I describe myself as a “governance geek.” I have been involved in the governance of local, state, and national non-profit associations throughout my adult life but for more than a decade now I have been focused in public health. My most recent governance service was as an elected member of the APHA Executive Board. In addition, I have been on the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Public Health Association (NHPHA) including serving as president and as the NHPHA Affiliate Representative to the Governing Council of APHA. I also served on the APHA Council of Affiliates as the Region 1 Representative, then as Secretary, Chair-Elect, Chair and (of course) Immediate Past Chair.
During my year as CoA Chair (2017), I began to work extensively with affiliated public health associations to ensure that PHAs have strong strategic work plans which align with the core strategies of APHA’s strategic plan. As of November, 2023, I had facilitated strategic planning with 20 affiliates.
I retired from a career as a public health nurse in 2011. For nearly 10 years, I directed a CDC grant to create and test community interventions to prevent diabetes in Latino communities in Southern New Hampshire. I also spent some time working for her local health department in immunizations organizing school-based flu immunization programs and creating educational materials to teach parents about the importance of getting vaccinated against whooping cough.