People Group Archives: Expertise

Sharon Tucker, a distinguished scholar in psychiatric mental health nursing and evidence-based practice, is the dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida and Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing. Tucker joined UCF as a professor and chair of the Department of Nursing Practice in 2024. Her leadership experience spans more […]

Janet Lopez is an assistant professor at UCF’s College of Nursing and a nurse scientist dedicated to promoting healthy aging. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for older adults, caregivers and veterans, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities. Her research and scholarship integrates community-engaged approaches to address fall risk, frailty, mental health and […]

Associate Professor Rebecca Koszalinski investigates the relationships between air, water, the environment, and health outcomes and leads the interdisciplinary Human Health Outcomes of Exposure to Environmental Toxins Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing. Her harmful algal bloom research seeks to evaluate significant health care implications of potential toxin exposures. She is currently the primary investigator […]

Elizabeth Torres has worked as a nurse in Central Florida for 12 years, including as a transition care curse, adult PCU nurse and OB/newborn nurse at Advent Health. Her passion for teaching led her to an adjunct role with UCF in 2021 as a clinical instructor. In 2022, she earned her MSN Family Nurse Practitioner […]

Instructor Jenny Garden has served as an operating room nurse since earning her ASN in 2001 and as a preceptor for nursing students and nurse interns since 2002. She has also served as an infection control practitioner. Garden first joined the University of Central Florida College of Nursing in 2021 as a clinical instructor and […]

Instructor Sara Snyder is a healthcare professional with a background in emergency nursing and a passion for advancing healthcare practices. A certified emergency nurse, Snyder has served in emergency departments and ICUs across the country for nearly two decades. In addition to her teaching roles, Snyder is currently working toward her doctorate in nursing at […]

A dual alumna of the UCF College of Nursing, Instructor Kelsey Gaffka helps educate future generations of Knight nurses and serves as site coordinator for UCF’s Daytona Beach campus. A board-certified registered nurse with an extensive background in obstetrical nursing, Gaffka is passionate about improving care for the perinatal population as well as facilitating the […]

Lecturer Latonia Green has held a variety of clinical appointments as a registered nurse, head nurse and nurse manager at hospitals in Tennessee and Florida. Most recently, she served as a nurse manager at AdventHealth East Orlando, directing and managing 24-hour clinical operations of two observation and medical telemetry units. After earning her DNP degree, […]

Kimberly Scalise is a lecturer and serves as director of the post-licensure undergraduate programs at UCF’s College of Nursing. Experienced in a range of teaching modalities including online, didactic and simulation, Scalise is especially passionate about online education and preparing post-licensure nurses as they seek higher education. A certified healthcare simulation educator and certified nurse […]

A dual-certified nurse practitioner for the adult-gerontology population, Frances Armstrong has been in the nursing field since earning her BSN in 2012. She developed a passion for critical care while working at the bedside as a Registered Nurse. Armstrong then sought out education for advanced practice nursing, becoming licensed and certified as an Advanced Practice […]