The college’s recent faculty hiring initiative unveiled an unexpected and welcome trend: recent UCF grads applying for faculty positions to teach at their alma mater. As a testament to the strength of CECS programs, they are being hired — beating out candidates from other universities in a highly selective talent acquisition process.
Last fall, CECS welcomed a record-breaking 39 new faculty, including eight UCF alumni at different stages in their careers. As college programs have risen in the rankings and grown in prestige over the years, the number of applications for CECS faculty positions has increased steadily, making the faculty recruitment substantially more competitive.
Ali Alkinoon ’23MS ’25PhD, one of seven computer science lecturers hired last fall, earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science at UCF.
“The computer science program is highly regarded, and returning as a lecturer gives me the opportunity to give back to the same institution where I completed my education,” says Alkinoon. “It is meaningful to contribute to the growth and success of the college that shaped my academic journey.”
Alkinoon says he pursued his doctoral degree at UCF because of the strength and reputation of its computer science program, particularly in cybersecurity and applied research. Since he had also earned his master’s degree at UCF, he knew very well what opportunities he would have in pursuing his doctorate.
“The program offered strong research opportunities, access to advanced labs, and a collaborative academic community,” Alkinoon says. “Being in Florida and continuing at the same institution made the transition smooth, and I take pride in being a double Knight.”
Industrial engineering lecturer Jorge Sarmiento ’16 ’18MS ’24PhD, also hired last fall, was part of a historic class of students who earned a bachelor’s degree from UCF through a new partnership with the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru. After studying exclusively in Lima, he traveled to Orlando accompanied by his mother, grandmother and aunt as a member of the inaugural cohort students to graduate from the program.
The trip marked the first time these 12 students had ever visited UCF. They arrived three days prior to graduation day to tour the area and the campus before gracing the commencement stage as part of the Summer 2016 graduating class.
“I am a believer in the fact that UCF stands for opportunity, as it was once given to me at the beginning of my academic career,” Sarmiento says.
It was an unforgettable experience, and one that would inspire him to provide the same opportunities to up-and-coming engineers. He returned to UCF as a teaching assistant year later to start his master’s program, and later pursued a doctoral degree as well, cementing his status as a triple Knight.
“When my Ph.D. journey was over, I was conscious that the majority of job offers were going to be outside Orlando, but I wanted to stay here for some time,” Sarmiento says. “A full-time faculty position is not easy to get, and the opportunity came in the right time, with the right benefits.”
Computer science lecturer Corey Pittman ’12 ’13MS ’21PhD first came to UCF as an undergrad, participating in the REU in Computer Vision program directed by Mubarak Shah. When he decided to pursue a doctorate years later, he was accepted to several universities out of state, but chose UCF.
“I was already at UCF for my bachelor’s, and the value proposition of the degree, and the up-and-coming nature of the university, resonated with me,” he says.
After he earned his doctoral degree, he started his teaching career at another university but applied to UCF when the college began its hiring initiative and more positions became available. He too was hired by the college in Fall 2025.
“UCF has been my academic home for so long, and I’m happy to be back in Orlando, contributing to the growth of the next generation of Knights in a city I love,” he says.
Pittman says he is most fulfilled by serving as a mentor and teacher, particularly for a department that has the scale and resources to move the needle for its students. For him, mentoring is the aspect of teaching he most enjoys. He draws upon lessons he learned from many mentors over the years, including computer science faculty Charles Hughes and Gregory Welch, former director of the UCF School of Teacher Education Malcolm Butler, and most of all, his doctoral advisor Joseph Laviola.
“I attribute a lot of my success to the mentorship of these educators. Teaching is more than just our ability to facilitate learning; it’s the process of making future practitioners comfortable with all aspects of the job, from technical mastery to professional confidence,” Pittman says.
Alkinoon, Sarmiento and Pittman have a unique vantage point as new alumni faculty members, using their experiences to guide academic programming, give back to their alma mater and serve as the supportive mentors who guided them in their own personal and professional journeys.
“Returning to UCF as a lecturer allows me to contribute to the same academic community that supported my growth,” Alkinoon says. “It feels like a full-circle moment, and I am proud to now play a role in educating and mentoring students at my alma mater.”
“I am grateful that I’ve been able to contribute to someone’s life in important ways, such as pursuing a career path, because they enjoyed my courses,” Sarmiento says. “Their gracefulness is very fulfilling.”
“Coming back to UCF isn’t just about familiarity; it’s about returning to the community that shaped me,” Pittman says. “It’s a new feeling to talk to my former professors and mentors not as a student but as a peer. It truly feels like coming home, and I’m excited to be part of the department’s future from the other side of the podium.”
Written by Bel Huston | May 14, 2026