OSA NEWS

November 5, 2004

Florida Trend Honors OSA Vice President Van Stryland

By Chad Binette

The state's top business magazine has named President John Hitt and several other University of Central Florida leaders to its annual list of most influential Floridians.

Florida Trend magazine named President John Hitt one of the six most influential university and college officials in Florida. Eric Van Stryland, dean of the College of Optics and Photonics, was chosen as one of the five most influential scientists in academia. Four UCF trustees, including board Chairman Dick Nunis, also made the lists.

In its November issue, Florida Trend praised Hitt for expanding “his clout beyond his own rapidly growing campus to become one of the most influential university presidents in the state.” Hitt and Florida International University 's Modesto “Mitch” Maidique were the only public university presidents selected.

Florida Trend described Van Stryland as “one of the world's top experts on optics and photonics.” The magazine also noted that Van Stryland won a $10 million grant from the state last year to create the new Florida Photonics Center for Excellence research center, which he directs along with the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers.

Harris Rosen, a UCF trustee and president of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, made the list of most influential businesspeople. Rosen was described as “an innovative hotelier with ideas on everything from management to health care.” The magazine also praised his donations for college scholarships and pre-kindergarten programs in Tangelo Park and his approximately $20 million donation to the new Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF.

Trustees Rick Walsh, senior vice president of Darden Restaurants, and Al Weiss, president of the Walt Disney World Resort, also were named as most influential businesspeople. Florida Trend praised Walsh for being “deeply involved in community and statewide causes” and noted that Weiss has “maintained Disney's reputation for civic involvement in Orlando ” while presiding over the largest single-site employer in the nation. Walsh and Weiss are UCF alumni.

Nunis, retired chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, was named an emeritus member of Florida Trend's lists.

Contact:

Chad Binette
University Writer
News and Information
University of Central Florida
P.O. Box 160091
Orlando, FL 32816-0091
Tel: (407) 823-6312
Fax: (407) 823-3403