Each biennium, Sigma installs a new president at the international level. At the 47th Biennial Convention in November, 2023. Dr. Sandra Garmon Bibb was introduced as the 35th president of Sigma. Each biennium, the Sigma Board of Directors and the President present an organizational call to action to help guide members and chapters as we strive to fulfill our mission. The 2023-2025 Sigma organizational call to action is to Represent. We are asked to represent our unique and shared contributions to our profession by Reflecting, Respecting, and Responding. I encourage all members to read more about this call to action on the Sigma website. Organizational Call to Action 2023-2025 (sigmanursing.org)
I’m honored to lead the chapter in this biennium and look forward to how we can Represent together. I would love for you to share your ideas in our discussion board, or at our upcoming programs. Of course, you can always email us at: psiupsilonchapter@wgu.edu.
Laura Simmons PhD, RN, CNE
President, Psi Upsilon Chapter of Sigma (#546)
Psi Upsilon Member Highlight
Deborah Dillard, Ph.D., MPA, MCH, RN, NE-BC
In 1974, Deborah graduated from the Howard University College of Nursing BSN program in Washington D.C. Upon graduation, she worked for 17 years as a civilian nurse in her hometown of Yonkers, New York. She has two adult daughters, Ebonie and Essence. She believes raising her daughters and guiding them as they blossomed into the women they are today has been her greatest accomplishment. In 1990, she completed a Masters of Community Health at Long Island University, Dobbs Ferry Campus in Westchester County, New York.
By the end of 1990, she and her sister decided to join the United States Air Force as Nurse Corps Officers. After almost 24 years of active-duty service, she retired in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During one of her overseas assignments to Japan, she completed a second Master's degree, Master of Public Administration, from Troy University’s global campus in May 2000. Over the years, she has held many clinical and leadership positions, including Chief Nurse twice in military facilities and Chief Nurse twice while deployed during military actions. Additionally, she served in Command positions as the Medical Operations Squadron Commander and as a Deputy Medical Group Commander.
When her military career ended, her desire to remain active in the nursing profession did not diminish. Her retirement provided her time to focus on obtaining a PhD in Nursing in 2016, spend more time with family and friends, and travel whenever she wanted. She truly believes that when one door closes, another one opens. Coming to academia and becoming a Course Instructor at Western Governors University in April of 2017 opened another door. Deborah is an ANCC board certified Nurse Executive, a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success, and a member of Sigma Theta Tau Omicron Delta Chapter and Psi Upsilon Chapter. Deborah is active in her chapters, serving on the Membership Committee and presenting at Sigma’s Biennial Conferences in 2023.
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