Organizing Committee
Christina Silva
Slippery Rock University, PA
Dr. Silva started her nursing education at Pennsylvania State University-Fayette Campus where she earned her initial ASN and BSN. She continued her education at University of Phoenix and earned a MSN. Last, she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned her PhD in Nursing. As a staff nurse, her specialty is perinatal nursing. In this role, she was part of the fetal monitoring committee and a certified AWHONN Fetal Monitoring instructor. One of her research interests involves perinatal nursing and neonatal abstinence. As an educator, she desires to see all students attain their educational goals and become professional nurses contributing to the profession. Her areas of research interest include testing anxiety and the at-risk student.
Gina Crawford
Oklahoma City University, OK
Gina Crawford, DNP, APRN-CNP, FNP, CNE, is the Chair of Advanced Practice Program and Director of the family nurse practitioner program. She completed an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree in 1989 from El Reno Junior College. After graduation, she went to work for Mercy Health Center in pediatrics. In 1990, she began working in postpartum and newborn nursing. In 1995, she became a home health nurse for Kingfisher Regional Hospital, and was promoted to home health director in 2000. In 2002, she returned to school at the University of Oklahoma, completing both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner. For seven years, she practiced with her father, a family physician, at Okarche Medical Clinic. While in private practice, she addressed a variety of needs, including pediatrics, adult health, women’s health, and geriatrics. She has a special interest in women’s health issues, underserved populations, and intimate partner violence. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Oklahoma City University.
Cheryle G. Levitt
Professor, School of Nursing, SUNY Delhi, NY
Cheryle Levitt, Ph.D., RN is a Professor and the Assistant Dean of the BSN and MSN programs at SUNY Delhi. Cheryle earned a BSN from Temple University, and practiced for years in the NICU and pediatrics. Following her MSN from Villanova University, she was a clinical instructor, staff educator, and facilitated clinical research. Completion of a Ph.D. from Duquesne University provided the preparation for academic nursing roles, including teaching, program development, and administration. Current research interests include technology in learning, program assessment, and interprofessional education
Beverly M. Brown
Tennessee State University, TN
Dr. Brown graduated from East Arcadia High School in Riegelwood, N.C.. Her undergraduate degrees in nursing and liberal arts are from Southeastern Community College, Whiteville, N.C. and North Carolina Central University, Durham, N.C. In 1985, Dr. Brown completed her MSN in Maternal/Child (Parent/Infant)/Midwifery from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. In 2003, she completed her Doctorate in Leadership and Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale Florida. She is Master’s prepared in community health from Hampton University, Hampton, VA. She has completed graduate course work at North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, University of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, Vanderbilt/Peabody College, Nashville, TN. and other doctoral courses at Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. She is board certified as Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist. In 1988, she joined the US Navy Reserves Nurse Corps Officers program where she remained until September 18, 2012 when I retired with a rank of Commander after being affiliated with the US Navy for 25 years. Professionally, Dr. Brown is the President/CEO for Professional Consultants Without Walls, Inc, and Minority AIDS Outreach. For her volunteer work in HIV/AIDS prevention and education, she was honored as a Nashville Legend and inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame on the Wall of Fame in October of 1998 for which she continues today. Since, 1991, in her role as an independent Professional Consultant; her assignments have and still include preparing for the RN & LPN NCLEX certification. She is an Associate Professor, at Tennessee State University. She has served as Associate Administrator, Vice-President of Nursing, Director of Nursing, Director of Staff Development, Quality Assurance, Home Health, and Assistant Director for Hospice, Administrative Supervisor, Staff Nurse, etc. in various professional environments.
