Maine nurse practitioner Association
Leadership |
Meet the board of the MNPA, thank you to this dedicated team for their work on behalf of the NP profession in Maine. President, Connie Jordan (2021-2023) Lobbyist, Kate Knox Public Relations Co-chairs: Evelyn Kieltyka, Colin McCabe |
MEET THE TEAM |
Sue Folk, Co-Chair, Professional Development Committee Susan Folk was a math/science major determined to spread the gospel of calculus based physics to high schoolers….because no one should be subjected to trigonometry based physics…that is cruel and unusual punishment! Calculus was invented for PHYSICS!!! However, she worked summers at a nursing home in small town Arkansas, and one of her favorite patients ended up dying. The circumstances around that death were less than ideal. In her grief, she turned to books. She read “Care of the Dying” By Dr Richard Lamerton who worked with Dame Cicely Saunders at St Christopher’s hospice in London and came to the realization “That’s what I want to do!” She returned to university and changed her major from math/science to nursing and upon graduation from nursing school became a hospice nurse. Eventually she pursued her master’s degree and became a hospice and palliative Care NP. That is where she has practiced since obtaining her MSN and NP in May 2013. |
Kathy is a nurse practitioner who has been working in Orthopedic surgery since 1999 currently at Northern Light EMMC and also works per diem at Acadia Hospital in the medical division of a psychiatric hospital. She obtained her MSN FNP through Husson College in 1998, RNFA through Delaware County Community College in 2002, and her DNP through Walden University in 2018. She enjoys time with family, friends, tennis, walking, reading, fishing, & hunting. She has been co-chair of the MNPA legislative committee and recipient of the AANP advocacy award. She chairs a committee to develop bone health care and secondary fragility fracture prevention for Northern Light Health Care. |
Leah Hayes, BSN, RN, Student Representative Leah Hayes began her nursing journey at age 44. After working 3 years as a CNA in long term care and loving it, she applied to the accelerated nursing program at USM to pursue her BSN. At age 48 she graduated that program in 2022 and stayed on at USM to pursue her master’s and become an FNP. She expects to graduate in 2025. She is currently getting some much needed and valuable RN experience in palliative care on a comfort care unit in Augusta, Maine. Hospice work has her heart for the moment, but she is open and eager to experience other types of nursing as well. Prior to nursing she earned a BA in psychology, an MA in clinical mental health with a concentration in dance/movement therapy and her yoga teaching certificate. She has a beautiful life in Readfield with her 2 teenagers. She loves cooking, reading, swimming, dancing, and daydreaming in the sun. |
Sandra Hayes, NP |
Constance W. Jordan, MSN, ANP, PMHNP received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Simmons College and her Post Masters Certificate from Rush University. She is Board Certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Connie is the CEO of Behavioral Health Resources of Maine, a licensed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Agency. BHRM specializes in supporting individuals with complex co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions with additional expertise in provision of medication assisted treatment and the programing supporting clients receiving MAT. Connie is a past member of the medical staff at Augusta Mental Health Institute, was a member of the medical staff at the Togus VA Medical Center, has been in private practice and most recently was the owner and Clinical Director of a large outpatient psychiatry clinic. In addition, she practiced at the PIER Program (Portland Early Identification and Referral), an early intervention program for young people with prodromal symptoms of a potential mental illness. Connie is the President Elect of MNPA, a Past President of the MNPA and has served on both the MNPA Legislative Committee and the Public Relations Committee for several years. Through her professional association committee work she has been active in disseminating information regarding legislation and legislative issues concerning NP practice, promotion of the NP role and health care issues in general to her MNPA colleagues and to the public. |
Evelyn is Senior Vice President of Program Services at Maine Family Planning. She has been in this position since 1995. At the Maine Family Planning, she is overseeing the operations of 18 health centers across Central, Western and Northern. She also administers all sub-recipients’ clinical grants for reproductive health services across the state. Evelyn had been involved in family planning, abortion cares services, clinical care, program planning and evaluation, grants management and quality assurance for over 25 years. She is a past board president of the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association, past member of the Community Advisory Board for the Maine Health Access Foundation and received the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Excellence Award in 2000. Evelyn received her nursing degree from Sacred Heart University, holds Master’s degrees from Simmons College and Harvard School of Public Health. She is board certified as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and a Family Nurse Practitioner. |
When it comes to lobbying, campaign compliance and election law, you are hard pressed to find someone more capable than Kate. She has lobbied in Augusta for nearly 20 years, representing a wide variety of interests from developers to corporations and public interest groups, and worked on virtually every significant ballot initiative and campaign for public office in Maine. At the statehouse, Kate is known for her strong democratic connections and relationships. Her legal training allows her to understand and translate the often-complicated work of crafting statues to solve practical problems. In addition, Kate has served as General Counsel to the Maine Democratic Party for the past 10 years, working with and representing democratic candidates up and down the ticket- from state legislators to presidential candidates. That position translates well into lobbying as it creates authentic and organic relationships with candidates before they become legislators. Post-election, she is naturally seen as a trusted ally for those newly elected legislators as they learn the ways of Augusta. |
Amy Langley has been a Family Nurse Practitioner for over 8 years at Penobscot Community Health Care, graduating from Husson University in 2011. Prior to that Amy was a Registered Nurse for over 16 years working locally and as a traveling nurse throughout the U.S. in acute care and trauma centers. Amy also has extensive experience in geriatrics, chronic nonmalignant pain disorders and opiate use disorders. Amy sits on the Controlled Substance Stewardship Committee at PCHC and has since its inception in 2013. Amy also serves as a committee member for the High Utilization Committee at PCHC. |  Dawn Levasseur, FNP Dawn Levasseur holds her Masters in Nursing /Masters in Health Administration University of Phoenix, FNP Graceland University. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the owner of Aurora Healthcare in Waterville, Maine since December, 2020. She started her career in Northern Maine at Houlton Regional Hospital, with most of her nursing career in the ICU/ED. In 2013 Dawn graduated with her FNP and became board certified in February, 2014. As an RN, Dawn was involved with the Maine State Nurses Association and was a board member and voted the government legislative committee chair for 6 years. She currently resides in Central Maine with my husband her 6 yr old daughter, 2 year old son and two dogs. |
Amy Langley, FNP-C
Amie is not an NP- but honored to work with the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association. The owner of her own small business which provides communications, web services and graphic designs to her clients, Amie is most passionate about working with nonprofits and efforts that give back to the community. As president of her own nonprofit, Amie recognizes the unique need nonprofits have to get their word out efficiently and affordably. In 2019, Amie co-founded Madeline’s Mission as a 501c3 nonprofit in memory of her daughter to help families grieving the loss of a child. She is the mother of three. |
Colin is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner for Maine Medical Partner, Maine Health Cardiology. He graduated from Husson University as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2014. Since that time he worked at an FQHS in Whitefield Maine as a Primary Care Provider before transferring to Cardiology where he has been practicing for the last 3 years. Before even becoming an NP, Colin attending the Maine Nurse Practitioner Spring Conference and has been an advocate for the organization ever since. Colin became the co-chair of the Legislative Committee in 2017. Colin received his nursing degree from Binghamton University and worked as an RN in a number of different roles from an ICU nurse at a level 1 trauma center in San Francisco to a Camp nurse in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. |
Jennifer Mora, FNP My work experience includes providing primary care in a rural health center (RHC), two federally-qualified health centers (FQHC), and the Maine Medical Center (MMC) Outpatient Clinics. My practice philosophy is to provide collaborative care that considers the social determinants of health and the experience of the whole person. I honor patient-centered care that emphasizes cultural competence, education, and empowerment. I am currently in the Rush University Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Population Health program, which complements my practice and focuses on advancing quality initiatives. Participation in the MNPA Legislative Committee has been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about health policy and the political determinants of health. |
Brea obtained her MSN as a Family and Community Nurse Practitioner from Husson University in 2011, after 6 years of critical care nursing experience. She was in a family practice setting for 2.5 years before taking her current position at MaineGeneral Gastroenterology in 2014. Breahas been a member of MNPA since her student days, and this is her first year serving on the Board. She is also the co-chair of Professional Development Committee. Brea lives in Central Maine with her husband, daughter, and twin sons. |  Lori Towne, MSN, FNP-BC Lori received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Maine in 2010. She is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has been providing primary care to teens and adults at Dexter Internal Medicine since 2010 and has been an employee of Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft since 2004. She was elected as the Outpatient Medicine Chair by her medical staff peers in 2018 and is the first APP to ever hold this role and continues to serve in this capacity. She is a recent graduate of the first APP cohort for the Provider Executive Leadership Institute through the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership. She is a newly elected member of the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association currently serving in the role of Secretary. She is actively involved in her community in various capacities and serves as the Secretary of the Board for the Piscataquis Regional YMCA. She resides in Dover-Foxcroft with her husband, dog, and four cats. She is the proud mother of her adult daughter, Allie. She enjoys spending time at her camp on Schoodic Lake, time with family and friends, travel, running, and hiking. | Kara Williams, Student Representative |
