Employed Here, Gives Here: How Morgan Bauer is Investing in UCF’s Future, One Student at a Time

For Morgan Bauer, investing in the University of Central Florida is not simply an act of generosity. It is an extension of the work he has devoted nearly two decades to doing.

As director of the Office of Prestigious Awards in UCF’s Burnett Honors College, Bauer has helped thousands of students identify, pursue and earn some of the nation’s most competitive fellowships and scholarships. From Fulbright grants and Goldwater Scholarships to National Science Foundation fellowships, his work has opened doors that changed the trajectory of students’ lives.

That same belief in opportunity, growth and long-term impact is what motivates Bauer to give back to the university where he works. He does not view philanthropy as a transaction, but as a commitment.

“I don’t really see it as giving,” Bauer says. “I see it as investing — investing in students and in a university that’s just going to keep getting better.”

A Career Built on Possibility

Professional fellowship advising is a niche field, one Bauer discovered almost by chance while pursuing graduate school at St. John’s University. What began as a tuition-waiver job quickly became a calling. Over nearly a decade at St. John’s, Bauer helped grow the university’s major awards presence and contributed to nationally recognized student successes.

In 2015, he brought that experience to UCF, stepping into a director role with a vision for growth. Since then, UCF has emerged as a top-producing institution for several prestigious awards, including being named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution three times in the last five years and ranking among the nation’s leaders in Goldwater Scholars.

Behind those accolades is a collaborative model Bauer champions. He works closely with faculty, researchers and campus partners to identify students across all disciplines, not only those in the Honors College, and guide them through a demanding application process.

“The success we see is shared,” Bauer says. “It’s the students’ hard work, the faculty mentorship and the collective effort across campus that makes it possible.”

From Student to Advisor and Back Again

Bauer’s empathy for students is rooted in his own journey. Raised in a middle-class family in New York City, he relied on scholarships to play Division I tennis while balancing academics with long commutes and disciplined training schedules.

Later, as a Fulbright grantee, Bauer conducted human rights research in Albania. The experience pushed him far beyond his comfort zone and reshaped his understanding of professional growth and global engagement.

“That experience changed the way I thought about what was possible,” Bauer says. “It gave me the confidence to go places I never thought I would go.”

That growth ultimately led him to apply for opportunities outside New York for the first time, including his role at UCF.

Opening Doors for Students Across Campus

Although Bauer’s office sits within the Burnett Honors College, its reach extends to students across the university. Many of the students he works with are transfer students or those balancing full course loads with one or two jobs. Some are the first in their families to pursue opportunities beyond Florida.

Bauer has advised many students that have gone on to amazing careers and education opportunities, including serving in the U.S. Foreign Service or earning a prestigious fellowship to fund graduate study abroad. Other students discovered, often for the first time, that international research, graduate school or global careers were within reach.

“For a lot of students, it’s not just about the funding,” Bauer says. “It’s about realizing they belong in these spaces.”

Why He Gives Back

Within the Burnett Honors College, Bauer encountered a culture of stewardship. Colleagues were deeply invested in students and committed to the long-term success of the institution. Over time, that culture shaped his own approach to philanthropy.

Bauer makes consistent gifts to UCF, regardless of size, because he has confidence in how the university stewards its resources and supports its students.

“When you work here, you see firsthand how impressive these students are,” he says. “You see how much potential there is. It makes you want to be part of that, not just professionally, but personally.”

He expects that commitment to continue well into the future.

“Even when I retire, I’ll still give back,” Bauer says. “This is a place that’s investing in people, and I want to keep investing in that.”

Bauer hopes his story encourages other faculty and staff to see themselves not only as employees of UCF, but as partners in its future.

A Lasting Impact

In his office, Bauer keeps a wall of thank-you notes that serve as quiet reminders of lives changed through opportunity, mentorship and persistence. While the recognition is meaningful, he remains focused on the responsibility his role carries.

“A student’s entire career can change based on the feedback we give,” Bauer says. “That’s something you never take lightly.”

In the end, Bauer does not measure impact in rankings or recognition. He measures it in confidence gained, doors opened and students who leave UCF believing they belong wherever opportunity takes them.

Giving back, for Bauer, is a way to stand behind those students. It is a commitment he makes not because he has to, but because he believes in what they can become.