NMNEC Leadership Council
The NMNEC Leadership Council is the volunteer entity that guides the work of the Consortium.
The Council is made up of 9 voting and 4 advisory/non-voting members with each member representing a different school or organization.
Voting members of the Leadership Council consist of representatives from:
- Three (3) university pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing programs
- Five (5) pre-licensure community college associate degree nursing programs
- One (1) individual not currently affiliated with a NMNEC program with demonstrated familiarity and experience working with the NMNEC curriculum and programs
Advisory/non-voting members of the Leadership Council consist of representatives from:
- One (1) urban area practice/clinical settings/organization
- One (1) rural area practice/clinical settings/organization
- One (1) RN-to-BSN post-licensure baccalaureate nursing program
- One (1) LPN nursing program
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- The eight voting members must be selected from schools who are “NMNEC Curriculum Members”
- The one voting member not affiliated with schools who are “NMNEC Curriculum Members” must demonstrate familiarity and experience working with the NMNEC curriculum and programs
- The four advisory/non-voting members must be selected from schools/organizations who are NMNEC Members in any category
- Voting and Advisory/non-voting members of the Leadership Council are nominated at large by “NMNEC Curriculum Member” schools and are elected through a majority of votes; one vote for one school
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The NMNEC Leadership Council shall:
- Determine priorities and manage resources, operations, and communications to best meet NMNEC goals.
o Engage in strategic planning and set goals.
o Set and monitor the annual budget.
o Monitor and support progress toward consortium goals.
o Serve as a liaison to external stakeholders, including government agencies.
o Propose major policy decisions to the membership for discussion and vote.
o Oversee standing and ad hoc committees and task forces.
o Plan and facilitate NMNEC-wide meetings.
Source: Bylaws of the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium [08.13.2025]
NMNEC Leadership Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month (excluding holidays) at 08:00am
To contact NMNEC Leadership Council, email staff@nmnec.org

Name Shawna Kemper, MSN, RN, CNE
Institution San Juan College
Program Representation [Voting Member] Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program

Name Dawn Kittner, MSN, RN, CNE; NMNEC Leadership Council Secretary
Institution University of New Mexico – Taos
Program Representation [Voting Member] Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program
E-Mail Address dkittner@unm.edu

Institution New Mexico State University
Program Representation [Voting Member] University Pre-Licensure BSN Program

Institution University of New Mexico- Gallup
Program Representation [Voting Member] Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program



Name Diane Wesner, MSN, RN; NMNEC Leadership Council ADN Co-Chair & Treasurer
Institution Central New Mexico Community College
Program Representation [Voting Member] Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program


Name Brittany Hamilton, MSN, MBA, RN
Institution Holy Cross Medical Center
Program Representation [Advisory Member] Rural Area Clinical Practice

Institution Northern New Mexico College
Program Representation [Advisory Member] RN-BSN Programs


Name Cynthia Nuttall, MSN, MPA, PhD, RN, NE-BC
Institution New Mexico VA Healthcare System
Program Representation [Advisory Member] Urban Area Practice/Clinical Settings/Organizations
Many thanks to past NMNEC Leadership Council Members:
Diane Evans-Prior, DNP, RN – Central New Mexico Community College: 2012-2024 [NMNEC Leadership Council ADN Co-Chair: 2022-2024]
Melinda (Mindy) Tinkle, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FAAN – University of New Mexico: 2023-2024
Margaret Hendrix, DNP, RN – Albuquerque Public Schools Career Enrichment Center Practical Nursing Program: 2020-2023
Shawna McGill, MSN, RN – Clovis Community College: 2020-2023
Kristen Ostrem-Niemcewicz, DNP, MSN, CNM, FNP-BC, FACNM – University of New Mexico: 2022-2023
Johanna Stiesmeyer, DNP, RN-BC – Presbyterian Hospital Services: 2018-2022
Judy Liesveld, PhD, PPCNP-BC, RN – University of New Mexico: 2012-2022
Patricia Maule, MSN, RN-BC – San Juan Regional Medical Center: 2018-2021 & 2022-2024
Anita Reinhardt, PhD, RN – NMSU: 2009-2021
Melissa Offenhartz, RN, MA – UNM-Taos: 2019-2020
Misty Stine, MSN, RN – NMJC: 2019-2020
Jenny Landen, FNP-BC, MSN, RN – SFCC: 2009-2020
Sabrina Ezzell, MSN, RN, CNE – UNM-Gallup: 2017-2019
John Scarbrough, PhD, PT, RN, CNE – WNMU: 2016-2019
Judy Hurula, MSN, RN – Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center: 2016-2018
Nisa Bruce, MSN, BSN, BA, RN – San Juan College: 2009-2017
Julia Vasquez, MSN, RN – Christus St Vincent Regional Medical Center: 2016
Terry Keller, PhD, MPA, MSN, RN – NMSU: 2011-2016
Delores Thompson, MSN, RN, CNE, FNP-BC – NMJC: 2011-2016
Joe Heidrick, MSN, RN – WNMU: 2014-2016
Debra Brady, PhD, MSN, RN – UNM: 2013-2014
Elizabeth Berrey, PhD, MSN, RN – CNM: 2011
Leslie Paternoster, PhD, MSN, RN – ENMU: 2011-2012
Pat McIntire, MSN, RN – WNMU: 2011-2014
Jean Giddens, PhD, FAAN, RN – UNM: 2011-2013