Candidate Statement

I am honored to submit my candidacy for the OADN Nominating Committee. My journey in associate degree nursing (ADN) is deeply personal. I am a proud graduate of the ADN program at Lower Columbia College (LCC), where I now serve as the Dean for Nursing, Allied Health, and Wellness Programs. This full-circle experience reinforces my belief in the vital relationship between community colleges and the local workforce.

Over my 20-year nursing career spanning bedside care and academic leadership, I have focused on expanding opportunities for future nurses. At LCC, I oversee multiple ADN program options. Before my current role, I served as a member of the faculty for 11 years. Beyond campus, I serve as Executive Board Secretary for the Council on Nursing Education in Washington State.

My desire to join the Nominating Committee stems from a commitment to become more deeply involved in OADN and to advocate for the needs of ADN programs at a national level. I believe serving in this position is the ideal way to begin this journey. My leadership approach combines democratic, servant, and transformational styles. My current doctoral research into trauma-informed educational practices in community college nursing programs reflects my dedication to supporting students and faculty with empathy.

I bring a unique perspective shaped by rural administration, state-level governance, and my lived experience as an ADN student. On the Nominating Committee, my goal is to leverage my skills to identify and empower a visionary, representative wave of leaders who will champion ADN education nationwide.