A University of Central Florida graduate and investment firm president who credits the school for his financial success will donate $50 million to the institution, the largest philanthropic gift in UCF’s history, the university announced Wednesday.
Barry Miller’s donation will grow UCF’s business college, allowing it to hire new faculty with expertise in fields such as artificial intelligence strategy and financial strategy, the university said.
“My success was only made possible by the village of people here,” Miller said at the announcement at the business school. “UCF needs the support of a village to achieve our lofty goals. UCF isn’t going to wait for the future. We’re going to build it,” he said.
Miller is a 1995 finance graduate and president and co-founder of the Jupiter-based Voloridge hedge fund firm. The $9-billion-dollar firm says it uses “data science and mathematics” to exploit opportunities in markets.
UCF President Alexander Cartwright called the gift a “strong vote of confidence” in the school’s students, faculty and future.
“As a Knight, your investment reflects the very best of who we are. People who seize opportunity, achieve, and then come back to help build what’s next. This is leadership that will shape generations of students,” Cartwright said.
UCF’s business school will be renamed the Barry S. Miller College of Business.
The $50 million will help fund five new faculty positions in financial technology, artificial intelligence strategy, cyber risk, and trust and disinformation. The school will also establish a master’s degree program in technology leadership and innovation.
University of Central Florida alumnus Barry Miller shares a laugh with UCF president Alexander Cartwright during his remarks after making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, at a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, left, with UCF president Alexander Cartwright, right, thanks Barry Miller for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida President Alexander Cartwright, right, thanks Barry Miller, for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF president Alexander Cartwright, right, thanks Barry Miller, with University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, left, for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida president Alexander Cartwright with alumnus Barry Miller, left, after the announcement of Miller making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, left, with UCF president Alexander Cartwright, right, and alumnus Barry Miller, hold a rendering after the announcement of Miller making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida College of Business dean Paul Harley presents Barry Miller, right, a university card access key for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida alumnus Barry Miller delivers remarks after the announcement that he is making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, at a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida alumnus Barry Miller shares a laugh with a fellow alumnus after making the announcement of his making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, at a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, right, thanks Barry Mille for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, 4th from right, with UCF president Alexander Cartwright, 3rd from left, during the announcement that alumnus Barry Miller has made the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida College of Business dean Paul Harley presents Barry Miller, right, a ceremonial key for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida alumnus Barry Miller delivers remarks after the announcement that he is making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, at a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, right, talks with UCF president Alexander Cartwright, before the announcement that alumnus Barry Miller has made the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida Board of Trustees chairman Alex Martins, right, with UCF president Alexander Cartwright, before the announcement that alumnus Barry Miller has made the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
University of Central Florida band members cheer Barry Miller for making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, during a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
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University of Central Florida alumnus Barry Miller shares a laugh with UCF president Alexander Cartwright during his remarks after making the single largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history, at a Board of Trustees meeting in Orlando, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. UCF received a $50 million donation from Miller, a financier from Jupiter, Fla., and a class of 1995 alumnus. The school is renaming their College of Business after Miller. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Miller said he thinks his gift comes at a crucial time, as the faculty brought to UCF with his donation can help fill gaps in the college’s coursework to prepare students for an AI-driven business landscape.
The donation tops UCF’s previous largest philanthropic gift, $40 million from billionaire MacKenzie Scott in 2021.
Since Miller attended UCF in the ’90s, the school has grown exponentially.
In 1990, UCF had about 20,000 students. Last fall, UCF tallied more than 70,000 students. Its business school had about 9,500 students.
Miller remembers some classes held in trailers on a dirt lot.
The campus today looks very different. There are some buildings he recognizes, but many more new ones.
“It kind of throws you off for a minute. You’re like, ‘Wait, I remember this building, but I don’t remember all this other stuff,’” he said.
As he worked on plans for the donation, Miller said he told UCF Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins that he had impostor syndrome, thinking about having a college named after him. Martins told him Miller’s feelings aligned with the story of UCF, a 62-year-old university still looking to prove itself.
“It’s a story of grit, perseverance and maybe a little bit of the underdog mentality,” Miller said.
Paul Jarley, UCF’s dean of the college of business, and Miller talk often about the evolution of AI in the workplace.
“I think the headline today is that at a time when many worry that artificial intelligence is going to make universities obsolete, a man who made his fortune being on the cutting edge of technology just made a $50 million bet on the future,” Jarley said.