News & Blog

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Fandino as the new Digital Exploration Center (DEC) Librarian. Daniel brings over seven years of experience in digital scholarship, public humanities, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, with a focus on immersive technologies and digital storytelling.

Daniel comes to UCF from Michigan State University, where he served as a graduate assistant and instructor affiliated with the Lab for the Education and Advancement of Digital Research. In this role, he supported undergraduate and graduate students in developing digital research projects using many innovative tools that will be found in the DEC. He played an integral part in lab operations, technology training, and curricular support across History and Anthropology programs.

Daniel holds a Master of Arts in History from UCF and completed his Ph.D. in History at Michigan State University, where his research integrates digital reconstruction and spatial storytelling to explore American cultural footprints in postwar Japan. He also holds graduate certificates in Digital Humanities and American Studies.

“I am excited to return to UCF, where my academic journey began, and to start a new role with the Libraries’ Digital Exploration Center. Digital scholarship has the capacity to profoundly transform our understanding of the past, present, and future. Through the use of innovative tools and methods, the Digital Exploration Center will open compelling new avenues of academic inquiry and provide new ways of seeing the world around us.”

In his new role as Digital Exploration Center Librarian, Daniel will lead the day-to-day operations of the DEC, launching in 2026, and will oversee the development of immersive research experiences. He will play a key role in shaping innovative programming, supporting faculty and student projects, and fostering partnerships that elevate digital scholarship across numerous disciplines. His appointment underscores UCF Libraries’ commitment to inclusive innovation, student engagement, and future-focused research.

For more information, please contact UCF Libraries.

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