Elected leaders joined founding donors to celebrate the pavilion鈥檚 opening on 鲍颁贵鈥檚 at Lake Nona. They gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the pavilion, which will help to address Florida鈥檚 critical nursing shortage. Fittingly for Florida鈥檚 Premier Engineering and Technology University, the pavilion also features the latest in immersive modeling and simulation technologies.

“This facility will help strengthen Florida鈥檚 nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier.” 鈥� 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright

鈥淭he Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is a powerful example of what is possible when vision, community and partnership come together. Built with the generous support of state leaders, donors and health care champions, this facility will help strengthen Florida鈥檚 nursing talent pipeline in ways that make communities across our state healthier,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淭ogether, we are fueling hands-on learning, enabling new research and discovery, and preparing generations of Knight Nurses who will have a lasting impact on the lives of those they serve.鈥�

With the opening, 麻豆原创 will increase access to its accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs and graduate an additional 150 newly licensed nurses annually. These graduates will have a direct impact on the state. Of the 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in Florida, and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

Located next to the College of Medicine and in Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City, a nationally recognized hub of healthcare innovation, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will bolster interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare providers to thrive in the workforce and deploy cutting-edge research to solve the industry鈥檚 greatest challenges and ensure a healthier future for all.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson played a vital role as Senate President in securing about $43 million in state funding for the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, as well as additional funding for state university and state college nursing initiatives throughout Florida.

鈥淲e worked very hard to secure the funding,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen you think about state-of the-art nursing, when you think about doubling the capacity of nursing, this couldn鈥檛 come at a better time. Florida is growing 400,000 people a year still. We鈥檙e going to continue to grow.鈥�

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the state continues to invest in key academic programs that set an example nationwide,鈥� says State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. 鈥淭he new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at the 麻豆原创 is no exception 鈥� by providing innovative educational opportunities for nursing students now, Florida is ensuring a promising future of skilled nurses that will care for our communities.鈥�

The Power of Partnerships

The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which came to fruition through $43 million from the State of Florida and over $29 million from private donors, will directly impact the community that created it and will be a longstanding symbol of what can be achieved through the power of community partnerships 鈥� unleashing potential for generations to come.

鈥淲e are honored to be part of this transformative moment for Central Florida,鈥� says Kenneth Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Inc. and the Dr. Phillips Foundation. 鈥淭his investment will help address the nursing shortage, strengthen our healthcare system, and expand access to exceptional education and career opportunities. By supporting this project, we鈥檙e helping to graduate more Knight nurses who will make a lasting impact. We鈥檙e proud to stand with 麻豆原创 and our community partners to shape a healthier, brighter future.鈥�

Founding donors of the facility also include the Helene Fuld Health Trust; 麻豆原创 Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children鈥檚 Health and Addition Financial; Zaby and Suree Vyas; and many others.

鈥淭oday we are witnessing the power of partnerships,鈥� says Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, who, as the previous College of Nursing dean, led the efforts to advocate and raise funds for the new building. 鈥淭he Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is the result of the collective efforts of 麻豆原创 and this community to come together to solve one of our greatest healthcare challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the support, which will have an immeasurable impact for generations to come.鈥�

Inside the Future of Nursing

Every aspect of the 90,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success and well-being.

鈥淭he Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will serve as a catalyst for ensuring a brighter, healthier future,鈥� says new College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. 鈥淚n this space, 麻豆原创 will strengthen and empower future nurses and nurse leaders to advance healthcare innovation and collaboration to improve evidence-based patient care and outcomes.鈥�

On the second and third floors is a hub of healthcare innovation, the Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center. 麻豆原创 is Florida鈥檚 first simulation center to earn three international accolades in the field and the new, expanded space will build upon its global leadership to innovate healthcare education using the latest immersive technologies to prepare nurses for practice as compassionate, skilled providers.

The second floor also features the Dr. Colleen Conway Welch Virtual Reality Learning Studio, a makerspace design studio to accelerate nurse-led innovations, a home health apartment to meet growing demand for home-based healthcare, and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Healthy Aging Research Lab for interdisciplinary research and innovations led by renowned aging expert Ladda Thiamwong.

Upon entering the pavilion, students, faculty, staff and visitors are greeted with the inspiring 鈥溾�� public art commissioned by Florida鈥檚 Art in State Building program. The first floor also includes three large high-tech learning studios, the Zaby and Suree Vyas Collaboration Concourse, the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation Study Cafe and a student success suite.

The opening comes a little over a year and a half after the groundbreaking in January 2024. 麻豆原创 built the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in conjunction with HuntonBrady Architects, Ayers Saint Gross and DPR Construction.

鲍颁贵鈥檚 Industry Partners Highlight Transformational Impact

AdventHealth

鈥淎t AdventHealth, we鈥檝e seen firsthand the extraordinary caliber of nurses who graduate from 麻豆原创. They bring clinical excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their patients 鈥� values that perfectly align with our mission to provide whole-person care. As the demand for skilled nurses continues to grow, we鈥檙e happy to support this exciting new chapter for the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. And as a 麻豆原创 alum, I鈥檓 excited to welcome even more outstanding Knight nurses to AdventHealth.鈥�

-Cathy Stankiewicz, (MSN鈥�11), chief nursing officer, Central Florida Division

Helene Fuld Health Trust

鈥淭he Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling Center at 麻豆原创 exemplifies our mission to support the education of nursing students. Simulation is a critical component [of] nursing education and will continue to be in the future, and we鈥檙e proud to make this investment to strengthen nursing skills and improve the welfare of our communities.鈥�

-Robert Campbell, vice president of Trust & Fiduciary Services at HSBC, who oversees the trust

Nemours Children鈥檚 Health

鈥淕rowing and solidifying the nursing workforce is critical to care delivery across the healthcare sector. Through our longtime relationship with the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing, we have seen firsthand the benefits of hiring their well-trained, work-ready graduates. The new nursing pavilion will be a tremendous asset in our continued collaboration, partnership, and investment to support the education, development, and maturation of emerging nurses.鈥�

-Nicole Johnson, (DNP鈥�17), senior vice president and chief nursing and patient operations officer 聽

Orlando Health

鈥淚t is an honor and privilege to be associated with 麻豆原创, and we are thankful for our partnership with the university, nursing professors, and students.鈥�

-David Strong, president and CEO

The Society of Critical Care Medicine is the largest nonprofit medical organization dedicated to promoting excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care with members in more than 80 countries representing all professional components of the critical care team.

The Society鈥檚 Master of Critical Care Medicine designation is awarded to individuals who have achieved global prominence in the field of critical care through exemplary leadership, eminence in clinical practice, and outstanding contributions to research and education. The designation is awarded to long-standing fellows of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Sole was inducted as a fellow in 2009.

鈥淒r. Sole鈥檚 contributions to the field are nothing short of extraordinary,鈥� says John Whitcomb, chief academic nursing officer at Clemson University School of Nursing, in his nomination letter. 鈥淗er unparalleled leadership, clinical excellence, and commitment to education and research have set a benchmark in critical care medicine and nursing that few can match.鈥�

began her nursing career nearly five decades ago in critical care, and that bedside experience inspired her research as she advanced her career. Today Sole is an internationally renowned critical care researcher with more than $4 million in research grant funding and 110 peer-reviewed publications. Her scholarly activities, which have focused on preventing complications for critically ill patients on a ventilator, have influenced the standard of care in the U.S. and around the world.

As a nurse educator for more than 40 years 鈥� with 34 at 麻豆原创 鈥� she has made significant contributions to critical care nursing education and has inspired and mentored countless future critical care nurses. She was the lead editor of the textbook, Introduction to Critical Care Nursing, which was selected as book of the year twice by the American Journal of Nursing. The textbook is now in its ninth edition and has been renamed to Sole鈥檚 Introduction to Critical Care Nursing.

At 麻豆原创, she has advised more than 80 doctoral, graduate and undergraduate student research projects most of which have focused on acute and critical care nursing. One of the most recent students was Kimberly Emery Rathbun 鈥�17BSN 鈥�22PhD, 麻豆原创 College of Nursing鈥檚 first B.S.N. to Ph.D. graduate.

An active member of the critical care community, Sole has served on three editorial boards, expert panels of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Quality Forum task forces and chaired a study section of the NIH Center for Scientific Review.

In Central Florida, Sole held various roles at Orlando Health for more than three decades, including clinical nurse specialist and nurse scientist. Currently, she serves as the Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing at 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing.

Throughout her career, Sole has been honored for her commitment to excellence in nursing education, research and practice including Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, and 麻豆原创 Pegasus Professor. Sole has been at 麻豆原创 since 1991 and led the College of Nursing for the last decade as dean. Last fall, she announced her retirement effective Summer 2025.

She joined 麻豆原创 in 1991 as a visiting associate professor after previously serving as an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in San Antonio.

鈥淎t that time, I moved from being a small fish in a large pond at an academic health sciences center to a big fish in a small pond in a school of nursing,鈥� she says.

In 1991, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 nursing program admitted only 60 students per year and had approximately 15 faculty members.

鈥淏ut, as a faculty member, this meant we taught students in both the classroom and clinical setting,鈥� says Sole. 鈥淭o me, this was the best part as it really enhanced learning.鈥�

In her more than three decades since, Sole has witnessed 鈥� and played a key role 鈥� in the incredible growth and impact of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 nursing program. Today, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing has more than 2,700 students, 75 faculty members and 16,000 Knight nurse alumni.

Unleashing Potential in Healthcare

When Sole was appointed dean of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing, her vision was to build upon its existing strengths to foster the development of new educational programs and research to become a national leader in nursing education. She鈥檚 fully realized that vision and much more.

Sole has maintained a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, fostered a culture of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, and advanced the college鈥檚 teaching and research capabilities.

鈥淒ean Sole鈥檚 legacy at 麻豆原创 is one of extraordinary vision and commitment, leading a College of Nursing that stands out as a national leader in academic excellence, research, and innovation,鈥� says Michael D. Johnson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淭hrough her dedication to the healthcare education and the nursing profession, Dean Sole has advanced 鲍颁贵鈥檚 impact in profound ways, ensuring our graduates are well-prepared to shape the future of healthcare in Central Florida and beyond.鈥�

While Sole has been at the helm of the college, 麻豆原创 has continued to provide a high-quality nursing education that has earned national recognition with reaccreditation in 2017 and ranked among the nation鈥檚 best from the bachelor鈥檚 degree to the doctorate by U.S. News & World Report. Graduates also continue to exceed both state and national first-time pass rate averages on the national registered nurse licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) and nurse practitioner board certification exams.

Sole facilitated the expansion of degree programs to increase access and evolve to meet the changing healthcare environment, adding the , launching the state鈥檚 first online Ph.D. program designed for nurse scientists, and innovating education with the B.S.N. to Ph.D. program track and healthcare simulation graduate program.

To meet the growing demand for its programs, Sole has increased the college鈥檚 faculty by more than 27% in the last decade and expanded research areas to include acute care, gerontology (aging), and simulation. 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing now boasts 21 national fellows, three Sigma International Researcher Hall of Fame recipients, and 11 internationally certified simulation experts.

Over the last decade, with the addition of more experts, Ph.D. programs and postdoctoral opportunities, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing has vastly expanded its research prowess and funding. In 2014-15, when Sole was appointed dean, the college had 10 funding awards totaling $98,400. In the last academic year, the college had 31 awards totaling $3.29 million and was ranked No. 35 among U.S. nursing schools for federal funding.

A champion of technology to foster learning, Sole also led 麻豆原创 to global prominence in healthcare simulation. 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center has two international accreditations and provides more than 11,000 contact hours annually in simulation-based experiences to prepare 麻豆原创 nursing students, and students from other healthcare disciplines, for practice.

Collaborating to Impact Communities

Beginning with her tenure as interim dean, Sole has advanced community partnerships with healthcare organizations across Central Florida. Most recently, 麻豆原创 has welcomed four Pegasus Partners committed to advancing nursing education, research and practice: AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children鈥檚 Health and Addition Financial.

鈥淥ur longstanding partnerships have had an immeasurable impact on nursing education, research and care,鈥� Sole says.

Community partnerships have also been critical to the creation of the , the new home of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing in Lake Nona. Once open in Fall 2025, the state-of-the-art facility will allow 麻豆原创 to increase enrollment to address the nursing shortage and with an optimal location on 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Academic Health Sciences Campus, will foster greater innovation and collaboration to solve the world鈥檚 most pressing healthcare challenges.

At the time of her appointment, one of Sole鈥檚 goals was to facilitate the move of the College of Nursing to Lake Nona. The new building is a transformational project that is the culmination of years of work, advocacy and collaboration, including working closely with the 麻豆原创 Foundation, philanthropic organizations and community partners to secure private support, and comes at a critical time where nurses are needed at all levels.

鈥淲ith the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, 麻豆原创 will unleash potential that will have an immeasurable impact for generations to come,鈥� she said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Bringing the building鈥檚 vision to a reality is the crowning achievement on what has been a storied career in academia and nursing.

Ensuring Nursing鈥檚 Bright Future

No doubt Sole has come a long way from her upbringing in a small town in Ohio where, at that time, career options were limited. Sole chose nursing to follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, and 鈥淚鈥檝e never looked back,鈥� she says of her nearly 50 years in the profession.

鈥淚 love this profession and the greatest part is that you can do whatever you want. No other profession, in my opinion, offers such an abundance of opportunities to follow your passion and make an impact doing what you love,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hrough nursing, I have been able to care for patients at the bedside, advance nursing science through research, and impact future generations as an educator and leader.鈥�

Sole has maintained an active scholarship during her tenure as dean. A certified critical care clinical nurse specialist, Sole focused her research on preventing complications and improving outcomes for critically ill patients who are on a ventilator. Her research, which received more than $4 million in funding and was published in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, has influenced the standard of nursing critical care in the U.S. and around the world.

In addition, Sole played an active role in educating and mentoring future generations of nurse scientists and she will continue to impact future nurse scientists. In 2021, she provided a personal donation to establish the endowed Dr. Mary Lou Sole Family Reach for the Stars Scholarship to support Ph.D. students.

Prior to her dean appointment, Sole held various administrative and leadership roles in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 nursing program. In 2008, Sole was named a Pegasus Professor, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 highest faculty honor, and in 2010, she was appointed as the Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and American College of Critical Care Medicine, and is a member of the Sigma International Researcher Hall of Fame.

鈥淲hat a journey it has been,鈥� Sole says. 鈥淚 am incredibly proud of all that we have achieved together. It is a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff, the support of our community, partners and alumni, and commitment of our students. 麻豆原创 College of Nursing will continue to 鈥楥harge On鈥� to ensure a healthier, brighter future for all.鈥�

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, I have truly been able to unleash potential beyond my dreams and I am incredibly grateful,鈥� says Sole. 鈥淚 have been supported by the university, our community and our partners to reach for the stars and positively impact nursing鈥檚 future.鈥�

Fueled by $10 million in combined commitments from AdventHealth and Orlando Health, the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing has moved a major step closer to a new building at Lake Nona that will enable the college to graduate hundreds of additional nurses annually who will care for patients throughout the region and state. The new building also will expand the college鈥檚 capacity to educate future nursing faculty members who are needed to teach the nurses of tomorrow.

As 鲍颁贵鈥檚 inaugural Pegasus Partners, AdventHealth and Orlando Health have each committed $5 million to support those much-needed efforts as well as to provide tuition assistance and additional paid internships for 麻豆原创 nursing students.

鈥淎dventHealth and Orlando Health have been valued, transformative partners to 麻豆原创 as we collaborate to support the health and well-being of our community,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淭heir continued partnership and generous investment in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Nursing will make a difference in our region for generations to come.鈥�

AdventHealth and Orlando Health employ more than 12,000 nurses combined at a total of 34 hospitals across Central Florida. Both systems will rely on 麻豆原创 to help prepare the additional talent they need to combat the national nursing shortage and expand their workforces.

鈥淓nsuring we have well-educated, highly trained and skilled nurses to meet Florida鈥檚 growing health care needs is a pressing challenge for the entire health care sector,鈥� says Randy Haffner, CEO of AdventHealth Florida. 鈥淧artnering with leading educational institutions such as 麻豆原创 is absolutely vital to ensuring these efforts are successful.鈥�

鈥淟ike many healthcare systems across the state and the nation, Orlando Health constantly evaluates and adjusts strategies in order to deliver exceptional patient care,鈥� says Karen Frenier, senior vice president, human resources and chief nurse executive, Orlando Health. 鈥淲e are excited about our long-term partnership with 麻豆原创 as we continue to strategically plan nursing workforce opportunities for the future.鈥�

In addition to contributing to the new building, each hospital鈥檚 gift will support student success with the creation of a scholars program named in their honor. Each of those programs will provide tuition assistance to 10 senior BSN students annually and establish a paid summer internship program for an additional 10-15 students annually.

鈥淥ur longstanding partnerships with AdventHealth and Orlando Health have a wide-reaching impact on the community, from supporting a quality education of our students who join the workforce and provide compassionate, skilled care to funding faculty research and innovation to improve outcomes,鈥� says Mary Lou Sole, dean of the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. 鈥淲e are extremely thankful to these leading health systems for their commitment to 麻豆原创 and their generous gifts to fuel the future. Together, we will continue to make our Central Florida communities healthier.鈥�

麻豆原创 currently graduates more newly licensed RNs annually than any other institution in the State University System, with approximately 260 Knight nurses entering the workforce each year. Almost all of them 鈥� 85% of the 16,000 nursing alumni 鈥� live and work in Florida.

Last year, the College of Nursing added 100 students beyond its usual enrollment to help keep pace with the state鈥檚 demand for new nurses. The new building is needed for the additional enrollment growth, and when complete, the 90,000-square-foot building will be large enough for the college to increase enrollment by at least 50% to make a much bigger impact in helping to alleviate the state鈥檚 nursing shortage.

麻豆原创 continues to seek philanthropic investments in the new building, as we near the goal of raising $70 million needed to break ground on the College of Nursing. $26.2 million has been raised through philanthropy to-date, which will be combined with $43.7 million committed by the State of Florida, to support the region and guide 21^st century healthcare.

AdventHealth and Orlando Health join , Helene Fuld Health Trust, , Parrish Medical Center and VNA Foundation in support of this transformational project.

About Pegasus Partners

鲍颁贵鈥檚 new Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, and strategic philanthropy. 麻豆原创 is proud to welcome AdventHealth and Orlando Health as two of its inaugural Pegasus Partners.

About AdventHealth

AdventHealth, one of the nation鈥檚 largest nonprofit health care systems, is headquartered in Central Florida. They have been a long-standing partner of the College of Nursing for over 40 years, dating back to the establishment of the bachelor鈥檚 in nursing program. AdventHealth has been a partner both clinically, including student clinical placements, research, faculty and adjunct support; and philanthropically.

AdventHealth鈥檚 Central Florida Division encompasses more than 20 hospitals and ERs in the six counties in and surrounding metro Orlando. The world-class hospitals, combined with a comprehensive outpatient care network, see more than 5.7 million patient visits annually.

AdventHealth also has an expansive research portfolio in Central Florida, with more than 500 clinical trials and studies in progress.

The organization has a deep commitment to serving the community and has a local financial impact of more than $1 billion annually. AdventHealth and its employees are responsible for nearly 20% of Central Florida鈥檚 economy.

The division鈥檚 flagship campus 鈥� AdventHealth Orlando 鈥� boasts nationally and internationally recognized programs, and serves as a major tertiary and quaternary referral hospital for much of the Southeast, the Caribbean and Latin America. Quality specialty care is provided through AdventHealth Institutes, which is nationally recognized in numerous specialties.

AdventHealth Orlando has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Leapfrog Group.

About Orlando Health

Caring for Central Florida has been an Orlando Health tradition for over 100 years, and their healthcare services extend well beyond their hospital walls. Orlando Health has been one of the first and longest-standing partners of 麻豆原创, including serving our Knights鈥� athletics teams and student-athletes as the official medical provider for 麻豆原创 Athletics.

Headquartered in Orlando, the system is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with $9.2 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico.

It is recognized around the world for Central Florida鈥檚 only pediatric and adult Level I Trauma program as well as the only state-accredited Level II Adult Trauma Center in Pinellas County. It is the home of the nation鈥檚 largest neonatal intensive care unit under one roof, the only system in the Southeast to offer open fetal surgery to repair the most severe forms of spina bifida, the site of an Olympic athlete training facility and operator of one of the largest and highest performing clinically integrated networks in the region. Orlando Health has pioneered life-changing medical research and its graduate medical education program hosts more than 350 residents and fellows.

The 3,888-bed system includes 29 hospitals and emergency departments 鈥� 24 of which are currently operational with five coming soon. The system also includes nine specialty institutes, more than 100 adult and pediatric primary care practices, skilled nursing facilities, an in-patient behavioral health facility under the management of Acadia Healthcare, and more than 60 outpatient facilities that include imaging and laboratory services, wound care centers, home healthcare services in partnership with LHC Group, and urgent care centers in partnership with FastMed Urgent Care. More than 4,750 physicians, representing more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties have privileges across the Orlando Health system, which employs more than 27,000 team members and more than 1,200 physicians.

In FY22, Orlando Health served nearly 142,000 inpatients and 3.9 million outpatients. The healthcare system provided more than $782 million in total value to the communities it serves in the form of charity care, community benefit programs and services, community building activities and more in 2021 fiscal year, the most recent period for which this information is available.

鈥淗er leadership in the fields of health policy and rural health, and within the college make her an ideal candidate for this role,鈥� said Mary Lou Sole, dean of the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing.

A nationally known expert in her field, Edwards joined the faculty at the college in 2015 as a professor and serves as the Hugh F. and Jeannette McKean Endowed Chair. Edwards has served as interim chair of the Department of Nursing Systems since October 2017 when the college restructured to more accurately reflect the broader scope of programs and the profession.

For more than two decades, Edwards has influenced health policy, rural health and women鈥檚 health issues with her widely published research and by serving on several state and national committees. In rural Appalachian Tennessee, she helped establish a long-standing network of nurse-managed clinics that now provide care for thousands of underserved patients annually. Edwards is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and is a member of Sigma, the international honor society of nursing, the American Nurses Association and the National Rural Health Association.

Edwards has 40 years of experience in academia, serving as an educator and in various leadership roles. Prior to 麻豆原创, Edwards was a professor of graduate programs and associate dean for research at East Tennessee State University College of Nursing. She earned her BSN and doctorate in health care administration from Ohio University, and her MSN from West Virginia University.

鈥淭hroughout our nearly four-decade long history, program offerings, faculty interests and students鈥� needs have continually evolved to meet national demand and the ever-changing health care environment,鈥� said Mary Lou Sole, dean of the College of Nursing. 鈥淎s nurses today, we are impacting health care not only as caregivers at the bedside but as leaders, scientists and educators.鈥�

鈥淲hile the new structure may take time to adjust to and become familiar with, our faculty and administration are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth transition for everyone,鈥� added Sole.

The Department of Nursing Systems focuses on programs that educate individuals for greater leadership responsibilities within a health care system. The Department of Nursing Practice includes programs that focus on direct nursing care roles across patient groups. Undergraduate and graduate programs are located within the new departments as follows:

Maureen M. Covelli, PhD, RN, has been appointed chair of the Department of Nursing Practice. Covelli has been at the college since 1989. She previously served as associate dean for undergraduate affairs and is an associate professor whose research interests include cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

Joellen Edwards, PhD, RN, FAAN, is serving as interim chair of the Department of Nursing Systems while the college undergoes a national search for the position. The Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing, Edwards is a nationally known expert on health policy and rural health with a special interest in women鈥檚 health issues.

Sole and the 22 other honorees from Australia, Canada, Finland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and U.S. were inducted at the STTI 28th International Nursing Research Congress in Dublin, Ireland, on July 29. The award is the highest level of recognition available for nurse researchers, honoring those who have achieved significant and sustained recognition, and whose research has improved the profession and the people it serves.

鈥淒r. Sole has contributed significantly to the body of nursing science,鈥� said Cindy L. Munro, past recipient of the STTI Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame award and associate dean of research and innovation at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. 鈥淗er intervention research has improved patient care and her mentorship has enhanced the research capabilities of nursing students across all levels.鈥�

鈥淚 am honored and humbled to join a renowned group of researchers around the world who work diligently every day to generate evidence for nursing practice that ultimately contributes to better patient outcomes,鈥� said Sole who was honored for her contributions to critical care nursing and nursing education.

A certified critical care clinical nurse specialist, Sole has focused her research over the past three decades on preventing complications and improving outcomes of critically ill patients who are placed on a ventilator. Her research, which has been awarded more than $4 million in funding to-date, has influenced the standard of nursing care in the U.S. and in the international critical care community.

As an educator, mentor and researcher, Sole is dedicated to developing the next generation of nurse leaders. Using simulation and technology, Sole has created innovative strategies to improve student learning in the clinical setting as well as the classroom.

Her research has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and presented at conferences throughout the world. She currently serves on the editorial boards of AACN Advanced Critical Care, American Journal of Critical Care and Heart & Lung, and is the editor of one of the most widely used undergraduate critical care nursing textbooks in which she has also authored several chapters. In addition, Sole has served as a member of two National Quality Forum task forces and expert panels of the National Institutes of Health. Throughout her career Sole has been honored with numerous awards, including American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Distinguished Researcher and Researcher of the Year from the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Sole has a diploma from the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing in Wheeling, WV, a BSN from Ohio University, a MSN from The Ohio State University, and a PhD in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. She is the second faculty member at the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing to receive this prestigious honor from STTI. Karen J. Aroian, a Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair and professor, was inducted in 2013.

Then the email arrived from the College of Nursing Scholarship Committee. At first she thought it was a hoax. Pon had been awarded the Vivian and Barry Woods Educational Endowment Scholarship. The amount of her award was $2,000. 鈥淭here were many things in life trying to stop me from my dreams, almost convincing me that this life was not meant to be,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut if receiving this scholarship when I did doesn鈥檛 tell me that I am meant to be where I am today, then I don鈥檛 know what will.鈥� Pon is on track to graduate in 2018 and thanks the donors who have given her the opportunity to 鈥渟ave lives in the future, while making something of mine.鈥�

Pon was one of the 113 nursing students who received a private donor-funded scholarship this year, selected from more than 400 applicants. Students and their donors met at an annual scholarship luncheon this week to share stories about the power and impact of philanthropy.

One of those donors was Sarah Dodson 鈥�01, who established the In Memory of Marlie Kai Dodson 麻豆原创 Oncology Nursing Endowed Scholarship in 2012, in honor of her daughter who died in 2011. Many 麻豆原创 nurses cared for Marlie during her stays at Arnold Palmer Hospital and inspired Dodson, who wanted to support future caregivers graduating from the 麻豆原创 nursing program. Recently, Dodson experienced a d茅j脿 vu moment when her niece was hospitalized at the same hospital where Marlie spent so much of her life. 鈥淚 was a worried aunt, assuming the worst,鈥� she says.

As fate would have it, her niece鈥檚 nurse was Mackenzie Chase, 鈥�16, the 2015 recipient of Marlie鈥檚 scholarship. 鈥淚t was at that moment, I felt the impact of giving,鈥� says Dodson, who watched as Mackenzie confidently cared for her niece. 鈥淚 knew everything would be fine.鈥�

The College of Nursing awarded $332,000 in scholarship support this year 鈥� the largest amount ever. Two new endowed scholarships were established this year: The Elaine Alliance Endowed Scholarship will support undergraduate nursing students and the Dr. Angeline and John R. Bushy Endowed Scholarship will support doctoral students interested in rural health.

鈥淲e are very thankful for the support we receive from our alumni and friends in providing scholarships for our nursing students,鈥� said Mary Lou Sole, dean of the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. Sole also noted that six nursing faculty members had established endowed scholarships, and more than 2,000 faculty and staff members contributed to programs and funds campus-wide 鈥� including many to benefit the College of Nursing — during the recent faculty and staff campaign.

Another student who benefited from a scholarship was Robin Kintz, whose path to nursing was a circuitous one. As a middle schooler, she was a caregiver to her breast cancer-battling mom and aunt, and was told she had a knack for the nursing profession. She resisted, and it wasn鈥檛 until later in life when she realized her calling. This semester, she started her first adult rotation — ironically, on the woman鈥檚 oncology unit at Florida Hospital. 鈥淲hen I walked onto the unit, I looked at the patient鈥檚 names on the doors and two stuck out to me: my mom鈥檚 and my aunt鈥檚,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 help but think, I must be doing something right with this whole nursing thing.鈥�

Katie Korkosz, director for advancement at the college, says scholarships are a funding priority and assist students with their tuition and educational expenses. 鈥淢any nursing students are not able to work during the program due to the rigorous curriculum, so scholarship support is critical and helps us recruit and retain the best and brightest students.鈥�

Kintz agrees that working while studying is hard. 鈥淓ntering nursing school last fall was a real challenge for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was working 30 hours a week to pay my bills and was told that working during nursing school would be difficult.鈥� Luckily, Kintz received the Compassion for Nursing Endowed Scholarship which gave her the means to pay for tuition, and more. 鈥淚t gave me peace of mind and the ability to focus more on my classwork.鈥�

To give to the College of Nursing, please visit: or contact Katie Korkosz at katiek@ucf.edu or 407-823-1600.

鈥淚n recent years, the college has experienced significant growth in all areas and we expect to continue to expand to meet the national demand for highly educated nurses, leaders and educators,鈥� said Mary Lou Sole, dean of the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. 鈥淏y expanding our leadership team, we are able to more effectively focus on our strategic priorities of recruiting and retaining quality faculty and students, increasing funding for our faculty鈥檚 innovative research, and expanding programs and partnerships to continue to deliver excellence in education. Both Norma and Donna have been instrumental leaders in the college, and their expertise made them excellent choices for these roles.鈥�

Conner, Associate Dean for Academic Excellence

Conner has been at the college since 2010 as an assistant and associate professor, PhD committee chair and former Community Nursing Coalition coordinator. A nurse researcher with prior management and academic leadership experience, she brings an extensive background in developing partnerships, reporting outcomes, and working with national organizations. In the new role, Conner will be responsible for providing leadership for accreditation, strategic planning, program evaluations, continuing education and institutional effectiveness.

鈥淚t is an honor to help lead the college into the future and continue to achieve excellence in nursing education, practice and research,鈥� said Norma Conner, new associate dean for academic excellence at the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing.

Conner was recently named a fellow in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Leadership for Academic Nursing program. The competitive and intensive program enhances leadership skills and competencies needed for today鈥檚 complex nursing education and health care environment. It includes focused assessment activities, mentorships and sharing of ideas among fellows.

In addition, Conner is an abstract reviewer for Southern Nursing Research Society, is on the editorial board for Computers Informatics Nursing, a manuscript reviewer for American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Journal of Transcultural Nursing, and a member of Academy Health.

Her previous academic appointments include professor at St. Petersburg College in Florida, visiting assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing and adjunct instructor at Rutgers University. She earned her BSN from Towson State University in Baltimore, and MSN and PhD in Nursing from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Neff, Associate Dean of Research

Neff joined the college in 2013 as associate professor and interim director of research. She also has served as PhD program coordinator since 2014. During her tenure as interim director of research, Neff increased faculty research proposals and funding, and fostered research collaborations.

鈥淚n the last year alone, our faculty have implemented novel technologies and simulation, collaborated with interdisciplinary research teams and studied vulnerable at-risk populations,鈥� said Donna Neff, associate dean of research at the 麻豆原创 College of Nursing. 鈥淭he university has set a goal for the college to triple its nationally funded research within five years. By accomplishing this, we are able to further leverage our expertise to discover and share new knowledge by expanding research capabilities.鈥�

Active in the community, Neff is a member of the Florida Hospital Systems Clinical Research Collaborative and the nursing faculty representative on the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives Research Council. She is also vice president of communications for the National Academies of Practice, associate editor for Issues in Mental Health Nursing, manuscript reviewer for Research in Nursing & Health, and a member of Academy Health.

Prior to 麻豆原创, Neff was an associate professor at the University of Florida College of Nursing and The University of Akron College of Nursing. She received her MSN from The University of Akron in Ohio and PhD in Nursing with emphasis on Gerontology from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

Conner鈥檚 appointment was effective August 2016 and Neff鈥檚 appointment was effective January 2016.

鈥淏eing chosen as an Order of Pegasus recipient is the most humbling experience I have had at 麻豆原创. I am so thankful,鈥� says Gerlt. 鈥淩eceiving this award is validation in the highest form that I have been able to make a difference, and that is all I ever wanted out of my collegiate career.鈥�

Gerlt participated in the and serves on the President鈥檚 Leadership Council. She is a member of Chi Omega sorority聽and the Panhellenic Council. She is a member of the Student Nurses Association and the 麻豆原创 Student Conduct Board, and is a member and former president of Sigma Alpha Pi National Honor Society.

She is also actively involved in community service and has participated in several events, including Ability Field Day hosted by Best Buddies, the American Association Heart Walk, and Feeding Children Everywhere.

鈥淭he quality of her work and dedication to others and our community demonstrates her drive for excellence in everything she undertakes,鈥� says Kelly Allred, assistant professor and undergraduate BSN program coordinator. 鈥淓laine is an exceptional individual and an exemplar undergraduate student at this university.鈥�

Besides her various roles in student organizations and community service, Gerlt was selected to participate in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Homecoming Court in fall of 2015.

鈥淪he exhibits beauty, no doubt, but her beauty is not just on the outside. She is honest, caring, competent, confident, and represents the College聽and the university very well,鈥� says Allred.

Despite having a busy schedule, Gerlt manages to reach high academic achievement and maintain a high GPA.

鈥淣ursing is a very challenging upper-division program. Maintaining a high GPA along with her extensive leadership and service activities is phenomenal,鈥� says Mary Lou Sole, dean of the College of Nursing.

After graduation, Gerlt plans to pursue a career in women鈥檚 health and has accepted a graduate nurse position at a local women鈥檚 hospital. In the future she hopes to become an OB/GYN nurse practitioner.

鈥淚 chose to become a聽nurse聽because I know that the difference between a good hospital experience and a bad hospital experience is聽contingent聽upon the level of care provided by a nurse,鈥� says Gerlt.聽 鈥淚 want to make a tangible difference in the lives of my patients.鈥�

Order of Pegasus recognizes students who embody a high sense of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership, and community service. Students must be nominated by individuals who broadly represent the university community. A formal application, essay, and at least two recommendation letters are required to be reviewed by the selection committee.