Featured Speakers

What does it mean to feel connected? What does it mean to not feel connected? In both cases, Ginger Johnson's been on the receiving end. With myriad life experiences, personal and professional, she understands that when we feel connected we create the life we want to live. When you know what drives meaningful connection, then you're able to dig into a full and fulfilling life. This is exactly what Ginger studies and shares with people across the globe. And it fosters deep, long-lasting, gratifying, and fruitful relationships. Ginger's fascination with why we want to feel truly connected with other people fuels her mission to connect the world. It's not volume or surficial or quick. Leaders trust Ginger to teach them and their teams how to think and act differently in order to develop and experience fabulous human relationships with various growth models, tools and practices, all rooted in purpose. Connection is the best possible seat at the table of life. After all, everything we strive for and want in life is Powered by Connection.

Katie Korkosz joined the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2007 and has held various positions during her tenure, within the Advancement and Partnerships division. 

Most recently, she served as the lead fundraiser for the UCF College of Nursing (CON) for twelve years. During this time, she worked with the CON Dean and UCF President to raise over $30 million to support the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, the new home of the College of Nursing on UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Campus (AHSC) in Lake Nona. The new facility opened its doors in August of 2025. In addition to leading the capital campaign, she worked with many donors who wanted to make a significant impact on student success, research and faculty, through philanthropic investments. She established and managed a 15-member Dean’s Advisory Board, led the Events team and the Alumni Engagement team.

She was recognized for her work in spring 2025 with a nomination for a UCF Employee Excellence Award in the Service and Partnerships category. 

Since May of 2025, Korkosz now serves as the Executive Director of Advancement, Health Affairs, leading development efforts for UCF’s health colleges and units – College of Health Professions and Sciences, College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Limbitless Solutions.

Prior to joining UCF, she worked for iSix Creative, a company that worked with physician practices. She supported the establishment of new physician practices in the Winter Park area through strategic marketing outreach and events.

She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Health Services Administration from UCF.

Dr. Sharon Tucker is the new Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida and is leading the nationally recognized programs during a time of growth and opportunity with the opening at the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona.

Tucker is a distinguished scholar who has made sustained impacts on the profession by empowering nurses through a culture of well-being and leveraging evidence-based and data-driven decisions to improve patient outcomes.

Tucker joined UCF in 2024 after previously serving as Executive Director of the Fuld Evidence-based Practice Institute and Associate Dean at The Ohio State University. Her leadership experience spans more than two decades and includes roles at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the Mayo Clinic where she began her clinical career. 

As a result of her significant contributions, she has earned the honors of distinguished fellow of the National Academies of Practice in Nursing and fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.