Category Archives: Faculty & Staff News

Associate Professor Rebecca Koszalinski was recognized by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence for her commitment to gerontological nursing education and the care of older adults. Rebecca Koszalinski, associate professor at UCF’s College of Nursing, is among the experts recently honored as a Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing. The award from the National […]

The collaborative interdisciplinary study is investigating how harmful blooms of blue-green algae and red tide in Florida are influencing human health. Harmful algal blooms do more than disappoint beachgoers with a do not swim advisory. Excessive growths of blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, and Karenia brevis, which creates red tide, release toxins into the surrounding air […]

The College of Nursing welcomes new faculty experts to meet increased demand as UCF expands access to its high-quality nursing programs with the opening of the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion next week.  At the start of Fall 2025 next week, UCF’s College of Nursing will welcome more than its newest cohort of 244 future Knight […]

Newly appointed Dean Sharon Tucker sits down to share her journey to Central Florida and her vision to lead UCF’s College of Nursing into the future. On August 1, 2025, Sharon Tucker officially begins her appointment as dean of UCF’s College of Nursing and takes the helm at a time of growth and opportunity both […]

Endowed Professor Ladda Thiamwong is among 47 experts honored for their outstanding contributions and selected as 2025 fellows of the Gerontological Society of America. Florida Blue Endowed Professor for Healthy Communities Ladda Thiamwong has been selected as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging. […]

By Julie Harper ’01 Rebecca Koszalinski and Joy Parchment ’15PhD are among the exceptional nurse leaders to be inducted in 2025 and honored for significant contributions to advance public health.  UCF nursing faculty members Rebecca Koszalinski and Joy Parchment ’15PhD have been selected to become fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, the most prestigious […]

By Julie Harper ’01 Tucker, who currently serves as department chair, brings to the role 22 years of leadership experience and a passion for empowering nurses.   After conducting a national search, the University of Central Florida has named Sharon Tucker as the next dean of the College of Nursing. Tucker will begin her new role […]

By Julie Harper ’01 As she prepares to Charge On to retirement, Dean Mary Lou Sole reflects on more than three decades at UCF and shares words of wisdom for the future. Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF’s College of Nursing, will retire this summer after 34 years of service to the University of Central […]

The approvals recognize years of excellence and contributions in teaching, research and service.  UCF faculty members across the university marked a major achievement in earning promotions and tenure for the 2024-25 cycle.  The 115 approved faculty — 76 for promotion and 39 for tenure — underwent a comprehensive performance evaluation by peers, college and university […]

Jean W. Davis ’19Ph.D., assistant professor at UCF’s College of Nursing, has been honored with the 2025 Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Educator Award from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The award recognizes a nurse practitioner faculty member who enhances nurse practitioner education through innovative curriculum development, exceptional teaching practices, policy leadership, creative strategies, and […]