A transformational $10 million commitment from esteemed alumnus Kenneth Dixon ’75 will significantly enhance UCF’s Career Services and Athletics programs, underscoring Dixon’s enduring dedication to student success and the university’s continued ascent.
Dixon, an accounting graduate of UCF (formerly Florida Technological University), and credits his alma mater with launching his successful career in real estate and accounting.
“My UCF education prepared me for a successful career in business, and it is with great pride that I invest in President [Alexander N.] Cartwright’s priority to help our students succeed by graduating, landing gainful employment and fueling our region’s human capital needs,” Dixon says.
“Additionally, I am excited about the Knights’ future in the Big 12 and helping further enhance our athletics facilities and deliver championship-caliber resources to win big,” he adds. “It is an honor and a pleasure to be able to help UCF and so many future Knights in this way. I truly hope this will inspire others to also help when they are able.”
In honor of Dixon’s longstanding commitment to UCF, the UCF Board of Trustees today voted to rename North Orion Boulevard, one of the main roads within the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village, as Ken Dixon Way.
“Ken’s friendship to UCF has had a transformative impact on our university that will be felt for decades to come,” Cartwright says. “We are grateful for his support of our students, university, and athletics enterprise, and we look forward to continued investment in our excellence thanks to his incredible generosity.”
Empowering Student Success
UCF is a top talent pipeline, with students benefiting from strong industry partnerships. Companies engage with students through Career Services, participating in recruitment, resume reviews, and mock interviews.
Dixon committed $5 million to enhance these services at the newly named Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center, helping to prepare students for the workforce, particularly in high-demand fields such as engineering, computer science, healthcare and others pivotal to Florida’s economic prosperity.
In academic year 2023-24, more than 9,000 students and nearly 500 employers participated in Career Services’ career and internship expos, and more than 10,300 attendees participated in resume and career exploration workshops. Dixon’s gift will enable the expansion of these offerings and create new platforms and spaces to enhance career readiness.
“The division of Student Success and Well-Being is dedicated to preparing our students for success in their careers, transforming their aspirations into life-long achievements,” says UCF Senior Vice President of Student Success Paul Dosal. “We are grateful for Ken Dixon’s visionary investment in future industry leaders.”
Elevating UCF Athletics
Dixon’s commitment also includes $5 million for UCF Athletics. This funding will enhance the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village, the portion of campus dedicated to athletic competition as well as the health and well-being, academic services and professional development of Knights’ student-athletes. The gift will also support key initiatives aimed at maintaining competitive excellence as UCF grows in the Big 12 Conference.
As part of the Mission XII program, UCF is creating a one-of-a-kind football campus to help the football team succeed at the highest levels of competition and enhance the fan experience. Mission XII also involves striving to expand and enhance game and practice facilities for all UCF teams throughout the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village.
“We are thankful for Ken’s incredible generosity throughout the years, which helped UCF become the youngest member of a Power Four Conference one year ago,” says Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir. “With Ken’s continued support, we can elevate our mission to provide championship-caliber services to our student-athletes in their athletics endeavors, educational and career opportunities to position them for success in life after college.”
A Legacy of Giving Back
Dixon has long been one of the university’s most generous benefactors, having donated more than $15 million to UCF over the past 20 years. UCF’s Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting and Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village bear his name.
He has served as member of the UCF Athletic Director’s Cabinet and the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, and he has volunteered as a judge for entrepreneurship competitions on campus. Dixon is a 2005 inductee to the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame, and he received the Legendary Knight Award from the college in 2020.
Dixon is the founder and CEO of Leland Enterprises Inc., a diversified real estate company located in Central Florida. In addition, Dixon is involved in various other businesses including homebuilding, lending, investment banking and land development. Prior to entering the real estate business, he was a Certified Public Accountant in Orlando and Washington, D.C., with the international accounting firm Price Waterhouse.
