Meet Your AAPPN Board Members
A talented group of dedicated volunteers leading your professional association.
Mary Ellen O’Keefe
President
AAPPN has been fundamental to my success as a nurse clinician. The founders were colleagues of mine at the University of Washington who envisioned AAPPN as a user-friendly organization to enhance education, nurture leadership, and lend supports to advanced practice psychiatric nurses.
Kristine Highlander
President Elect
I come to advanced practice psychiatric nursing through an undergraduate degree in English literature from the UW, 15 years in retail service and management mostly at Nordstrom, and a lifelong interest in psychiatry.
Dana Dean Doering
Past President
I have a 45-year career in child development, child and adolescent and young adult psychiatric differential diagnosis and treatment planning. I have sought extensive training in gender-specific child, adolescent and young adult mental health concerns and facilitate their access to care and treatment.
Nikki Behner
Secretary
I am sole practitioner in Mount Vernon, Washington and also work a prescriber in the Skagit County Jail. I have extensive experience in community mental health. Since 1987, I have managed medication and therapeutic interventions for acute and chronic behavioral health issues.
Ginni Buccola
Member At Large
I have been a Nurse since 1994, working first as an RN in Public Health and then in Mental Health. I completed my MSN in 2012 and DNP in 2013, both through the University of Washington. I am currently working in Primary Care as a Psychiatric Consultant.
Jean Tang
Member At Large
I hope to be an effective liaison connecting practice, teaching and research science. I am inspired by the AAPPN mission and its members’ dedication to the profession. It is my honor to serve on the AAPPN leadership team.
Danielle Waldron
Member At Large
I have been practicing for the past five years after graduating from Seattle University in 2013. I practice in community mental health and focus on addictions.
Patricia Wuertzer
Member At Large
It is a great honor to be a voice on the board for AAPPN. This dedicated organization has been helping me grow for almost 30 years! It is a lifeline and a connection!
Meet the AAPPN Advisory Board
A talented group of dedicated volunteers helping the association in the community.
Damaris Aragon
Spokane Chapter Chair
Damaris has chaired the Spokane Chapter since September 2018.
Dina McNeil
Seattle Chapter
Dina has chaired the Seattle Chapter since March 2020.
Danielle DeOliveira
Legislative Committee Chair
Danielle has chaired the Legislative Committee since March 2019.
Bernie Gilroy
Awards Committee Chair
Bernie has chaired the Awards Committee since January 2019.
Connie Huffine
Past AAPPN Administrator and Lois Price Spratlen Foundation liaison
Connie, along with Claire Foot, recently completed a chronicle of AAPPN’s early days.
Melanie Kristoferson
Education Committee Chair
Melanie has chaired the Education Committee since March 2019.