Tag Archives: Graduate Spotlight

After commencement this week, nursing student Rebekah May plans to pursue her dreams to make a big impact in public health in the U.S. and around the world. “I came to UCF determined to improve the world, but I had no idea how,” says Rebekah May, who will graduate this week from UCF’s College of […]

As a patient and nurse, Karenna Thatcher ’17MSN knows firsthand the power of empathy in healthcare and is using that insight to help enhance the patient experience at one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems. Is empathy something that’s just nice to have or is it essential to providing quality care? That’s the question Karenna […]

From musical theater to bartender to now Knight nurse, Kris Hysler — who graduates Saturday — is ready for her next adventure and proves you’re never too old to start over. Kristen “Kris” Hysler is not your typical nursing student. At the age of 38, she’s nearly the oldest in her accelerated second degree bachelor’s in […]

Meet four of the nearly 300 new Knight nurses graduating in Spring 2023 and answering the call to help to address the nursing shortage. It is often said that nurses inspire nurses, and that is especially true for these four new Knight nurses who will walk across the stage at Addition Financial Arena on Saturday […]

At age 62, Nadine Jacobson ’23MSN, who is legally blind, has overcome many challenges in life but has persevered in her commitment to lifelong learning. Like the other students who are receiving a master’s degree in healthcare simulation this weekend at UCF, Nadine Jacobson is a licensed registered nurse. But unlike her peers, she isn’t actively […]

From a young age, Kristen Ng has been drawn to helping people. Whether it was teaching a first grader how to read or putting ice packs on her little brother’s head when he got hurt, her sense of compassion and desire to assist others motivated her to pursue a career in which she could do […]

Kimberly P. Emery Rathbun ’17BSN, UCF College of Nursing’s first BSN to Ph.D. graduate, is leading a younger generation of nurse scientists and innovating patient care through her research. When Kimberly P. Emery Rathbun ’17BSN walks across the stage at Addition Financial Arena on Friday to be officially hooded as “Dr. Emery,” she will mark a milestone in her career […]

Nearly 300 nursing students will graduate this week from UCF, answering the call for more nurses and nurse leaders. Meet the newest cohort of Knight nurses. The Summer Class of 2022 celebrated the completion of their nursing degree at the College of Nursing’s professional recognition ceremony last night and will walk across the stage at […]

The nurse executive developed collective mindfulness skills training for nurse leaders to influence a culture of safety “My initial career interests were in nursing, physical therapy, or osteopathic medicine,” says Holly L. Muller, DNP, MHA, RN, CRRN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center. “I chose nursing and have never regretted […]