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NCLEX Success Specialist, Unitek Learning
Susan Griffitts, MSN, RN, FCN has over 18 years of experience in nursing education, clinical practice (including simulation), exam development and NCLEX success. She specializes in oncology/hematology and nurse education. She has served as a faculty member at Ozarks Technical Community College and Southwest Baptist University. Mrs. Griffitts is passionate about holistic nursing and has contributed to numerous policy initiatives supporting all levels of nursing education. She holds two Masters of Nursing (MSN) degrees, specializing in Nursing Education and Faith Community Nursing from Southwest Baptist University and is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau.
Owner & Consultant, LeaderStrong Consulting, LLC
Lisa Albensi earned her Master of Science in Nursing in Community Health Nursing from the University of Kentucky and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Creighton University. With over 20 years of global experience in healthcare operations across the USA and Canada, she has excelled in hospital and clinic management, executive leadership, and nursing education. As a published author and conference speaker, Lisa has contributed to research on patient safety and innovative healthcare practices. Currently, she serves as a Senior Real-World Evidence Study Manager and Advisory Board Member, continuing to drive excellence and innovation in healthcare.
Associate Professor & BSN Program Director, Pace University
Dr. Stephanie B. Allen, PhD, RN, has over 25 years of experience in nursing education and clinical practice. She is an Associate Professor and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Director at Pace University. Dr. Allen chairs the undergraduate curriculum committee and has in-depth knowledge and current experience in curriculum review, revision, development and implementation. Dr. Allen’s clinical foci are maternal-infant and leadership. Her research interests include the nurse-patient assignment process and Bodyknowledging. Dr. Allen serves as the faculty advisor to Pace’s chapter of the National Student Nurses Association where she develops nursing’s future leaders. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the University of South Carolina, serves as the treasurer of the Omega Delta Chapter of Sigma, and is an active member of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and ANA-New York.
Senior Vice President and Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Advocate Health
Dr. Dus has spent over 40 years in healthcare with the majority being in progressive leadership positions. Prior roles include nurse educator, nursing supervisor, manager, director, Associate Chief Nursing Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. In 2016, she moved to Chicago to work for Advocate Health Care to be the System Vice President of Nursing Education, Practice and Innovation and she is currently the Chief Nursing Officer for the 28 hospitals in Chicago and Wisconsin. Her role is to set the strategic plan, oversee nursing quality, professional development, workforce and wellness. She received her BS in Biology from John Carroll University, her DNP from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. She is on the Board of Governors for the National League of Nursing.
Interim Director, Patient Safety, UCSF Health
An accomplished healthcare executive with over two decades of international and domestic experience in quality improvement, risk management, and patient safety, Michelle has led patient safety initiatives across diverse healthcare settings, from major U.S. hospitals to global institutions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. She has a proven track record of implementing strategic programs that enhance clinical quality, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. As a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and Patient Safety (CPPS), Michelle is a recognized leader in fostering cultures of safety, process optimization, and stakeholder engagement to drive excellence in healthcare delivery.
She holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from the University of Illinois and a Master’s in Business Administration from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, and she is certified in healthcare quality (CPHQ) and patient safety (CPPS).
Michelle lives in Erie, Colorado, with her fluffy Corgi, Enzo. She loves spending time with her sons in Southern California and London, England. She loves traveling, wine tasting, writing, photography, and nature.
Regional Director of Nursing, Consulate Healthcare
Sharon Jackson is an internationally educated nurse and transformative healthcare leader whose journey from Antique, Philippines to the United States showcases her unwavering courage, resilience, and commitment to making a profound impact. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Silliman University and a Master of Science in Nursing from Xavier University in Cincinnati, she has confidently taken on pivotal roles in long-term care and acute settings, driving success from launching a startup in Singapore to leading nursing teams as an Educator, National Clinical Informatics Specialist, Director of Nursing, and Regional DON in the U.S. Her career reflects a strong commitment to ethical leadership and advocacy, particularly for internationally educated nurses, and she has played a key role in implementing best practices that elevate patient safety and organizational excellence. Currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses in North America and as a John Maxwell Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer, Sharon is determined to continue inspiring change through her impactful teaching, mentoring, and motivational speaking engagements.
NCLEX Success Specialist, Unitek Learning
Kristina McKinney, MSN, RN, CNE has over 30 years of experience in healthcare. Her experience includes medical-surgical clinical practice, hospital management, and currently nursing education. Her passion and expertise in item writing helped in the advancement of centralized testing at Galen College of Nursing, as well as assisting students at Unitek Learning to prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Kristina is enthusiastic about nursing education and helping individuals become caring, compassionate, and competent nurses. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), with a focus on nursing education, from Spalding University in Louisville, KY in 2013 and obtained her Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credentials from the National League for Nursing in 2015. She is an active member of the Spalding University’s Iota Gamma Sigma chapter and served as chapter President from 2021-2024.
Regional Director of Nursing for the Pacific Northwest: Telecare Corp
Dr. Carlo A. Piraino has worked in and around healthcare for over 40 years. He grew up in hospitals, working in non-clinical areas such as Housekeeping, Dietary, Engineering, and Admissions before becoming a Hospital Corpsman and a Nursing Assistant. In 1988 he graduated from Nursing School with an Associates and subsequently returned to school to obtain a BSN, a MSN, and in 2013 he received a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from George Washington University. Carlo has over 20 years experience at the CNO level and has served as a Consultant and Interim leader since his retirement from Federal Service. Currently Carlo works in the Pacific Northwest as a Regional Director of Nursing.
Nurse Educator
Jessie Wheatley, DHSc, MSN, RN, is an accomplished nursing educator, exam developer, and clinical practitioner with over 20 years of experience. Specializing in nursing education, assessment, NCLEX success, and global nursing education initiatives, Dr. Wheatley has made significant contributions to curriculum development and assessment at institutions such as Galen College of Nursing, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, LeTourneau University, and Unitek Learning. She has also served as an NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN faculty member, item writer, and subject matter expert for several prominent test prep companies. Passionate about advancing critical thinking in nursing education, Dr. Wheatley’s research focuses on NCLEX success rates, NCLEX and nursing school test development, and global nursing education needs. She holds a Doctor of Health Sciences degree from A.T. Still University and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Liberty University. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Wheatley is actively involved in academic administration, consultations, textbook reviews, and various volunteer initiatives.
Beatrice Hofstadter White Endowed Chair for Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Innovation at Nuvance Health System and Sacred Heart University
Dr. Jasper Erwin Tolarba is the inaugural Beatrice Hofstadter White Endowed Chair for Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Innovation at Nuvance Health System and Sacred Heart University. He was the first internationally educated nurse to serve as Director at the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. His clinical roles include leadership positions at Tufts Medical Center, Aya Healthcare, Yale New Haven Hospital, and Saint Mary's Hospital.
A 2019-2020 Fulbright Fellow to Jordan, Dr. Tolarba completed a DNP in Systems and Health Policy at Yale University and is pursuing an EdD in Nursing Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He founded the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses in North America (SIENNA).
Dr. Tolarba holds multiple certifications and fellowships, including CGNC, CNE, FACHE, FFNMRCSI, and FAAN. He is the 2024-2027 Sigma Theta Tau International Liaison to the United Nations, representing over 100,000 nurses worldwide in healthcare discussions.