Speakers

Miranda Hawks, PhD, RN, CNL
Clinical Assistant Professor
MN Enrichment Team Lead
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing 

Dr. Miranda Hawks is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. She earned her PhD in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia in 2016, following an MSN in Nursing/Clinical Nurse Leadership in 2010, and a BS in Biology from Georgia Southwest State University in 2007. Dr. Hawks is licensed as a Registered Nurse in Georgia and holds Certified Clinical Nurse Leader credentials. Additionally, she has completed Graduate Certificates in eLearning Design and Online Teaching from the University of Georgia. Dr. Hawks has served as an Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University’s Wellstar School of Nursing and as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Georgia State University’s Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions. Her teaching interests span nursing ethics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, nursing informatics, evidence-based practice, qualitative research, and nursing research. She specializes in competency-based education, online teaching and learning, and the integration of the AACN Essentials into nursing curricula. Dr. Hawks is actively involved in eLearning design, faculty development, and mentoring. Clinically, Dr. Hawks has experience across various settings including community environments (e.g., schools), cardiac catheterization labs, and medical-surgical, operating room, emergency department, and clinic settings as a research nurse.
 

Rosa Arriaga, PhD 
Associate Professor
Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing

Dr. Rosa Arriaga is a Human Computer Interaction (HCI) researcher in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech. Her current research interests are in the area of chronic ca re management and mental health. She designs and deploys mHealth systems that address gaps in chronic care and mental health management. The computational systems she designs fosters engagement, facilitates continuity of care, promotes patient self-advocacy, and mediates communication between patient and healthcare providers.
 

Patti E. Landerfelt DNP, APRN, CRNA, CCRN, CEN 
Senior Instructor
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Dr. Patti Landerfelt is an assistant professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Her educational background includes a BSN and DNP from Emory University and a Master of Nursing from the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing. She served America’s Heroes at the Atlanta VA Medical Center as well as other members of the metro Atlanta community as an ER nurse, critical care nurse, IV team nurse, and nurse anesthetist for 26 years. She currently teaches in the pre-licensure nursing program at Emory’s School of Nursing. She coordinates Pathophysiology and Adult/Older Adult Health Nursing didactic courses for BSN and MN students. Her research focuses on nursing leadership and the effects of leadership on hospital acquired infections as well as nursing workload and burnout.

Dr. Landerfelt’s first career was teaching in elementary public-school classrooms across the U.S. She has a Master of Music with an emphasis in Orff-Schulwerk, a pedagogical philosophy of teaching music to children. She currently incorporates Carl Orff’s philosophy of teaching along with David Kolb’s 4 stage experiential learning model into her andragogical approach to nursing education. Dr. Landerfelt strives to provide a holistic learning experience that fosters curiosity, generates hope, enables success, and creates a sense of wonder and joy in learning the most trusted profession.
 

Roy L. Simpson, DNP, RN, FAAN, DPNAP, FACMI
Professor, Clinical Track, Assi stant Dean for Technology Management
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Dr. Roy L. Simpson is a distinguished leader in nursing informatics and executive nursing leadership, with over 45 years of dedicated experience in transforming healthcare through innovation. His work spans academia, corporate sectors, and multihospital systems, focusing on big data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) applications in healthcare, workforce development, and informatics-driven decision-making to improve patient outcomes and nursing efficiency. In corporate leadership, he pioneered the HBOC Nurse Scholars Program (now McKesson), significantly advancing education in health informatics for nursing executives during the 1980s. This initiative helped disseminate over 100 scholars in nursing informatics faculty globally, fostering widespread adoption of this emerging specialty. In the 1970’s with HCA funding, Dr. Simpson created with Werley and Lang, The Nursing Minimum Data Set. Additionally, he has chaired expert panels for prominent organizations such as the American Academy of Nursing, AONL, and HIMSS, influencing policies on informatics, vendor collaboration, and technology integration in nursing practice.
 

Speakers

Allison Shorten, PhD, RN, FACM, FNAP, FAAN
Professor of Nursing and Department Chair, Acute, Chronic & Continuing Care  
Director, Office of Interprofessional Curriculum
Center for Interprofessional Education and Simulation
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing

Dr. Allison Shorten is Professor and Department Chair in the UAB School of Nursing and Director of the Office of Interprofessional Curriculum (OIPC) at UAB. Dr. Shorten has over 30 years of experience as an educator in nursing, and is an internationally recognized researcher in nursing, midwifery and healthcare services. She is a fellow of the Australian College of Midwives, American Academy of Nursing, and Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Shorten is an expert in evidence-based curriculum design, and known for her dynamic and innovative approaches to support student learning, and dedication to teaching excellence and mentorship. As the OIPC Director she is committed to advancing the development of innovative interprofessional education. 
 

Renee McLeod-Sordjan, DNP, PhD, CENP, FNAP, FNYAM, FAME, FAAN 
Director, Division of Medical Ethics, Northwell Health System 
Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell 
Co-Course Director, Hofstra University Bioethics Center      

Dr. Renee McLeod-Sordjan is a medical ethicist, family, palliative, and acute care nurse practitioner. She is an alumnus of Pace University and Adelphi University. She has devoted thirty-eight years to clinical practice, ranging from respiratory therapy practice to providing primary and gynecological care to underinsured and underserved clients. As a clinical doctoral student, her research focused on assessing health literacy in Hispanic populations with chronic disease. Currently, she is addr essing the practical applications of bioethics in medicine and interdisciplinary practice. Her research doctorate involved a quantitative factor analysis and validation of tools to assess advanced care planning preparedness. She aspires to support ethnic diversity among students and faculty through scholarship, service, and culturally competent practice. She is an active member of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, American Academy of Nursing, American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty, and Sigma Theta Tau. 
 

Stefanie Keating, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, AOCNP 
Assistant Chair-Graduate Studies, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Program Director, AGACNP, Hofstra University 
Advanced Clinical Provider and Educator, Northwell Health

Dr. Stefanie Keating is an assistant professor of nursing and assistant chair for the graduate program, as well as the program director for the AGACNP program at Hofstra-Northwell School of Nursing. She also serves as an oncology nurse practitioner at Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY. She is an alumnus of New York University. Her academic work has been dedicated to bringing innovation to advancing acute care nurse practitioners and focusing on practice readiness. Her doctoral work is on the lived experience of newly graduated acute care nurse practitioners and practice readiness. She is also the current treasurer for Hofstra’s Sigma chapter.
 

Joan M. Stanley, PhD, NP, FAANP, FAAN 
Chief Academic Officer 
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Moderator)  

Dr. Joan M. Stanley is Chief Academic Officer at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). During her 30-year tenure at AACN, she has served as AACN’s lead on numerous nursing education initiatives, including the recent re-envisioning of the AACN Essentials and now the Essentials implementation. She currently serves as the project investigator for the Johnson & Johnson funded initiative, A Competency-Based Approach to Leadership Development and Resilience for Student Nurses. Dr. Stanley has provided leadership for the development of the current and past Essentials, which delineate the curricular expectations for baccalaureate, master’s, and DNP education. She has led the development of major position statements on a variety of issues, including the Research-Focused Doctorate, the development of the DNP degree, and the creation of a new master’s prepared clinician - Clinical Nurse Leader. Since their inception, she has facilitated the multi-organizational work of the APRN LACE Network and the National Task Force for Quality NP Education. She held a faculty position from 1977-1982 in the Adult Primary Care NP Program at the University of Maryland and maintained an adult primary care practice from 1973-2018 at the University of Maryland Health System. Dr. Stanley received her BSN from Duke University, an MS in Nursing from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, and a PhD in Higher Education Policy and Organization from the University of Maryland at College Park.
 

Speaker

Tricia Guerrero
Director of Marketing and Communications
School of Nursing and Health Science
University of San Diego Hahn

Tricia Guerrero is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science at the University of San Diego, where she leads strategic initiatives to enhance brand awareness and engagement. With expertise in digital marketing, AI-driven content strategy, and brand development, she oversees campaigns, public relations, and multimedia storytelling to effectively communicate the school's mission and impact.

Tricia holds an MBA from the Knauss School of Business at USD and has a diverse background in healthcare management, brand strategy, and digital media production. Since joining the Hahn School of Nursing in 2020, she has leveraged business insights, emerging technologies, and AI tools to advance marketing efforts and strengthen connections with students, alumni, and the broader nursing community.

Speakers

Eleonor Pusey-Reid, DNP, RN, MS, Med
Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor
School of Nursing
MGH Institute of Health Professions

Dr. Eleonor Pusey-Reid is a nationally and internationally recognized nurse educator, scholar, and advocate whose research has advanced equity in both clinical practice and nursing education. She is an Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP), where she champions national and global standards for equitable skin assessment practices. Her scholarship includes landmark studies on the representation of dark skin tones in nursing textbooks, including Examining Fundamental Nursing Textbooks for Inclusivity and Exclusivity Content. Her pioneering work on skin tone assessment has shaped national guidelines, driven institutional policy reform, and supported equity-centered faculty development. As a former nursing dean in Costa Rica, Dr. Pusey-Reid led regional workforce development initiatives across Latin America. She continues to lead with a deep commitment to inclusive education, health equity, and advocacy for historically underserved communities. 
 

Speakers

Juliann Sebastian, PhD
Dean Emerita
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Juliann G. Sebastian retired from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing in July 2023 as Professor Emerita and Dean Emerita, having served as Professor and Dean from October 2011-July 2023. She had previously served as Dean and Professor at the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and, prior to that, as Assistant Dean for Advanced Practice Nursing and Professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Nursing. Dr. Sebastian earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Nursing degrees from the University of Kentucky (UK), College of Nursing and her doctorate in Business Administration from the UK College of Business and Economics. Her areas of expertise are academic nursing, nursing workforce, and health policy. Her scholarly work has been published widely, including journal papers, book chapters, and three books, and she has presented scientific and professional papers extensively at regional, national, and international meetings. She was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1999. Dr. Sebastian has been actively engaged in national academic nursing through her service on many task forces for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and as Chair of the AACN Board of Directors from 2016-18. She served as Chair of the Board of the Global Alliance for Leadership in Nursing Education and Science from 2015-17. She was a member of the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation’s Competency-Based Education Invitational Conference Planning Committee (2016-17) and of the National Academy of Science and Medicine’s Committee on The Health and Medical Dimensions of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (2018-20). She currently chairs the AACN Clinical Nurse Leader Competencies Workgroup and is an emeritus member of AACN.
 

Jacklyn Barber, EdD
Dean
Nylen School of Nursing & Health
Morningside University 

Jackie Barber is the Dean of the Nylen School of Nursing and full professor at Morningside University. She received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Morningside College; her master of science in nursing degree from Creighton University; and her Doctorate in education/health professions from College of Saint Mary. She demonstrates expertise in medical-surgical, oncology, infusion therapy, and community/population health. She continues to deliver patient care in the practice of home infusion in the rural setting. She has more than 26 years of teaching experience and is a certified Quality Matters evaluator. She led the initiative for designing and implementing the graduate and doctorate nursing programs at Morningside University. In 2021, she was awarded the Siouxland Nurse of the Year. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Thompson Employee of the Year award. She was also the recipient of the Lucille and Charles Wert Faculty Excellence Award in 2014, the Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Award in 2006 and 2012, and the ODK Faculty Person of the Year Award in 2005 and 2013. She was a past recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) LANP Fellowship and the Wharton Executive Leadership Program. She served on the AACN Essentials Revision Taskforce and the AACN CNL Competency Taskforce; chaired the AACN’s Nominating Committee; and is currently serving as AACN’s Essentials Consulting Coach. She is a member of the Commission on Nurses Certification Board of Commissioners (CNC), past board member of the Iowa League of Nursing, and past president of the Iowa Association of Colleges of Nurses. She currently serves on the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Sarah Craig, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
University of Virginia
CNL Program Director (former)

Sarah Craig is an experienced intensive care unit nurse and certified advanced practice clinical nurse specialist. She has been a faculty member since 2014 at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Previously, she supported the school as a clinical instructor and graduate teaching assistant, and worked at the University of Virginia Health System as a clinical nurse specialist in post-operative cardiovascular and thoracic surgery care. Sarah is a ‘double Hoo’, earning both her Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Philosophy from the University. She recently completed a post-Graduate certificate in Nursing Education from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Prior to moving to Charlottesville for graduate school, she worked in intensive care units in Virginia and North Carolina.