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Mentorship is at the heart of the ANA MFP experience.
Our mentors are distinguished nurse leaders who provide guidance, leadership development, and insight across clinical practice, research, education, and policy—supporting Fellows as they grow into leaders expanding access to high-quality behavioral health care in under resourced communities.
Marife Aczon-Armstrong, PhD, MSN, MSCP, RN-BC, FAAN
Dr. Marife C. Aczon-Armstrong, PhD, MSCP, RN-BC, CCM, FAAN, is a nationally board-certified nurse case manager, global educator, Fulbright Specialist, and distinguished nurse leader whose career is defined by advancing health equity, culturally responsive care, and evidence-based practice. Recognized for her impact across clinical, academic, and community settings, she has dedicated her work to improving outcomes for historically marginalized and ethnically diverse populations—particularly Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in Hawaii, Nevada, and the broader Pacific region.
Grounded in a philosophy that integrates mind, body, and spirit, Dr. Aczon-Armstrong champions holistic nursing approaches that honor cultural identity and lived experience. Her work emphasizes relational practice, patient advocacy, and the elevation of underrepresented voices in research, policy, and leadership. Drawing from her deep connection to AAPI communities, she has brought visibility to critical issues including mental health disparities, chronic disease burden, stigma, and social determinants of health. Through culturally grounded interventions and interprofessional collaboration, she has strengthened access to high-quality, culturally informed care.
A visionary organizational leader, Dr. Aczon-Armstrong is the Founder and President of the Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA) Hawaii Chapter and the Founding President and Past Chair of the Board of AAPINA Nevada. Through these roles, she has advanced workforce diversity, leadership development, and culturally tailored community outreach. She expanded health education beyond traditional settings as host of “Healthy Mondays with AAPINA of NV,” a radio program focused on mental health, chronic disease prevention, caregiving, and health equity.
Appointed by the U.S. Department of State as a Fulbright Senior Specialist, Dr. Aczon-Armstrong has completed multiple international assignments and continues to serve on the Fulbright Specialist Roster. Since 2014, she has taught annually as a visiting professor at Uganda Christian University in the Master of Nursing Science program. There, she collaborates with faculty and nurse leaders to strengthen graduate education, mental health training, and community-based care—supporting global nursing workforce development and cross-cultural academic exchange.
A proud alumna of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association, Dr. Aczon-Armstrong has extensive expertise in psychiatric mental health nursing, including depression, substance use, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive behavioral health. She previously served on the SAMHSA MFP National Advisory Committee and continues to mentor doctoral nursing scholars committed to behavioral health equity.
Her leadership extends to state and national professional organizations, including service with the Nevada Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association Assembly, and the Hawaii American Nurses Association, where she serves as Director-at-Large (2025–2027). She has led HRSA-funded initiatives to strengthen primary care training and actively contributes to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within academic and research institutions.
In October 2025, Dr. Aczon-Armstrong was formally inducted in Washington, DC, as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), one of the highest honors in the nursing profession, recognizing her national and global contributions to health equity, mental health, workforce diversity, and culturally grounded leadership. In January 2026, she was honored internationally as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Filipino Global Nurses by the Philippine Nurses Association of America Foundation during ceremonies held at the Conrad Hilton Manila in the Philippines. Further extending her global influence, she is scheduled to serve as keynote speaker at the 6th Filipino International Nursing Diaspora Conference in Sydney, Australia, in May 2026.
Dr. Aczon-Armstrong’s career reflects an enduring commitment to service, scholarship, global engagement, and the transformative power of culturally grounded nursing leadership.
Angela Amar, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Angela Frederick Amar, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, is Dean of New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Erline Perkins McGriff Professor of Nursing. Dr. Amar has dedicated her career to enhancing diversity in nursing leadership and to improving care and support for survivors of violence and trauma, particularly increasing help seeking behavior with dating violence. As a leading scholar in gender-based violence, Dr. Amar’s research has influenced the direction of campus policy nationally. Dr. Amar is also a leader in nursing education regarding violence and forensic nursing. Dr. Amar is also recognized for her efforts to advance diversity in nursing leadership across organizations and institutions and is highly sought-after speaker and media guest.
Dr. Amar is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), Academy of Nursing Education, Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing, and a Distinguished Fellow in the International Association of Forensic Nursing. She is President-Elect of the American Academy of Nursing and on the Strategic Steering Committee for the National League for Nursing. Prior to her appointment as Dean in August 2023, Dr. Amar was a tenured faculty member at Emory University and Boston College. Most recently, she was the dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. While at UNLV, Dr. Amar’s innovative approach and focus on advancing strategic priorities have led to growth in student enrollment across academic programs, recruitment of quality and diverse faculty and staff, greater financial stability through revenue generating activities, and increased ranking and stature of the school, faculty, and students.
Dr. Amar holds a Ph.D. from the University at Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
Griselle Batista, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, CTN-A
Griselle Batista, PhD, RN, CTN-A is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Texas Christian University (TCU) Harris College of Nursing & Health. With over 30 years of experience as a psychiatric/mental health nurse, Dr. Batista passionately teaches about mental health issues and cultural influences on mental health. She began her professional journey on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico as a bicultural and bilingual nurse. She obtained a BSN from the University of Puerto Rico and an MSN (Psych-Mental Health Nursing) from the University of Miami. In 2022, Dr. Batista received her PhD with a concentration in Transcultural Nursing from Duquesne University. She is an alumna of SAMHSA’s Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association (2017-2022) and was selected as a Minority Nurse Faculty Scholar for the AACN/Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future (2017-2019).
As a certified Transcultural Nurse-Advanced, Dr. Batista brings a unique cultural perspective to her teaching, service, and scholarly activities. Her research program focuses on developing community-based interventions that foster mental health promotion and suicide prevention in Puerto Rican communities.
Dr. Batista is an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) and currently serves as board member of her local NAHN chapter. She is also engaged in the Transcultural Nursing Society, American Psychiatric nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association.
Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
Kalisha Bonds Johnson, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC is an Assistant Professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Atlanta, GA, and a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Emory’s Integrated Memory Care Clinic, a primary care setting specializing in the care of people living with dementia and their families.
She is the Principal Investigator of the D.E.C.I.D.E. Research Lab (decideresearch.com), which develops culturally responsive interventions and decision-support tools to improve quality of life and care experiences for African American families affected by dementia, with an emphasis on parent–adult daughter care dyads and strengthening communication between families and primary care providers.
Through her education and consulting work (KBJ Collective), she also translates research into plain-language, practical tools and coaching support that help care partners navigate behavior changes, care planning, and complex healthcare decisions with greater clarity and confidence. Dr. Bonds Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee at Martin (2007), her Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University (2012), and her PhD from Oregon Health & Science University (2019). She completed postdoctoral training at Emory University in 2021.
Dawn Bounds, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Dawn Bounds, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, is an Associate Professor in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California, Irvine, where she is the founding director of the Centering Youth & Families for Empowerment and Resilience (CYFER) Lab. A nationally recognized nurse scientist and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Bounds’ program of research is dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive psychiatric nursing care for marginalized and minoritized communities.
Her work integrates community-engaged research, decolonizing practices, and innovative strategies—including arts-based methods, storytelling, and technology-enhanced interventions—to address the lasting effects of adversity and disrupt intergenerational health inequities. She has led multiple projects focused on building resilience among adversity-impacted youth and families, preventing substance use, and transforming care delivery through authentic partnerships with communities.
Cody Bruce PhD, MSN Ed, RN, CNE, ACUE
Cody Bruce, PhD, MSN Ed, RN, CNE, ACUE, is an Associate Professor and RN-BSN Program Coordinator at the University of North Texas Health College of Nursing, bringing more than 17 years of clinical nursing experience and 13 years of nursing education to his role. One of only ten nurses from Indigenous communities in the United States to hold a doctoral degree in academia, Dr. Bruce is a pioneering voice in culturally responsive nursing education and Indigenous healthcare workforce development.
Dr. Bruce's scholarly work centers on nursing student retention, with a particular focus on supporting American Indian/Alaska Native students through innovative, equity-driven approaches. He serves as Co-Investigator on HRSA grants totaling over $4 million dedicated to expanding Indigenous healthcare representation, and has developed a Technology-Enhanced Belonging Framework featuring digital cultural mentorship and virtual belonging communities. His research has been presented at national conferences, including AACN Transform 2025.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Bruce serves on the board of the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association (NANAINA) and is a recognized the Fluxx Nurse Educator of the Year in Texas for 2025. He has also received the Texas A&M University Association of Former Student’s Faculty Achievement Award and the DAISY Award for Excellence in Nursing Education.
Deeply rooted in his community, Dr. Bruce is a member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb, where he serves as Tribal Genealogist and Federal Recognition Committee member. Since 2000, he has served as Town Historian for Zwolle, Louisiana, and is the founder of the Natives of Zwolle & Ebarb Historical & Genealogical Society, preserving the cultural heritage of his community for future generations.
Gaea Daniel, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC
Gaea Daniel, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, where her program of research focuses on understanding the sociocultural and environmental influences that affect sexual health behaviors and outcomes. She is particularly interested in sexual health outcomes of Black women that present as race-based disparities, including STIs and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Daniel devotes her time to health equity-related initiatives in her research and the nursing profession, and she is co-editor of the award-winning book, Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities to Promote Health Equity and Well-being in Nursing. Dr. Daniel lives in Metro Atlanta, Georgia, and is passionate about working with and in the community to serve others.
Giovanna De Oliveira, PhD, MSN, RN, ANP-C, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Dr. De Oliveira, PhD, MSN, RN, ANP-C, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, is an Associate Professor of Clinical at the University of Miami, School of Nursing and Health Studies, and currently practices as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in Miami Lakes, Florida.
Dr. De Oliveira has integrated her vast clinical knowledge with her research experience to advance the field of health disparities. She is an alum from the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program who has led interprofessional funded research studies that resulted in interventions to benefit the overall well-being of minorities in the US. She has directed the development and adaptation of a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing mental health disparities. This framework addresses culture-specific values in HIV prevention interventions for Black and Latina women in English and Spanish to be used in research. In addition, Dr. De Oliveira has worked to improve the mental health of minorities by influencing policy at the national and international levels through active participation and leadership in national nurses’ associations and presentations at national and international clinical and research conferences. The influence of her research on mental health among minority women is evident in the numerous citations within prominent nursing and interdisciplinary journals. In addition, Dr. De Oliveira serves as a manuscript reviewer for esteemed journals like the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, Hispanic Healthcare International, Clinical Simulation in Nursing, among others, underscoring her contribution to high-impact scholarly publications.
Elizabeth Fildes, EdD, RN, CNE, CARN-AP, APHN-BC
Elizabeth Fildes EdD, RN, CNE, CARN-AP, APHN-BC is a Filipino-American nurse leader who demonstrates passion and sustained commitment to improving the health outcomes of persons in Nevada and the Philippines who suffer from tobacco use and addictions in all its forms. Her unique, systematic approach has included mobilizing healthcare providers to provide brief interventions and therapeutic interventions to improve population health, directly supporting the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. Her progressive track record spanning almost three decades of addressing chronic disease prevention and substance use disorders control as an educator, researcher, and international collaborator reflects successful ventures to seed ideas for healthcare, public health, and policy stakeholders, secure significant funding, and bring cutting-edge programs to fruition through partnerships and empowerment of nurses. She has implemented programs that have impacted the individual, community, and country levels. With faculty and student collaboration to augment population health interventions, she applied cross-cultural solutions to impact clinical services and educational curricula significantly.
She is a Fulbright Specialist, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the International Nurses Society on Addictions, a Board-Certified Advanced Public Health Nurse, and a Certified Nurse Educator. She received her BSN degree at the University of Santo Tomas School of Nursing, Manila, Philippines, her MA degree from Teachers College, New York, and her doctoral degree from Loyola University, Chicago.
Selena A Gilles, DNP, ANP-BC, CNEcl, ANEF, FNYAM, FNAP, FADLN, FAANP, FAAN
Selena A Gilles, DNP, ANP-BC, CNEcl, ANEF, FNYAM, FNAP, FADLN, FAANP, FAAN, is a Practice Professor and Associate Dean at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She is an Affiliate Faculty member of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (HIGN) at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, an Affiliate Associate Professor at Howard University College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, and a Volunteer Associate Professor for the State University of Haiti.
Dr Gilles has a DNP from Monmouth University (2014), a MS in Adult Health Nursing from Hunter College, City University of New York, (Cum Laude, 2010) and a BS with a major in Nursing degree from Long Island University (With Honors, 2005). Dr Gilles is a certified Clinical Nurse Educator and is also certified in Critical Care Nursing. Dr Gilles is an Adult Nurse Practitioner specializing in pain management, substance misuse, and global public health.
Dr Gilles has been a nurse educator for 15 years and is known for creating and implementing nontraditional immersive teaching/learning innovations to address nationally identified nursing education issues that will enhance student learning/program outcomes. She is regarded as a leader and prelicensure nursing education expert who has implemented curricular innovations that have been evidenced-based, creative and effective teaching strategies, having a significant impact on student academic success and role transitions. Her contributions have helped enhance the nursing curriculum, filling identified gaps and answering the new Essentials call for all entry-level professional nurses to have knowledge and proficiencies to practice across a variety of settings in the spheres of wellness/disease prevention and chronic disease management.
Dr Gilles is passionate about the management of acute and chronic pain, as well as opioid overdose prevention. She currently works as a Nurse Practitioner in an outpatient treatment program, caring for patients with substance use disorders. Dr Gilles is the Program Director of the Greater NYC Black Nurses Association Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, conducting narcan trainings for healthcare professionals and community members throughout NYC.
Dr Gilles has strong community advocacy and passion for global health, currently working with organizations aimed to serve the underprivileged and underserved communities in Haiti, Ghana, and Nigeria. Dr Gilles is a Fulbright Specialist and has been on seven medical missions.
Dr. Gilles is currently a member of six professional organizations/associations, including serving as the current President of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing where she is also a founding member, current Vice Chair of DNP’s of Color, and the inaugural Programming and Community Service Committee Chair for the Greater NYC Black Nurses Association. Dr Gilles is an NLN LEAD Alum (2019) and U Penn Wharton Nurse Executive Leader Alum (2020). She has received the NBNA Under 40 Award (2019), Nurse of the Year Award for Community Service (2020), and Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year Award (2022). She has also received the Leota P Brown Community Service Award from Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc (2021). Dr Gilles is the recipient of the GNYCBNA Nurse of the Year for Community Service (2021) and the NYU Rory Meyers Humanitarian Award (2021). Dr Gilles is a Fellow of the New York
Academy of Medicine (2020), a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (2023), a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2024), a Fellow Academy of Nursing Education (2023), a Fellow in the National Acadamies of Practice (2025), and A Fellow of the Diversity Leaders in Nursing (2024). Dr Gilles has also been recognized as a Distinguished Geriatric Nurse Educator (2023) designated by the National Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing.
Vickye Hayter, PhD, RN, LCMFT
Vickye Hayter, PhD, RN, LCMFT, is a licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in health care. She is the founder and owner of a private practice in Kensington, MD, where she works with individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds. Grounded in a client-centered approach, Vickye integrates various evidence-based therapy models— including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and narrative therapy— to help clients navigate challenges related to anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma. Her extensive health care background spans roles as a business consultant, public health nurse, health educator, and maternal-child health specialist in a variety of settings. This broad experience gives her a unique, systemic perspective on healthcare delivery and its impact on health outcomes. Dr. Hayter earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Health Science from the University of Arkansas, a Master’s in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland, and a PhD in Nursing from George Mason University. Her research focuses on trauma-informed care.
Cheedy Jaja, PhD, MPH, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN, FAAN
Cheedy Jaja, PhD, MPH, MSN, PMHNP-BC, APRN, FAAN, is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida. His work is driven by a deep commitment to social justice, health equity, and improved outcomes for historically marginalized and vulnerable populations, particularly individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
As a clinician and health science researcher, Dr. Jaja has been profoundly concerned about persistently high under-five mortality rates associated with SCD in sub-Saharan Africa, especially given that effective public health interventions, such as pre-test counseling and carrier screening, are routinely implemented in middle- and high-income countries. His collaborative research and professional partnerships in Sierra Leone seek to address this global health disparity and advance equitable SCD care.
One of the few nurse scientists trained in the application of pharmacogenetics to SCD pharmacotherapy, Dr. Jaja has led pioneering research that has yielded significant discoveries with the potential to transform SCD pain management. His contributions have received national recognition, including selection as a 2016 NIH Future Research Leader, a 2018 Fulbright Scholar, and election as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Michael Jones, PhD, MBA/HCM, RN, FAAN
Michael L. Jones, PhD, MBA/HCM, RN, FAAN, is an executive nurse leader, health policy strategist, and nationally recognized scholar advancing behavioral health equity and nursing workforce development. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and serves on the American Nurses Association / Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) National Advisory Committee, helping guide national strategy to strengthen the psychiatric–mental health nursing workforce.
Dr. Jones previously served as Chair of the Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), where he provided federal guidance on research methodology, stakeholder engagement, and equity in clinical research. He continues to serve as a PCORI Merit Reviewer.
Nationally, he serves as Chair of the Access, Connection, and Engagement Leadership Network with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Advisory Board Co-Chair of the Nurses’ Health Study 3 (sponsored by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital), and an elected member of the American Academy of Nursing Fellow Selection Committee.
As a mentor to MFP Fellows, Dr. Jones prepares graduate psychiatric mental health nurses to lead across clinical practice, academia, and policy, strengthening mental health systems and expanding access to care nationwide.
Erica Joseph, PhD, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, NP-C
Erica Joseph, PhD, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, NP-C holds dual national board certifications as an Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Joseph has been a member of the nursing profession for twenty-five years. She has worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the specialty area of psychiatry/mental health the past 17 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 1999 and Master of Science in Nursing in May 2008 from Southern University & A&M College. She earned a Post-Master in Psychiatry/Mental Health from Southeastern Louisiana University in December 2012. She completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Southern University in December 2015 and the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing during the Spring 2020 semester at the height of the global pandemic. She is an alumni of the Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) through American Nurses Association (ANA).
Dr. Joseph’s research interest is examining risk and protective factors of minorities identified as high risk for suicide. Over the past 17 years she has been committed to raising awareness of suicide prevention efforts and to the understanding of mental and substance use disorders.
“Dr. J” as she is affectionately known by her clients, has been employed as Co-Team Lead of the Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System where she helped to start the program at the Baton Rouge Outpatient Clinic. She is owner of Transformative Health, L.L.C. and Founder of TransforMe, a non-profit to address this important work. She has received numerous accomplishments and recognitions which includes being selected by American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) as a Champion for Tobacco Cessation. She was selected as the 2015 Louisiana Nurses Foundation, Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year.
In October 2015, Dr. Joseph was selected as one of ten nurses to receive the national honor as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP, Culture of Health Breakthrough Nurse Leader. In October 2019, she was recognized as one of the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana. In 2019, Dr. Joseph was the recipient of a a personal coin from the Honorable Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie, for providing excellence in healthcare to our nation’s heroes. She is the recipient of the Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarianism from Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University. She is the Past President of the Louisiana Chapter of American Psychiatric Nurses Association and past member of the National Nominating Committee and current National Board of Directors of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
Nitha Mathew Joseph, PhD, RN, CNE, CGNC
Nitha Mathew Joseph, PhD, RN, CNE, CGNC, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Cizik School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) among U.S. South Asians (SAs), an underserved population in the U.S. Her dissertation was focused on physical activity (PA) in SA women, and this study was funded by the TNA District 9 grant.
Additionally, Dr. Mathew Joseph has explored cultural factors associated with PA among U.S. adults. Subsequent research included a national sample of SAs and focused on the role of lifestyle behaviors as a mediator of the relationship between acculturation and risk for CVD and T2D. Moreover, she served as a co-investigator for an NIH-funded study (R01NR105591), examining how stress, a modifiable factor for CVD, interacts with genetics and rehabilitation therapy to affect recovery post-stroke. Emphasizing her contribution to science and healthcare, she was invited to present the findings of her research at the American Diabetes Association’s 78th scientific session media press release program and was also interviewed for Houston Public Media (NPR), Medscape Medical News, and many other local publications and newspapers. She has a consistent record of disseminating her scholarly work internationally, nationally, and locally.
Currently, Dr. Mathew Joseph and her team received a federal grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences/NIH/DHHS (NCATS) in collaboration with the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), UTHealth Houston. Along with another international research grant from the Sigma Foundation, Dr. Mathew Joseph is developing and testing the physical activity interventions among South Asian women living in the U.S. For achieving that aim, Dr. Mathew Joseph submitted an NIH RO1 application in the February 2026 cycle, which proposes to evaluate a randomized controlled trial of a dyadic social support health coaching-based intervention designed to increase PA among inactive South Asian women by incorporating partners' shared cultural context and related collectivism and social support. The study will integrate the community values and norms of SAs, as revealed in her formative study and the completed feasibility study, into the design and delivery of an existing dyadic physical activity health coaching intervention.
Dr. Mathew Joseph is serving in leadership roles in the National Association of Indian Nurses of America (NAINA) and in the local hospital chapter (IANAGH), and, in collaboration with Jonas Center, DNPs of color are influencing the profession and mentoring many nurses in research and professional advancement.
LaKeetra Josey, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC
LaKeetra Josey, Ph.D., APRN, PMHNP-BC is the Co-Founder of YOUr Center, LLC. She is certified as a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and works with patients across the lifespan. She is also Co-Founder and Medical Director of Phoenix Center for Health and Wellness, LLC, a Substance Use Disorder treatment program.
She is certified as a Master Psychopharmacologist from the Neuroscience Education Institute. She is the former Associate Program Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and the former Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Nursing in the College of Public Health at Temple University. She has a wealth of clinical experience in a variety of settings with clients of all ages and all walks of life which informs her clinical practice and her teaching of future Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners that intern in the practice. She is also the President of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Minority Fellowship Graduate Association an alumni organization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) / American Nurses Association Minority Fellowship Program.
Dr. Josey's practice and research philosophy is guided by Engel’s Biopsychosocial Model, which provides a framework for understanding the complex interaction between the biological, psychological, and social factors that affect a person’s health and mental health. Unlike other health/illness frameworks (e.g. the traditional biomedical model), this model provides a more comprehensive understanding of a person’s life experiences that contribute to their health status, not just the biological basis of illness/disease. This framework is consistent with the values of nursing, where we treat a person, not a diagnosis.
Daisy Lara, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Daisy Lara is a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in Family Practice and Psychiatric Mental Health. She is the founder and CEO of Resilio Mental Health Solutions LLC DBA The Resilio Institute. She is also an author and mental health content creator. Through these integrated platforms, Dr. Lara provides holistic, patient-centered care while advancing education, mentorship, and professional development.
Dr. Lara earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Wilmington University and completed a post-master’s certificate at Wilkes University. In 2019, she obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Wilmington University. Her DNP project focused on integrating a Spanish-speaking psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner into a primary care setting to enhance patient confidence and improve clinical outcomes.
Practicing from an integrative psychiatry perspective, Dr. Lara tailors’ treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each patient. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she is dedicated to serving diverse communities and reducing mental health stigma through psychoeducation and culturally responsive care.
A passionate advocate for professional growth, Dr. Lara founded The Resilio Institute to mentor psychiatric nurse practitioner students, new clinicians, and aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs. Her mentorship is grounded in empowerment and cultural relevance, earning her the affectionate title “La Madrina PMHNP” or "The Godmother PMHNP" from many of her former students.
Dr. Lara remains deeply engaged in her community, promoting mental health awareness, improving access to care, and supporting stigma reduction. She has served as a sub-investigator in psychiatric research, contributing to innovative studies in mental health. Additionally, she has been a featured speaker for pharmaceutical and pharmacogenomics companies, offering insights on psychiatric treatment advancements and personalized medicine.
She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (Chesmont Chapter), DNPs of Color, PMHNPs of Color and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Dr. Lara is also a proud member and immediate past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.
Eugenia Isabel Flores Millender, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, CDE, FAAN
As an indigenous Afro-Latina nurse scientist, Dr. Eugenia Millender has dedicated her career to increasing access to mental health equity and providing culturally appropriate care. Dr. Eugenia Millender is currently the Co-Founder and Co-Director for the Center for Population Sciences for Health Equity and an Associate Professor at Florida State University College of Nursing.
Dr. Millender's program of research is to investigate ways to reduce mental health disparities by exploring how socio-cultural stressors and trauma influence transgenerational psychological and co-occurring physical illness through gene-environment interaction among vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized populations. She works with community-based organizations to co-create community-academic partnerships, meaningful investigations, and interventions for diverse communities. Previously, Dr. Millender was a Research Associate at the Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity (INRHE) at Florida State University. In addition, in 2014, she founded the Florida Atlantic University Christine E. College of Nursing Nurse-led community health center in West Palm Beach, Florida. This center is grounded on caring philosophy and dedicated to increasing access to quality and culturally sensitive integrated care for underserved populations while serving as a vibrant laboratory for current and future practitioners and scientists.
Dr. Millender currently serves on several national boards and leadership positions, such as the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) board as Member-At-Large. She is also a Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice Global Mental Health Task Force member to promote social justice and human rights and reduce behavioral health disparities. She is also a Florida State University Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Steering Committee member. In addition, Dr. Millender serves on several community boards, including the Center for Child Counseling (Vice-chair; 2013–present), EmpowHER of the Palm Beaches (advisory board; 2017–present), and the Mental Health Council of Leon County (advisory board; 2018–present).
Janette Moreno, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, FSIEN, FADLN
Referring to herself as the CEO (Chief Enthusiastic Officer) of her personal and professional life, Dr Janette Moreno has journeyed as a minority healthcare leader from the Philippines to California, from the bedside to the boardroom, grounded with core values of excellence, professionalism, courage, and joy.
Dr Janette Moreno currently works as the Director of Education and Professional Development at Stanford Health Care. With more than 20 years of clinical and leadership experience, she has extensive experience in clinical and academic teaching, mentoring, coaching, consulting, curriculum development, and professional development.
As a Caritas Coach, she integrates mindfulness and resilience as a transformational caring leader. She has led several organizations’ strategic integration of the Theory of Caring Science and Model of the Professional Role into practice environments that led to clinical excellence outcomes.
She is the author of “Human Caring through Healing Haiku: A mindful journaling for healthcare providers.”
She is currently the Education Chair and Executive Board Member for the Philippine Nurses Association, Southern California, West LA Chapter and served as the Board of Director, Southern Region for ACNL, founding President of the California Asian American Pacific Islander Nursing Association (Ca-AAPINA), and recently got appointed in the National Advisory Committee for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
She is the inaugural chair of PNASC West LA Nurturing HOPE, a Mental health and wellbeing program for members and constituents. This is her second year volunteering for National Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) as the Program Director of the PNAA-Alzheimer’s Association Partnership Program.
Austin Nation, PhD, RN, PHN, NE-BC
Austin Nation, PhD, RN, PHN, NE-BC (he/him/his) is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) – School of Nursing, Community Health Systems. He has been a nurse for over 40 years and is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at California State University (CSU), Fullerton.
Dr. Nation completed both the Minority Training Program in Cancer Control Research (MTPCCR), as well as was awarded the California Pre-doctoral Program – Sally Casanova Pre-doctoral Scholars, completing summer research internships at both Yale University and Duke University
Dr. Nation was also a fellow in the Black AIDS Institute’s African American HIV University – Science and Treatment College and was the recipient of the CSU Chancellor/William Randolph Hearst Award and the Graduate Assistant in Areas of National Need (GAANN) – Clinical Teaching and Research Scholar Fellow.
He is actively involved in several professional organizations including Western Institute of Nursing where he was inducted into the Western Academy of Nursing and the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care where he was given the HIV Educator Distinguished Service Award in 2025.
His past research interest was with understanding substance use and HIV among young Black men who have sex with men (MSM), funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)/ American Nurses Association (ANA) Minority Fellowship Program.
He is currently exploring LGBTQ+ health care and mental health care access in Orange County, California and has also been doing HIV prevention education for over 20 years and recently writing, and performing, nationally and internationally, in his own autobiographical story, “Becoming Austin Nation: From Crack to PhD: One Drag Queen’s Story”.
Jacqueline Payne-Borden, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, PMHCNS-BC, NPD-BC
Jacqueline Payne-Borden, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, PMHCNS-BC, NPD-BC, is a leader who has served our nation and cared for countless lives. She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer/Chief Nurse Officer at a local hospital, Washington, DC. Before her executive roles, she dedicated 29 years to the service of our country, retiring as a Colonel from the US Air Force Nurse Corps. This career of service is truly the foundation of her leadership. Her expertise is rooted in compassion with a special focus on psychiatric mental health nursing - a specialty where she is passionate and has helped so many find healing and hope.
Dr. Payne-Borden is an alumna of the SAMHSA American Nurses Association’s Minority Fellowship Program. She serves on the ANA's Minority Fellow Program National Advisory Committee. Her primary research interest includes: decreasing the stigma of mental illness, cultural sensitivity within the classroom and health care arena, competency of middle managers and veterans' transition from battlefield to home. Her publications include: Caribbean immigrants and mental health, integration of nursing within the service line model and evolution of counseling in Jamaica. She was the court appointed Patios interpreter for the high-profile Washington Beltway sniper hearings in Chesapeake Virginia. Jacquie has been a Field Surveyor for the Joint Commission - the largest US healthcare evaluator and accreditor of healthcare organizations and programs. In addition, she has been full-time and adjunct faculty at various local colleges throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. Dr. Payne-Borden maintains a local private practice counseling/psychotherapy service.
Phyllis Raynor, PhD, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, APRN
Phyllis Raynor, PhD, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, APRN, is an associate professor who also practices as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and an advanced-practice addictions nurse treating common psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders in the United States of America.
Through community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches, she employs qualitative and mixed research methods involving diverse community and academic partnerships. She examines micro- and macro-level challenges faced by under-resourced and high-risks communities and intervenes to improve mental health and substance use outcomes by leveraging technology and available community, academic, and system resources. As a nurse scientist, she has published many peer-reviewed publications, and she has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences. She is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health for her P.A.R.E.N.T.S.S. research project which tests a customized digital intervention focused on providing recovery and parenting support for pregnant and postpartum women with Opioid Use Disorders using community engaged approaches.
Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, FAAN
Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, has expertise in nurse-led community health and school- based health centers for vulnerable populations.
Her practice and research focus on the consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) among pregnant and parenting women. Her evidence based perinatal nurse home interventions have been supported by NIH funding and practice initiatives by HRSA funding. An author of numerous articles, and book chapters on improving reproductive health and reducing violence among African American women.
She has served federal advisory committees, HRSA’s Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM) and NIH’s Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health (ACRWH).
Her awards include Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, the University of Maryland School of Nursing Alumni Association Visionary Pioneer and the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research awarded her the President’s Award in recognition of her long-term commitment to leading interdisciplinary research teams.
The American Academy of Nursing named her a Living Legend of Nursing (2025).
She completed a BSN, PhD, University of Maryland School of Nursing, and a fellowship in adolescent health, University of Maryland School of Medicine and MS (Maternal and Child Health), University of Delaware School of Nursing.
Mary Lou de Leon Siantz, PhD, RN, FAAN
Mary Lou de Leon Siantz, PhD, RN, FAAN is professor emeritus, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and Founding Director of the Center for Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS), University of California Davis. She is nationally recognized for her interdisciplinary efforts to educate and mentor health and STEM professionals for leadership and policy. She is internationally recognized for her research on the impact of migration on children and adolescent mental health which began with her appointment as the first mental health director for the Migrant Head Start Program, Administration for Children and Families. She has conducted funded research and served on numerous local, national and international panels focused on promoting the health of migrant/immigrant infants, children, adolescents, and families in the U.S. and binationally, answering questions about the association of risk and protective factors associated with the mental and physical health of children, adolescents, and their families. Her research has provided data needed to design and test preventive interventions informing health policy to support a healthier future for rural Latino migrant/immigrant children, adolescents, and their families, currently focused on the mental and physical health needs of unaccompanied immigrant children.
Nationally, Dr. de Leon Siantz is a founding member and former President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, established to advocate for Hispanic nurses and the health of Hispanic in the United States. She is Co-Founder, Pan American Mental Health Nurse Scientists of the Americas with Dra. Silvina Malvares, University of Cordoba, Argentina, established with the American Nurses Organization and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in 1994. It currently represents the nursing faculty of the Americas and Spain in a variety of nursing specialties. Dr. de Leon Siantz is the first Hispanic Nurse invited to serve on the NINR National Advisory Council. She is a founding member of the NIH Nursing Science Children and Families Study section. She was appointed to the Health and Human Service Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality during the Clinton administration and reappointed during the Bush administration. She also served on the Health Task Force, Office of Migrant Education, U.S. Department of Education and Committee on the Health and Adjustment of Immigrant Children and Families, National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine, 1994–1996 She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing since 1991.
Among Dr. de Leon Siantz awards is her recognition as one of the Top Latinas in Health and Science, Hispanic magazine (2004 & 2005), Joseph P Kennedy Jr. Fellow in Bioethics (1978), a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow (2004), leadership award from the National Hispanic Health Foundation for leadership in Improving the Health of Hispanics (2017), elected a Fellow of the Western Institute of Nursing (2017), and the University of California Davis 2019 CAMPOS Hall of Fame Award. Most recently she was honored as a pioneer in psychiatric mental health nursing by SAMSHA, Minority Fellowship Program at American Nurses Association, March 2022. She is a former chair the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel on Children and Adolescent Health (2022-20224). She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles, 1969, Master of Nursing in Child Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, Community Mental Health, University of California Los Angeles, 1971, and PhD, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland in Human Development 1984.
Patsy R. Smith, PhD, RN
Patsy R. Smith, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor of Nursing with a distinguished career in advancing the health and well-being of older adults and vulnerable populations. She earned her BSN from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (formally Northeast Louisiana University), her Master of Nursing from the University of Louisiana Health Sciences Center, and her PhD from Texas Woman’s University, with additional advanced training in geriatrics, aging among underrepresented populations, and ethno-geriatrics from leading institutions including the University of Michigan and Stanford University. Dr. Smith was previously certified as a Medical Surgical Nurse (15 years) and as a Certified Nurse Educator (15 years).
Dr. Smith’s program of research focuses on improving health outcomes among community-dwelling adults, particularly older adults and families managing chronic conditions, including depressive symptoms, cancers, and palliative care needs. With expertise in medical-surgical nursing, her work emphasizes self-management, culturally informed care, and the role of lifestyle, meaning, and personal agency in health. She has contributed to community-based initiatives addressing social isolation, health disparities, and the unique challenges faced by populations in rural and medically underserved communities in Oklahoma.
Her work includes developing lay volunteers and using motivational health coaching techniques to support effective self-management. She is committed to disseminating knowledge through publication, presentation, interprofessional education, and practice. A dedicated mentor, Dr. Smith has guided doctoral and graduate nursing students in research and quality improvement projects focused on chronic mental and physical health conditions and older adult care.
Dr. Smith brings a wealth of expertise, leadership, and a strong commitment to mentorship, supporting the development of the next generation of nursing scholars and leaders.
Navneet Strickland, DNP, FNP-BC
Navneet Strickland, DNP, FNP-BC, is a dedicated nurse practitioner, researcher, and advocate with a strong focus on pain management, health equity, and improving outcomes for underserved populations. She brings diverse clinical experience across acute care, orthopedics, community health, long-term care, and nursing education, allowing her to deliver holistic, patient-centered care.
Dr. Strickland has demonstrated leadership in care coordination, quality improvement, and community-based initiatives, including efforts to address opioid overdose through harm reduction strategies such as naloxone distribution and public awareness. Her research focuses on pain management experiences among marginalized populations, with an emphasis on identifying disparities and advancing equitable care practices.
In addition to her clinical and research work, Dr. Strickland is actively engaged in professional organizations and nursing leadership, contributing to initiatives that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in healthcare. She is also committed to mentoring and education, helping to support and develop the next generation of nurses.
Dr. Strickland will graduate in April 2026 as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), further expanding her expertise in behavioral health and strengthening her ability to integrate mental health care into her broader mission of delivering comprehensive, compassionate, and equitable patient care.
Audrey Strock, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, ADS
Audrey Strock, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, ADS, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with more than 20 years of nursing experience and over 15 years as a nurse practitioner.
She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Strock is a SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) alumna and mentor and served a two-year term on the National Advisory Committee for the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program, contributing to national efforts to advance equitable mental health care and workforce development.
She is the founder and owner of a large private psychiatric practice in Denver, Colorado, which has been in continuous operation for 12 years. The practice includes a multidisciplinary team of 15 psychiatric nurse practitioners and four therapists and currently serves more than 6,000 active patients across the lifespan.
Dr. Strock provides comprehensive psychiatric care to patients beginning at age seven through older adulthood and treats a broad range of mental health conditions. In addition to her advanced practice nursing background, she is also trained as a therapist and social worker, allowing her to thoughtfully integrate medical management with psychotherapy. Her approach is holistic and patient-centered, emphasizing wellness, preventive care, and individualized treatment planning. She is experienced and open to addressing complex needs, including hormonal considerations, addiction treatment, and the thoughtful incorporation of supplements and emerging evidencebased interventions when appropriate.
In addition to psychiatry, Dr. Strock has extensive expertise in cardiology and open-heart surgery. She spent over two decades working on cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery teams in critical care and inpatient hospital settings, while concurrently practicing in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry—bringing a uniquely broad and medically sophisticated perspective to her mental health work.
A Denver native, Dr. Strock remains deeply connected to her community. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her 10-year-old Australian Cattle Dog, Wrigley James.
Ara Tucker, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Ara Tucker, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and behavioral health leader with extensive experience delivering high-quality, evidence-based care across diverse clinical settings. She currently provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention, and medication management for individuals experiencing acute mental health needs, while also supporting long-term stabilization for patients with complex psychiatric and substance use disorders.
Dr. Tucker brings a strong leadership background as a regional behavioral health nurse manager, where she oversees multidisciplinary teams, drives clinical quality initiatives, and leads system-level improvements in patient safety and care delivery. Her work includes expanding access to services such as ambulatory detox programs and implementing data-driven approaches to enhance outcomes across populations.
With clinical experience spanning crisis stabilization centers, hospitals, correctional facilities, and outpatient care, she has developed deep expertise in risk assessment, de-escalation, and coordinated treatment planning. Her approach emphasizes compassionate, patient-centered care grounded in best practices and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Tucker earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Northern Kentucky University and holds multiple advanced nursing degrees focused on psychiatric care, administration, and leadership. She is actively engaged in professional organizations and has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to behavioral health, including receiving the DAISY Nurse Leader Award.
Committed to mentorship and continuous learning, Dr. Tucker is passionate about supporting the next generation of clinicians and advancing excellence in behavioral health care.
Alanda White, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, HIVPCP, FPA, PFA, FADLN
Alanda White, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, HIVPCP, FPA, PFA, FADLN an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Schreiner University (School of Nursing) and a full time specialty prescriber at San Antonio Northwest Health Care Center. She is a dual board-certified clinician (Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), educator, in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practitioner. Dr. White has over 20 years of experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based programs that aim to foster Diversity, Inclusion, Health, Equity and improved health outcomes among diverse, underserved, at-risk population groups. Her work reinforces the need to provide education to maximize prevention in society.
Dr. White’s doctoral project addressed the need to education those with lower socioeconomic status regarding nutritional selections to obtain A1C levels less than 7.0. Dr. White teaches and mentors faculty, colleagues, and students committed to learning how to engage in work and more effectively serve the communities. She serves as Adjunct Clinical Faculty in the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program at the San Antonio Northwest Health Care Center.
Dr. White earned her B.S.N from University of the Incarnate Word and M.S.N from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a Family Nurse Practitioner certification. She obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Grand Canyon University with a Post Master’s certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Regis College. She received recognition for exemplary teaching, scholarship, and service with numerous awards recognizing her commitment to the community. Dr. White was inducted as Fellow in the Academy of Diversity and Inclusion in Nursing through the National Black Nurses Association. In addition to being honored by the San Antonio Business Journal with their Community Impact Award honoree (2025). She participated in the Inaugural 2025 Forensic Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Course, Texas Nurse Association Evidence Based Practice Inaugural Fellowship Program and as 2025-2026 Doximity Fellow. Dr. White recently obtained the Inaugural Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators presented by Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated (2025), Top 25 Best Nurses of South Central Texas (2024), Rising Star by the Middle South Region of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated (2023), Sigma Global Nursing Excellence Image Maker Award (2023), San Antonio Business Journal 40 Under 40 (2021). She was appointed to the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and completed the American Association of College Nursing Diversity Leadership Institute Cohort III in 2023. She currently serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Texas Board of Nursing in both Family Practice and Mental Health. In addition, she served on various peer reviews, abstract reviews, grant reviews, item writing, and curriculum review panels.
Edilma Yearwood, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
Edilma L. Yearwood, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FISPN, FAAN, is Professor, Georgetown University School of Nursing and Director of the PhD in Nursing program. She holds a BSN from the University of Connecticut, MA in Nursing from New York University, and PhD in Nursing from Adelphi University. She is a Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, past President of the International Society of Psychiatric Nurses, and current President of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice (formerly Orthopsychiatry) 2026-2028. She is Editor of the journal Archives of Psychiatric Nursing and lead editor and contributing author of two textbooks, one on Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health and one on Global Mental Health Nursing. She is Project Director of a HRSA grant titled, Nurturing Child Well-Being: Educating Communities on Social Determinants of Health. Her research interests include health and mental health literacy, youth and family empowerment, mood dysregulation and promoting health equity. Annually, since 2018, she has led a service trip to Lourdes, France with prelicensure nursing students focused on spirituality and care of pilgrims who travel there from around the world, some in search of a miracle to cure a health or mental health condition.