Universal Destinations & Experiences Partners with UCF to Develop Tomorrow’s Leaders
Expanding on a decades-long partnership, Universal Destinations & Experiences and the University of Central Florida have launched the first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation to develop the future leaders of global theme park and resort destinations. Recent graduates share their journey from UCF to Universal Orlando Resort.
August 24, 2026
The partnership between UCF and Universal Orlando Resort has been a key talent pipeline for more than 20 years. This May, Universal Destinations & Experiences and UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management expanded that partnership by announcing a new school for global theme park and resort destination professionals. The first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation, backed by a $10 million investment from UDX, focuses on immersive entertainment, events, innovation, storytelling, technology, and emerging guest experiences. With Universal Orlando Resort just down the street, the partnership provides students with unrivaled practical industry experience.
The partnership is also developing a new Hospitality Technology Lab, designed as a creative sandbox for students to collaborate, test ideas, and gain practical hands-on experience working alongside UCF faculty, Universal professionals, and industry stakeholders.
Hear from recent UCF grads about their journey to Universal Orlando
Ranked No. 1 nationally, Rosen College trains the next generation of leaders in the hospitality industry, including recent graduates Bella Cortier and Christian Spencer, whose dream degrees led to dream jobs at Universal Orlando.
Bella Cortier, UCF alum and now senior technical coordinator at Universal Creative.
Bella Cortier
Bella Cortier had one ultimate goal: she wanted to build a career in theme parks. The Florida native knew as early as high school that UCF Rosen College, located in the heart of Orlando, would be a great place to start. The university’s partnership with Universal gave Bella the opportunity to land her first role at Universal Orlando, launching the career she had always envisioned.
“I loved Universal right away,” Cortier says, “and I knew I wanted to ultimately end up there.”
Cortier is most recently working at Universal Creative as a senior technical coordinator supporting the engineering and safety team, helping bring new experiences to life.
Christian Spencer
Christian Spencer also had a lifelong dream that took him first to UCF and then to Universal. As a theater student, he began performing at local adventure parks and quickly realized he could make a career out of entertaining visitors.
In 2025, he was promoted to his first leadership role at Universal Orlando Resort as a coordinator with the Entertainment Events team– guiding performers, maintaining show quality, and collaborating with creative and technical teams to deliver live events and immersive guest experiences.
In 2025, Spencer received a Universal Orlando Impact Award recognizing his contributions to the grand opening celebration of Universal Epic Universe, the first major new theme park to open in North America in 25 years. Spencer was one of over 14,000 park employees whose talent and passion helped make the park one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places in 2026.
From UCF to SVP
The senior vice president of operations for Universal Destinations & Experiences is a 2007 graduate of the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
Doug Akers
Doug Akers ’07 is another alumnus who turned a lifelong fascination with theme parks into a career, where the work behind the scenes helps protect the wonder guests feel in the moment.
As senior vice president of operations for Universal Destinations & Experiences, the UCF hospitality management alumnus helps oversee the intricate systems that make those moments possible. But after more than 20 years in the themed entertainment industry, he’s learned that the most exceptional operations are often the least visible.
When every detail is executed seamlessly, guests never think about logistics, staffing or transportation. They’re focused on making memories with family and friends.
Today, Akers oversees operations on a scale he never imagined as a college student. His career has taken him across the U.S. and around the world, including helping open Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Beijing.
Now, he's helping inspire the next generation of experienced leaders to combine storytelling, technology and operations to create wonder for generations to come.
The Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation
The talent pipeline from UCF Rosen College to Universal Orlando has helped build a strong workforce at the resort while affording graduates hands-on industry experience throughout their degree program. That unique relationship will only increase in value as the first cohorts of students begin to matriculate through the new Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation.
