Our Team

  • Dr. Ryan Goodwin is the Founding Director of the Center for Higher Education Innovation at the University of Central Florida. Ryan’s research and practice focuses on higher education innovations that improve access, success, and completion for all. He is particularly interested in the educational systems and organizational structures that influence student movement to and through postsecondary education.

    A native Hoosier, Ryan earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University Bloomington and began his career in elementary school classrooms. Ryan continued his education at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs with a concentration in Higher Education Administration. Later, Ryan was awarded the Erickson Research Fellowship to attend Michigan State University, where he completed a dual Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education.

    While at MSU, Ryan led the College Ambition Program, a multi-site research study that provided support and resources to promote a college-going culture in Michigan high schools. After leaving MSU, Ryan served as UCF’s inaugural University Innovation Alliance Fellow. Ryan has found home in Orlando and at UCF and is inspired by his colleagues’ commitment to student success.

  • Bradley Dorvilus has accumulated over a decade of experience in community work and education. He held the position of Administrative Dean at Rolling Hills Elementary for several years, helping to reduce negative behaviors and improving the student's overall performance in the classroom.

    Within his initial year at the institution, he contributed to elevating the school's grade from a F to a B, just 5 percentage points from an A. Presently, he manages the Community Engagement sector of the Parramore Education and Innovation District at the University of Central Florida.

  • Amy Swinford joined the UCF Center for Higher Education Innovation in October of 2015 and serves as its Senior Administrative Assistant supporting the Director of the Center for Higher Education Innovation.

    Amy undertakes a wide range of administrative tasks and special projects, including Helios Education Foundation, Paramore Education & Innovation District, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, university commencement ceremonies, and the Florida Board of Governors.

  • Dr. Claudine McLaren is the University Innovation Alliance Fellow and Program Manager for the Center for Higher Education Innovation at the University of Central Florida.

    Dr. McLaren is a researcher who investigates policies, programs, and practices that encourage academic success among historically underrepresented and minoritized students. As a non-traditional first-generation student who immigrated to the United States as a child, Dr. McLaren’s career has been guided by her commitment to not let promising students “slip through the cracks” in the U.S. higher education system.

    After fifteen years of working directly with students to plan and achieve their academic goals, Dr. McLaren’s professional focus shifted to preparing future college student educators who are similarly committed to facilitating student success. Her research concentrates on factors that influence undergraduate student learning and that inform professional practice among faculty and staff.

    Dr. McLaren earned a Ph.D. in Education: Higher Education and Policy Studies and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida. A lifelong learner, she collaborates with colleagues to develop and refine knowledge of and skills associated with advanced data analysis and visualization strategies.

  • Yohanna combines over 9 years of design and communications experience specializing in brand development, web design, and brand cohesiveness across written and graphic materials. Prior to joining our team, she worked in the Office of the President and UCF Downtown where she was responsible for visual communications, including digital and print materials.

    Yohanna earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from Florida State University in 2013 and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication, Corporate Communication, and Entrepreneurship from University of Central Florida in 2016.