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Meet Your 2025 Board  President, Mary Martin MSN, RNMary Martin received her BSN from Winona State University in 1993 and MSN from Bethel University in November 2020, the FCN Foundations Course Concordia College 2006, Westberg Institute Coordinator Training 2018, and the Westberg Institute FCN Educator Training 2020. Mary recently began a new position as assistant professor at Anoka Ramsey Community College, co- teaching Nursing Fundamentals. She is the former director of an adult day center and Director of Faith Community Nursing and worked in long-term care with a focus on quality-of-life nursing. Additional experience also included being a mental health clinical nursing instructor, mental health, homecare (extended hours and skilled nurse visits) and acute care, Mary has also been involved in FCN missions in Ukraine and serves on The Family Table Ukraine Board of Directors.  Vice President, Beverly McLawyer DNP, RNBeverly McLawyer received her BSN and her MSN from University of Phoenix and recently completed her DNP at Azusa Pacific University. She has over 32 years of nursing experience with a focus in telemetry, cardiothoracic intensive care, and nursing education. She currently works as a Nursing Instructor for the Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health. Beverly is a Christian woman who seeks to keep God first in her life. She is member of the health ministry at the Normandie Church of Christ in Los Angeles. She has a passion for helping others to care for their health and she has a great desire to help people with hypertension learn ways to control their blood pressure.  Secretary, Ciara Thomas, DNP, RNCiara Thomas is a nurse educator and leader with 19 years of experience in acute care nursing. She is a Clinical Instructor of Nursing at California Baptist University. Her background includes acute care, nursing leadership, and nursing education. Ciara received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Azusa Pacific University. Her research areas of interest are palliative care and innovative educational modalities for nursing students. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Faith Community Nurses International (FCNI), Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC), International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Ciara is a dedicated educator with a passion for encouraging novice nurses in developing a comprehensive and faithful nursing practice.  Immediate Past President, Mary Lynne KnightenDr. Knighten is a faculty member of Azusa Pacific University and a board-certified nurse executive with 36 years of progressive management experience leading patient care operations, legal and regulatory compliance, and clinical programs including improving evidence-based practices, patient satisfaction, and quality outcomes for mayor medical centers and teaching hospitals. Mary Lynne is the Health Ministry Director at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA, the Faith Community Foundations Course Educator at Azusa Pacific University and has published widely about faith community nursing. Committee Chairs  Education Committee, Renee Kumpula EdD, MA, RN, PHN, FCNRenee Kumpula, EdD, MA, RN, PHN, FCN, is an Associate Professor and Graduate Research Faculty at the Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) in undergraduate through doctoral programs. She served as former Director of Continuing Professional Development at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, an ANCC provider and Jointly Accredited provider, the first research 1 public university in the nation to achieve this designation. Her career experience includes acute care, public health nursing, community nursing, hospice nursing, faith community nursing, and leadership across settings. Her research interests and expertise include palliative and end-of-life nursing, spiritual care, adult learning theory, continuing professional development and continuing education, and interprofessional teams.  Finance Committee, Rev. Dr. Esther BrownRev. Dr. Brown received her Doctorate from Immaculata University and her Master’s in Community Health Nursing Administration from West Chester University in West Chester PA. She was employed at Widener University School of Nursing as Associate Professor where she taught Population Health in the undergraduate program, Population health for the RN. Rev. Dr. Brown remains adjunct Associate Professor at Widener University. She is President of Boulden Seminary and the president of the ministerial association covering Pennsylvania Delaware and Maryland. She is also the Founder of Stained-Glass Ministry. Dr. Brown is a Board member of FCNI and the Chair of the spiritual resource development committee. Dr. Brown resides in Chester County Pennsylvania and is the mother of three, grandmother of four and great grandmother of seven.  Governance Committee, Karen May PhD, RN, CNEKaren is an Associate Professor at Widener University where she teaches Population Health, Epidemiology and Evidence Based Practice. She completed her Faith Community Nursing certificate in 2018 and has been working with various faith communities across Pennsylvania. During the COVID 19 pandemic her practice focused on providing vaccine access to churches in Delaware County, PA. She is currently a member of Marsh Creek Community Church.  Journal & Publication, Liz SturgeonLiz Sturgeon is the Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Faith Community Nursing. She is a professor in the school of nursing at Western Kentucky University. She received ASN, BSN, and MSN with an emphasis in Nursing Education degrees from WKU. Dr. Sturgeon earned her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Kentucky. She is recognized as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) by the National League for Nursing. Prior to teaching, she practiced in Oncology and Critical Care Nursing Units. She currently is an active member of the American Nurses Association, Kentucky Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.  Leadership Succession Committee, Linda F. Garner, PhD, RNLinda Garner earned a doctorate from North Texas University with doctoral nursing preparation from Texas Woman’s University. Her master’s degree is from the University of Minnesota with a focus on nursing education and medical-surgical nursing. She earned a BSN from Baylor University. She served as faculty at Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing retiring after 40 years as Professor Emerita. She organized the CNE program at Baylor. She served as Director of Nursing at Bangalore Baptist Hospital in Bangalore, India for two years as a missionary and has participated in missions in many other countries. She has been Parish Nurse/Faith Community Nurse at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas for more than 20 years, beginning as faculty practice, then full time after retirement. She is a Faith Community Nurse educator and an End-of-Life Nursing educator and volunteers for hospice with her therapy dog. She serves as a FCNI Director and Chair of the Leadership Succession Committee.  Membership/ Marketing/ Outreach Committee - Stephanie Young, PhD, RNStephanie Young is a Clinical Assistant Professor at West Virginia University where she has been teaching in the undergraduate nursing program since 2015. She has served on a number of school committees and currently chairs the Academic and professional Standards Committee. She has practiced as a faith community nurse as part of a faculty practice agreement. Activities have included precepting students in the faith community setting, organizing community health fairs, and facilitating an online version of the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course. She works closely with the Dean of Community Engagement, who is establishing a network of faith community nurses throughout West Virginia.  Philanthropic Subcommittee, Paula Staab Polk BS, RN, FD/EMB, End-of-Life DoulaPaula Staab Polk has an extensive professional background in nursing, funeral service, event planning, and volunteering. She is passionate about helping and serving others during difficult transitions in their life by offering physical, psychological, and spiritual resources and support to the individual, family, and community. Paula moved 2 years ago from Chatham, IL to Burbank, CA, and is a consultant, developing virtual programs for the homebound for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She is the Health Ministry Leader for St. Finbar Church, in Burbank.  Practice Committee, Marcia Davis, DNP, RN, CPNP-PCMarcia Davis is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Nursing degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), a Nurse Practitioner Certificate from California State University at Long Beach (CSULB), and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the Azusa Pacific University. She has over 45 years of experience with children in inpatient and outpatient settings, private clinics, and school settings, and has been an Assistant Professor for over 12 years at Loma Linda University and at Azusa Pacific University.  Research Committee, Manju Daniel PhDManju Daniel is an Associate Professor at Rush University College of Nursing. She has been a Nursing faculty since 2005 and has taught graduate level nursing courses in clinical and classroom settings. Her current clinical experience includes working as a part-time Family Nurse Practitioner in a primary care setting. She enjoys serving as a faculty advisor for master’s and doctorate level (PhD and DNP) nursing students. Currently, she serves as the Vice-President for Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing -Gamma Phi Chapter at Rush College of Nursing and the Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Rush University. In addition, she serves in the Midwest Nursing Research Society’s Engagement Committee, Award Committee, Grant Reviewing Committee, and Health of Diverse Populations RIIG (Chair 2022-2023). She also serves as the abstract reviewer for the annual Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) conference. Her community health experience includes working as a Quality Management and Education Coordinator and as the Clinical Services Director at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Aurora, Illinois. Her research primarily focuses on immigrant health, health disparities and physical activity lifestyle modification.  Spiritual Resource Development Subcommittee, Rev. Naomi MyersRev. Myers has been an Associate Minister at Heard AME Church in Roselle New Jersey since 2003, where Rev. Bruce D. Points is the pastor. There she functions as coordinator of the Health Ministry, Faith Community Nurse, and morning Bible Class teacher. Rev. Myers was ordained a Local Deacon in 2001 and Local Elder in 2003. She has held active membership in the AME Women in Ministry since its beginning, serving as Worship Leader for the New Brunswick Presiding Elder District and most recently for the New Jersey Annual Conference. Rev. Myers attended New York City Community College, graduating in 1980 with an Associate Degree in Nursing and has worked as a registered nurse in Behavioral Health and Health Administration for most of her nursing career. Rev. Myers attended Pillar College, graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Counseling, Biblical (currently Missio) Seminary graduating in 2018 with a Master's in Ministry and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pillar College with a Master's in Counseling. Rev Myers holds certificates of completion since 2016, for two units of CPE towards board certification for chaplaincy. |
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