Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Pegasus Partner Orlando Health has named , dean of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s College of Nursing, the Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing.

The prestigious endowed faculty position, which will support Tucker’s nursing research, teaching and scholarly activities, is just the latest example of how Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is leveraging industry partnerships to drive real-world impact.

Tucker is a distinguished scholar in both psychiatric mental health nursing and evidence-based practice who has made sustained impacts on the field, for nurses and patients alike. She is nationally board certified as an adult psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialist and integrative nurse coach.

Her research, which has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and presented around the world, focuses on behavior change through mental health and wellness interventions and organizational change through evidence-based practice.

“With its partnership, Orlando Health is elevating excellence in education and research to support future Knight nurses and improve the health of our communities.� — Sharon Tucker

“I am incredibly honored to be named to this esteemed endowed position, and grateful for Orlando Health’s support of the college,� says Tucker. “Partnerships are powerful and with its partnership, Orlando Health is elevating excellence in education and research to support future Knight nurses and improve the health of our communities.�

In addition to the new endowed chair appointment, Tucker holds the prestigious distinctions of fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and fellow of the National Academies of Practice in Nursing.

Orlando Health has been a long-standing partner of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and the College of Nursing. The Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing was established in 2009, and Tucker is the second faculty member to be named to the appointment. It was formerly held by Professor Emerita Mary Lou Sole, the previous dean and a renowned critical care researcher.

Kelly Edmondson, Orlando Health’s senior vice president of nursing and patience care services, says the partnership speaks to the organization’s mission to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities they serve.

“Dr. Tucker’s research supports our efforts to empower nurses and elevate clinical excellence to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care,â€� Edmondson says. “It is an honor to continue to partner with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ to strengthen the nursing workforce and create a healthier future for all.â€�

In 2023, Orlando Health became one of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s inaugural Pegasus Partners with a $5 million commitment to support the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion as well as provide tuition assistance and additional paid internships for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ nursing students.

to support the College of Nursing

Philanthropic support is critical to the creation of endowed faculty positions, helping Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ attract and retain nursing experts, and support groundbreaking research that impacts the profession and the health of communities. Help launch more faculty experts to lead nursing into the future by joining Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Go for Launch campaign.

Here are the highlights that shaped an unforgettable year.

Daring to Boldly Invent the Future: Florida’s Next-Generation Preeminent University

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ met the 12 metrics required to earn the Preeminent State Research University designation from the Florida Board of Governors, the highest designation for state research universities. This landmark achievement highlights sustained progress in student success, research and more — affirming Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s leadership in advancing opportunity and impact in Florida and beyond.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Opens Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona, Fueling a Talent Pipeline and Healthcare Innovation

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ opened the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on the Academic Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona — a 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. The pavilion expands immersive simulation technology and interdisciplinary learning spaces, enabling Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ to graduate more nurses ready to serve communities across the region.

Pegasus Partners Expand with BNY and Lockheed Martin

This year saw strategic growth of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Pegasus Partners program, with major collaborations forged with global financial services company BNY and aerospace and defense leader Lockheed Martin. The BNY co-located educational innovation hub on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s main campus — the first of its kind in Florida — brings experiential learning and cybersecurity education directly to students. Additionally, the expanded Lockheed Martin partnership will grow the highly successful College Work Experience Program and expand research in vital areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and hypersonic technologies.

Elevating Impact Across Space

As America’s Space University, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ deepened its influence across the space sector this year, highlighted by the inaugural Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Space Week that took place Nov. 3-7. The university-wide celebration showcased all the ways Knight Nation is advancing space research, supporting Florida’s fast-growing space economy, and preparing the next generation of explorers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The observance also marked the debut of the SpaceU Awards, which celebrated eight honorees — two students, three faculty, two organizations and a record-setting astronaut — for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space development, discovery and exploration.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s impact also extended into human health in space. Two internationally known  experts — William Powers and Jennifer Fogarty — joined the College of Medicine’s faculty as part of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine that will lead research and technology development for improving health in extreme environments such as space.

As the top talent provider to the nation’s aerospace and defense industries, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ also launched a new online space MBA program to meet the expanding needs of the booming space industry on Florida’s Space Coast and around the world. The 24-month part-time graduate business program focuses on space commercialization, business strategy and innovation, preparing graduates to lead in high-impact roles across the commercial space, aerospace, government, startups and emerging tech industries.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Launches Institute of Artificial Intelligence to Advance Research, Talent Development Across Disciplines

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ launched the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, a new university-wide initiative bringing together top faculty, industry partnerships and cross-campus collaboration to position the university as a national leader in AI. The institute will also support Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s AI for All Initiative, which integrates AI into teaching and learning across disciplines, ensuring students graduate with the ability to use AI effectively in their careers.

Honoring Excellence on Founders’ Day

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s annual Founders’ Day honored the outstanding achievements of the university’s employees, faculty and students. Hundreds of Knights were recognized for their excellence and impact — among them Pegasus Professors Roger Azevedo, Fevzi Okumus and Yan Solihin; Medal of Societal Impact honoree Mohamed Abdel-Aty; Reach for the Stars honorees Amrita Ghosh, Leland Nordin, Yogesh Rawat and Kelly Stevens; and 37 Order of Pegasus inductees — the university’s highest student honor.

Epic Universe Launch Provides Immersive Learning Opportunities at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½

Universal Orlando Resort’s highly anticipated new theme park, Epic Universe, opened its gates this spring, and Knights played a role in bringing it to life. Located less than a mile away, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½’s — ranked No. 1 in the world for hospitality education (CEOWORLD magazine) — turned Epic Universe into a living case study for hands-on learning in hospitality, themed experience, engineering and beyond. While the park attracts millions of guests with its immersive worlds and attractions, it’s also transforming hospitality education for Rosen College students, building a direct talent pipeline into the park and developing a workforce ready to lead the industry.

Introducing John Buckwalter, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Next Provost 

Following a competitive national search, John Buckwalter was appointed Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s next provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He and his wife, Amalia, officially joined Knight Nation on Aug. 1. Buckwalter brings more than 20 years of experience in academia to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. He most recently served as provost at Boise State University, where he led transformative interdisciplinary initiatives and championed student achievement. He succeeds Provost Michael D. Johnson, who retired this summer following 35 years of service to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.

Knights Shine in Athletics

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Athletics delivered unforgettable moments this year — from the rowing team claiming its first Big 12 Championship in program history, to men’s soccer’s conference title, to men’s tennis clinching its , to 82-78 victory over Hofstra at Additional Financial Arena that sparked the best start (8-1) in head coach Johnny Dawkins’ tenure.

Together, We Unleashed Impact: Thank You, Knight Nation, for a Transformational Day of Giving 2025

Knights made a collective impact for another record-breaking celebration of all things Black & Gold. raised more than $14.8 million — a 63% increase from last year and the most in university history. With 10,472 gifts, inspired donors across the globe rallied together for the community-driven effort — fueling Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s academic programs, life-changing scholarships, groundbreaking research and more. These contributions were made across all 50 U.S. states, as well as globally, including Australia, France, Panama and the United Kingdom.

“Central Florida is my home, and I’d like to be part of this community for as long as I can,� he says.

That plan fell into place when he landed a job at Lockheed Martin, a Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Pegasus Partner, just weeks after graduating with his bachelor’s degree in May. His new role as an electro-optical engineer associate in Lockheed Martin’s Orlando Missiles and Fire Control division involves developing new imaging systems — a project that comes with its own challenges.

“These systems make use of sensors specific to the mission,â€� says Lopez-Zelaya, who is part of the 83% of career-ready Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ alumni who help fuel Florida’s workforce. “We’re concerned with how these sensors generate images, so we take the optics and other sources of noise into consideration.â€�

That’s exactly the skillset he honed during his time at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). In addition to engineering and physics concepts, CREOL students learn the hands-on methods necessary to build optical and electro-optical systems — allowing them to contribute to technological developments that benefit humanity. Lopez Zelaya says he now puts that training to use every day.

“Somebody who doesn’t have an optics and photonics background can’t truly engage in these discussions,� he says, “Because they don’t understand the basics of what is actually happening in these systems.�

Lopez Zelaya’s early career success is a continuation of the legacy he built during his undergrad years. Between classes that taught him MATLAB, display technology, image processing and semiconductor devices, he got involved as an undergraduate student research assistant. He also volunteered at Grace Medical Home, served as president of the IEEE Photonics Society student chapter and served on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s President’s Leadership Council. His dedication to both professional development and his fellow students led to his induction into Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious award Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ bestows upon students.

Lopez Zelaya says Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s culture of creating lifelong learners prepared him well for his next steps at Lockheed Martin.

“Everybody is willing to learn something new about optics,� he says, adding that he’s often a source of expertise for questions that arise in the field.

Lopez Zelaya’s quick transition illustrates the value of the talent pipeline CREOL supplies to the Central Florida photonics industry. As a valued, longtime member of CREOL’s Industrial Affiliates Program, Lockheed Martin’s partnership has strengthened both the available opportunities for students and collaborative research efforts that aim to benefit the industry at large. And as a new Pegasus Partner with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, Lockheed Martin’s investment in the future will make impacts far beyond CREOL’s walls, building on a longstanding and pragmatic focus on talent pipeline.

With a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, CREOL’s students are in a unique position to have a small-college experience at a big university. Lopez Zelaya says he’s glad to have found a similar sense of community at Lockheed Martin.

“There’s a misconception that new technologies mostly emerge from startups, but a lot of them are being developed here,� he says. “Development is fun — taking a concept and making it into a working product.�

Lopez Zelaya says he’s proud to put those skills to use in his hometown, and for a company that’s leading the way in emerging optical technology – positively contributing to Central Florida’s economy along the way.

“It’s one of the best ways to make an impact here,� he says.

The $5 million, five-year commitment reimagines how universities and global enterprises can work together to prepare the workforce of the future, leveraging collaborations to enhance career readiness for Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students, as well as talent development and acquisition for BNY.

At the heart of this collaboration is the 8,400 square-foot Next-Gen Cybersecurity Technology and Operations Center Lab (CTOC Lab). This dedicated space on Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s campus will host an experiential learning course, Introduction to Applied Technology in Banking.

This hands-on course, led by BNY executives, teaches students how to translate their technical skills learned from coursework to industry applications. It also includes a special topics seminar course, guest lectures, adjunct instruction and more.

“My favorite part has been the people,â€� says Katrina Gumerov, a computer science major at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, who is participating in the course this semester. “There are so many BNY leaders who fly in from all different kinds of industries within the company. And we also have great leaders who are here every week. It’s a very mentorship-style environment where I’m never afraid to ask questions. Having that support behind me has been incredible.â€�

This marks a milestone in realizing Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ President Alexander N. Cartwright’s vision of co-located industry and academia collaboration. It will give Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ students real-world experience with one of the world’s most respected financial institutions, while leveraging the university’s faculty excellence, research power, and startup-like agility to anticipate market and technology disruptions in fintech and wealth management.

“Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is built to work at the intersection of opportunity and innovation,â€�  Cartwright says. “Our Pegasus Partnership with BNY brings that to life, creating a dynamic environment where talent, ideas and industry converge together, as we accelerate the future of finance and technology.â€�

“By working with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½, we’re deepening and broadening our connection to Central Florida, home to our Lake Mary office,â€� Chief Executive Officer of BNY Robin Vince, says.

“This collaboration is an opportunity to help build a workforce ready to succeed in the rapidly changing technology landscape — which in turn helps our local community grow and thrive.� — Robin Vince, BNY CEO

Upon completing the initial course, students will progress through a semester of advanced coursework in application development and infrastructure engineering using real-world examples. High performers will be invited to apply for summer internships during their senior year with the goal of being hired as full-time analysts at BNY after graduation.

The inaugural CTOC Lab class launched in the fall with 27 students, and BNY expects to continue enrolling an additional 25-30 new students into the program each semester.

“This is such an exciting evolution of our work with Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½,â€� says Chief Technology Officer at BNY Sabet Elias. “We’re bridging the gap between the classroom and the workforce and getting in front of the bright talent cultivated at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½. Together, we’re committed to giving back to our community, nurturing these innovative minds, identifying curricular gaps and equipping students with the skills to drive the industry forward.â€�

Investing in Students and the Future

BNY’s investment extends beyond the classroom. BNY has committed to be platinum partners for the College of Business for the duration of this agreement, including support for case competitions, student activities and enhanced recruiting opportunities. Through the BNY Scholars program, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Burnett Honors College students will be selected to receive scholarships to support their academic journey. Additional investment is also being made in student cybersecurity initiatives, including Hack@Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and the internationally acclaimed Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition (CP3) Team.

Additional initiatives include unique Meet the Firm on-campus events designed to elevate BNY’s profile and strengthen talent recruitment across all disciplines; lifelong learning and training for BNY employees through facilitated executive education; and professional development to complement the company’s internal resources.