As chief executive of the Texas Nurses Association, Cindy leads the strategic operations of the Texas Nurses Association, a professional membership organization of registered nurses that empowers Texas Nurses to advance the profession. She is active in policy development, actively negotiating legislative approaches to address nursing’s agenda. Cindy’s nursing career spans advanced practice, chief nurse executive, and academic roles. She has authored numerous publications focusing on nursing practice, advocacy, and care of persons with serious mental illness. She received a BSN from University of Detroit – Mercy magna cum laude, an MSN in adult psychiatric-mental health nursing from Wayne State University, and a PhD in nursing from University of Texas at Austin where she was recognized as the outstanding doctoral student.