Giselle Melendez, EdD, RN, Presidential Advisor

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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

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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!

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Connor O'Sullivan, RN,Special Consultant 

Connor O'Sullivan is a critical care registered nurse who serves as our Special Consultant. Connor feels extremely grateful to take on this position as he was a previous board member for our organization the last two years as well as the president of his alma mater, Stony Brook University School of Nursing. Connor enjoys traveling in his spare time and takes part in numerous medical missions to Latin America with a non- profit organization called Blanca's House, where he is a coordinator. Connor looks forward to continuously giving back to NSANYS and working alongside our board over the next several years.