Board of Directors

Board members of the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Alumni Association serve as the governing body for the School’s Alumni Association, and thus the connection to more than 5,000 alumni of the School. Service on the Board is on a volunteer basis and demonstrates the highest level of commitment from our alumni community. Members are ambassadors for the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies and are critical leaders in helping the Alumni Association implement strategic initiatives.

Mission Statement:

The Mission of the Association is to foster a continuing collaborative fellowship among graduates and to promote an ongoing supportive relationship between alumni and the School of Nursing and Health Studies.

Alumni Association Duties, Responsibilities, and Qualifications:

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies looks to the members of the Alumni Association to provide a model of leadership to all alumni of the school. The University greatly appreciates the dedication of its alumni volunteers that serve the health care community both within and beyond South Florida.

By accepting to serve on the Alumni Association, volunteers join other committed alumni leaders in working toward the Association’s success.

When evaluating the credentials of the nominee, the School of Nursing and Health Studies Alumni Association considers: (1) a nominee’s attainments and abilities; (2) devotion to the interests and welfare of the University and Alumni Association; (3) availability to participate in meetings; and (4) qualifications for the role of policy maker, ambassador, and guardian of the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies.

The participation of officers and members is crucial to the success of the Alumni Association. Below are board member key duties and responsibilities.

All Alumni Association members are expected to:

To promote continuing collaborative fellowship among alumni by organizing events, meetings, and participation on committees.
Attend and participate in regularly scheduled meetings per fiscal year planning; June 1 – May 31.
Attend seven meetings per year.
Serve as a spokesperson on behalf of the University of Miami and Alumni Association in the community.
Attend key alumni programs and events.
Encourage participation in on-campus programming.
Make an annual gift to the School of Nursing and Health Studies Annual Fund, support the Homecoming Raffle Auction, and the Brick Campaign.

Officers are also asked to:

Develop leadership, membership, and support to benefit the goals and strategic plans of the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Engage alumni more fully with their alma mater.
Develop membership for the Alumni Association.
Identify alumni leaders within an assigned region.
Chair committees.
Make a yearly leadership gift to the School of Nursing and Health Studies Annual Fund, support the Homecoming Raffle Auction, and the Brick Campaign.

By accepting to serve on the Alumni Association, volunteers join other committed alumni leaders in working toward the Association's success.

School of Nursing and Health Studies Alumni Members 2016 - 2017

	President: Debbie Anglade, MSN '10, PhD '14 University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Assistant Professor of Clinical

	President Elect: Carmen Sierra, BSN '96 Jackson Health System / Miami Transplant Institute Associate Director, Transplant Peri-operative Services

	Immediate Past President: Sonique Sailsman, BSN ’00 Southern New Hampshire University Nursing Graduate Faculty & Advisor

	Treasurer: Deborah Salani, BSN '86, MSN ‘90, DNP '13 University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Assistant Professor of Clinical

	Secretary: Ivette Cardelli, BSN '09, MSN ’12 Aventura Hospital Nurse Practitioner

	Faculty Representative: Natalia Villegas Rodriguez, PhD '12 University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Assistant Professor of Clinical

Members at Large

	Charlene Blake, BSN '15 Sylvester Cancer Center Registered Nurse

	Fayola Delica, BSN '05 Founder / President / CEO, Fayola Delica, LLC Founder and CEO, 360 Evolution Academy

	Betsy Fernandez, DNP ‘13 Walgreens Healthcare Clinics Assistant Area Director

	Valerie Halstead, BSN ‘12 UM School of Nursing and Health Studies Student, PhD candidate

	LaToya Janelle Lewis-Pierre, BSN ‘02 University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Assistant Professor of Clinical

	Catherine Lopez, BSN '13 Baptist Healthcare Registered Nurse

	Ruth M. Otto, BSN ‘63 Baptist Health South Florida Supply Chain Project Administrator

	Mercedes Perez de Salazar, MBA '04, DNP '12 Larkin Community Hospital VP of Patient Care Services, CNO, ADA Officer

	Raeann B. Raisor, BSN ‘14 Holy Cross Hospital ICU Nurse

	Diana Tershakovec, MSN '91, BSN '88 South Miami Criticare ARNP