NHS Advisory Board

Funmi began her healthcare career in 1995 after completing her BSN at Rutgers University. She went on to complete an MS at Columbia University and entered primary care - serving various populations of underserved patients across multiple settings of care, including homeless shelters.

Funmi has also served as a member of faculty at several academic institutions allowing her to provide mentoring and development opportunities to future nurses. In addition to her academic work with students, she has also published and delivered multiple national presentations. She is passionate about promoting a patient centered health care system and elevating leadership development for underrepresented groups.

Dr. Clockston is the owner and lead therapist of Julie Clockston Counseling LLC and Co-Founder of SOAR Colorado, an organization dedicated to enhancing individuals living with developmental/intellectual disabilities.

Dr. Clockston is an accomplished visionary author of “Sistah Hooded: Stories of Strength and Resilience on the Doctoral Journey” and a student support advocate. Dr. Clockston is a pracademic who works as an Assistant Professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver in the Social Work Department, where she is the DEI Co-Coordinator, BIPOC and Neurodiverse and Disability Student Support, Faculty and Staff Pedagogy, and Diversity facilitator, DEI University staff senate consultant and a member of The Colorado Child Welfare Scholars Consortium as a Faculty Representative.

Dr. Clockston is a part-time Assistant Professor at Smith College of Social Work and a Doctoral Mentor. She is the former President of the Board of Directors of The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP)19-22, an international organization committed to enhancing families' lives when parents have learning difficulties. Furthermore, she is the former President of NASW Colorado 19-22.

Of all these wonderful endeavors, the most cherished accomplishment is being a mom to her four children.

She has presented locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on the professional practice of nursing, learning and development as well as on the topic of care delivery models. She has served as adjunct faculty for Millersville University teaching both undergraduate courses in nursing leadership as well as in the DNP Program. She was nominated and selected as finalist for the Nightingale Awards of PA in the category of Nursing Research and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Nightingale Foundation Board and is Chair of the Program Committee.

Paula has contributed to the nursing profession holding leadership roles in several professional nursing organizations. She was the 10th President of the International Transplant Nurses Society and was honored to receive lifetime membership for her contributions during her tenure. She has served as President of the South Central Organization of Nurse Leaders, President of the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders as well as a three-year term as the Region 2 board member for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. She serves on many local university and college nursing advisory boards, providing input and feedback for curriculum and outcomes for these programs.

Paula lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and two English Mastiffs. She has two boys. Her oldest played college baseball and is now married to his beautiful wife Rachel and lives in Knoxville, Tenn. Her younger son currently plays college football in California. She enjoys cooking, baking, reading a good book and watching her boys at their sports activities.

Kimberly's background includes serving as executive director for Nursing 2000; vice president for Public Affairs and the Foundation for Wishard Health Services (now Eskenazi Health) in Indianapolis, Ind.; holding senior leadership positions in nursing, marketing, and human resources, and executive vice president roles in academic medicine at Indiana University; and holding nursing practice and faculty positions at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind.

She has been active in many professional organizations, assuming leadership roles with the NOBC, the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, and the National Association for Health Care Recruitment. She is a National Association of Public Hospitals fellow and has served on the boards of numerous nursing-related foundations, organizations, and committees, including the Governor's Task Force for Healthcare Education, Pipeline, and Training for Indiana. Kimberly also serves on the advisory boards of numerous schools of nursing across Indiana, is a guest lecturer, and holds an adjunct faculty role with Case Western University.

A regular speaker at the state, national and international level, Kimberly has received numerous awards, including the 2017 Distinguished Alum of the University of Southern Indiana, the Nursing Professionalism and Practice Award for her "Outstanding Professional Contributions and Excellence in the Practice, Science and Art of Nursing" by the Indiana State Nurses Association. the President's Achievement Award Commencement Address at the University of Southern Indiana, and has been inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

She was the Chief Nursing Officer at Fawcett Memorial Hospital (253 bed facility) located in Port Charlotte, FL where she managed overall patient care/day to day operations throughout the hospital and opened a 20-bed private inpatient unit along with two new state of the art Cardiac Cath Labs.   Prior to Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Brandy was the Chief Nursing Officer at Palms of Pasadena Hospital (307 bed facility) located in St. Petersburg, FL where she also oversaw operations (including pharmacy, radiology, lab, wound care services, company care/employee health and cardiac services). She also assisted with opening new Advanced Care for Elderly Unit (ACE) unit.   

Brandy also has over 12 years of prior UPMC experience including: UPMC EAST/UPMC McKeesport, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer; UPMC Bedford, Clinical Director Surgical and Emergency Services; UPMC Children’s Hospital, Emergency Room Staff Nurse; UPMC Altoona, Clinical Manager Emergency Room/Staff Nurse and UPMC Lee Hospital, Nurse Extern/PCT.  

Brandy received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (with honors) from Chatham University, her MSN in Nursing Administration from University of Pittsburgh, and her BSN (Cum Laude) from Mount Aloysius College.  Brandy is a Certified Emergency Nurse and a member and mentor of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and an Emergency Nurses Association Member.   

Brandy also sits on the Pennsylvania Action Coalition Advisory Board and is a Commissioner for the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission. She is also a contributing doctoral nursing faculty member for a global university.

A senior leader with 25 years of executive management experience, Dr. Holliday has worked in population and public health, primary healthcare, and in non-profit settings at the national, state and local levels. He provides leadership in evidence-based practices to prevent chronic disease and helps shape policies, systems, and environments that support and promote health, equity and well-being.

Before joining CDC in 2021, Dr. Holliday was with the American Medical Association (AMA), where he served as Director, Population Health and Clinical-Community Linkages, Improving Health Outcomes. He led a multi-disciplinary team in efforts to develop and implement national, clinical and public health strategies for improving health outcomes for high-impact chronic medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Holliday has been a passionate advocate for health equity, focused on improving outcomes for populations disproportionately impacted by chronic and mental health conditions, addressing root cause social and structural determinants of health, including access to care.

After beginning his academic career at Northwestern University (BA, Psychology), Dr. Holliday received an MPH in Health Policy and Management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and trained as an applied research scientist, earning an MA and a PhD in community psychology at Georgia State University. He is board-certified in healthcare management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Her professional goal as a clinician focuses on health equity and utilizing interdisciplinary collaborative practice to continue to break down barriers and close the gaps. She has worked to tackle emerging public health issues and eliminate health disparities through policy development and academia over the past 20 years.

Dr. Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Coppin State University, a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on public health from the University of South Alabama, and a Doctor in Health Sciences focusing on global health from A.T. Still University. She also completed the Certificate in Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

Dr. Johnson recently relocated to Texas from Maryland with her son. She enjoys mentoring, coaching, traveling, roller skating, baking, and completing the dreams and adventures from the mom-and-son bucket list she created with her son.

Cynthia's extensive experience as a healthcare executive enables her to lead through periods of change and transformation while building diverse and highly effective teams. Her forward-thinking approach and innovative vision contribute to improved patient safety, quality, experience, and the overall nursing work environment.

Prior to joining OhioHealth, Cynthia held the position of Senior Vice President of Nursing Business Operations at Jefferson Health, an academic health system serving southern New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. She also held various leadership roles at Centura Health in Denver, including chief nursing officer at local and regional levels, system chief nursing executive, and chief transformation officer. In addition, she gained experience in nursing and operational positions at the Hospital Corporation of America in Colorado and Texas, as well as Houston Methodist in Texas.

Cynthia obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo and holds a Master of Science in Nursing Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Health Administration at the University of Phoenix.

As a published author, Cynthia contributes to the field of evidence-based nursing practice and high-reliability organizations in the nursing field. She frequently presents at conferences, emphasizing the role of nursing in enhancing patient care, nursing environment, and leadership. Not only does she serve on multiple advisory boards related to nursing development and patient support, but she also engages in community service. Cynthia is a board member of The Ohio Federation for Health Equity and Social Justice, where she advocates for healthcare access and social support. Additionally, she dedicates her time to working with young individuals, providing them access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, and educating the community on the impact of opioid addiction.

In her personal life, Cynthia is a loving mother to her two sons, Myron Jr. and Darian, and enjoys the company of her four-legged companion, Nala.

Dr. Morris stands out for her unique ability to establish trust, build strong foundational working relationships with clients, and is skilled in effectively identifying growth & learning opportunities as well as building customizable and measurable solutions that exceed organizational objectives and that works best for each client to improve employee performance/development. Most recently, Dr. Morris serves as a researcher working in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Human Services where her role is to conduct situational analysis, identify opportunities for equitable resources, programs, and development implementation strategies throughout the behavioral health division.

Kristin holds a Bachelors and MEd in Human Resource Development and Adult Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and an EdD from Capella University, specializing in Performance Improvement Leadership. Her passion is working to develop others as well as making them feel valued for who they are and understanding what they need to achieve their goals. She was awarded the 2023 Alumni Award of Excellence from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a 2023 Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business Honoree. Out of everything she’s accomplished thus far in her journey, Dr. Morris is a proud wife and mother to four beautiful children.

With a robust career spanning diverse and progressive roles in the healthcare sector, Ruth's public health journey commenced at the DC Department of Health (DC Health) in the early 2000s, where she served as the Supervisory Public Health Advisor and Assistant Chief of Program Operations. Building on her longstanding commitment to community health and advocacy, Ruth's influence extended to more than a decade-long tenure at Children's National Hospital, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. At Children’s, Ruth held various roles, culminating in her appointment as Executive Director of Advocacy and Community Affairs. In the last ten years, Ruth's leadership journey included a significant tenure as the Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Providence Hospital (Washington, DC), where she played a pivotal role in shaping strategic initiatives and leading the advocacy work of the organization. 

Aligned with her executive role and driven by her passion for advancement through education, Ruth is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, School of Health and a member of the Capella University School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board. Ruth is an active volunteer, and along with her husband, they are engaged in empowering individuals and communities through focused philanthropy. Ruth has served in various capacities on governing and advisories boards and related affiliations, including Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas, DC Health Care Workforce Partnership, Cedar Hill Alliance for Health Equity, Police and Fire Clinic, and the Government Relations Committee of the District of Columbia Hospital Association.

Ruth is a distinguished alumna of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, holding a BA in International Relations. She earned an MBA and MS in Healthcare Administration at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Rounding her full life, Ruth partners with her husband Gary Pollard, Jr. to create business opportunities to support their local community and help build generational wealth. Ruth and Gary have a blended family of four young adult children and live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Pam serves as the board emeritus for NOBC. Her other memberships include the AONL, where she served a term as president in 2010; American Academy of Nursing being inducted as a Fellow in 2011. She has published extensively in nursing literature and has spoken at national health care seminars throughout the United States. Pamela has earned certification as a Board-Certified Nursing Administrator Advanced (NEA-BC) through ANCC.  Pamela received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Duke University. In 2019, Pamela was an inductee as a Fellow in the inaugural class of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (FAONL). 

Dr. Shepherd is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in both nursing professional development and as a nurse executive-advanced, by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) in hospice and palliative care and is an Alumnus pediatric critical care nurse by the American Association of Critical Care Nursing (AACN). She served on the Virginia Nurses Association (VNA) Board as Commissioner of Workforce Issues and is currently VNA Vice President. She also holds a position on Capella's School of Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Board, a Medical Advisory Board Member for the National Kidney Foundation, and an active clinical team member of the Medical Reserve Corps for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dr. Shepherd holds a master's in healthcare administration and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership. Her doctoral dissertation, 'COVID-19 and Hospice Care: Self Care and the Effect on Compassion fatigue and Patient Outcomes', delved into the crucial link and challenges between compassion fatigue, self-care, and quality outcomes among hospice clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends is evident in her recent certifications. In 2023, she earned a certificate on Business in the Metaverse Economy from The Wharton School, Aresty Institute of Executive Education, and AI Certification for Learning and Development by 360Learning.

The first part of his career was focused on administration and case management.  He obtained his Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D) in 2009 from Argosy University at Arlington and Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Herbert H. Lehman College in 2011.  

Wesley is Board Certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses; Case Management by The Commission for Case Manager Certification; Critical Care Nursing by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; and is a Board Certified Diplomat (BCD) in Clinical Psychotherapy by the American Board of Examiners (ABE).  He is licensed as a Registered Nurse, Clinical Social Work and Psychology in multiple jurisdictions.  

Wesley was the 2013 recipient of the New York Black Nurses (NYBNA), Nurse of the Year Award; and New York City Assemblywoman Inez Dickens – Community Service Award.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for American Association of Men in Nursing (AAMN).  He has served on the Board of Trustees for over 7 years at Harriet Tubman Charter Schools in Bronx, New York and the Board of Directors for the New York State Society for Clinical Social Workers (NYSSCSW).  

In 2010, Wesley founded RHIO Wellness…Reflective Healing & Inspiring Outcomes that he currently manages.  He is the Co-Founder of “Safe Hands,” an NGO in Nairobi, Kenya, working to address the mental health and wellness of children and adults throughout Africa.

Joyce received her original nursing degree (diploma) in 1984 from Saint Joseph Mercy School of Nursing; her BSN from Morningside University in 1996; her Master's degree from University of South Dakota in 1996; and her PhD from the Capella University in 2012. She is a Wharton nurse executive program fellow (2007) and holds professional certification in executive nursing practice (CENP) from the American Organization of Nurse Leaders. 

Joyce brings to health system operations greater than 27 years of experience at the executive leadership level, and 37+ years of hospital experience overall. And as a life-long learner, Joyce brings passion to academics and professional development. She has professionally presented in multiple state and national venues on topics related to healthcare leadership; future nursing planning; nursing legislation/and advocacy, and innovation. 

She currently is a board member and legislative liaison for the Michigan Organization of Nurse Leaders; a Lippincott Board member; member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) Political Action Council; an AONL faculty member for the CENP prep course; member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a member of the Zeta Sigma Honor Scholastic Society. 

Joyce has authored on similar topic areas in numerous publication mediums including legislatively-driven state and national position papers, as well as nursing outcome research. Current research engagements include a quantitative predictive correlation design studying nurse manager span of control on various outcome measures and a qualitative interpretive descriptive study seeking to understand the lived experience of early career nurses during the era of COVID-19.

Kreeger brings a combination of academic and health care industry experience building from her roots as a clinical nurse. Her career includes consulting and management positions with large international corporations where she focused on change, strategy, innovation, and leadership excellence and faculty and academic leadership positions at a large private university and an online university.  Kreeger holds a BSN from DePaul university, an MSN from Drexel University, an MBA from Seattle University, and a PhD with a focus on leadership and change in organizations from Antioch University.

For her work, Dr. Webb has received the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Lifetime Achievement Award, the Nicholas Andrew Cummings Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Practice from the National Academies of Practice and fellowships from the International Council of Nurses, the Global Health National Academies of Practice, and the American Academy of Nursing.

After waiting until she was 29 to pursue her undergraduate degree, Dr. Webb went on to earn a BSN from the University of Akron, an MSN from Ohio State University, and a PhD in nursing from Wayne State University.

Prior to joining Capella, she was the executive dean for the College of Humanities and Sciences at University of Phoenix. While there, Dr. St. Germain positioned the college as an incubator for continued growth and development to transform students into socially aware, critically thinking global citizens.

In addition to her academic career, Dr. St. Germain is a U.S. Army veteran and served as a major in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. While on active duty, she held assignments as an attorney at military posts including the 82D Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps Fort Bragg, NC.

She holds a Doctor of Education in higher education and organizational change from Benedictine University; a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law; and a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University. She is admitted to practice as an attorney in Vermont, Virginia, and Maryland, as well as several federal courts. St. Germain’s research focus is on women and leadership.