Dr. Linda Walters

Pegasus Professor of Biology, University of Central Florida

For nearly three decades, Dr. Linda Walters has stood at the intersection of science, service and storytelling, shaping both ecosystems and the next generation of environmental stewards. As a Pegasus Professor of Biology at the University of Central Florida, Walters has spent 29 years teaching, researching and leading one of the nation’s longest-running community-based coastal restoration programs.

Her work centers on improving estuaries and coastal environments, with a particular focus on the Indian River Lagoon. Through her Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab, known as CEELAB, Walters and her students tackle issues ranging from marine heat waves and invasive species to microplastics and shoreline stabilization. The lab’s restoration efforts have provided substrate for more than 100 million oysters across 118 reefs and stabilized more than 12 kilometers of shoreline.

But numbers only tell part of the story.

“I am motivated to come to work each day by two things,” Walters says. “First, I love the idea that as a faculty member I get to help transform lives — and I see this every day at UCF.”

Her high-impact marine biology courses are intentionally designed to push students beyond the classroom. Whether presenting research at conferences, communicating science to first graders or traveling by boat to remote research sites, students are immersed in real-world science. The results are visible in both academic accolades and community engagement.

“These intentional acts turn students into passionate educators, communicators and scientists.”

“These intentional acts turn students into passionate educators, communicators and scientists.” Walters’ commitment to engagement extends far beyond campus. More than 71,000 community volunteers have participated in CEELAB’s restoration efforts. Over 150 K-12 educators across five counties partner with her lab annually, involving more than 3,500 Central Florida students each year in growing marsh grasses and mangroves for restoration. The program has become a model for blending hands-on education with measurable environmental impact.

Her influence also reaches young readers. Walters has written and produced 11 children’s storybooks on coastal topics, distributing approximately 138,000 free copies, including bilingual editions, to families and educators. She even developed an oyster storytelling yoga program now used by more than 200 organizations globally.

After nearly 20 million dollars in competitive grant funding and 123 peer-reviewed publications cited thousands of times, Walters remains focused on the bigger picture: ensuring science informs growth in a rapidly evolving state.

“Orlando and all of Florida are continuously at a crossroads between protecting our habitats and pushing our economy forward,” she says. “We owe it to these environments to have a scientific understanding of the pros and cons before changes are made.”

Her legacy, she hopes, will be measured not only in restored reefs and stabilized shorelines but in empowered citizens. “I want my legacy to be many generations of educated citizens who understand and cherish the importance and beauty of our natural world,” she says.

Walters exemplifies resilience with purpose, building a future where science, community and conservation move forward together.

Dr. Sherry Paramore

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Bethune-Cookman University

For Dr. Sherry Paramore, leadership is not about title — it is about access. As executive vice president and chief operating officer at Bethune-Cookman University, Paramore provides strategic oversight of the institution’s core administrative functions, ensuring operations align with President Albert D. Mosley’s vision and the university’s long-term sustainability. She oversees human resources, facilities, technology and advancement, translating institutional priorities into measurable outcomes that strengthen infrastructure and expand opportunity for students.

But her work is deeply personal.

Born and raised in Orlando and a graduate of Jones High School, Paramore was a first-generation college student who navigated higher education without a roadmap. She credits mentors who poured into her early on for shaping her trajectory — and now she is determined to do the same for others.

A proud alumna of both Bethune-Cookman University and the University of Central Florida, where her academic work focused on educational equity, Paramore has spent her career strengthening institutions that serve underserved communities. Her leadership roles with the United Negro College Fund and LIFT Orlando sharpened her ability to align philanthropy, operations and student success strategies. She has led record-breaking giving days and expanded GAP Scholarships to help students bridge critical financial shortfalls that might otherwise derail their academic journeys.

“My professional vocation is rooted in expanding access to education and building mission-driven organizations that create measurable, lasting impact.”

At Bethune-Cookman, that alignment of strategy and mission is central to her work.

“Our founder, Mary McLeod Bethune, began this institution with $1.50 and unshakable faith in the power of education to change lives,” Paramore says. “I have seen firsthand how a scholarship, a mentor, or a financial bridge can change the trajectory of a family for generations.”

“When our students succeed, we honor her legacy by continuing the work she started.”

Paramore’s leadership philosophy was forged in moments when doing the right thing required difficult conversations and long-term restructuring to ensure sustainability. Transparency and integrity, she says, ultimately build trust, even in challenging seasons.

Her impact extends well beyond campus. Paramore is active with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Florida Executive Women, the Central Florida Women’s League, the YMCA board, Links Inc., Orlando Chapter, and the Addition Financial Advisory Committee. Through those roles, she helps build bridges between education, business and civic leadership to expand opportunity for underserved youth.

She is also quick to highlight the unseen work of frontline staff — advisors, case managers and development officers whose behind-the-scenes efforts often determine whether a student persists. Leadership, she says, is about creating space for others to rise.

Looking ahead, Paramore hopes future Orlando women will see tangible systems in place — sustainable scholarship pipelines, intentional mentorship networks and stronger institutional partnerships — that expand access to leadership and decision-making tables.

“I hope they will say I helped expand access — to education, to leadership opportunities, and to the spaces where their voices belong,” she says.

If her legacy reflects the spirit of Mary McLeod Bethune — building opportunity where none seemed to exist — Paramore will consider her life’s work fulfilled.

Marsha Lorenz

President and CEO, Seniors First, Inc.

For nearly three decades, Marsha Lorenz has worked to ensure Central Florida’s older adults are not only cared for, but truly seen. As president and CEO of Seniors First, Inc., she leads one of the region’s most vital nonprofit organizations, guiding programs that help thousands of seniors remain safe, nourished and independent in their homes.

Lorenz’s connection to the mission began in 1995 when she entered the field of senior services. Since becoming CEO 16 years ago, she has overseen sweeping growth and transformation at Seniors First. Under her leadership, the organization’s budget has nearly doubled to $15 million, allowing it to expand in-home services, strengthen emergency preparedness efforts and dramatically reduce the Meals on Wheels waitlist from more than 400 seniors to fewer than 100. 

Today, as Seniors First celebrates its 60th anniversary, Lorenz remains focused on building a coordinated system of care that addresses the whole person. From nutrition programs and counseling services to emergency support and in-home assistance, her leadership reflects a philosophy rooted in dignity and proactive care.

“I’m driven by the belief that aging should never mean becoming invisible,” Lorenz said. “Whether you are 25 or 105, you deserve choices, dignity and a meaningful quality of life.” 

Her work extends well beyond the organization itself. Lorenz serves on multiple boards and community initiatives, including Florida Executive Women, the Florida Council on Aging and the Heart of Florida United Way Council of Agency Partners. Through these roles, she advocates for collaborative solutions to address the growing needs of the region’s aging population.

“Aging should never mean becoming invisible. Everyone deserves dignity, independence and a meaningful quality of life.”

Colleagues often describe Lorenz as both strategic and deeply compassionate, a balance she says is essential in leadership. Decisions affecting vulnerable populations are rarely easy, she noted, but transparency and integrity build trust and long-term impact.

Lorenz credits Orlando’s culture of collaboration as a major influence on her leadership style. She has seen firsthand how nonprofits, businesses and government agencies can unite to tackle complex challenges such as hunger and access to care.

As the region continues to grow, she is determined to ensure older adults remain part of that vision.

“Growth should never leave anyone behind,” she said. “I’m helping shape an Orlando where aging is not an afterthought, but a valued and supported stage of life.” 

Lorenz is quick to share credit for the organization’s success, emphasizing the quiet but powerful work of volunteers and staff who deliver meals, lead programs and provide companionship to seniors every day.

Lorenz hopes her legacy will be measured not by titles or recognition, but by lasting change. She envisions a future where aging with dignity is normalized, where communities invest in prevention and support systems, and where seniors are consistently valued.

“I want to be remembered as a fierce but compassionate advocate,” she said, “someone who stood up for those too often overlooked and ensured older adults were seen, heard and respected.”

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