Meet the Nursing Students' Association of New York State's (NSANYS)
Giselle Melendez, EdD, RN, Presidential Advisor
Giselle Melendez, EdD, RN is the Nurse Leader for the Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Melendez received her Doctoral degree from Teachers College, Columbia University and her Masters and Bachelors from Molloy College. She currently serves as the Vice President for the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Dr. Melendez has served as the Presidential Advisor for NSANYS for the past 14 years. She enjoys being a mentor to nursing students in leadership roles.
Larry Slater, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, Faculty Advisor
Larry Z. Slater, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, is Director of the Undergraduate Program and a Clinical Associate Professor at the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Dr. Slater received his doctoral degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing, where he also completed his post-doctoral training, focusing on the psychosocial aspects of aging with HIV. His nursing experience is in neurosurgical intensive care. In teaching, he is an expert in technology-enhanced education and alternative teaching strategies, including flipped-classroom and active learning strategies. Dr. Slater is a Certified Nurse Educator and board certified in gerontological nursing and has received awards from peers and students for his teaching. He is active in several professional nursing organizations, including the American Nurses Association and ANA-New York, Sigma Theta Tau International, The Honor Society of Nursing, and also serves as a professional consultant for the Nursing Students Association of New York State. Dr. Slater is honored to serve as a faculty advisor to NSANYS. Being a previous state president for NSNA (Alabama), he has maintained a passion for assisting nursing students in the development of professional leadership skills.
Joanne Lapidus-Graham EdD, RN, CPNP, CNE, ANA-NY Consultant
Joanne Lapidus-Graham EdD, RN, CPNP, CNE is a professor of Nursing at Farmingdale State College since 1990 and is a lead faculty for the health promotion/patient education course. Her specialties includes pediatrics and maternal/child nursing. Dr. Graham completed an undergraduate degree at Adelphi University, graduate degree in nursing education at NYU, a post masters certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Molloy College, and a Doctorate in education at the University of Phoenix. Her dissertation focused on student participation in professional nursing organizations and the development of leadership after graduation.
Dr. Graham was elected over five years ago to the first board of ANA-NY, first serving two terms as a Director, and is currently serving as Vice-President and was appointed in October 2018 as the new ANA Consultant to NSANYS. Dr. Graham’s other professional service include: faculty counselor to the Chi Gamma Chapter of Sigma at Farmingdale State College and former committee member who formed the chapter; and faculty advisor to the FSC Student Nurses Association for 28 years. Her past offices include: President (4 years) and Board of Directors (4 years) for the Nurses Association of the Counties of Long Island (NACLI), Chair of the Parent/Child Clinical Practice Unit, and Council on Nursing Education of NYSNA. Dr. Graham’s Involvement in professional nursing organizations and giving back to the nursing profession has been her lifelong passion. She believes that our student leaders are the future nurse leaders of the profession!
Dr. Graham was elected over five years ago to the first board of ANA-NY, first serving two terms as a Director, and is currently serving as Vice-President and was appointed in October 2018 as the new ANA Consultant to NSANYS. Dr. Graham’s other professional service include: faculty counselor to the Chi Gamma Chapter of Sigma at Farmingdale State College and former committee member who formed the chapter; and faculty advisor to the FSC Student Nurses Association for 28 years. Her past offices include: President (4 years) and Board of Directors (4 years) for the Nurses Association of the Counties of Long Island (NACLI), Chair of the Parent/Child Clinical Practice Unit, and Council on Nursing Education of NYSNA. Dr. Graham’s Involvement in professional nursing organizations and giving back to the nursing profession has been her lifelong passion. She believes that our student leaders are the future nurse leaders of the profession!
