President

Kathy Shipp, MSN, APRN, FNP

Representing APRN Practice – Lubbock
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2029

Ms. Shipp is faculty at West Texas A&M University in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program and also works part-time as a nurse practitioner in a private family practice. She is a member of the Texas Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, and the Texas and South Plains Nurse Practitioner Association. She is also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, a volunteer with the Parkridge Pregnancy Center, a past speaker for Lubbock Teen Straight Talk, and was recently a member of the Texas Health Disparities Task Force. Ms. Shipp received a family nurse practitioner certificate from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from West Texas A & M.

Vice-President

Allison P Edwards, DrPH, MS, RN, CNE, CDDN

Representing BSN Education- Bellaire
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2027

Allison Edwards, DrPH, MS, RN, CNE, has served as a lead faculty in didactic and clinical courses of the bachelor of science Pacesetter program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) Cizik School of Nursing.

During her career at the UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing, Dr. Edwards has taught core courses in the RN-BSN program, including Professional Practice in Nursing, Community Health, Community Health Clinical Project, Issues in Professional Nursing, Management and Leadership, Synthesis, and Role Transition. She has also taught the Community and Public Health didactic and clinical courses, Health Assessment Lab, and Professional Practice and Leadership course for the Pacesetter BSN program. She has developed clinical affiliation agreements with: Baylor’s Transition Medicine Clinic; Shriner’s Hospital; Jewish Family Services: Celebration Company; RISE School; The Center for Pursuit; Spectra Energy; and Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, where she has mentored third-semester RN-BSN students, as well as third-semester Pacesetter BSN students. Her mentorship also includes Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student’s practicum and undergraduate BSN honors students.

She has worked in a variety of clinical, education and management roles including for-profit, not-for-profit, and managed care facilities. Her clinical experience encompasses operating room, pediatrics, medical-surgical, case management, primary care, triage, house supervisor, and school nursing.

Dr. Edwards is an honors graduate of The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and earned her master’s in Nursing Administration in 1992 at Texas Woman’s University in Houston. She received her doctoral degree from The UTHealth School of Public Health in 2006.

In 2015, she achieved Certification for Nurse Educators (CNE) and is a member of the Developmental Disability Nursing Association, American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities(AAIDD), Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education (ADHCE), American/Texas Nurses Association (ANA/TNA) and Sigma Theta Tau-Zeta Pi Chapter. She also serves on the Board of Governors for the Center for Pursuit. Dr. Edwards developed and is the coordinator of the Joan and Stanford Alexander endowment for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

In October 2020, she received the Hall of Fame award from the University of Texas Medical Branch for the disability fellowship she developed. In October 2022, Dr. Edwards received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) "Innovations in Professional Nursing Education for Health Science Centers" award for her disability fellowship.

Kathy Boswell, MSN, RN

Representing ADN Education - Mineral Wells
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2029

Ms. Boswell is the Dean of Health and Human Sciences for Weatherford College, where she founded the college’s Associate Degree in Nursing program in 2000. She is a member of the Texas Association of Deans and Directors of Professional Nursing Programs and Texas Association of Vocational Nurse Educators and a former member of the American Nursing Association. Additionally, she volunteers as the chairwoman of the City of Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation Board and for the American Red Cross Youth Swim Program. Ms. Boswell received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science from Texas Woman’s University.

Daryl Chambers, BBA

Consumer Member – Grand Prairie
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2027

Daryl Chambers works as a Financial Representative at 9Innings Capital Group LLC and previously served as Senior Analyst at Sixth Street and previously served roles as a Senior Accounting Analyst with Crestline Investors and TPG. Mr. Chambers received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from Texas Christian University and is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants.

Laura Disque, MSN, RN, CGRN

Representing RN Practice- Pharr
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2025

Ms. Disque serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at HCA Rio Grande Regional Hospital in South Texas. She has served her community as a Registered Nurse for over 28 years. She is a member of the American Organization for Nurse Leaders, American Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, and the American Hospital Association. Ms. Disque received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas State University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix.

Carol Kay Hawkins, BSN, RN

Representing RN Practice – San Antonio
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2025

Carol Kay Hawkins, BSN, RN of San Antonio is the Clinical Educator at South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital and South Texas Spine & Surgical Outpatient Center. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the Texas Community College Teachers Association. Hawkins-Garcia received an Associates of Applied Science in nursing from San Antonio College and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

Mazie Mathews Jamison, BA, MA

Consumer Member - Dallas
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2029

Ms. Jamison of Dallas retired as Chief Public Policy Officer at Children’s Medical Center in North Texas.  Prior to that, she served as Director of Public Policy for the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. Ms. Jamison is past Chair of the Dallas Area Legislative Coalition and Co-Chair of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association Social Committee. She has served as an Executive Committee Member on the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, member of the Kilgore College Foundation Board of Directors, and previous President and current board member of the Kilgore College Rangerettes Forever Board of Directors. Ms. Jamison received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts from Texas State University.

Ken D. Johnson, BSN, RN

Representing LVN Education - San Angelo
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2027

Ken Johnson, RN, of San Angelo is a registered nurse. Mr. Johnson received an associate degree in nursing from Howard College and is employed as a LVN Instructor at Howard College in Big Spring.

Kathy Leader-Horn, LVN

Ms. Leader-Horn is a quality assurance nurse with Grace Hospice of Fort Worth. She is an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium trainer, with a focus on the care of veterans. She is an active volunteer in her community and church. She participates in the Healthy Kids Summer Lunch program, Christmas for Children’s Charities, and Operation School Supplies. Mrs. Leader-Horn received a vocational Nurse Certificate from the John Peter Smith School of Vocational Nursing.

Dru Riddle. PhD, APRN, CRNA

Representing APRN Practice – Fort Worth

Dru is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and Professor at TCU School of Nurse Anesthesia in Ft Worth. He has over two decades of clinical practice experience in a variety of healthcare settings. He received his BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University, his MSN from Old Dominion University, his DNP from Texas Christian University and his PhD in nursing and genetics from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dru is a proud US Army Nurse Corps veteran.

Melissa Schat, LVN

Representing LVN Practice – Granbury
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2025

Ms. Schat is a pediatric nurse with Cook Children’s Medical Center-Rheumatology Department, where she focuses on clinical support of staff, patients, and families. Additionally, she provides patient education, phone triage, and monitors quality improvement in her department. Her clinical experience includes home health, medical-surgical, school nursing, and rheumatology. She is a member of the Arthritis Foundation-Juvenile Arthritis Committee of North Texas. Ms. Schat received a vocational nursing certificate from Weatherford College.

Rickey “Rick” Williams

Representing Consumers – Killeen
Appointment Expires: January 31, 2025

Rickey “Rick” Williams of Killeen most recently served as a customer service agent for Ageis Communications. Prior to that, he retired as a Fire Chief from the United States Army, after providing 20 years of honorable service. He currently serves as vice president for Education for Toastmasters Club Number: 2884053 and is a lifetime member of the NAACP. Williams received an Associate in Arts in instructional technology from the Community College of the Air Force.

Kimberly “Kim” Wright, LVN

Ms. Wright is a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the Primary Care Outpatient Clinic at West Texas Veteran’s Health Administration.  Previously, she worked as a BLS Instructor at Howard College, Field Nurse at Encompass Home Health, and School Nurse at Big Spring Independent School District.  She currently serves as Secretary for the LVN Boards Committee at West Texas Veteran’s Health Administration. Ms. Wright received a vocational nursing certificate from from Howard College.