FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dr. Debra A. Toney December 2, 2025 NCEMNA Statement: Reclassification of Nursing Threatens Access to Care The National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) is deeply concerned about the recent reclassification of nursing as a non-professional degree. This threatens to limit access to federal student loans for graduate nursing students, while disproportionately affecting ethnic minority nurses. The Trump administration is no

Rancho Cucamonga, CA -The National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) is pleased to announce that The American...

Kristen Choi, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Professor and Audrienne H. Moseley Chair in Nursing at the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management. She is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and health services researcher who studies mental health and healthcare among vulnerable populations. Her current research projects include studies on adverse childhood experiences, trauma-informe

Ha Do Byon is a nurse educator and scientist. He has served as faculty since 2016. He has clinical experience in community health nursing and acute care settings, including home-visiting nursing with older adults in Harlem, New York City. Ha Do’s research focuses on improving the health and safety of healthcare workers. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve as Treasurer (2026–2029) of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA) and as a member of the

Tonya M. Patterson  has over 30 years' experience as an Executive Assistant which she acquired while serving at various top companies in Corporate America as well as community-based organizations.  In 2008, she became the founder and CEO of The #1 B.O.S.S. (Business Organization & Systems Specialist), a contractual Virtual Executive Assistant service dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with effective administrative solutions and compliance support.  She maintained this busi

DERRICK HUMPHRIES, Esq., Legal Counsel -- is a founding partner of Humphries & Partners, PLLC. He provides services to select global multi-ethnic professional associations, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, families and individuals with a strong focus on value-added service to his clients. Mr. Humphries brings background in corporate accountability, transparency, education, public policy and litigation. He is a trusted advisor and author-lecturer on governance,

Teresa Brockie, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an Indigenous nurse scientist, educator, and national leader in Native American health research. A...

Dr. Veronica Vital has 26 years of nursing experience in academia, research, pediatrics, women’s health, and community health. She earned...

Dr. Brian Ahn is the President-Elect of the AAPINA and the Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Arizona. As an...

Donna-Marie Palakiko, PhD, RN, APRN, FAAN is a Native Hawaiian mother, health strategist, and community-based nurse scientist. She is the inaugural Director of Cultural Innovation and Strategy and first Native Hawaiian Nurse promoted with tenure to Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. She has over 25 years of experience addressing social and cultural determinants of health among Indigenous communities through cultur

Sheldon D. Fields is a nursing educator, practitioner, researcher, policy analyst, administrator, and entrepreneur. He graduated from...

Dr. Grau began her career in healthcare in 1983 as an Emergency Medical Technician while attending Jackson Memorial School of Nursing...

Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN, FADLN, FAAN Executive Director National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN, FADLN, FAAN has more than 30 years of clinical and leadership experience in nursing and community-based health promotion programs.  She began her career as a critical care nurse and progressed into leadership roles.  A strong advocate of patient- centered care, Dr. Toney is a national and international speaker known for her passionate, ent

Laurie C. Reid, RN, BSN, MS Laurie C. Reid is a retired military officer with 30 years of active service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Public...

Gloria Lamela Beriones is a transformational nurse leader with over forty years of exemplary contributions to nursing practice,...