Launching the Future of Nursing
Message from the Dean
Partnerships, innovation and people. This is what propels UCF’s College of Nursing forward as evident in all we have achieved in this past pivotal academic year.
Together with our community, we opened the much-anticipated Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona.
This state-of-the-art facility has sparked greater collaboration, innovation and excellence, and is expanding access to UCF’s nationally recognized nursing degree programs to solve challenges facing both our profession and our community.
UCF is also expanding access to healthcare with the new UCF Mobile Health Clinic, bringing free, high-quality healthcare directly to communities while serving as an interdisciplinary learning classroom for UCF healthcare students.
As we Charge On to a new academic year, we will continue our upward trajectory. Fueled by the support of our community and the talent of our team, we will accelerate student success and innovation to positively impact our world.
Sharon J. Tucker
PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, EBP-C, FNAP, FAAN
Dean of UCF College of Nursing and
Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing
Rankings & Recognition
Nursing Program (MSN)
U.S. News & World Report
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
U.S. News & World Report
Nursing Program (BSN)
U.S. News & World Report
First-Time Pass Rate
Surpassing State and National Averages1
First-Time Pass Rate
Surpassing State and National Averages1
2025/2026
Spring 2026
Interdisciplinary
Impact
Patents & Innovation
Medical Research
World Renowned Simulation
Fueling a Talent Pipeline
“The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is a powerful example of what is possible when vision, community and partnership come together. …This facility will help strengthen Florida’s nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier.” – UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright.
Nationally Recognized Experts
73
No. of Full-time Faculty
58
No. of Full-time Faculty
with Doctoral Degrees
6
Endowed Chairs
and Professorships
31
National Fellows
10
Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)
2
Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame
New appointments
Vicki Loerzel
Sharon J. Tucker
New Fellows & Honorees
- Mindi Anderson, Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice
- Susan Dyess, Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice
- Kristine Gauthier, Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice
- Carmen Giurgescu, UCF Pegasus Professor and UCF Luminary Awardee
- Rebecca Koszalinski, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing
- Valerie Martinez, Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice
- Joy Parchment ’15PhD, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and Fellow of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership
- Brian Peach, Fellow of Critical Care Medicine
- Ladda Thiamwong, Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America
- Jennie M. Wagner, UCF Faculty Author Honoree
- Gregory Welch, IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Service Awardee
Service Learning in Central Florida
UCF’s College of Nursing annual report is created by the college’s marketing and communications team in collaboration with leadership, staff and faculty within the college.
Managing Editor: Meghan Truhett, Writer: Julie Harper ’01, Design: Mariesha Marshall, Photos and Videos: Melanie Cedeño-Lopez, HuntonBrady Architects and Skystorm.
Published August 2026. Data in this report is for the UCF 2025/2026 academic year, which includes Summer 2025, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 unless otherwise noted.