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.
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 29 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. Kendra Hoepper DNP, APRN, PNP-BC
Dr. Kendra Hoepper completed her DNP in 2018 and her MSN / PNP in 2000 at Molloy College, and her BSN at University of Illinois in 1983. She is also board certified by ANCC as a PNP. Dr.Hoepper is the Director of the Undergraduate Nursing program and Assistant Professor at Long Island University ( LIU- Post). She volunteers on several faculty committees, and is the co-advisor for the student nurses association. Dr. Hoepper has 20 years experience in nursing education, 10 year experience working as a Clinical Nurse Educator and 35 years experience working with the pediatric population in the hospital, ambulatory, school and community settings. As a healthcare provider for the past 38 years, she has dedicated her research and scholarship to improving health awareness among youth and adults in the community. She was a founding member on a domestic violence ministry in Illinois and helped to establish a free high school pre-participation sports physical exam program, which included the development of a standardized pre-participation sports physical form and a free EKG screening program for all high school students. She has been engaged in numerous research projects and has presented her research at several national and international conferences. In addition to her position at LIU, she continues to works in an adjunct clinical nursing professor in pediatrics and community at Molloy College and volunteers her time in several community programs and fundraising events. She has continued her work on violence prevention, awareness and education among youth here in NY and currently volunteers at the Safe Center in Bethpage NY. She has also been involved in increasing awareness about community CPR and participates in ongoing education and training within the community setting and along with her colleagues have trained over 300 individuals on community CPR.
Mary Andrews, BSN, RN NSANYS Special Consultant
Mary Andrews is thrilled to be returning to the Nursing Students’ Association of New York State, after having served two years on the board as a nursing student. Mary graduated in May of 2021 from Molloy College with her BSN, and now works as a labor and delivery nurse at NYU Langone Tisch. She is honored to have received the Special Consultant position, and strives to offer her knowledge of NSANYS to the board in whatever way she can.
