THOMAS EDISON STATE UNIVERSITY
Upsilon Rho Chapter
Chartered 2008 Sigma #471
Recipient of the 2023-2025 Chapter Key Award!
Chapter Email Address: sigmaupsilonrho@gmail.com
Chapter Officers
President
Khai Williams DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NI-BC
President-Elect
Lynn Glenn DHS, MSN, MBA, RN
Immediate Past President
Sunny Semidei BSN, RN
Vice-President
Cheryl Harris DNP, MHA, BSN, RN
Treasurer
Maureen Clark-Gallagher MS, RN
Secretary
Stacy Horowitz BSN, RN, PMH-BC, CARN
Faculty Counselor and Governance Chair
Holly Leahan MSN, RN
Governance Committee
Rosemary Smentkowski, DNP, RN, MSN Ed, RN, PMHNP-BC, CARN
Jonathan A. Gapilango, DNP, MSN, MMin, RN, NE-BC, OCN, CCRP
Program Chair
Rosemary Smentkowski, DNP, RN, MSN Ed, RN, PMHNP-BC, CARN
Vicki Brzoza, PhD, MBA, RN, CCRN
Leadership Succession Chair
Janice Fitzgerald MSN, APN-C, FNP-C
Leadership Succession Committee
Donette Price, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CCM
Joyce Cheung, MSN, RN
Membership Ambassador
Ida E. Biddle-Mayer PhD, MSN, BSN, BA, RN
Upsilon Rho Chapter President
I am both honored and excited to introduce myself as the new President of the Upsilon Rho Sigma Chapter for the next two years. I am grateful for having the opportunity to serve in this position, and I am committed to serving our chapter and continuing the vision of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
I have been a professional nurse for 15 years. Nursing is my second career. I was previously a professional in information technology, and I successfully transitioned into the nursing informatics specialty. My passion lies in supporting healthcare organizations and clinical and interprofessional teams by utilizing health information technologies to enhance their day-to-day workflows, improve patient outcomes, and transform healthcare delivery.
I am eager to build on the incredible work of past Upsilon Rho leadership and board members, while fostering growth and collaboration. This includes enhancing member engagement and providing chapter members with professional development opportunities.
Khai Williams, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NI-BC
President
Flower Power Fundraising
The Upsilon Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International is hosting a year-round fundraiser, Flower Power, to support our ongoing work in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and the USA. See flier below for more details.
Order through this link: http://nursessigmaupsilonrho.fpfundraising.com/
UPSILON RHO CHAPTER IS COMMITTED TO INTERNATIONAL NURSING
O.M.N.I. Mission
Upsilon Rho Chapter supports the work of O.M.N.I. Medical Mission in Zambia. We sponsor a little girl at the mission school and are always happy to get an update on how she is doing. If you would like to support the work of the mission that was started by a registered nurse. Please message our chapter for more information.
INTERNATIONAL INTER-CHAPTER COLLABORATION
Upsilon Rho Chapter, in collaboration with Kappa Chi of Region 12, has shipped 15 boxes of nursing and medical textbooks donated by Temple University to the Sigma Theta Tau chapter in Liberia (a member of the Phi Gamma Chapter) to support Phebe Nursing School and other institutions in advancing nursing and health science education.
INTERNATIONAL NURSING RESEARCH CONGRESS
Upsilon Rho Chapter has partnered with the Alpha Beta Upsilon at-large Chapter in Sierra Leone for some of their efforts. Representatives from the two chapters met at the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing 35th International Nursing Research Congress in Singapore in July 2024.
TESU SIGMA NEWS
Thomas Edison State University, Upsilon Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau August 2025 Inductees
IN MEMORIUM TESU STUDENT NURSE TANIQUE CHUE
who was tragically killed on July 5, 2023. She was granted honorary membership posthumously
Upsilon Rho Chapter. Tanique was an honor student at the time of her death.
Thomas Edison State University, W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing News
Congratulations to the College of Nursing and Health Professions Graduates!
Campus Virtual Tour
http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/78byb
Thomas Edison State University 50th Anniversary Video
http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/lg0o6