comes to workplace well-being. In this episode, Dr. Shoss shares insights and advice on how we can improve our communication in the workplace, what companies can do to have the most satisfied employees and common misconceptions about burnout.

Terry Mohajir, UCF Athletics Director, joins Knights Do That host Alex Cumming for a conversation on how college athletics plays a role in higher education. From student experiences to the roles that faculty, staff, alumni and fans play in creating an engaged culture, Terry speaks about how all of these key stakeholders push UCF towards excellence. In this episode, you’ll learn what drives Terry’s passion for UCF and athletics, his journey to becoming an athletics director and his hopes for the future of UCF.

Brandon Nightingale ’16 ’19MA is a UCF 30 Under 30 alumni and the archivist at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. In this episode, Brandon discusses how his journey starting UCF as an electrical engineering major has led him to now working to preserve Black history, and how slowing down to study the past is the best way to look forward.

Sejal Barden, associate professor of counselor education and executive director of UCF’s Marriage and Family Research Institute, shares her expertise when it comes to couples and individualistic relationships. In this episode, Dr. Barden shares insights and advice on small steps we can all take to improve those relationships most important to us.

Gerald Hector, UCF’s Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, shares his story of personal triumphs, his journey through higher education, how he empowers and motivates people around him through leadership, and how we can all find where our values and passions intersect to live a fulfilled life.

Follow UCF on social!

Michele Gill, a professor of educational psychology in the College of Community Innovation and Education, shares her research in conceptual change and implicit beliefs which play a role in what we value and how we create change in what we believe. In this episode, Michele shares her insights on how we can create new habits and resolutions, how we can stick to these resolutions and her expertise in educational psychology.

Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, three-time UCF graduate and the founder and president of Limbitless Solutions, a non-profit organization that serves kids with limb differences in an affordable and innovative way, joins Knights Do That to share what ignited his passion to start Limbitless, where it’s at now and how his team continues to push the needle forward to create an impact on this world.

If you're inspired by Albert Manero and his team at Limbitless Solutions, consider making a donation at https://limbitless-solutions.org/donate

Phil Metzger ’00MS’05PhD is a planetary scientist and UCF alum with nearly 30 years of experience at NASA. During this episode, Phil shares stories from his time working on the space shuttle missions, his controversial research on whether or not Pluto is a planet, and what the future of space exploration will look like.

View the transcript of this episode. 

Follow UCF on social!

Elena Cyrus, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UCF’s College of Medicine, joins Knights Do That host Alex Cumming to discuss her expertise and research in infectious diseases, public health, COVID-19 vaccines and her experience training with Anthony Fauci. 

Deborah Beidel, executive director of UCF RESTORES, joins Knights Do That host Alex Cumming to share her experience and expertise in PTSD treatment, innovative treatments happening at UCF RESTORES and how we can better acknowledge and support veterans.

Martha Brenckle, a writing and rhetoric professor in the College of Arts and Humanities, joins Knights Do That host Alex Cumming to share her expertise and love for writing, her involvement within the Orlando arts community, her role as treasurer for the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida and more.

Annette Khaled, a UCF College of Medicine professor and the head of the Division of Cancer Research at UCF, joins Knights Do That host Alex Cumming to lend her expertise on breast cancer research — specifically in breast cancer metastases. Khaled shares her personal experiences that drive the passion for her work, the collaborative culture of teamwork, optimism, and humanity at UCF, and some of the biggest mysteries of breast cancer that we’re still trying to solve.

Cyndia Morales Muñiz ’13EdD, director of HSI culture and partnerships at the University of Central Florida, shares how her work strengthens the sense of belonging for the Latino community, how UCF continues to uphold its HSI designation serving students, faculty and staff, and how her education as a first-generation student herself plays a role in her work. Vamos Knights!

Reina Castellanos ’16MFA is a Venezuelan artist and creator featured in Target’s Latino Heritage Month line this year. She shares how her culture and experiences as an immigrant influence her work, the joys and struggles of being an artist and the importance of staying authentic in your work.

One of the area’s most recognized and respected media personalities, Marc Daniels is a broadcast veteran and known as the “Voice of UCF Athletics.” Daniels shares his experiences and favorite memoriesof the last three decades, an insider look into some coaches and players, his expertise as a broadcaster and looking ahead to this season of UCF Football with Coach Malzahn.

Darin Edwards ’97 ’10MS ’11PhD is a UCF alum and the director of immunology at Moderna. Darin earned his bachelor’s degree in biology, master’s degree in molecular biology and a doctorate in biomedical sciences with a focus on neuroscience at UCF in 2011 and has an impressive resume from computer programming to, of course, most recently leading the research for the COVID-19 vaccine and a deep love for all things UCF – especially Knights football. Hear what it was like working on the COVID-19 vaccine, the moment it was released and what he looks forward to most as we approach a return to pre-pandemic work and life.

What is it that Knights do? They discover. They create. They inspire. They build. They achieve. That's what Knights do. And that's who has inspired this podcast – the innovators, entrepreneurs and creators.

We're launching the 'Knights Do That' podcast to talk with UCF students, faculty, staff and alumni who are doing amazing things in our community, in the world and around the nation. The podcast will be hosted by second-year BFA theatre acting student Alex Cumming, who you'll get to know in this episode.