College of Health & Human Performance

University of Florida alumna Mya Green is turning her passion for sports and live events into a career with the Miami Heat while pursuing her online master’s degree in tourism, hospitality and event management. As an event services coordinator, Green helps execute game-day experiences, concerts and special events for thousands of guests. She credits UF’s flexible graduate program with helping her balance full-time work and academic growth while gaining skills directly applicable to the industry. Her journey highlights how hands-on experience and advanced education can open doors in the competitive world of sports and event management.

In a new perspective on the future of higher education, Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu argues that universities must evolve from centers of knowledge delivery into engines of innovation and entrepreneurship. As artificial intelligence accelerates change across industries, institutions have an opportunity to transform classrooms into launchpads for new ideas, startups and real-world solutions. Fu emphasizes the importance of connecting students, researchers, investors, legal experts and industry leaders to accelerate innovation. The future, she suggests, belongs to universities that empower students not only to learn about tomorrow, but to help create it.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, University of Florida researcher Orlando Laitano is helping Brazil’s national soccer team prepare for one of its toughest opponents: extreme heat. By analyzing individual sweat composition and fluid loss, Laitano develops personalized hydration strategies designed to improve performance, recovery and player safety. His work combines advanced monitoring technology with years of research on heat stress and exertional illness. While currently supporting elite athletes on the world stage, the findings are also helping advance broader understanding of hydration, heat resilience and human performance.