NLN Board of Governors

BOG Engagement Expectations

NLN Chair
Kathleen Poindexter, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Michigan State University

Dr. Kathleen Poindexter is the Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Michigan State University, College of Nursing, and prior Director of the MSN CNS and Education Program. She is also the coordinator and faculty of record for the College Teaching in Nursing Certificate Program. She provides faculty consultations on teaching to support student learning outcomes, teaching and in online environments, and Scholarship of teaching projects. Dr. Poindexter is board certified in nursing education, served as a member of the NLN Board of Commissioners for six years, and is on the editorial board for the Journal of Nursing Education. She is also a fellow of the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education.

NLN Chair-elect
Patricia A. Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN
Dean and Strawbridge Professor

The Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions Ursuline College Dr. Patricia Sharpnack currently holds leadership and board positions on several regulatory bodies, healthcare agencies, and professional organizations at regional, national, and international levels. She was the three-term past-president of the Ohio Board of Nursing, Board Supervisory Member and Chair of the Nursing Education Advisory Board. Dr. Sharpnack is the recipient of the 2012 Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Nursing Education Advancement of the Science Award, the 2015 NEONI Legacy Award in Education, the 2018 International Quality and Safety in Education of Nurses Leadership Award, the 2019 MNRS Academic-Practice Partnership Award, the 2020 NCSBN Elaine Ellibee Award for outstanding leadership as a Board President, the 2020 Ursuline College Amadeus Rappe Alumni Award, the 2021 Elaine H. Martyn Writing Award from the Ohio Nurses Association, and the 2021 NLN Mary Adelaide Nutting Excellence in Nursing Education Leadership Award. Dr. Sharpnack is a TeamSTEPPS Master Team Trainer and member of the Advisory Board to the American Hospital Association.

Secretary
Tedra Smith, DNP, CPNP-PC, CNE, CHSE
Associate Professor / Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Education – MSN, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing

Dr. Tedra Smith is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Education-MSN at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing.  She is the recipient of the 2021 National Black Nurses Association Nurse Educator of the Year Award and the 2022 Cindajo Overton Outstanding Nurse Educator Award. Her primary scholarly interest focus on simulation in nursing education and community-based health care for children. She has received funding to support these endeavors from HRSA, school, and foundation grants. Dr. Smith has held various leadership positions and is a member of the editorial board for the Pediatric Nursing Journal. 

Treasurer
Anne M. Krouse, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN
Dean of the Widener University School of Nursing

Dr. Anne Marie Krouse is a dean of the Widener University School of Nursing. Dr. Krouse’s long history of volunteer service to the NLN includes participation on the Public Policy Committee and its NLN Days on the Hill, speaking with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. She co-edited the NLN Press’ Scientific Inquiry in Nursing Education: Advancing the Science with Dr. Barbara Patterson in 2016 and received the Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching award in 2012 from Widener University. Her research interests include leadership in nursing education and practice, nursing education, and maternal-child health.

Governor
Audrey Beauvais, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN
Associate Dean and Associate Professor Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies Fairfield University

Dr. Audrey Beauvais completed her BSN degree from Fairfield University, MSN/MBA degrees from Sacred Heart University, and DNP degree from Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Beauvais is an Editorial Board Member for the journal Nursing Education Perspectives (NEP). She was a guest editor for NEP in the fall of 2017 and 2020 for special issues on the Future of Nursing Report. Dr. Beauvais is the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters. She recently published the book Leadership and Management Competencies in Nursing Practice: Competencies, Skills, Decision Making (2019) that was awarded first place for the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year award in the Nurse Management and Leadership category. She has been the recipient of several honors and distinctions including the Connecticut Nurses Association Diamond Jubilee Josephine A. Dolan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Nursing Education, the Connecticut League for Nursing Ruth M. Olson Excellence in Nurse Education Award, and Sacred Heart University’s Dean’s Leadership Award. Prior to her time in academia, Dr. Beauvais worked in various leadership positions at Stamford Hospital including nurse manager of the pediatric and psychiatric units, case manager, and performance improvement coordinator. Dr. Beauvais was the Magnet Coordinator that successfully led Stamford Hospital to be recognized as a Magnet hospital. The Magnet Recognition ProgramTM is a prestigious designation administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing practice.

Governor
Majeda El-Banna, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
Associate Professor - Chair, Acute and Chronic Care Faculty Community & Director, Registered Nurses to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program The George Washington University School of Nursing

Dr. El-Banna's leadership and research to advance nursing education and enhance student outcomes are focused on development, improvement and implementation of innovative teaching pedagogies through evidence-based research. Her sustained contribution is shifting the classroom environment from teacher-driven to student-centered learning by using pedagogical models that require higher order reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Her unique scholarly contribution to nursing education is well recognized, nationally and internationally. Dr. El-Banna is an American Nurse Educator Fellow (ANEF) and a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). She is a Subject Matter Expert Reviewer for the Quality Matters program. Dr. El-Banna has received the GW Bender Teaching Award and the GW School of Nursing Graduate Teaching Award. Her education research has been funded by the school, university, and foundation. Dr. El-Banna serves on a number of professional organization committees, including the National League of Nursing, American Nurses Association, Eastern Nursing Research Society, and Washington Regional Nursing Research Consortium.

Governor
Yolanda M. VanRiel, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BC, OCN, CNE, ANEF
Chair of the Department of Nursing at North Carolina Central University and Patient Placement Coordinator at First Health of the Carolinas-Moore Regional Hospital

Yolanda M. VanRiel, PhD, RN, MEDSURG-BC, OCN, CNE, ANEF, chair of the Department of Nursing at North Carolina Central University and a patient placement coordinator at First Health of the Carolinas-Moore Regional Hospital, has 25 years of nursing experience, including two decades as a nurse educator. The author of numerous presentations, publications and grants, Dr. VanRiel has focused her scholarship on nursing education, provider-patient communications, health disparities and oncology. Her achievements have been recognized with professional accolades, among them the Richmond Community College Outstanding Alumni Award, NCNA Nurse Educator of the Year Award, Gamma Zeta Chapter STTI Excellence in Nursing Education Award, and the UNC-Greensboro School of Nursing Teaching Excellence Award. A fellow in the NLN Academy of Nursing Education, Dr. VanRiel is a certified nurse educator, with additional certifications in oncology and medical-surgical nursing. Along with the National League for Nursing and the North Carolina League for Nursing, Dr. VanRiel holds memberships in the American Nurses Association; Oncology Nursing Society; and the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. She has served as vice chair of the North Carolina Board of Nursing in 2019.

Public Members

Governor
Cheryl Hoying, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FACHE, FAAN

Cheryl Hoying, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FACHE, FAAN, brings more than 30 years of nursing leadership experience to the Board, including many at the vice president/chief nurse executive/officer level in large academic medical centers and community hospitals. She recently served as chief nurse executive and patient services officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and before that as senior vice president for patient Services at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. Her portfolio has encompassed acute care, ambulatory, extended care, and health care operations, as well as health care practices related to quality, safety and high reliability. In academia, Dr. Hoying has been an interim dean and associate dean for the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing; assistant dean of clinical affairs for The Ohio State University College of Nursing; adjunct faculty at the Wright State University/Miami Valley School of Nursing and the Mount St. Joseph University College of Nursing; and served on multiple nursing school advisory boards. Professionally active in a number of health care organizations, Dr. Hoying is a past president of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and has been a valued member of the League; the American Academy of Nursing; Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society; and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Governor
Walter G. Bumphus, PhD
President and CEO American Association of Community Colleges

Dr. Walter G. Bumphus previously served as a professor in the Community College Leadership Program and as chair of the Department of Educational Administration at The University of Texas at Austin, holding the A. M. Aikin Regents Endowed Chair in Junior and Community College Education Leadership. From 2001 to 2007, Dr. Bumphus served as president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS). Prior to 2001, he was chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC). Before joining BRCC, Dr. Bumphus worked in the corporate world, serving as president of the Higher Education Division of Voyager Expanded Learning. Six years earlier, he served as president of Brookhaven College in the Dallas County Community College District. In 1992, Dr. Bumphus was recognized as a distinguished graduate from both Murray State University and The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Bumphus holds the distinction of being one of the few leaders in the field of education to receive the ACCT Marie Y. Martin CEO of the Year Award, to chair the AACC Board of Directors, and to receive the John Roueche and Terry O’Banion International Leadership and the AACC Leadership Awards. He also has the distinction of having worked collaboratively with three presidential administrations. He was appointed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Academic Advisory Council, the 100,000 Strong Initiative, and the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans under President Obama. He was selected the serve on the 25-member American Workforce Policy Advisory Board appointed by President Trump. And Bumphus was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships under the Biden Administration.

Governor
Michael A. Newsome, CRA
Office of the Vice President for Research Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing

Michael Newsome is associate vice president for research at Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia. He received his BS in business and accounting from Virginia Union University. During his career at VCU, Mr. Newsome has served as manager in grants and contracts accounting, business manager in the School of Nursing and manager in the budget office. Mr. Newsome has served as the public member on the NLN Board of Governors since 2006 and has served as treasurer on multiple occasions. He is a certified research administrator and is also a member of the Society of Research Administrators and is a past president of the Business Officers of Nursing Schools.

Governor
Rachel Risner, PhD, DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Frontier Nursing University

Rachel Risner is a certified family nurse practitioner, a certified nurse educator, a Gallup certified Strengths Coach, and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Frontier Nursing University. She earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (RN) from Oklahoma City Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oklahoma City University, a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Frontier Nursing University, a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Oklahoma City University, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Education from Oklahoma City University.

Governor
Mark A. Vogt
CEO of Galen College of Nursing

Mark Vogt has served as CEO of Galen College of Nursing since 2004, leading one of the largest nursing colleges in the country with campuses and programs in Louisville, KY; Hazard, KY; Cincinnati, OH; San Antonio, TX; Tampa, FL; and Online, through a mission dedicated to expanding access to nursing education. He has guided significant expansion of nursing programs and remains committed to quality outcomes while providing a supportive and inspiring environment for all students as they learn and prepare to become confident, caring nurses. Mr. Vogt is a graduate of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.