Rep. Carla D. Cunningham, BSN, RN is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 106, which includes parts of Mecklenburg County, including Charlotte. A registered nurse with over 30 years of experience, she has worked in hospice care and healthcare education. Since 2013, Rep. Cunningham has championed healthcare, mental health, and women’s and children’s rights through her legislative work and committee leadership.

Dr. Marie O. Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, D. Min (h.c), PLNC, FADNL, is a tenured full professor at the Benjamin Leon School of Nursing, Miami Dade College. She currently serves as president of the Florida Nurses Association and is the past president of the Hispanic American Nurses Association (HANA) and the Miami Chapter of the Black Nurses Association. Dr. Etienne has received multiple awards for her contributions to nursing, including the Florence Nightingale Medal.

Dr. Carol Biggs, MBA-HA, DHSc, RN is the Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive at Jackson Health System, Miami, overseeing nursing operations across six hospitals and multiple clinics. She has been recognized among Becker’s Hospital Review’s “213 Chief Nursing Officers to Know” and is known for advancing patient care, mentoring nurses, and promoting excellence in nursing practice. Dr. Biggs holds a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Miami.

Dr. Sherri Sutton-Johnson, DrPH, MSN/ED, RN, CCHW, CSM, CPM is the Education Unit Director for the Florida Board of Nursing, a position she has held since 2012 . With over 33 years as a licensed professional nurse and nearly 37 years of service with the state of Florida, she brings extensive experience in nursing education and regulation. Dr. Sutton-Johnson earned her Doctor of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Education and Behavioral Health from Florida A&M University, and both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Florida State University.

Dr. Sandra Tucker, PhD, JD, MSN, RN is the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Director of Student Health Services at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. With over 11 years of experience in academia, she has significantly contributed to advancing nursing education and mentoring future nurse leaders. Under her leadership, B-CU’s nursing program has been ranked second among all HBCU nursing programs and sixth in the state of Florida. Dr. Tucker holds a PhD in Registered Nursing from the University of Michigan, a JD in Law from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Florida State University.

Mariden Mendoza, MPH, RN is the Vice President & Academic Director at AmerAsian International University in Orlando, Florida. With over 46 years of experience as a nurse educator and administrator, she has significantly contributed to advancing nursing education and mentoring future nurse leaders. Under her leadership, the university offers programs such as ASN, BSN, LPN, Dialysis Tech, and Dialysis Nurse, aiming to provide quality education to aspiring healthcare professionals. In 2004, she was recognized as a pioneer of the Transcultural Nursing Review, achieving a 99% passing rate while mentoring foreign-trained nurses. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in establishing several successful start-up nursing schools and has a passion for tutoring students for the NCLEX.

Dr. Guillermo R. Valdes, DNP, MSN-HCS, NP, RN, PGC-NEd., Med-Surg-BC, Sigma Virginia Anderson Fellow, is the Chair of the RN-to-BSN Program at Miami Dade College’s Benjamin Leon School of Nursing. With nearly 30 years of experience in nursing education and clinical practice, he has significantly contributed to advancing evidence-based nursing education and mentoring future nurse leaders. Dr. Valdes has received numerous accolades, including the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year award, the Florida Nurses Association South Region Award, and recognition as one of the Great 100 Florida Nurses. He is also a Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Virginia Anderson Fellow.

Rennier Marc B. Razal, RN, BSN, is the Chief Nursing Officer at CareWell Health Medical Center in East Orange, New Jersey. He has over 20 years of experience in nursing leadership and administration, including roles at Clara Maass Medical Center. He has led key initiatives such as Cerner CommunityWorks implementations and Nurse Residency programs, improving staff satisfaction and patient care outcomes. Razal is a licensed registered nurse in Pennsylvania and has been instrumental in advancing nursing practices in the institutions he has served.

Dr. Danay Rodriguez-Arritola, DNP, MBA, A-GNP-C, APRN, MSN, BSN, RN, serves as the Chief Nursing Officer at Larkin Community Hospital’s Palm Springs Campus in Hialeah, Florida. With over 20 years of healthcare experience, she has held key leadership roles in nursing and emergency management. Dr. Rodriguez-Arritola holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and an MBA, and has been recognized as a Visionary Leader: Chief Nursing Officer by the Florida Nurses Association South Region, as well as President-Elect of the NAHN Miami Chapter (2024–2026).