I am honored to submit my candidacy for the position of Regional Coordinator for North America Region 8. With a robust nursing career and extensive leadership experience within Sigma, I am committed to building stronger connections between chapters, providing meaningful educational opportunities, and supporting chapters in achieving excellence.
As the current President of the Zeta Alpha chapter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I have led our chapter to achieve several milestones. Since I became President in 2018, Zeta Alpha has earned the Chapter Key Award each biennium-a testament to our commitment to Sigma's mission of advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence. We host over six events annually, ranging from professional development workshops to community outreach initiatives. Additionally, we established a successful Mentee/Mentor program designed to foster relationships between experienced nurses and emerging leaders.
Beyond my chapter-level contributions, I have actively participated in regional initiatives that demonstrate my ability to lead on a broader scale. I served as Co-Chair of the 2020 Region 8 Conference and as a committee member for the 2022 Region 8 Conference. These roles allowed me to collaborate with stakeholders, innovate due to unforeseen challenges related to the pandemic, and coordinate a large-scale event.
My nursing career has been deeply rooted in advancing healthcare through quality improvement, education, and advocacy. As a nurse practitioner, I worked with adults in primary care and long-term care settings. Additionally, I specialized as a forensic nurse and provide trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Currently, I am a full-time Associate Professor in a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Practitioner program.
If elected as Regional Coordinator, my primary goals include:
- Facilitating Collaboration: I aim to help chapters connect more frequently and easily by creating platforms to share successful activities and ideas. Many chapters have developed excellent programs-there is no need to reinvent the wheel when we can learn from one another.
- Quarterly Virtual Meetings: Hosting optional virtual meetings will provide a platform for networking and education, addressing common challenges and sharing best practices.
- Educational Opportunities: I plan to offer targeted educational activities tailored specifically for Region 8 chapter leaders focused on enhancing leadership skills, improving member engagement strategies, and navigating Sigma's resources effectively.
- Chapter Key Award Support: By guiding chapters through the application process and sharing strategies for success, I hope to increase the number of Region 8 chapters earning this prestigious recognition.
My experience as a leader within Sigma has equipped me with the organizational skills, vision, and dedication necessary to succeed in this role. I firmly believe that nurses are uniquely positioned to transform healthcare through innovation, compassion, and leadership. Sigma provides opportunities for nurses to develop these qualities, and as Regional Coordinator, I will dedicate myself to advancing this mission within Region 8. I look forward to the opportunity to serve as your Regional Coordinator and work collaboratively with chapter leaders across North America Region 8.