Dr. Cynthia Clark is the Founder of Civility Matters, Professor Emeritus at Boise State University, and an award-winning professor, scholar, and author. As a clinician, she specialized in adolescent and family mental health, substance abuse recovery, and suicide and violence prevention. For two decades, Dr. Clark taught a variety of nursing courses in her role as a tenured university professor. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, the NLN Academy of Nursing Education, and co-chaired the American Nurses Association Professional Panel on Incivility, Bullying, and Workplace Violence. Dr. Clark is best known for her ground-breaking work on fostering civility and healthy work and learning environments around the globe. She is the recipient of numerous teaching, service, and research awards—and widely acclaimed for her engaging presentations. Her empirical assessments have been translated into 16 world languages and used by scholars in 32 countries on 5 continents. She is a community builder and an unwavering advocate for a kinder, gentler, and more civil world. 

Justin Gill, DNP, ARNP, RN, is the first person of color, first male, and one of the youngest presidents in WSNA’s 115-year history, becoming president at age 33. He works as an urgent care nurse practitioner at Providence Medical Group in Everett.

Gill’s experience as a member of a WSNA collective bargaining unit and a professional member reinforced his belief that WSNA should be involved in all health policy discussions in Washington. His priorities include elevating WSNA and the nursing profession.

A natural leader, he has held leadership roles since high school, including serving as president of his nursing student organization and vice president for the Nursing Students of Washington State. He earned his BSN from UW Bothell, a master's from Georgetown, and a doctorate in nursing from Yale.

Gill believes success comes from solving problems, and he views nursing as a way to address societal challenges, given the trust and respect the profession holds.

A sought-after presenter and prolific author, Jennifer S. Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, serves as the 38th president of the American Nurses Association. In this national leadership role, Mensik Kennedy boldly advocates for the nation’s 5.5 million RNs. In 2023, she was named by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

Her books include Lead, Drive, and Thrive in the System, 2nd edition, and The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Innovative Staffing, 2nd edition. She co-authored Lead like a Nurse, A Nurse’s Step-By-Step Guide to Transitioning to the Professional Nurse Role, and The Power of Ten, 2nd edition, and contributed a chapter to The Career Handoff: A Healthcare Leader’s Guide to Knowledge & Wisdom Transfer across Generations.

Prior to her presidency, Mensik Kennedy held key leadership positions within the nursing profession, including serving the American Nurses Association as Treasurer, Second Vice President, and Director-at-Large. She also served as President of the Arizona Nurses Association from 2007 to 2010. Additionally, Mensik Kennedy held the role of governor of nursing practice for the Western Institute of Nursing in 2010-2014.

Mensik Kennedy earned a PhD from the University of Arizona College of Nursing with a focus on health systems and a minor in public administration from the Eller College of Management. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BSN from Washington State University. Mensik Kennedy also earned an ADN from Wenatchee Valley College-North. Prior to assuming the presidency of American Nurses Association, she was an associate clinical professor at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Nursing. 

Mensik Kennedy was inducted in 2014 as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She has been recognized as Alumna of the Year by both University of Arizona College of Nursing and Washington State University College of Nursing.

ReWired nurse and psychosocial wellness expert Stephanie Staples has dedicated her career to supporting healthcare professionals as they revitalize both their personal and professional lives. With a career that spans from the Mayo Clinic to the Middle East, Stephanie’s engaging, idea-packed keynotes are proven to elevate feelings of hope, happiness, and empowerment—while providing nurses with practical tools to make positive changes in their daily lives.

As a multi-titled author and speaker, Stephanie draws on her unique background in nursing, fitness, and communications to connect deeply with her audiences. She understands firsthand the challenges of the profession and offers real-world strategies that can be applied immediately to enhance well-being.

Whether you’re feeling the weight of compassion fatigue or just need a fresh perspective, Steph’s authentic approach will leave you feeling inspired and recharged.

Most importantly, Steph is a mom of three humanitarians, Lolli of three hellions, wife of one very patient person, and despite being a last-placed triathlete, she’s proud to cross the finish line upright, smiling, and without medical intervention!

Get ready to laugh, learn, and take away actionable steps to improve your well-being and patient care. For more information about your keynote speaker, visit StephanieStaples.ca. 

Dr. Ali R. Tayyeb is a United States Navy Veteran, having served as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman with Naval Medical Center San Diego, 1st Marine Division, and 3rd Marine Division. 

Dr. Tayyeb earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from California State University, Los Angeles, and his Ph.D. from the University of San Diego. 

Dr. Tayyeb is a Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholar Alumnus and is the CEO and founder of RN Mentor Consulting, Creator, Producer, and Host of the RN-Mentor Podcast and serves as Chief Research Consultant for the Los Angeles County Military and Veterans Affairs. 

Dr. Tayyeb’s expertise, research, and advocacy are primarily veteran-centric; however, his work has evolved into exploring systemic failures and advancing social networks to connect and advance nursing issues while facilitating nursing discourse centered around the theory of social contracts. 

Dr. Tayyeb is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and is ANCC nationally board-certified in Nursing Professional Development.