Georgia Association of Nursing Deans and Directors (GANDD)
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VISION
GANDD exists to transform health care through the process of educating registered nurses to meet the nursing needs of the citizens of Georgia by providing quality undergraduate and graduate education, leading-edge research, excellence in nursing practice, and committed public service.
 
PURPOSE
GANDD serves as a unified voice for all Georgia Nursing Deans and Directors to create the preferred future for nursing education in the state of Georgia.
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OBJECTIVES
1. Facilitate collaboration and networking among nursing programs in Georgia.  
2. Plan and conduct activities to strengthen nursing and nursing education at the local, state, and regional levels.  
3. Collaborate with state, regional, and national groups to advance nursing and nursing education.  
4. Support the development of nursing academic leaders in Georgia.  
5. Serve as a resource for policy development to enhance the health of people of Georgia.  

Chairperson
(Term began Fall 2024)


Dr. Lisa Jellum will serve as the Chairperson for two years (2024-2026).  The Chairperson will:
  • Circulate an agenda prior to each meeting.
  • Preside at all GANDD meetings.
  • Act as or designate an official spokesperson and/or representative for GANDD.
  • Serve as Ex Officio on all GANDD committees.
  • Chair meetings of the Executive Committee.
  • Submit a summary report of activities at the annual meeting. 

Treasurer
(Term began Fall 2025)
Dr. Dwayne Hooks, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, PMHNP-BC, FACHE, FAANP, FAAN is Dean and Professor for the College of Health at Clayton State University (2023). In addition to the Deanship of the College of Health, Dr. Hooks was appointed January 2024 as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Hooks has over 35 years of registered nurse experience in a variety of clinical care areas and 23 years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner. He has responsibility for undergraduate and graduate academic programs as well as all business and operational functions for both colleges. He completed his BSN and MN degrees at Augusta University College of Nursing in 1990 and in 2002, respectively. Dr. Hooks completed his PhD in Nursing at the University of Kansas in 2015 and a graduate certificate as a Psychiatric-Mental Nurse Practitioner from George Washington University in 2022. He has had extensive experience in developing and monitoring operating and capital budgets for multi-million-dollar health system service lines as well as for academic units. He has utilized his knowledge of financial data and how to observe performance of organizations through a review and analysis of financial statements for the aforementioned academic units as well as in service to national organizations.

The Treasurer is responsible for:
  • maintaining all funds and issue checks.
  • keeping accurate accounts of finances.  

Secretary
​(Second term began Fall 2025)

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Shea Walker [email protected]
Vice-Chair
(Term began Fall 2025)
 Dr. Shea Walker is the Director of Nursing at Georgia Highlands College. She has served as the GANDD secretary for the last term. She is entering her 10th year in academia and has been a nurse for 21 years. She is the North Region Director of GANE, OADN Nominating Committee Chair, and served as the GANE Nominating Committee Chair. Shea looks forward to continuing to serve the GANDD organization if elected. 

In her second term as Secretary (2025-2027), Dr. Walker is responsible for maintaining all permanent records of the organization.  She also records minutes at all meetings, highlighting the predetermined agenda for each meeting and is responsible for the advance distribution of minutes for review at future meetings.  Duties, as listed in the bylaws, also include:
  • keeping an accurate record of all business proceedings of the organization and the Executive Committee
  • distributing a copy of the minutes of all meetings to the full membership within two weeks of the meeting
  • serving as Chair of Committees, as designated by the Chair.





​Dr. Reyes is currently serving as Dean of UWG after serving as interim at UNLV for 1.5 years. She has 15 years of academic experience having served at Emory, UNLV and now UWG. She has served in various leadership positions with UAPRN, NAPNAP, NAHN and other organizations.  

In her position as Vice-Chair, Dr. Reyes is responsible for:
  • assuming the duties and responsibilities of the Chair in the absence of that officer
  • participating in other duties of GANDD as assigned by the Executive Committee or membership  
  • oversight of the operation and maintenance of GANDD website 
  • serving as chair of the Bylaws Committee.