GNSA Leadership Council

Alexa Andersen is a PhD student at Michigan State University (Go Green!). She received a BA in Psychology, Sociology, and Women’s Studies in 2003 and a BSN in 2020, both from Michigan State University. Prior to her nursing career, Alexa was working in Higher Education & Student Affairs, where she focused on orientation and the first-year experience. Her current research focus is on how stigma and resilience affect the mental well-being of emerging adults with invisible disabilities. In addition to caring for patients, she cares very deeply about the student experience, as well as the experience of her fellow nurses. Beyond school, Alexa has been married to her college sweetheart since 2008 and has a pug pup named Bosco. She enjoys being outdoors backpacking, camping, hiking, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and running. She also loves to travel, listen to music, and play her trumpet.

With nearly twenty years of nursing experience, Kayce Cordray brings a broad and diverse background in neonatal care, aesthetic medicine, healthcare sales and management, and health careers education. A proud graduate of Oklahoma State University, she is a devoted mother of five, a foster parent, and a passionate advocate for families and children in the foster care system. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Kayce is committed to advancing nursing education and improving access to consistent, compassionate care for foster youth. She also has a strong interest in infection control and its critical role in enhancing patient outcomes. Outside of nursing, Kayce enjoys traveling—especially on cruises—and can always be found with a great cup of coffee in hand.

LCDR Akeeka S. Davis enlisted in the United States Navy in 1993, and she completed her four-year contract obligation and re-affiliated as a selected Reservist from 1997-2005. LCDR Davis has a MSN and BSN with a double minor in Psychology and Human Biology. Her nursing background includes Critical Care/Trauma, Neurology, Transplant, Cardiac, Executive Medicine, Ambulatory Care (Board Certified), Nursing Informatics (Certificate of Completion at OHSU), Performance Improvement, and Data Science and Analytics. She received her MBA and Bachelor of Science in Health Care Services degrees from the University of Phoenix where she was selected to deliver the commencement speech to her graduating class. LCDR Davis graduated in 2018 with an MSN in Nurse Educatoion from Purdue University and aspires to become a Nurse Researcher later in her career. She recently retired from the Navy and is currently serving at the Director of Nursing at Casa Loma College. 

After obtaining his Associate Nursing Degree from Hinds Community College–Nursing Allied Health Campus in 2011 in Jackson, Mississippi, Gordon Gartrell joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center as a staff nurse in the Adult Emergency Department. He served the AED in many different administrative and clinical capacities prior to transitioning to Nurse Manager of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in 2021 at Children’s of Mississippi. During his time at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, he has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing as well as a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Administration from the School of Nursing at UMMC. Gartrell is currently enrolled in the School of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences at UMMC where he is pursuing a PhD in Nursing. His current research interests in healthcare-related stigma and healthcare policy reform have contributed to his dissertation research surrounding victims of sexual violence and their experiences while receiving post-assault care. Gartrell holds six national board certifications in the areas of emergency, critical care, and nursing administration/leadership. He is a member of multiple professional organizations including the Mississippi Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, Emergency Nurses Association, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. Gartrell has presented at various state, regional, and national conferences and has published as a co-author in the Journal of School Health.

Mahlon Mathieson is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student at Columbia University, specializing in Nurse-Midwifery. Currently, Mahlon serves as a TA, peer mentor and academic coach, roles that allow them to support fellow graduate students academically and emotionally. Their research focuses on developing a universal, numeric-based screening tool for identifying interpersonal violence during antepartum care, with the goal of integrating trauma-informed practices into midwifery settings. Passionate about reproductive justice and health equity, Mahlon is committed to elevating student voices and advancing compassionate, evidence-based care. As a member of the GNSA Leadership Council, they are excited to advocate for the needs of graduate nursing students on a national level. Outside of school and research, Mahlon enjoys traveling and hiking, always looking for new places to explore and recharge.

Courtney Lamb is a dedicated nurse anesthesia resident with over thirteen years of experience spanning emergency medicine, critical care, education, and healthcare leadership. A Columbus State graduate, she launched her nursing career at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where she developed a strong foundation in high-acuity care. Her pursuit of clinical excellence and growth led her into travel nursing, working at more than twenty-five hospitals across the East and West Coasts. Courtney has served in numerous leadership and administrative roles, including Assistant Nurse Manager, Assistant Clinical Director, and Administrative House Supervisor. In addition, Courtney has served as a clinical instructor for Chamberlain College of Nursing’s BSN program and held several professional chair roles. She was instrumental as a Magnet writer, supporting her institution’s achievement of Magnet recognition and sepsis designation. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and nursing and a master’s in nursing education. Currently, she is completing her second year of nurse anesthesia school, with an anticipated graduation in December 2026.

Gemma O’Donnell is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation at Arizona State University and a nursing faculty member at Northern Arizona University. She has been a nurse for over four decades, beginning as an LPN and becoming an RN in 1995. Throughout her career, she has remained grounded in service to others, whether at the bedside, in the classroom, or within her community. Gemma previously held leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group, where she supported interdisciplinary teams across Medicaid and commercial health plans. She later helped lead the effort to have Flagstaff, Arizona recognized as a Dementia Friendly City, an initiative close to her heart. She now serves as co-chair of the Dementia Friendly Greater Northern Arizona Council, is a board member of the Northern Arizona Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance, and facilitates a bereaved dementia caregiver support group sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association. Her dissertation focuses on how informal dementia caregivers continue bonds after loss in ways that support adaptive grief. She volunteers with the Majestic Mountain Memory Café, teaches CPR in her community, and is a BLS instructor for Northern Arizona Healthcare.

Claire Regan is a fourth-year PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, and is an associate fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics. Her current research focuses on the engagement of older adults experiencing health care transitions and how patient engagement can be optimized to improve health outcomes. She earned her BSN from Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, in 2012, and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Maryland in 2020, where she earned the Excellence in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nursing Award as well as the Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Award. Following graduation, she completed a one-year residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centre in Baltimore, Maryland, with a focus on geriatrics, and then taught as an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program prior to pursuing a PhD. Claire has served as a member of the editorial board for Geriatric Nursing, multiple committees for the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, and as the Treasurer for the Maryland chapter of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. She has continued to practice as a clinician within the long-term care and hospice settings outside of her professional and academic roles. Claire is deeply committed to nursing education and is eager to contribute to the Graduate Nursing Student Academy Leadership Council by drawing upon her diverse experiences as a student, clinician, and assistant professor, as well as her academic journey through two graduate nursing programs.

Megan Scott is an online MSN–Nurse Educator student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington who is passionate about pediatric nursing and patient advocacy. She graduated with her Associate Degree in Nursing from Monroe Community College in 2012 and began her career caring for children and families at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Megan earned her BSN at the University of Rochester School of Nursing in 2015. She currently works as a pediatric nurse at Duke University Hospital (full-time) and the University of North Carolina Medical Center (per diem). Megan finds joy in supporting children with medical complexity and walking alongside patients and families as they navigate the complex healthcare system. She is certified in Nursing Case Management and Pediatric Nursing through ANCC. Megan also serves as a Clinical Instructor at Duke University School of Nursing, where she loves mentoring future nurses. Megan was honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses demonstrating her compassionate care and lasting impact on patients and families. She has been actively engaged in shared governance and is a proud member of the American Nurses Association and the North Carolina Nurses Association. Megan believes education is a powerful way to inspire change and equip nurses to lead with empathy and courage. She’s excited to serve in GNSA leadership and believes organizations like GNSA bring classroom learning to life through connection, collaboration, and advocacy. Beyond her professional and academic interests, Megan enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, reading, and learning new things.

Renee Woodyard (she/her/hers) is currently a third-year Graduate Entry MSN student at The Ohio State University where she specializes in the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Before finding her passion for nursing later in life, she completed a BS (2007) and MS (2015) in biomedical engineering at Wright State University. She plans to pursue a DNP after completing her MSN.  Renee is passionate about DEI and advocating for nurses with disabilities because she is a bilateral cochlear implant recipient, and she hopes that her work in DEI will have a lasting impact on nursing.  Renee currently works full-time in a critical care setting. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and takes her dog for walks.

Tyler Gaedecke is a PhD student at Columbia University and a Predoctoral Fellow at the Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research. They received a graduate certificate in LGBT Health Policy and Practice from George Washington University and their BSN and BA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality from the University of Virginia. Tyler has worked as a clinical nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit and as a care partner in acute care surgery. Tyler is a peer mentor and acts as the PhD President of the Doctoral Student Organization at Columbia, providing them with insight into the experiences of their fellow graduate nursing students, allowing them to effectively lead as a member of the GNSA Leadership Council.