1. Dear Friends of Interdisciplinary Studies at UCF:
Welcome to the pleasant side of fall! While we do not have obvious markers such as leaves
turning colors to indicate the different season, the dropping temperatures and really pleasant
weather surely suggest that the heat and humidity of the summer are left behind for a while
(and hopefully all hurricanes too). Midterm exams have come and gone and we are in the last
half of the fall semester. It has been an eventful semester both at UCF and in the country
more generally. As I write this note, President Obama is scheduled to arrive on campus for a
campaign event. The candidates for Florida Senate had a debate on campus, and many other
related events took place. The election has energized many groups and people and offers
direct opportunities for UCF students to get involved in the democratic process.
Readers of this Newsletter already understand how skills and competencies learned in
Interdisciplinary Studies matter to successfully navigating political debates and the many
important issues at stake. From economic development patterns, to sustainable energy
models, to culturally responsible policies and historically aware rights debates, there is
hardly an issue being discussed these days that is not complex, complicated, and necessarily
to be understood from a number of different perspectives.
IDS is offering classes and degrees that help students prepare for active engagement in this
complex world. In this issue you can read about one day in Dr. Plate’s Foundations of
Environmental Studies class that illustrates the importance of systems thinking. Evidence of
the many great things our IDS gradates do after graduation can be found in the report from
Kim Reynolds’ visit to our student meeting with Dean Dooley and in the report from Colby
Nickerson from Korea.
As you can see on page 6, we are looking for a few good illustrations of what IDS looks like.
Our portrait-context asks for your creative participation. Please help us make some new
brochures and helpful IDS Roadmaps look more cool (and win some money in the process);
consider submitting some sketches or cartoons or photos or paintings.
Finally, please do stay in touch. Like us on Facebook; our page regularly features current
opportunities or program updates and even live streaming from some of our special IDS
events. And of course we always welcome you to come to the office for advising or to let us
know how you are doing. A successful second half of the Fall semester to all!
Sincerely, Dr. Claudia Schippert
Late Fall 2016
WHAT’S INSIDE
Page 1: From the
Director’s Desk
Page 2: In the News:
 Environmental Studies
Foundations Course
Page 3: In the Spotlight:
 Kim Newsome Reynolds
 Meet Your Dean Event
Page 4: Got Creativity?
 Colby Nickerson
 Undergraduate TEFL
Certificate and IDS
Page 5:
 Follow-up to Film
Screening & Discussion:
Memories of a Penitent
Heart
 Director Search
Page 6:
Portrait Contest
Page 7:
2016 Calendar
 IDS Contact information
 IDS Facebook
information
 IDS Student Association
Information (ISSA)

2. Students in Dr. Richard Plate’s Foundations of Environmental Studies course recently gathered in a circle on the lawn outside of
their classroom as part of an in-class assignment for the day. As they stood silently listening, Dr. Plate explained that they were
about to model a complex system in order to better understand how other complex systems behave. His instructions specified that
each student make a direct "connection" to, or pay attention to only two other students. Students were to stay an equal distance
from their two direct connections. As the activity began, students tried to keep their two direct connections, but began to find it
was a difficult task. The point of the exercise was to demonstrate that the indirect connections were such that one student moving
would cause the whole system to reorganize to a new position. Dr. Plate explained that “The activity we were doing outside was an
introduction into systems thinking, a set of skills that help students understand the behavior of complex systems, such as
ecosystems and societies. Because of the connections between ecosystems and societies, we refer to them as social-ecological
systems.”
Several students commented that it was “a cool way to learn about this” and “it makes things easy to understand” as they chatted
about the class and picked up their belongings at the end of the activity.
The Foundations of Environmental Studies course helps students to gain an understanding of Environmental Studies through an
increased understanding of practical strategies for addressing sustainability challenges. It also helps students to develop systems-
thinking skills necessary to understand the complex interactions in social-ecological systems, and an understanding of
contemporary environmental challenges and strategies for addressing those challenges. Dr. Plate works to help students see the
relationships and interconnectedness of cross-scale interactions such as the relationship between local and global, in social-
ecological systems. He joined IDS as a visiting lecturer in Environmental Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies in 2016. A Central
Florida native, Dr. Plate earned his PhD in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida and holds degrees in English and
Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.
Pictured below: Dr. Richard Plate explained to his
Environmental Studies students that the activity
they had just completed demonstrated systems
thinking, a set of skills that help students
understand the behavior of complex systems, such
as ecosystems and societies. These connections
between ecosystems and societies are why we
refer to them as social-ecological systems.
Pictured above: Students form a circle and form a “direct”
connection to two other students.
Pictured below: the “indirect” connections were such that moving
one student would cause the whole system to reorganize to a new
position.

3. INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Kim Reynolds, IDS Graduate, Orlando Pride Pro Soccer Player, Teacher & Athletic Director
As is often the case for many IDS students, Kim Reynolds IDS ’11 chose Interdisciplinary Studies as
her major after she had been in school for several semesters rather than declaring it as her major
from the very start. Playing women’s soccer for UCF kept the student athlete busier than many
UCF students could imagine, but keeping her eye on the goal of life after graduation was just as
important as scoring goals in her daily scrimmages and UCF games. Kim was a guest speaker at
the recent Meet Your Dean event with Dr. Elizabeth Dooley, the Dean of the College of
Undergraduate Studies and Dr. Claudia Schippert, the Interim Director of the Office of
Interdisciplinary Studies, and Stephen Seay, the Director of Leadership and Career Development
Strategies with UCF Athletics. At the event Kim recounted to a room filled with students,
administrators, and an online IDS student audience that participated through a livestream at the
UCF@IDS Facebook page the details of how her IDS degree has helped her to meet her personal
and professional goals.
Kim Newsome Reynolds earned an IDS degree in 2011 with Communication and Education as her areas of study and a minor in
Health Sciences. She said that the path she chose after graduation led her to become an Athletic Director and PE coach at a
private Christian School while also teaching Health and Nutrition to high schoolers twice a week. It also led to the
determination and stamina required to take on professional soccer as a player for the Orlando Pride.
Her UCF journey began as a transfer student from Polk Community College. When asked for her advice for other IDS students,
especially transfer students, she said “Don't become overwhelmed at the fact that you'll have two areas of focus with a minor.
It's simple, if you stay on top of your workload. I enjoyed the challenge of taking on such a degree as IDS.”
Ms. Reynolds says that her professional experience was enhanced by the integration of skills her degree provided. “Having a
communication focus, as Athletic Director helped me to communicate with multiple
schools regarding athletic events / organizations. Meanwhile, my focus on Education
and Health Sciences helped me to relay my skills that I learned in the classroom to the
kids that I taught in Physical Education as well as Health and Nutrition.”
This year has started a new chapter in her life, one that includes playing professional
soccer for the Orlando Pride. “Being a member of the Pride has allowed me to have the
platform to be a bigger part of the community. A community that I'm a native of,
Orlando, Florida,” Ms. Reynold’s said.
In her closing remarks at the Meet Your Dean event she reminded students to keep
going and to work efficiently with each of their chosen areas of study. “It's easy to focus
more of your time on one specific area and neglect the others,” she said. “This is a
unique degree that allows you to focus on multiple areas of study.” That integration of
areas of study is part of what makes the individuals from the program stand out from
the competition and reach the goals they set for themselves both during their
time at UCF and after graduation.
This semester’s Meet Your Dean event included a livestream feed through the
Interdisciplinary Studies @ UCF Facebook page. In addition to the at-capacity
roomful of IDS students, a group of UCF Online and other IDS students were also
able to virtually attend the event in real-time by viewing it online through
Facebook.
Dr. Dooley’s message to students was to keep going and to encourage them to
create a pathway within IDS that makes sense for their personality, desires, and
goals. She also emphasized the importance of community and the power of it to
inspire each member to reach their fullest potential. Students shared what makes
them excited about IDS, including opportunity, diversity, and the ability to create
our their own path. Dr. Dooley encouraged students to use the power of our UCF
community, our IDS community, to help them reach their goals and the future they
see for themselves. To view the event, go to Interdisciplinary Studies @ UCF
Facebook page and scroll down to the October 19 livestream video event.
Kim Newsome Reynolds IDS ‘11
Photo credit: Orlando Pride. Kim Reynolds pictured left.

4. Meet Colby Nickerson, Interdisciplinary Studies Degree, Behavior and Social Sciences, Letters and Modern Languages, with a
minor in Education plus an Undergraduate TEFL Certificate. Class of 2013
Colby Nickerson, teacher, world traveler, and IDS graduate said in an online interview from Korea
that if he had any advice for students who are following the same roadmap through IDS that he
used, it would be to encourage them to choose Education as a minor, take Letters and Modern
Language as one area of study, and get an Undergraduate TEFL Certificate (Teaching English as a
Foreign Language). “The second area of study is entirely up to you as I feel that the synthesis of the
disciplines above are more than enough to prepare you for your journey ahead,” he explained.
Colby’s journey has included teaching English in Japan and Korea to name just two places.
“I knew I wanted to teach because after many major changes I had found something I truly
enjoyed. However, the idea of teaching in the USA seemed too simple for my tastes. I have always
wanted to pursue something unconventional with my life and teaching abroad felt like the perfect
fit. The TEFL certificate seemed like the best complement to my degree to help me secure the
more attractive positions. The competition can be INCREDIBLY fierce and I knew that I would
need every tool at my disposal.”
He said that he highly recommends participation in UCF’s English Language Institute Conversation
Hour Program, and adds that “even if you have no interest or plans to teach abroad, there is
valuable cultural insight to be gained from speaking to people from another country. I met remarkable students from all around
the world with amazing stories to tell and unique perspectives to share.”
The other valuable tools Colby mentioned were his IDS Corner and Capstone classes. “I would take your Cornerstone and
Capstone classes seriously. These courses teach you how to properly market yourself to acquire the positions you want. This skill
is far more valuable than you could imagine. I am absolutely baffled that these courses are not mandatory in other fields of
study! This ability has helped me procure some lucrative positions, both foreign and domestic. Multiple times my competition had
more experience, a Master's degree, or both. Despite their advantage, I almost always came out on top. Put forth your best effort
in these classes and you will be rewarded handsomely for it later.”
When asked about the great things that have come from his time at UCF, his degree in IDS, and his Undergraduate TEFL
Certificate, he said that the best thing is “Waking up every morning knowing that I'm going to a job I love doing” (He says he really
can't emphasize this enough). He added that living overseas has supplied him with some of his best moments and experiences. “I
had hypothesized that my time abroad would change me and be for the better, but it was to a much higher degree than I
expected! My time abroad has been enlightening, which is an understatement. It has altered my perception and thoughts on
various concepts and improved my teaching skills. It also further fueled my desire to travel and see the world. One of the greatest
rewards about being able to travel while working is that you have ample time to plunge into the culture and atmosphere of your
location. After some time you don't feel like a tourist but a part of your community. The locals eventually get to know you and are
always so kind and welcoming! I now have an abundance of stories to share with my family, friends, and one day perhaps my own
children and grandchildren. None of this would have been possible without IDS, TEFL, and my professors!
This is the seventh in a series of short articles featuring Interdisciplinary Studies graduates and the way they’ve created their
own path within the program. Three degree tracks and a wide variety of courses allow students to pursue multiple interests.
/
Colby Nickerson viewing his
community in Korea from a
mountaintop vantage point
next to a Buddhist temple.
Photo left: Colby Nickerson, pictured second
from left, teaching English abroad.
Students interested in learning more about
adding the Undergraduate TEFL Certificate to
their undergraduate IDS credentials can find
more info online or by contacting Dr. Keith
Folse at Keith.Folse@ucf.edu OR by visiting
the Undergrad TEFL Certificate Facebook
page The program’s mission is to provide the
most comprehensive training for those who
wish to teach English as a Foreign Language
(EFL) around the globe.

5. In late September, the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies presented a screening of the new
film Memories of a Penitent Heart, and followed it with a discussion with the filmmaker,
Cecilia Aldarondo. Both events were free and open to the public.
The film combined a wealth of recently discovered home movies, video, and written documents with artfully shot
contemporary interviews and vérité footage. Memories of a Penitent Heart is a documentary that cracks open a
Pandora’s Box of unresolved family drama and opens the conversation about the unresolved conflicts wrought by AIDS,
and a nuanced exploration of how faith is used and abused in times of crisis.
Interdisciplinary Studies: Updates
Pictured left: Dr. Claudia
Schippert, Interim Director of
the Office of Interdisciplinary
Studies, second from left,
discusses "Memories of a
Penitent Heart" with
filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo,
right, Fernando Rivera, far left,
and Roxy Santiago, far right, in
a post-show discussion with
the filmmaker.
“Memories of a Penitent Heart straddles a lot of divides—between art and social
justice, between past and present, between the personal and the global. I’m making
this film because I see the story of what happened in my family as a cautionary tale;
there are thousands of similar stories buried across the world. I want viewers to see
that bigotry doesn’t always look like a hate crime: often, it looks like blind love.”
-Cecelia Aldarondo, Filmmaker
Job Opportunity: Professor and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies
The Search for our Permanent Director is underway. If you are interested or know of people who are
interested in applying, please go or direct them to https://www.jobswithucf.com/postings/47323
Job Description The College of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Central Florida invites
applications for the director of Interdisciplinary Studies.
The director will strengthen a longstanding Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) program
that began in 1970. Currently a popular major, IDS has produced more than
13,000 alumni and graduates approximately 700 students a year. The program
offers multiple tracks including Environmental Studies and Women’s Studies, as well
as minors and certificates ranging from Leadership Studies to Geographic
Information Systems.
The director reports to the vice provost of Teaching & Learning and dean of the
College of Undergraduate Studies and leads a staff of faculty instructors (full-time and
adjunct), academic advisers, and office staff. The unit’s strategic plan includes
increasing the number of degree programs, developing greater collaborations with
graduate programs at the university, and transitioning to a higher profile to support
the university’s numerous interdisciplinary initiatives.

7. October/November/December 2016
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 Grade 31
Forgiveness
Deadline
Withdrawal
Deadline
11:59 pm
Nov. 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11
Veteran’s
Day:
No classes
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22
Portrait
Contest
Deadline
23 24
Thanksgiving
Break:
No classes
25
Thanksgiving
Break:
No classes
26
Thanksgiving
Break:
No classes
27 28 29 30 Dec. 1 2 3
Classes end;
Last day
To remove
incomplete
4 5
Study Day
6
Final Exams
7
Final Exams
8
Final Exams
9
Final Exams
10
Final Exams
11 12
Last day of
final exams
13
On-campus
housing
closes
14 15
Graduation
2:30 pm
Arrive
at 1 pm
16 17
____________________________
“Like” us on Facebook
Interdisciplinary Studies @UCF to keep up
with the current news and events.
Join the Interdisciplinary Studies
Student Association (ISSA) at its next
upcoming meeting. Check the website
for more information.
CONTACT US:
College of Undergraduate Studies
Office of Interdisciplinary Studies
Classroom Building 1, Suite 302
12601 Aquarius Agora Drive
P.O. Box 161998
Orlando, FL 32816-1998
Phone: (407) 823-0144 www.is.ucf.edu