President-Elect Candidates, Secretary Candidates, & Bylaw Amendments

Question Title

* 1. PRESIDENT ELECT CANDIDATES:
Review candidate information below and select one person as your choice

Allison Huffman, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

BIO:

Allison Huffman currently works as an NP at the Community Health Clinic of McKinney and also is the Director of Health for the non-profit Beyond the Light Project. She has served 6 years on the conference Planning Committee for the NTNP spring conference as well as chair for the conference Poster Committee for 5 years. Allison has also participated in leadership statewide on the TNP Education Committee for 2 years as well as currently serving as a TNP Legislative Ambassador. Through her previous 8 year term as full time graduate faculty at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) she served on multiple committees as well as held leadership positions such as chair for the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee as well as Track Coordinator for the TWU Dallas FNP program. She currently is finishing a 2-year term as the 2018-2020 NTNP treasurer.

MESSAGE to VOTERS:

Hello, fellow NPs and future NPs! My name is Allison Huffman and I am running for the president elect position for NTNP this year. I believe I have a good foundation in NP leadership, practice, and education and would be a good candidate for this position. We face many issues right now, and the picture can be grim, but I think as a group of NPs we are in a unique position to be able to have a positive impact on things such the challenge of COVID 19, discrimination, and disparities in healthcare and nursing education. Through my work with TNP I also would like to help our group stay engaged as advocates for representing NPs in legislative issues.  It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as NTNP treasurer, and I hope to be given a chance to serve as your president-elect. Thank you!

Question Title

* 2. TREASURER CANDIDATES:
Review candidate information below and select one person as your choice.

Ethany Howden DNP, APRN, FNP-C

BIO
Currently serve as faculty advisor for Baylor Student Nurses Association (BSNA).  This role includes advising student organization treasurer on the role of treasurer including accounting policies and documentation as well as establishing and maintaining organization bank account.  Previously served on clinic provider board for Navarro Medical Associates Pediatric Clinic as clinic applied and received designation as a rural health clinic. This role included navigating requirements to obtain rural health clinic designation.

MESSAGE to VOTERS:
It is with enthusiasm that I submit my information for consideration for the position of NTNP treasurer. As a member, I have enjoyed the collegiality, community involvement, continuing education and advocacy NTNP provides for nurse practitioners. I am interested in becoming more involved in NTNP and helping further the community and advocacy this organization provides nurse practitioners. Below is a short biography and summary of previous leadership experience I feel uniquely qualify me for the position of treasurer. Thank you for your consideration.

Cheryl Ann Thaxton, DNP, APRN, CPNP, FNP-BC, CHPPN, ACHPN, FPCN

BIO
Dr. Thaxton is the DNP Program Director/APRN Clinical Tracks at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). She has over 28 years of experience in nursing which includes several years of experience in critical care, palliative care, primary care, nursing leadership, curriculum development, program development and as school of nursing faculty. Dr. Thaxton has devoted several years of her career to research surrounding the specific needs of children and adults with life-limiting illnesses. She has served as National Faculty for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) for several years.  Dr. Thaxton has also served in the past as membership chair for a chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). Dr. Thaxton is one of the founding members/former program coordinator for the Duke Children’s Pediatric Quality of Life Team in Durham, North Carolina. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) and she has served on the national exam development committee for the pediatric palliative care certification exam. In 2019, Dr. Thaxton received the D Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award and she was also 
she was also designated as a Fellow in Palliative Care Nursing (FPCN) which is bestowed upon HPNA members who have made significant contributions to HPNA, the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) and/or the
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF). She was recently selected to Co-Chair for the Pediatric Palliative Care Task Force for the National Coalition of Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Thaxton has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) to help influence health policy and support for patients and has led community fundraising activities for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Dr. Thaxton enjoys gardening, playing the violin, free-lance writing, and spending time with her family on her spare time.

MESSAGE to VOTERS:
I am excited to run for the NTNP Treasurer seat. I am motivated to work hard to support the responsibilities of the role in addition to upholding the standards that maintain funding of student scholarships and awards. I have a strong background in leadership, research, advance practice and a good understanding of the responsibilities of the Treasurer role. 

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