On Aug. 7 the Dr. Gordon D. Chavis, Jr. Auditorium was officially dedicated in the Duke Energy UCF Welcome Center. The ceremony honored the remarkable legacy of leadership and service of Dr. Gordon Chavis, who retired in 2022 as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services.
During his distinguished tenure, Gordon guided UCF through record enrollment growth, expanded access for underrepresented students, and championed innovations in admissions, financial aid, and student services. His vision and dedication have left an enduring mark on UCF’s mission to unleash potential and change lives.
In their remarks, Interim AVP for Enrollment Planning and Management Alicia Keaton, Executive Chief of Staff Mike Kilbride, and SSWB Vice President Dr. Adrienne Frame shared personal reflections on Gordon’s profound impact on UCF and the countless students whose lives he touched. Former campus tour guides praised the honoree for the personal attention, guidance, and care he showed to student workers in Undergraduate Admissions.
In his keynote, Gordon thanked university leadership for embracing his vision for a world-class welcome center. When it opened in 2004, the facility was groundbreaking – marking a shift toward the “experience economy” in student recruitment and elevating the way visitors were received, treating them as guests rather than applicants. Since then, the Duke Energy UCF Welcome Center and Chavis Auditorium have welcomed an estimated 564,000 students and supporters.