Meet The new Board

We are here to serve you.

Jake Ross

president
​president@utahstudentnurse.org

Jake Ross is student enrolled in Southern Utah University's BSN program. During the 2017-2018 term Jake served as the Breakthrough to Nursing Director for the UtSNA. Jake has also served in various other leadership positions throughout his life that he feels will equipt him for his role as President. He ran for President because he is passionate about UtSNA and wants to continue to lead and serve. Jake's focus during his time as President is to help the UtSNA grow and meet NSNA level standards. Jake plans to work with the whole UtSNA board to be of service to the local SNA chapters and to Utah in general and to help lead leaders to their fullest potential.

Claire Mckinlay

Vice President
vicepresident@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

I’m Claire McKinlay, I’m the Vice President of the UtSNA and I’m currently a senior in the nursing program at Provo College. I wanted to be on the board because I love being involved, especially in things I’m passionate about. After graduation, I plan on working as an ICU nurse with the goal of becoming a flight nurse, and hopefully doing SANE nursing as well. I love nursing because it creates a way for us to know what to do in chaotic and emergent situations. Ways I love to unwind and destress are running, hiking, traveling, and reading.

Weston Allinson

Secretary
secretary@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Weston Allinson is a student at Southern Utah University where he is pursuing a BSN degree. Prior to enrolling at Southern Utah University, Weston attended Snow College where he served as a Student Body Advocate and the Service Representative for the college. Upon his transfer to Southern Utah University, Weston joined the Presidential Ambassador team, where he recruits for the university, hosts over- night visits, and provides campus tours. Being a part of many leadership organizations at the university level has allowed Weston to learn how to represent and advocate for the things he is most passionate about. For this reason, he desires to responsibly represent the UtSNA and work as a team with other board members to help nursing students of Utah to achieve their goals.

 

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Chance Cooper

Treasurer
treasurer@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Chance, who claims ʻĀina Haina, Hawaii as home, is rounding his last year in SUU’s BSN program, graduating in December 2018. He has held Secretary, Vice President, and President for SUU’s SNA, and is in his second year as Treasurer for UtSNA. His goal for this year is to perfect the processes and duties of treasury to ensure a smooth transition for the next board member. Chance enjoys camping, snowboarding, water skiing, travel, and Survivor. He plans on spending his summer landing an ICU residency, and eventually would like to go back to school to receive a DNAP.

Scott shumway

Convention Director
conventiondirector@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Scott Shumway is a student enrolled at Southern Utah University's BSN program. He is currently the secretary of SUU's SNA chapter. Scott has gained leadership experience from his time at SUU and in the workplace. He enjoys snowboarding, playing soccer and pickle ball. He is a world traveller and speaks fluent french. He loves spending his precious free time with his wife Haley. Scott ran for Event Director because he is enthusiastic about professional development and continuing UtSNA's Legacy.

Taylor Sanderson

Communications Director
communicationsdirector@
​UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Taylor Sanderson is a senior attending Southern Utah University’s BSN program. She recently received her license as a Practical Nurse and will graduate with her RN, BSN in May 2019. She plans to continue her education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has served in multiple leadership and service positions. In these positions, she was able to train students on leadership, service, and communication strategies and techniques. Serving as the Communications Director, she will be actively involved in forming connections with chapters and students across the state. She wants to encourage other nursing students to be involved in service opportunities and make a positive difference in their communities.

Joanna ostler

Breakthrough to nursing
btndirector@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Joanna Ostler is a nursing student attending Brigham Young University's BSN program. She has a diverse background in leadership and service, including serving 3 years as Miss Bluffdale, Miss Utah USA Ambassador Teen, and Miss USA Amabassador Teen, respectively. During that time, she developed a Math-Olympics program for Utah elementary students, organized and produced charity events for local fundraisers, and advocated for victims of rape, domestic abuse, and sexual assault awareness. She feels prepared to serve as the next UtSNA Breakthrough to Nursing Director and is excited to help bridge the gap between pre-nursing students and their future nursing programs.

Brittania Doxstader

Regional Director 1
region1director@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Brittania began her professional career by obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Health Administration. After graduation, Brittania wanted to further her education to be more involved with the community. Shortly after this realization, she began attending nursing school at Weber State University with her graduation date set for December 2018. She is the current president of the SNA chapter at Weber State University and loves to do service projects that give back to her community. You can frequently find her hosting dinner parties or playing one of her five instruments to unwind after a stressful day. Brittania feels that her various leadership experiences have prepared her to take on the role as a Regional Director for the UtSNA.

Emily Hanks

Regional Director 2
region2director@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Emily Hanks is in the Utah Valley University BSN program and hope to one day become an cardiac ICU nurse. She also participates in UVU's SNA program and oversee academics. Emily loves serving fellow students and people, as well as being involved in the healthcare community. Some opportunities of leadership she has had in the past include supervising a local recreation facility, doing CPR/first aid training, tutoring for anatomy and physiology, and teaching fitness classes. Emily loves SNA because it gives her the opportunity to interact and communicate with other people who share her passion for nursing. She also loves to learn from other people and see their strengths. Emily thinks the world needs good nurses and it's her goal to help others and herself develop the skills to give the best nursing care possible.

Samantha derfler

Regional director 3
region3director@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Samantha Derfler is a student currently enrolled in Provo College BSN program. She has served as an officer for her school’s NSNA chapter. She has loved the opportunity she has had to be a part of the NSNA and the service opportunities she has had. She went out for Reginal Director 3 position because she feels she has a lot to offer. She wants to focus her time on the UtSNA board making sure the schools she will oversee have their chapters of the NSNA working and benefiting from this great organization. She wants to help assist these schools where ever she can. She looks forward in helping the UtSNA excel and is grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve. She looks forward to a great year and to many great experiences that she will have in helping the UtSNA board.

Maddy Baird

Regional director 4
region4director@UTAHSTUDENTNURSE.ORG

Maddy Baird is from Phoenix, Arizona and in her 2nd semester of Southern Utah University's BSN program. She has enjoyed her participation in SNA and is excited to be able to help further the program by serving as the region 4 director. She is passionate about SNA because it is a way for the students to reach out and better not only their nursing programs, but the community as a whole. There are so many amazing opportunities available for nursing students.Nursing students have the world at their fingertips and they don’t even know it. As the region director for Southern Utah, her goal to help these nursing students know how they can change the world and their communities. She wants students to learn to recognize the needs of the communities and how they can address them before they even graduate with their degrees.

allison swenson

​faculty adviser
​facultyadviser2@utahsutdentnurse.org

rieneke holman

faculty adviser
facultyadviser1@utahstudentnurse.org

Rieneke received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in 1997 and her master’s degree from the University of Utah in 2010. She currently teaches the first semester pharmacology course and is the Associate Degree Program Clinical Coordinator at Weber State University. She specialized in labor and delivery nursing and loves to teach maternity nursing as well as pharmacology. Rieneke is currently working on her doctorate degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her research interests include teaching strategies to help students retain pharmacology information for practice. Rieneke loves working with students and believes in promoting professionalism in nursing beginning at the student level. She has enjoyed serving as a faculty consultant to the state board because she has been able to get to know nursing students from all over the state.

jennifer harrington

faculty adviser
facultyadviser3@utahstudentnurse.org

I began my career in health sciences in 2002 as an EMT, advancing to an Intermediate-Advanced EMT in 2003 before changing focus and working as a medical assistant (MA). My interest to pursue a nursing career, spurred from those experiences and my journey towards a career in nursing officially began with my certification as a nursing assistant (CNA) in 2008, then a nursing degree (RN) in 2010, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2013, and a master’s degree in nursing education and leadership (MSN) in 2017. As a nurse, I have been fortunate to practice in a variety of settings, including oncology, home health/rehab, long-term care, and hospice as well as nursing education. Currently, I am an Instructor and Program Coordinator in the DSU CNA program, Advisor to the Dixie Student Nurses Association and a Faculty Advisor for the Utah Student Nurses Association. I enjoy helping students learn, and I am committed to students' success!