Paola Lugo graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. They then proceeded to work in the semiconductor industry as an Equipment and Process Engineer. Paola is now pursuing a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering. They are looking to work in the medical industry, innovating solutions for patients’ well-being. Paola is from Venezuela, and loves warm weather, especially being at the beach. They also like traveling and going to theme parks!
Madison Verdone graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. She is currently in the MA Clinical Psychology program on the thesis track at UCF where she researches anxiety and OCD related phenomenon. After her Masters, she hopes to continue her education onto a PhD program in Clinical Psychology to continue her research and achieve her goal of becoming a clinical psychologist who serves at-risk populations. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games with her friends, reading, watching movies and thrifting.
Carly Hitchcock joined SARC as a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Graduate Assistant in December 2022. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors in the Major in 2019 from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Child Development and Education. She took three gap years before returning to UCF as a master’s student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track of the Counselor Education MA program in the Fall of 2022, during which time she worked for two years as a Care Coordinator at a non-profit servicing individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and for one year as a Children’s Case Manager at a community-based mental health clinic. Carly is currently an active member of the counseling honor society Chi Sigma Iota as well as a student member of the Mental Health Counselors or Central Florida (MHCCF), American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), a division of the ACA. Other passions of hers include video games, arts and crafts, reading, music festivals, and her cat J’zargo.
Major: School Counseling
Standing: Graduate Student
Career Goals: To become a school counselor in an elementary school!
Hobbies: I like to go to the beach, take pictures, and hangout with my friends.
Favorite UCF Memory: Going to the football games with my friends!!
Forensic Science Major.
Coordinator, ACE/Access and Outreach Programs
Education:
· Florida Atlantic University – M.Ed in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education Leadership
· Florida Atlantic University – B.A. in English Education
Jessica Johnson currently serves as the Coordinator for the Academic Coaching and Engagement (ACE) Program and the Access Program. She also coordinates outreach like tabling and academic success workshops for the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC).
Before coming to UCF, Jessica worked as a Graduate Assistant for Supplemental Instruction (SI) and Non-Science Tutors for the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) Office at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). She also worked as a Peer Academic Coach with college freshmen and completed various teaching internships at secondary schools.
When Jessica is not at work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing video games, playing guitar, attending concerts, reading, writing, and working out.
Education
- Jennifer Franklin graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. She is currently a master’s student in UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education pursuing an MA in the School Counseling track of Counselor Education. Jennifer grew up in Palm Harbor, FL a town on the Gulf of Mexico. As an undergraduate student she was an active member of the UF Wildlife Society, a student researcher in an ornithology lab, and an executive board member of the service sorority Omega Phi Alpha. After graduation she worked at an animal hospital and an animal shelter before returning to grad school to follow her passion in school counseling. Outside of academics she enjoys painting, reading, birding, loving on her many animals, and spending time with loved ones.