NLN Foundation for Nursing Education Announces Eight New Additions to the Advisory Council

NLN Foundation for Nursing Education Announces Eight New Additions to the Advisory Council

Major Expansion of Diverse Group of Leading Professionals in Nursing, Education, Health Care & Technology Work to Bridge Education & Practice

Washington, DC — The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education has announced a major expansion of the prestigious Advisory Council, adding eight new members to bring the total to 27 since the group was established in 2016. The group consists of leaders in nursing and higher education, nursing and medicine, along with high-placed executives in a host of stakeholder industries, including law, health care technology, human resources, data analytics, safety and wellness, and workforce development.

In addition to their insights, vision and guidance, Advisory Council members contribute their expertise in development, helping to raise significant sums for seeding scholarship programs and research grants that have made the NLN Foundation a major player in supporting robust, original scholarship in nursing education. In just the past decade, since the formation of the Advisory Council, the NLN Foundation has awarded more than $1 million to master’s and doctoral degree candidates whose studies have advanced the evidence base driving changes in nursing education.

The eight newest Advisory Council members fit this same profile. They bring their years of outstanding collective experience and distinctive credentials to provide expertise, guidance and development insight to help the NLN Foundation bridge nursing education and practice in support of the National League for Nursing, the nation’s leading voice for nursing education.

The NLN Foundation Advisory Council welcomes the following new members:

Beth Gilbertson, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of AdjunctPro LLC

Respected higher education executive, military veteran and entrepreneur whose career has focused on expanding access to high quality, compliant and student-centered experiential learning in nursing and health professions education, Gilbertson founded AdjunctPro as a veteran-owned company designed to modernize how pre-licensure nursing programs staff and manage clinical faculty by creating a more transparent, compliant and faculty-centered model.

Renee Herzing, President of Herzing University

Originally a family-owned organization, Herzing University is today a private, nonprofit system of progressive, career-oriented adult education, serving nearly 9,000 students across eight states on 11 campuses and online, offering programs in health care, business, IT, and public safety. Herzing oversaw its transition in 2015 and launched the online division in 2003, which has been recognized for 15 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report for “Best Online Bachelor’s” among other designations.

Nabeel El Khafif, Director of Sales & Business Development at Pristine Medical

A graduate of the medical school at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and former surgical attending at Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve, Dr. El Khafif leads the distribution and manufacture of educational health care supplies, simulated medication, and medical simulation equipment for Pristine Medical.

Amir Mansour, Chief Executive Officer of VitalCheck Wellness

Under Mansour’s leadership since 2013, New York-based VitalCheck has become a trusted partner for leading institutions, including Princeton University, Fordham University, Platt College, Adelphi University, Suffolk County Community College, and the NYC Department of Health in delivering high-quality preventative care and streamlining medical compliance for complex workforces.

Rebecca Wheeler, Vice President of Client Solutions at Oxford Medical Simulation

A labor and delivery nurse for 23 years and APRN in women’s health, Wheeler has taught and mentored nursing students and health care professionals in both academic and clinical settings. In her current role, Wheeler combines her clinical expertise and strategic vision to lead client-focused initiatives that improve clinical training and patient outcomes through simulation-based education.

Aaron White, Product Executive at InPlace Software

Accomplished information technology professional and product executive with a solid background in business analysis, product management, and application development, White has served in his current role since 2015. He joined InPlace Software in 2010 and has been instrumental in guiding development, launching new products, and entering into new, international markets for the InPlace application suite.

Stephan Wiedner, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of SkillSetter

In 2016, Wiedner co-founded SkillSetter, marrying his experience in business technology with nearly two decades as a certified coach, while simultaneously serving as CEO of Noomii.com, the world’s largest network of coaches, working to solve the world’s biggest challenges. In addition to leading Noomii, Wiedner is cofounder of Theravue, an online deliberate practice system to help frontline workers strengthen interpersonal effectiveness.

Stacie Wood, Chief Nursing Officer at Elevate Healthcare

Aligning clinical expertise with commercial vision, Wood delivers measurable impact for healthcare organizations worldwide in her role driving the strategic direction of education, training, consulting, research, and clinical partnerships. A registered nurse and master’s-prepared leader with nearly 30 years of experience spanning Critical Care, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Patient Safety, Risk Management, and Healthcare Simulation, Wood is a strategic leader, trusted advisor, and expert in health care communication and team dynamics.

“We feel privileged to have so much talent, vision and expertise on the NLN Foundation Advisory Council. These individuals are joining an elite cohort that strengthens the foundation as it supports the National League for Nursing’s vital work navigating the current challenges of transforming nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce,” said NLN Foundation Chair Patrick Robinson, PhD, RN, ACRN, CNE, AHN-BC, ANEF, FAAN, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at Pacific College of Health and Science.

The NLN Foundation supports the National League for Nursing’s competitive nursing education research grants and scholarship programs, among other initiatives, that aim to promote excellence in nursing education, advance the science of nursing education, expand diversity and inclusion in the nursing workforce, and facilitate access to opportunities within higher education for qualified applicants to nursing programs and rising scholars.

NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, who also sits on the Advisory Council, said, “I am delighted to welcome these distinguished colleagues to join with our other dedicated thinkers and leaders. Together, we strive for transformative excellence in nursing education to propel forward the latest advancements in health care delivery, assisting faculty and universities in preparing practice-ready nurses for a complex, essential healthcare system,” said Dr. Malone.

For more information about the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education, visit NLN.org.

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