Catherine Pantik, a PhD/Doctor of Nursing Practice student in the Colleges of Graduate Health Sciences and Nursing at the University of Tennnessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has been chosen to serve a two year-term on the National Leadership Council of the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) for the The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Pantik, who is set to graduate in May, will serve alongside nine other graduate nursing students from across the country.
The new members of the leadership council will continue to develop future strategic goals, work toward developing a successful national conference, and work toward growing the GNSA in numbers and engagement.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve on the leadership council,” Pantik said. “I look forward to working with other council members over the next two years to support the mission of GNSA to provide a collective voice for graduate nursing students, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in academic nursing and health care.”
Pantik will be working as a liaison for the southern region developing and fostering partnerships with other organizations that support the mission and goals of GNSA, while increasing recognition of GNSA as the primary graduate student nursing organization.
“AACN applauds these graduate nursing students for their commitment to advancing the GNSA’s mission to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in academic nursing and health care,” said AACN board chair Juliann Sebastian. “We are excited to work with these student leaders on several new initiatives this year, including the GNSA’s inaugural national conference in February, and a virtual career fair for graduate-prepared nurses.”
Formed by the AACN in 2012, the GNSA provides services that help meet the professional development needs of graduate nursing students as they prepare for careers as faculty members, researchers, advanced practice registered nurses, policy experts, health care administrators, and other roles in nursing leadership.