Announcing the Slate of Candidates for the 2026 AWHONN Board of Directors

The AWHONN Board of Directors has approved the slate of candidates, presented by the Nominating Committee, for the 2027 Board of Directors. AWHONN members will elect a President-Elect, a Secretary/Treasurer and three Directors.

New for 2026: Full AWHONN members and E-members with the RN licensure in their profiles attending the AWHONN Convention will have the option to vote in person, in addition to casting their vote via the email ballot. Members not attending the Convention will continue to vote as usual through the email ballot, ensuring all eligible members can participate in shaping the future of AWHONN leadership. Member profiles must be up to date by May 15 to ensure voting eligibility.

Elections will open on June 8, 2026, at the 2026 AWHONN Convention and close on June 22, 2026. Newly-elected Board members officially take office on January 1, 2027.

Three Ways to Get to Know the Candidates

  • Join us for one of two virtual candidate town halls:
    • Tuesday, June 2 (Officer Candidates)
      8:00 PM EDT (90 mins)
      VIRTUAL MODERATED MEMBER FORUM TO “MEET THE OFFICER CANDIDATES”
    • Wednesday, June 3 (Director Candidates)
      8:00 PM EDT (90 mins)
      VIRTUAL MODERATED MEMBER FORUM TO “MEET THE DIRECTOR CANDIDATES”
    • Both webinars will be from 8-9:30 pm. These webinars will not be recorded. Reserve your spot now
  • Meet the candidates in person at the 2026 AWHONN Convention. The date, time, and location will be shared in the coming week

AWHONN Bylaws Question
As an AWHONN voting member, you have the vital right to vote on governance updates. Please participate in this crucial process. In 2026, there are nine (9)proposed changes to the AWHONN Bylaws on the ballot. You’ll be asked to approve, oppose, or abstain from voting on the article.

View the full listing of the proposed changes.

Receiving Your Ballot
AWHONN has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer the election. For AWHONN voting members to ensure your election-specific broadcast email arrives safely in your inbox on June 8, 2026, simply add the following email address as an approved sender: noreply@directvote.net

The slate is as follows:

PRESIDENT-ELECT (Elect ONE)

Elizabeth Kester, DNP, RN (Massachusetts)

Elizabeth Kester, DNP, RN, is a nurse leader and advocate dedicated to improving outcomes for women, newborns, and families across the full continuum of care. She currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Services at Pomelo Care, where she leads clinical strategy and operations for an innovative, preventative, virtual care model. Previously, she served as Head of Nursing Programs at Pomelo, helping to build and scale nursing teams and care delivery models focused on access, equity, and upstream prevention

Elizabeth brings extensive leadership experience from inpatient, community, and academic medical settings. She has held senior nursing leadership roles at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Monadnock Community Hospital, overseeing labor and delivery and women’s and children’s health services, and began her career as a bedside nurse in LDRP units. This breadth of experience—from rural hospitals to large academic centers and now virtual care—shapes her systems-level perspective on maternal health.

A member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, Elizabeth serves on the AWHONN National Board of Directors and is active within the Massachusetts Section. She speaks regularly on leadership topics, including building talent-dense, highly accountable teams, navigating the challenges facing middle managers; leading crucial conversations, and practicing reality-based leadership in complex healthcare environments.

Elizabeth is deeply committed to developing a modern nursing workforce, moving beyond traditional inpatient structures to support nurses wherever care is delivered, and advancing evidence-based practice and respectful maternity care.

Dixie K. Weber, MSN, RN (Washington)

Dixie Weber is a highly accomplished professional nurse and healthcare leader with more than 25 years of experience leading healthcare teams, managing business operations, and advancing perinatal safety initiatives. She is a champion of respectful, equitable care and is recognized for expertise in maternal mortality review, perinatal and pediatric service line development, clinical program design, public health strategy, policy, and complex problem solving in dynamic healthcare settings.

As a healthcare consultant, academic instructor, and leader, Dixie supports Washington’s maternal mortality review program, advances statewide evidence-based recommendations, informs legislation, and collaborates with health systems nationwide to improve perinatal outcomes. Her leadership is grounded in clinical expertise, strategic decision making, and effective communication with patients, clinicians, executives, community partners, and legislators.

Dixie has a long history of leadership with AWHONN at the chapter, state, and national levels. Named an AWHONN Emerging Leader in 2013, she served two terms as Idaho Section Chair and currently serves as Secretary Treasurer for Washington. She has served two terms on the Public Policy Committee, is a sought-after speaker on perinatal topics, and received AWHONN’s 2020 Distinguished Professional Service Award. Dixie holds a dual master’s degree in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Adult Learning Theory.

SECRETARY/TREASURER (Elect ONE)

Patricia DuRant, MSN, RN (Florida)

Patricia (Pat) DuRant, MSN, RN has been a perinatal nurse for over 35 years.  She has held positions from staff nurse to Assistant Vice President and currently serves as a Coach Mentor for the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative. Pat received a BSN from East Carolina University and MSN from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She also holds a BA in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Pat has been an active AWHONN member since 1994 and has served as a volunteer leader at the local, section, and national levels. She currently sits on the Public Policy Committee.

Other leadership roles held include Chair of the Section Advisory Committee, co-chaired the Bylaws Task Force, Florida Section Chair, Florida Section Secretary -Treasurer, Host Committee Chair, mentor for Emerging Leaders, Section Membership Coordinator, and Section Newsletter Editor.   As the Section Chair, she implemented succession planning for AWHONN volunteer leaders. She represented AWHONN on the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative during its inception and ensured that AWHONN remains a member of the steering committee. Pat is also a member of the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives (FONE) and the Central Florida Organization of Nurse Executives (CFONE).  She served on the FONE Board while chairing the FONE Education Committee. She has mentored many leaders in her professional and volunteer roles and considers this one of the highlights of her career.  She is a volunteer for Advent Health Hospice. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and camping in her RV.

Shellie Nelson, RN, PhD, RNC-OB (Texas)

Shellie Nelson, PhD, RNC-OB is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience in Women’s Services, spanning roles as a staff nurse, charge nurse, manager, and director. She brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and operational leadership, supported by a strong academic foundation that includes a Bachelor of Business Administration from Prairie View A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Avila University, a Master of Science in Health Systems Management, and a PhD in Nursing Science from Texas Woman’s University.

Throughout her career, Dr. Nelson has led the development and implementation of innovative programs aimed at improving patient safety, quality outcomes, and operational efficiency. She is recognized for her ability to build high-performing teams, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and drive sustainable improvements in clinical practice through evidence-based strategies.

Dr. Nelson is deeply committed to advancing maternal and infant health both within healthcare systems and in the broader community. Her work has supported initiatives focused on improving maternal outcomes, reducing risk, and promoting equitable care. She is passionate about education, advocacy, and empowering healthcare professionals to deliver safe, high-quality care.

An active member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses since 2011, Dr. Nelson has held numerous leadership roles, including Greater Houston Chapter Co-Chair, Texas Section Secretary/Treasurer, and Texas Section Leader. She has also served on the Finance Committee, Section Advisory Committee, Accountability, Belonging and Culture Committee, and the planning committee for the AWHONN National Conference. She currently serves on the AWHONN Board of Directors, contributing to the advancement of the profession at a national level.

Dr. Nelson’s leadership is grounded in mentorship, professional engagement, and continuous improvement. She believes every patient interaction is an opportunity to positively impact outcomes and is dedicated to inspiring others to advance the health of women and newborns.

Stephanie J. Webb, MSN, RNC (Minnesota)

Stephanie Webb, MSN, RNC, has dedicated 33 years to the field of obstetrics as a registered nurse. Her extensive experience encompasses various specialties, including labor and delivery, postpartum care, special care nursery, supervisor, and manager roles. Stephanie earned her BSN from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1993 and subsequently pursued a Master of Nursing Education degree in 2014. Currently, she serves as the Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, where she has honed her expertise in operations, budgeting, staff development, policies, and quality improvement.

Since 2008, Stephanie Webb has actively participated in the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing. During her 18-year tenure with AWHONN, she held several leadership positions, including chapter chair for four years, Minnesota Section Secretary/Treasurer for two years, Minnesota Section chair for four years, and currently serves as the sectional advisory committee (SAC) representative for Region 4. Notably, she has been instrumental in planning the annual Minnesota AWHONN conference and recently assisted in organizing the Rural Health Summit with Region 4 last fall. Perinatal care remains a profound passion for both the patients she provides care to and the nurses who dedicate their lives to delivering it.

DIRECTORS (Elect THREE)

Amy Dempsey, DNP, RNC-OB, C-EFM (Colorado)

Amy has been the OB Nursing Professional Development Specialist at Lutheran Health for the past 21 years, where she has focused on staff development and quality improvement. Her current projects of interest include Substance Use Disorder, the safe reduction of primary cesarean births, and the development of a remote hospital system fetal telemetry unit to improve neonatal outcomes.

She has published several articles and presented multiple posters on topics related to improving maternal-child health. Amy has been an active member of AWHONN for the past two decades and currently helps plan the state conference.  In 2026, she was inducted as an AWHONN fellow.  She also serves on two steering committees for the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative.

Amy is a graduate of the DNP program at Regis University.  She received her MSN from Saginaw Valley State University in 2004 and her BSN from Bethel University in 1991.

Rachel Evers, MSN, RN, CNOR-E, CENP, CPXP, LSSWB (Florida)

Rachel Evers is a dynamic nurse leader with a passion for advancing the care of women, newborns, and families through innovation, education, and strategic leadership. With extensive experience in obstetric and neonatal care, she has built a reputation for bridging clinical excellence with operational and organizational strategy to drive meaningful and sustainable outcomes. Guided by her core values of social responsibility, learning and teaching, and creativity, Rachel is deeply committed to empowering both patients and healthcare professionals.

She has led large-scale leadership development initiatives, designed engaging educational programs, and championed efforts that promote equity, trust, and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams. Her ability to translate complex concepts into practical, actionable strategies has made her a respected voice among peers, physicians, and executive leaders. Rachel is known for her emotional intelligence, integrity, and authentic leadership style. She fosters environments where individuals feel supported, challenged, and inspired to grow. Her work reflects a strong commitment to advocacy and continuous improvement, aligning closely with the mission to enhance outcomes for women and newborns through education, research, and evidence-based practice. In addition to her clinical and leadership expertise, Rachel brings a creative and forward-thinking approach to problem-solving, consistently seeking new ways to elevate experiences for both patients and care teams. She remains dedicated to lifelong learning and to shaping the future of women’s health through innovation, collaboration, and service.

Lori Folken, DNP, RNC-OB, C-EFM (Illinois)

Lori Folken is the Manager of Ambulatory Women’s Health Specialties at Carle Health in Urbana, Illinois, where she leads Maternal Fetal Medicine, MFM/OB sono, Reproductive Medicine, Gynecology and Urogynecology departments. Her career began in labor and delivery at a rural community hospital, a hospital recently impacted by OB unit closures. She later transitioned to a Level III perinatal facility, as a Perinatal Outreach Educator, providing simulation training and maternal and neonatal classes to various regional hospitals, including non-delivering critical access hospitals and EMS departments.

As a 2012 AWHONN Emerging Leader, Lori discovered her passion for legislative advocacy. She has served on the AWHONN Public Policy Committee and participated in AWHONN on Capitol Hill events. Lori applied her advocacy interests to her DNP project, a legislative policy analysis on maternal care deserts, and presented her analysis at the 2023 AWHONN National Conference.

Lori currently serves as the Illinois AWHONN Legislative Coordinator and contributes to statewide initiatives, including the Illinois Multi-Sector Maternal Health Strategy, as well as serving as a member of the Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee. She is committed to advancing nursing practice, fostering collaboration, and improving equitable outcomes for women, newborns, and families.

Tiffany A. Moore, PhD, RN, SANE-A, FAWHONN (Nebraska)

Tiffany Moore, PhD, RN, SANE-A, FAWHONN is a nurse scientist, educator, and clinician whose work focuses on advancing maternal and neonatal health through research, leadership, and professional service. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing and maintains clinical practice as a Forensic Nurse Examiner.

Dr. Moore’s clinical background in neonatal intensive care has shaped her longstanding commitment to improving outcomes for infants and families through evidence-based practice and innovative research. Dr. Moore’s program of research centers on improving maternal-infant health. Her work integrates physiologic and behavioral approaches to better understand the effects of chronic stress on maternal–infant health outcomes. In addition to her research and teaching roles, Dr. Moore has demonstrated strong leadership within academic nursing and national professional organizations. Dr. Moore is a Fellow of AWHONN, reflecting her commitment to advancing the organization’s mission and supporting the professional development of nurses across maternal and neonatal specialties. Through collaborative leadership, mentorship, and strategic engagement, Dr. Moore is dedicated to strengthening the voice of nurses and advancing policies and practices that improve the health of women, newborns, and families.

Mary Dawn Koenig, PhD, RN, CNM, FACNM, FAWHONN, FAAN (Illinois)

Mary Dawn Koenig is an Associate Professor and PhD Program Director at the University of Illinois Chicago, and a nationally recognized maternal–child health nurse scientist. For 16+ years, her clinical and translational research has focused on maternal obesity, perinatal nutrition, and iron metabolism, advancing evidence-based interventions that enhance iron bioavailability, reduce inflammation-related nutrient impairment, and improve outcomes for pregnant people and newborns.

A proven AWHONN leader, Dr. Koenig previously served on the AWHONN Board of Directors and as Board Liaison to the Research and Membership Committees, where she helped shape the strategic plan, championed nurse-led science, and drove member engagement and growth initiatives. She has also represented AWHONN nationally at the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) for two consecutive years, amplifying perinatal nursing and building early pathways to membership and mentorship for students. As an educator and mentor, Dr. Koenig leads doctoral education at UIC and partners with undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, expanding AWHONN’s presence across academic institutions and creating on-ramps for future leaders through research engagement, mentorship, and leadership development. Across her scholarship and service, Dr. Koenig’s throughline is clear: advance equitable, evidence-based care, strengthen the professional community dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns, and families, and ensure AWHONN members’ perspectives drive the work.

Michele Woods, MSN, RNC-OB, NE-BC, C-EFM, C-ONQS, C-OBE, FAWHONN (North Carolina)

Michele Woods is a passionate nurse leader with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to improving outcomes for women, newborns, and families. She currently serves as the Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at UNC Health Blue Ridge in North Carolina, where she leads Labor and Delivery, Mother-Baby, NICU, lactation, and childbirth education programs while advancing evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient safety initiatives.

A long-time and deeply engaged member of AWHONN, Michele has served in numerous leadership roles, including North Carolina Section Chair (2019–2025), and currently serves as Chair of the AWHONN Ethics and Compliance Committee. She has contributed to several national committees, including Convention, Finance, Public Policy, and Nominating, and is the 2026 NC AWHONN Conference Chair. Her commitment to the profession was recognized when she was inducted as an inaugural AWHONN Fellow. Michele believes the strength of AWHONN lies in its members. She is passionate about creating opportunities for nurses to connect, learn, and grow through mentorship, collaboration, and leadership development. Throughout her career, she has focused on supporting bedside nurses, mentoring emerging leaders, and translating evidence into practice to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. If elected to the AWHONN Board of Directors, Michele is committed to being an active and accessible voice for members. She believes strongly in ensuring AWHONN membership delivers meaningful value while continuing to elevate the voices of nurses who care for women and newborns every day.