Meet the FUEL Symposium Speakers

Meet the Fostering Undergraduate Excellence and Leadership (FUEL) Symposium speakers!

Angela Frederick Amar, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, is Dean of New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Erline Perkins McGriff Professor of Nursing. Dr. Amar has dedicated her career to enhancing diversity in nursing leadership and to improving care and support for survivors of violence and trauma, particularly increasing help seeking behavior with dating violence. As a leading scholar in gender-based violence, Dr. Amar’s research has influenced the direction of campus policy nationally. Dr. Amar is also a leader in nursing education regarding violence and forensic nursing. Dr. Amar is also recognized for her efforts to advance diversity in nursing leadership across organizations and institutions and is a highly sought-after speaker and media guest.

Dr. Amar is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), Academy of Nursing Education, and a Distinguished Fellow in the International Association of Forensic Nursing. She was in the inaugural cohort of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar program and the AACN Wharton Executive Leadership program. Dr. Amar currently serves as President-Elect of the American Academy of Nursing and is a member of the strategic steering committee of the National League for Nursing.

Under Dr. Beverly Malone’s leadership, the National League for Nursing (NLN) has advanced the science of nursing education through enhancing stakeholder collaboration, increasing diversity in nursing scholarship, and championing evidence-based practice. Dr. Malone’s distinguished career has blended policy, education, administration, and clinical practice, including service as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health under President Bill Clinton.

As a reviewer, she contributed to the groundbreaking Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," and served on the Minority Health Federal Advisory Committee, a federal panel established to advise the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Presently, Dr. Malone serves as Vice Chair at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Board of Directors, co-leads the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Health Professional Education and Communication Working Group, and serves on NAM’s Steering Committee. She is a member of ecoAmerica’s Leadership Circle Executive Committee.

In 2025, Dr. Malone received multiple honors, including Sigma Theta Tau International’s Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award, the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Lifetime Achievement Award, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Dean’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Modern Healthcare named her among the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) named Dr. Malone as its 2024 Hall of Fame Award recipient. The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) selected her as its 2024 Mary Elizabeth Carnegie Leadership in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Awardee. The NBNA recognized Dr. Malone as a 2024 inaugural Fellow in the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing. In recognition of her global impact, The Lancet profiled Dr. Malone, placing her among an elite group of leaders shaping the future of health care.

The year prior, Modern Healthcare honored Dr. Malone as one of the nation’s leading health care executives, naming her to its 2023 list of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives in health care. In 2023, the American Nurses Credentialing Center presented Dr. Malone with the prestigious HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award for her international leadership in advancing nursing excellence. That same year, she received the ANA President's Award and Villanova University selected her for the M. Louise Fitzpatrick Award for Transformative Leadership. Dr. Malone was featured as one of 25 Outstanding Women for Women’s History Month by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (2023).

Dr. Malone was honored as part of the 2022 STATUS List, the most definitive accounting of leaders and influencers in the life sciences and was recognized by Morehouse School of Medicine as one of 12 Influential Persons in Health, Science, and Innovation. That same year, she was included on HealthTech's list of 30 Healthcare IT Influencers Worth a Follow.

Modern Healthcare presented her with a Top 25 Women Leaders’ Luminary Award in 2021 and named her to its inaugural list of five Minority Healthcare Luminaries. Additionally, the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses honored her with its Living Legends Award.

In 2020, Dr. Malone received the University of Cincinnati’s Linda Bates Parker Legend Award, was named an Honorary Member of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, and received a special award of distinction from the NLN Board of Governors. She was also bestowed the Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award by the National Center for Healthcare Leadership and was conferred the AAN’s highest nursing honor, “Living Legend.” From 1996 to 2000, Dr. Malone served two terms as president of the ANA, representing 180,000 nurses in the U.S.

Dr. Malone has earned additional accolades, including the Florence Nightingale Award, induction into the National Alliance for Care at Home Home Care and Hospice Hall of Fame, and induction into the Nursing Hall of Fame at Tuskegee University in Alabama. She received the Fellowship Ad Eundem of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Dr. Malone has been awarded more than 20 honorary doctorates – both domestically and abroad – including from Georgetown University.

Dr. Malone served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton and earlier as a member of his Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry. She is frequently called upon by congressional leaders and policymakers to offer subject matter expertise and public testimony on strategies for nursing workforce development and mitigating nursing shortages that threaten health care delivery across the U.S. in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.

A recognized global leader, Dr. Malone served as General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) of the United Kingdom (UK). The RCN’s membership of 400,000 nurses constitutes the world’s largest professional nurses’ union, and Dr. Malone shattered barriers as the first American of color to hold the role of General Secretary. Leveraging this influential position, Dr. Malone served as a member of the UK delegation to the World Health Assembly; the Commonwealth Nurses Federation; and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. She also served as Vice Chair of the Brussels-based European Federation of Nurses Association. Furthermore, she has the distinguished honor of her portrait being displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Dr. Debra J. Barksdale currently serves as the Dean at the UNC Greensboro School of Nursing. Her academic journey includes earning a PhD from the University of Michigan, an MSN from Howard University, and a BSN from the University of Virginia. Furthering her expertise, she obtained a Post-Master's Certificate in teaching from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Dr. Barksdale is a certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) and holds esteemed fellowship positions in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the NLN Academy of Nursing Education, the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (Luminary fellow), and the prestigious American Academy of Nursing, where she currently serves as President.

Dr. Barksdale has a rich history of engagement in healthcare policy and leadership programs. She is a former Department of Health and Human Services Primary Health Care Policy Fellow and a fellow of the Wharton AACN Executive Leadership Program. Additionally, she contributed significantly as a Translational Research Fellow with the Wilder School of Government and Public Policy at VCU.

Her leadership extends beyond academia, as evidenced by her past presidency at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Dr. Barksdale is also an alumna of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program.

In her commitment to advancing healthcare, Dr. Barksdale served on the Veterans Choice Act Blue Ribbon Panel, tasked with transforming the Veteran Administration (VA) into an effective 21st-century model of service. She was appointed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office to the Board of Governors for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) under President Obama, where she chaired the Engagement, Dissemination, and Implementation Committee.

Dr. Barksdale's research focus lies in stress and cardiovascular disease among Black Americans. Her notable study, 'Hypertension in Black Americans: Environment, Behavior, and Biology,' received funding from the National Institute of Health. Additionally, she is a passionate advocate for inclusive excellence and has delivered impactful presentations, including a TEDx Talk titled "Rising from the Mud." She was also recently feature on WGHP Fox 8 in a segment entitled Good For Her.

She is frequently featured in news outlets, television, publications, and even podcasts.  Committed to driving innovation and leadership, Dr. Barksdale continues to champion advancements in education, practice, research, policy, advocacy, and healthcare leadership.

Dr. Ernest J. Grant is an Associate Professor and Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Duke University School of Nursing. He is also the immediate past president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the nation’s largest nurse’s organization representing the interests of the nation’s 5.3 million registered nurses. He is the first man to be elected to the office of president of the ANA in its 128 years of existence.

A distinguished leader, Dr. Grant is an internationally recognized burn-care and fire-safety expert. For the past four years in a row, Dr. Grant has been recognized by Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of 50 Influential Clinical Executives in Healthcare and as one of 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. He has been nationally recognized for his work addressing racism, equity, and inclusion within the nursing profession. Modern Healthcare named him as one of 2023 Top Diversity Leaders.

In 2002, President George W. Bush presented Grant with a Nurse of the Year Award for his work treating burn victims from the World Trade Center site. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Grant holds a BSN degree from NCCU and MSN and PhD degrees from the UNC-Greensboro.

Ena currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Yale New Haven Health, a position she assumed in February of 2025. Prior to that she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing officer for Yale New Haven Hospital. Her nursing journey began in Jamaica where she was trained at the University Hospital of the West Indies. She has served as a clinical nurse, nurse manager and nursing director in Jamaica before migrating to the United States. She joined the team at Yale New Haven Hospital in 1992 and has served in several capacities such as staff nurse, coordinator, nurse manager and nursing director in perioperative service. In 2011 she transitioned to the role of VP and Associate Chief Nursing Officer, then progressing to the CNO in 2018. She is the first nurse of color to serve as nursing director, VP and Associate Chief Nurse, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President and System Chief Nurse Executive.

During her tenure, she has led the pioneering of new and innovative nursing practices, designing of OR facilities, nursing professional governance structures, magnet designations and nurse residency program accreditations. Yale New Haven Health nurses have been recognized for their exemplary practices both locally and nationally. 

She has a bachelor’s degree in Individual Studies, A bachelor’s in nursing, a master’s in management, a master’s in business administration (MBA), a master’s in philosophy and a PhD in management. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing from the NBNA, a GE Nurse Executive Fellow, Fellowship in the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses (SEINA) and a graduate of the Johnson and Johnson Nurse Executive Innovation Fellowship. 

She has been recognized by numerous organizations for her contributions to nursing and the community, is certified in executive nursing practice (CENP) from the American Organization of Nursing Leadership and is a published author and national speaker. Ena currently serves on the board of the Joint Commission and President of the American Organization of Nursing Leadership board of directors, with a membership of nearly 12,000 and she is the second nurse of color to serve in this capacity.  She was recognized as one of 50 top Clinical Executives in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare in 2024. 

Dr. Felesia R. Bowen is a nationally recognized nurse scientist, decorated Army veteran, and influential leader in pediatric health and health equity. She began her nursing career as an officer in the United States Army Nurse Corps, serving in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where she earned multiple military honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars.

Dr. Bowen is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and an accomplished scholar whose research focuses on child health equity, toxic stress, and structural determinants of health. Her program of research has been supported by federal, foundation, and philanthropic funding, and her work is widely published in high‑impact journals across nursing, pediatrics, and health equity.

She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) for her contributions to child-health and health disparities; a Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (FADLN) for her leadership in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and a forthcoming Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) in recognition of her national impact as a pediatric nurse practitioner and advocate.

Dr. Bowen currently serves as President of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), where she leads national initiatives focused on child health equity, advanced practice nursing excellence, and workforce diversity. She has also served on influential advisory boards and national committees, including the American Academy of Nursing’s Fellow Selection Committee, the National Advisory Committee for the Environmental Health Research Institute for Nurse Scientists, and multiple national DEI and policy working groups.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Bowen has influenced the next generation of nursing scholars and clinical leaders through her teaching, leadership, and commitment to inclusive excellence. As Associate Dean for Access & Engagement at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, she leads transformative initiatives to expand pathways into nursing and advance equity across education, practice, and community partnerships.

Dr. Bowen earned her BS in Nursing from Tuskegee University, MS in Parent and Child Nursing from Rutgers University, PhD in Nursing from Columbia University, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Across her career, Dr. Bowen has been known for her courage, her scholarly rigor, and her unwavering advocacy on behalf of children, families, and the nursing profession.

G. Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, FAAN, is the American Nurses Association Senior Equity Advisor. She also is a professor in the School of Nursing, Assistant Dean of Relational Excellence at the Adams School of Dentistry and formerly the Associate Vice -Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion/ Chief Diversity Officer of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At the end of 2019, she completed her presidency of the National League for Nursing, the national voice for nursing education which has over 40,000 nurse educators and 1200 schools of nursing. In February of 2021, she became the American Nurses Association’s Scholar-In-Residence and advises the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing and continues do so to this day. The North Carolina Nurses Association inducted her in September of 2025 into their Hall of Fame and a month later she was recognized with the distinction of being one of North Carolina’s Great 100 Nurses. 

Additionally, Dr. Alexander is a board member of The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers and the nation’s premier advocate of transparency in health care.

Included in her nursing career are appointments to several transformative healthcare initiatives addressing diversity, equity and inclusion including the Commission of Workforce for Hospitals and Health Systems of the American Hospital Association the Tri-Council of Nursing, and the National Quality Forum’s steering committee which developed the first national voluntary consensus standards for nursing-sensitive care.  

Dr. Alexander is a first-generation college graduate and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, a Master of Science in Nursing /Family Nurse Practitioner Program from Vanderbilt University and a Doctorate in Education, Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University-Nashville

Dr. Katie Boston-Leary is the Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association addressing DEIAB and workforce challenges within the profession. Katie sits on numerous boards and national committees in nursing and healthcare including St John’s University, Black Male Nurse Leaders (NBMNL) Board of Directors and is an editorial advisory board member with Nursing Management, Nursing 2025, OADN and ACHE. Katie leads the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Forum an organized ANA’s inaugural Equity Summit in Washington, DC. 

Katie is a 2024 ICN Global Nurse Leaders Institute Scholar and was previously identified in by Health Leaders Media as “One of Five Chief Nursing Officers Changing Healthcare”. She also won the ICABA TD Bank 2023 Woman of Impact award, the 2024 Spectrum Circle Award for Innovation in Health and won the 2025 National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) President’s Trailblazer Award. She was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow at the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing with the NBNA, is a Fellow with American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL), the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She was recently named as an honored listee on Marquis’ Who’s Who in America.

Katie authored two chapters in The Sage Encyclopedia of Multicultural Counseling, Social Justice, and Advocacy, the first encyclopedia focused on racism and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Katie was also featured in the award-winning documentary film, Everybody’s Work funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She recently co-authored a Sigma published book titled Harmony by Design, Navigating Work and Life in Healthcare.

She has conducted research on care delivery models, time allocation, nurses’ well-being, racism and civilized oppression in nursing with Quint Studer, Joslin Insight and McKinsey. She is a well-known speaker internationally with many publications, podcasts and national outlets namely CNBC, NY Times, Cheddar TV, Axios, Beckers, Forbes, Bloomberg News and on NBC’s Today Show. She completed her PhD at Walden University in Health Services, obtained a dual degree MBA and MHA from the University of Maryland Global Campus and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bowie State University in Maryland.  She is a board-certified Nurse Executive and obtained a nurse executive leadership certificate from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kristi Reguin-Hartman, DNP, APRN, ACNS‑BC, is a Clinical Transformation Manager at Philips, recognized for her leadership in clinical innovation, education, and operational excellence. She leads enterprise‑level clinical and consultative services, driving workflow optimization, technology adoption, and outcomes improvement across major healthcare systems. 

With more than two decades of experience—from acute care nursing to advanced practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, healthcare product management, and executive program leadership—she has shaped large‑scale clinical transformation initiatives, national education programs, and evidence‑based practice models. Kristi serves as President of the Academy of Medical‑Surgical Nurses (2025–2027) and is a frequent national presenter on leadership, clinical excellence, and advocacy.

Michael L. Jones, PhD, MBA/HCM, RN, FAAN is a doctorally prepared nurse executive and nationally recognized leader in academic nursing, population health, and healthcare administration. He currently serves as Associate Dean for Culture, Engagement, and Professional Development and Executive Director for Advancement at East Carolina University College of Nursing, where he founded and leads inaugural offices supporting faculty success, leadership development, alumni relations, communications, and philanthropy.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Jones serves on the Academy’s Fellow Selection Committee, helping steward one of nursing’s highest professional honors. He also holds prominent national leadership roles with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, including Chair of the Access, Connection, and Engagement Leadership Network and Co-Chair of the Nurses’ Health Study 3 Advisory Board, one of the largest longitudinal studies examining the health of nurses.

Dr. Jones’s scholarship and funded work focus on workforce development, leadership preparation, community-engaged research, and academic–practice partnerships. He has held senior leadership roles across academic institutions, health systems, and national organizations and is widely invited to speak on leadership, professional development, and advancing the nursing profession.

Melissa “Missy” Moreda is a self-described nursing enthusiast and a dedicated leader in nursing practice, education, and professional service. She serves within the Duke Health system as a neuroscience nurse and is currently the Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist at Duke Raleigh Hospital. Grounded in the belief that “Neuro is Diabetes, and Diabetes is Neuro it is all blood vessels and nerves,” she brings a distinctive and integrative perspective to patient care and nursing education. Missy has presented locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on a range of neuroscience and diabetes nursing topics and has published in both textbooks and peer-reviewed journals.

A committed professional leader, Missy is an active member of multiple nursing organizations and has served in numerous leadership roles, including previous service as an AANN Director-at-Large and as an ABNN Board Trustee. She currently serves as President-Elect of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. She holds four nursing certifications and was an inaugural member of the SCRN test development committee, helping to shape certification standards in stroke care nursing.

Her excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Duke Friends of Nursing Award for Nursing Education, the Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina, the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing Certified Neuroscience Nurse of the Year Award, and the ECU Nursing Preceptor of the Year Award. Missy is passionate about connecting with others, cultivating new paths, and growing flowers personally and professionally.

Dr. Nicole Williams is a distinguished nursing leader and expert in licensure assessment and nursing regulation, serving as Director of Content and Test Development within the Examinations department at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). In this role, she oversees the strategic development of national nursing licensure examinations that ensure the competency and safety of nursing practice across the United States and Canada. 

With more than 30 years in nursing, Dr. Williams brings deep insight into the evolving needs of the profession—particularly at the transition from academic preparation to professional practice. She is board-certified in Nurse Executive Advanced and Nursing Professional Development, reflecting her expertise in workforce development, leadership, and regulatory practice. 

Dr. Williams has been at the forefront of integrating entry-level clinical judgment into the fabric of nursing licensure and assessment. She has led and presented seminal research on how clinical judgment manifests in early practice and how licensure exams like the NCLEX should measure that critical competence. Her work explores the intersection of real-world decision-making by newly licensed nurses and the psychometric strategies used to assess safe and effective practice, helping shape evidence-based regulatory standards and educational expectations. 

As a respected speaker and researcher, Dr. Williams frequently presents at national conferences, sharing insights on exam development, entry-level practice expectations, and the role of clinical judgment in protecting public health. Her leadership continues to influence the next generation of nursing professionals and strengthen the foundation of safe, competent patient care.