UCF Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA and Vice Chair Harold Mills will lead UCF’s governing board for two more years after a vote by their colleagues at the June 29, 2023, board meeting.

UCF alumnus Martins, who serves as CEO of the Orlando Magic, and Mills, a distinguished Orlando entrepreneur, have navigated UCF through many complexities during their tenure. Their dedication and commitment during times of a global pandemic, the adoption of a new strategic plan, and securing greater state funding to hire more faculty and enhance student success have been a notable testament to their unwavering dedication to UCF and its future.

“I thank Chair Martins and Vice Chair Mills for everything they have done for this institution,” said UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Both of them challenge us constantly and keep us moving forward and focused. This entire board has been doing that, and the engagement and involvement of our trustees is a reflection of their leadership.”

Martins, who joined the board in 2013, took the opportunity to thank his colleagues for their continued trust and lauded them for their engagement in challenging the university to reach new heights. He shared his gratitude for the support of President Alexander N. Cartwright, the UCF leadership team and staff.

“Of all the volunteer boards I’ve served on, this by far has been the most fulfilling for me personally,” Martins says. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity, so thank you all very much.”

Mills echoed Martins’ sentiments, adding his deep appreciation for the collaborative environment within UCF, where he says everyone works tirelessly to improve students’ lives and those of their families. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to shape a positive culture at the university that fuels progress in its operations and the accomplishment of strategic priorities.

“All of those successes need and should be celebrated as often as we possibly can. This is a fabulous organization with an incredibly bright future,” Mills says. “Thanks for the opportunity to serve.”

Both Martins and Mills bring an array of successes and engagements in their respective fields, enriching the board with their experiences.

Martins oversees all operations of the Magic and has more than three decades in professional sports management. A well-regarded civic leader, he earned his MBA from UCF, where he is a member of the College of Business’s Hall of Fame and recipient of the university’s Distinguished Alumnus award.

A member of the dean’s executive council for the UCF College of Business Administration, Martins served on the developmental board of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF, which is funded through a $9 million endowment by Rich and Helen DeVos and awards dual master’s degrees in sport management and business administration. Under Martins’ leadership, the Magic contributed $1.5 million to the construction of UCF Downtown in 2015, the first major private donation for the campus.

Martins has previously chaired various community organizations, including the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and The Central Florida Partnership. Martins serves or has served on the boards of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Central Florida Commission on Homeless and the Governor’s Council of the Orlando Economic Partnership.

Mills is the CEO of VMD Ventures, which invests in entrepreneurs in technology and service industries. He joined the UCF Board of Trustees in 2019 and chairs the Budget and Finance Committee.

He previously served as chairman and CEO of ZeroChaos, a global workforce management company that he built into a multi-billion-dollar organization with operations in over 56 countries. His service on boards includes the chairman of Nemours Children’s Hospital, vice chairman of Guidewell/Florida Blue, Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, Rollins College and LIFT Orlando. He is a past chairman of the Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Florida Citrus Sports. He is a former board member of the Florida Council of 100, Florida A&M University and Visit Orlando

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About the Board of Trustees

UCF’s 13-member Board of Trustees consists of six volunteer members appointed by the governor and five appointed by the Florida Board of Governors. The chair of the university’s Faculty Senate and UCF’s student body president also are members.

For more information, visit bot.ucf.edu.