James Wilkening

Jim hails from Syosset, New York, but made his way to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida (UCF), where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. After completing his undergraduate studies, he spent two years at the University of Louisville for graduate school, earning a Master’s in Teaching with a focus on Sports Administration.

Jim began his career at UCF as the Coordinator of Intramural Sports and steadily advanced, becoming the Director of the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) in 2007 and the Executive Director in 2015. In his current role, he has expanded his responsibilities to include working closely with the Wellness and Health Promotion Services (WHPS) team.

Two of the most significant highlights of Jim’s professional career include receiving the 2012 Gabor Award for UCF Employees and being honored with the 2019 NIRSA Region II Award of Merit, recognizing his contributions to the entire Southeast region.

Outside of his role at UCF, Jim is an accomplished NCAA college basketball referee, officiating in conferences such as the Atlantic Sun, Sunshine State, and Gulf South. He has had the privilege of working on several league championships and NCAA Division II regionals. Jim also has a passion for traveling and has set a personal goal to attend a game in every Major League Baseball park.