2026 Elections: Nominating Committee

Vote for up to three candidates. Click on each candidate to view their full candidate profile.

An APNA Nominating Committee member serves on the committee for one year. View Full Nominating Committee Description & Qualifications

• Duties Include: Reviewing the nominations submitted and preparing a proposed slate of candidates based on considerations such as geography, gender, professional experience, and racial diversity in order to achieve a balanced Board of Directors reflective of the membership.
• Qualifications Include: Knowledge of trends and issues influencing APNA programs, projects, and services; ability to work in a small group as a team member; willingness to commit the time necessary to fulfill the expectations of the role.

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Candidates

2027 Nominating Committee

Susan Brammer, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN

Present Position
Professor Emerita, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati

Education
2000 PhD, University of Cincinnati
1994 MSN, University of Cincinnati
1985 MA, Ohio State University
1979 BSN, Ohio State University

APNA Contributions

• 2023-present, Chair, Recovery Council Steering Committee
• September 2025, Author, APNA News, Recovery in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: From a Personal Journey to What’s Next
• June 2025, Co-author, APNA News, Using Respectful Language to Improve the Patient-Provider Relationship
• 2021-2025; 2013-2017, Southwest Regional Representative, Ohio Chapter
• 2005, 2014, 2016-2024, Presenter and Co-presenter, APNA National Conference
• 2023, Co-author, JAPNA, Storytelling: A powerful tool to revive resilience and create contagious positivity in the PMH workforce
• 2022-2023, Telemental Health Task Force
• 2011-2023, Member, Recovery Council Steering Committee
• 2019-2022, Conference Planning Chair, Ohio Chapter
• 2019, Co-author, JAPNA, Telehealth in psychiatric nursing education: Lessons from the field
• 2018-2019, Recovery to Practice Facilitator
• 2017-2019; 2010-2011, President, Ohio Chapter
• 2018, Nominating Committee
• 2016, Presenter, Ohio Chapter Conference

Other Experience

• 2024-present, Member, Board of Trustees, Health Resource Center (nurse- managed mental health clinic, Cincinnati, Ohio)
• 2022-present, Member, American Academy of Nursing, Psychiatric, Mental Health & Substance Use Thought Collaborative (formerly Mental Health Substance Use Expert Panel)
• 2005-present, Volunteer, NAMI Southwest Ohio (2025-present, Ending the Silence presenter, 2016-present, Information and Referral Specialist; 2019-2022, Chair, Advisory Council; 2008-2009, President, Board of Directors, 2005, Secretary, Board of Directors)

APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because my extensive experience as a PMH nurse within APNA, in clinical practice, and academia positions me to identify strong candidates who will champion our members and broaden the impact of our organization. As someone living with a mental health condition, I also don’t lose sight of why we are doing this work in the first place.

Leadership skills are crucial for Board members and Nominating Committee members. I have served in several leadership positions within APNA, such as the current Chair of the Recovery Council Steering Committee and twice as President of the Ohio Chapter. Outside of APNA, as Principal Investigator of multimillion-dollar grants, I engendered trust, a commitment to excellence, and enthusiasm among my team.

In respectfully asking for your vote, I pledge to work with my Nominating Committee colleagues to prepare a slate of candidates that is inclusive, experienced, and represents the vision and values of APNA.

I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by utilizing my knowledge and expertise in mental health recovery, research, and education in my role on the Nominating Committee and on a personal level. I taught ADN through DNP students for 27 years, and during that time, also conducted and disseminated research through publications and national presentations. My work in academia and as a mental health recovery expert have been published in JAPNA and APNA News.

Not only can I view them through the lens of science and education. I will contribute on a personal level to APNA’s efforts to promote science and education by continuing to engage in recovery and other projects with my APNA colleagues and disseminating them through conferences and publications.

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2027 Nominating Committee

Martina R. Gallagher, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Present Position
Professor & Department Chair for Undergraduate Studies
Florence Thelma Hall Distinguished Professor in Nursing

Education
2019 Post-Master’s PMHNP- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
2005 PhD – University of Texas Heath Science at San Antonio
2021 BSN – MSN University of Texas Heath Science Center
1995 AA – Behavioral Science-San Antonio College
1990 Diploma in Nursing-Baptist School of Professional Nursing

APNA Contributions

• Administrative Council – Steering Committee – 2022
• Education Council – Advisory Panel
• Research & Scholarship Council – Advisory Panel
• Telemental Health Task Force 2022
• Research Grant Review Committee – 2024 & 2025
• Scholarly Review Committee – 2024

Other Experience

• 2024 Chair of the Membership Committee for the Texas Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Association.

APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because I  bring a transparent, equity-focused, and data-informed leadership approach grounded in mentorship, innovation, and a deep commitment to advancing psychiatric-mental health nursing. I am passionate about building sustainable leadership pipelines that identify and cultivate diverse nurse leaders whose expertise, values, and vision will strengthen APNA’s mission, governance, and impact for the future. My leadership style blends intellectual curiosity with grounded pragmatism. I lead by asking hard questions, following evidence wherever it goes, and inviting others into the collaborative process of problem-solving and innovation. I value transparency, accountability, and creative experimentation because meaningful progress often emerges at the intersection of disciplined thinking and courageous imagination. As a member of the Nominations Committee, I would bring a thoughtful, strategic, and mission-centered approach to identifying leaders who can effectively guide APNA into the future.

I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by helping fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and educational organization by advancing evidence-based psychiatric-mental health nursing through fostering scholarship, mentorship, and the implementation of innovative educational strategies that support our membership. I am deeply passionate about improving mental health care and preparing future nurse leaders to deliver culturally responsive, compassionate care while translating emerging knowledge, including AI and telehealth, into psychiatric-mental health nursing practice and education. This experience would allow me to contribute meaningfully to the Nominations Committee by identifying and supporting leaders whose expertise, values, and vision align with APNA’s mission and future strategic needs.

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2027 Nominating Committee

Erica Skarda Ramey, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Present Position
Associate Professor, PMHNP Graduate Program, UAB SON; Medical Director, Auburn Psychological Wellness Center; Consultant, Alabama Psychiatric Medication Review Team

Education
PhD: (Completion August 2026), William Carey University
DNP: Vanderbilt University, 2018
MSN: University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2013
BSN: Auburn University at Montgomery, 2010
ADN: Southern Union State Community College, 2007

APNA Contributions

• Eight-year APNA member.
• Presented at seven consecutive APNA conferences (two preconferences/five podium presentations).
• Developed Mental Wellness for PMH Nurses module of APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate Program (2023). Updating module for 2026.
• Member Education Council – Graduate Branch

Other Experience

• Past chair of Alabama State Nurses Association Legislative Committee and Ethics and Human Rights Committee.
• Committee member of BigHouse Foundation Board since 2018.
• Consultant for Alabama Psychiatric Medication Review Team for nearly ten years.

APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because I have spent my career learning what good psychiatric nursing leadership looks like and I genuinely care about who carries our profession forward. PMH nurses do work that is demanding, nuanced, and too often underrecognized. We sit with people at their most vulnerable and make complex clinical decisions that change the course of their lives. We serve individuals, families, and communities who deserve care that is responsive to who they are and where they come from. We show up in policy spaces to ensure our patients are not forgotten when decisions are made about systems meant to serve them. We train the next generation to do the same. That work deserves an organization led by people who understand it from the inside, and a Nominating Committee committed to finding them. I evaluate candidates for advanced nursing programs every day and assess competency, professional identity, readiness, and potential. I do not take that responsibility lightly and would bring the same care to this role. Eight years of APNA membership, seven conferences, and direct contributions to educational programs have given me a real understanding of what this organization needs in its leaders. APNA has shaped my career. Serving on this committee is how I give back.

I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by bringing a perspective grounded in practice, education, research, and service to the work of identifying strong candidates for APNA leadership. I work across a graduate nursing program, a community psychiatric practice, and a statewide medication review team serving children in foster care. That breadth helps me recognize effective leadership across different contexts. The leaders APNA needs are those who elevate our specialty, ensure that the people we serve receive care that meets them where they are, and advocate for systems that reflect our best clinical knowledge. I am proud of what psychiatric nurses do and the science we build, the students we develop, and the patients who trust us with their care. APNA’s future depends on leaders who share that pride and can speak to our specialty with expertise and authenticity. I will approach every candidate evaluation with fairness, rigor, and respect for what this organization stands for. Psychiatric nurses deserve leadership that reflects the best of who we are, and I am committed to helping APNA find it.

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2027 Nominating Committee

Tracee Ridley-Pryor, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Present Position
Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Director of Research and Collaborative Strategies

Education
2016: DNP, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
2010: MSN, University of Memphis
2006: BSN, West Suburban College of Nursing
2003: BS, Biological Sciences

APNA Contributions

• 2024-present, President, TN Chapter

• 2022-2024, President-Elect, TN Chapter

• 2021-present, Child & Adolescent Council, Steering Committee

• 2021-present, Research & Scholarship Council, Steering Committee

• 2021-2022, Nominating Committee, TN Chapter

Other Experience

• 2026 – Board Chair, Girls on the Run, Memphis

• 2025-2026 – Vice Chair, Girls on the Run Memphis

• 2025-present, Epilepsy Alliance, National Professional Advisory Committee

• 2022-2024, American Epilepsy Society, Advanced Practice Provider Committee

• 2022-2024, American Epilepsy Society, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee

APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because the role of a nominating committee member aligns with my foundational core values of integrity and credibility, qualities that communicate, trust and alignment. My first role as a TN Chapter Leader was on the Nominating Committee. My experience in this role and, managing transitions, endorsed the value of proper oversight to ensure the continued success of APNA.

I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by deploying my operational and interpersonal skills to safeguard the selection of candidates that demonstrate, 1) a desire to serve, advance and promote PMH nursing, 2) possess a commitment to improving mental health for all individuals and 3) contribute to shaping health policy for the delivery of mental health services.

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2027 Nominating Committee

Zachary P. Ulrich, JD, MDR, MA, PMH-BC, CPRP, PMHNP-BC, NMIT

Present Position
PMHNP, Private Practice
Didactic and Clinical Instructor, University of Colorado College of Nursing

Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice (in progress), Vanderbilt University
PhD, Nursing Sciences: Biobehavioral, Cognitive Behavioral, and Neuroscience (in progress), University of Colorado College of Nursing
Juris Doctor, Pepperdine School of Law
MSN, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Purdue University
BSN, Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences
MA Psychology, Pepperdine University
Master of Dispute Resolution Studies, Pepperdine School of Law

APNA Contributions

• Member-at-Large, APNA Colorado Chapter
• Council for Mental Health Advocacy – Advisory Panel
• Scope & Standards of PMH Nursing Practice Council – Advisory Panel
• Seclusion & Restraint Task Force – Advisory Panel
• Presenter at APNA Annual Conference (2)

Other Experience

• Division Director, Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy & Financing (Medicaid agency)
• Regional Manager, Continuum of Colorado, Inc. human services nonprofit
• Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate Professor, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Law

APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because I bring a dynamic, dual-lens perspective, as a former attorney and current Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, to empower APNA’s core purposes. We stand at the precipice of a transformative era in psychiatric practice, propelled by groundbreaking advancements in neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and novel therapeutics. I firmly believe that psychiatric-mental health nurses must not simply adapt to this paradigm shift—we must lead it. My leadership background equips me to identify and nominate visionary leaders who can dissect complex health policies, anticipate shifting regulatory frameworks, and root their advocacy in the urgent, daily realities of patient care. Anchored by a servant leadership philosophy, my goal is to build a slate of candidates ready to strategically navigate legislative landscapes, dismantle barriers to practice, and advocate fiercely for both our profession and the culturally diverse communities we serve.

I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by: bringing a forward-looking, innovative vision to the Nominating Committee, championing leaders who prioritize expanded educational resources and rigorous research initiatives. My advisory roles and my frontline clinical practice have taught me that ensuring evidence-based, compassionate care requires elevating leaders who bridge the gap between academic research, national policy, and clinical application. By identifying candidates with a proven ability to advance our shared clinical and academic missions, I will work to ensure APNA remains the premier driving force in equipping nurses to master emerging clinical frontiers, such as psychedelic-assisted therapies. I am dedicated to actively listening to the diverse perspectives of our membership and removing barriers to professional development. By selecting visionary leaders, we can strengthen the psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce; build more resilient, compassionate healthcare environments; and ensure our elected board defines and delivers the absolute highest caliber of modern psychiatric care.

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2027 Nominating Committee

Stephanie A. Verdeflor, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Present Position
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – Inpatient, Weill Cornell Medicine
APNA New York Chapter Treasurer

Education
Post-MS to Doctor of Nursing Practice, SUNY University at Buffalo, Graduation: 2027
Advanced Certificate – PMHNP, CUNY Hunter College, Graduation: 01/2022
Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator, Capella University, Graduation: 03/2017
RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing, The College of New Rochelle, Graduation: 06/2014

APNA Contributions

• Excellence in Leadership – RN Award Recipient in 2021
• Education Council – Advisory Panel
• Council for Mental Health Advocacy – Advisory Panel
• Personality Disorders Cluster B Task Force – Advisory Panel
• Suicide Prevention Training 2020 – Facilitator
• Annual Conference Podium 2019
• Poster Presenter 2018

Other Experience

• PMHNP from 2022 to present
• PMH RN from 2013 to 2022
• Panelist for The First Year Blueprint: Real Talk with PMHNPs of Color – 5/2026
• Panelist for Raising the Flag: Be Proud – Distinctive Role of Advanced Practice Nursing at Stonybrook University – June 2025
• Moderator at NYP First Annual Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Summit – 9/2024

APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because I bring over 13 years of experience across inpatient psychiatry, outpatient practice, nursing education, mentorship, and professional leadership, along with lived experiences that have deeply shaped both my personal and professional path. Losing my mother at a young age, navigating grief, and overcoming personal adversity gave me an early understanding of how important compassionate and accessible mental health care can be. Those experiences continue to influence the way I connect with patients, support colleagues and students, and approach leadership within psychiatric nursing.

Through my involvement with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, I have seen the importance of leadership that is collaborative, authentic, and reflective of the diverse experiences within our profession. I value creating spaces where psychiatric nurses across all career stages feel represented, supported, and encouraged to grow. I would approach this role with thoughtfulness, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to helping identify leaders who are engaged, forward-thinking, and dedicated to advancing psychiatric-mental health nursing.

I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by drawing from my experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, bedside RN, educator, mentor, and practice owner. I value supporting professional growth, evidence-based care, and meaningful collaboration within psychiatric nursing. My work across various mental health settings has shown me how many different paths there are within psychiatric-mental health nursing, and I hope to help highlight those possibilities for others entering or growing within the profession.

I am passionate about supporting the psychiatric-mental health nursing workforce, mentoring students and early-career clinicians, and helping improve mental health care for diverse populations. I value education, advocacy, and collaboration that strengthen both our profession and the communities we serve, and I would be honored to continue contributing to APNA’s mission through service and leadership.