Board of Directors
Beverly B. Foster, RN, PhD, MN, MPH – Chair
Dr. Bev Foster, PhD, is a highly respected nurse educator with a career spanning decades in both practice and academia. She holds a PhD in administration in higher education from UNC-Chapel Hill, along with a BSN from Syracuse University, an MPH from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and an MN in maternal/newborn care from UCLA. Dr. Foster taught at UNC-Chapel Hill from 1981 and directed the undergraduate nursing program from 1994 to 2017, specializing in maternal/newborn care, public health nursing, and inter-professional practice.
Dr. Foster has been deeply involved in community service, holding leadership roles in health organizations such as the Boards of Health and Healthy Carolinians in Orange County. She also served as Chair of the NC Board of Nursing and contributed to accreditation efforts with the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Her commitment to nursing excellence is evident through her extensive involvement in regulatory and accreditation processes.
Throughout her career, Dr. Foster has been recognized with awards such as the Ned Brooks Award for Public Service and has contributed to the development of The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Today, she remains an influential voice in nursing, with numerous grants, publications, and presentations on accreditation and educational leadership.
Pamela B. Edwards, RN-BC, MSN, EdD, FABC, CENP, CNE – Vice Chair
Dr. Pamela B. Edwards is Vice President for Nursing Education and Associate Consulting Professor at Duke University School of Nursing. With a long-standing career, she has held key roles such as Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Education at Duke University Health System and Director of Educational Services. Her leadership has shaped nursing education at Duke and across the country.
Dr. Edwards has served in numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the North Carolina Board of Nursing, board member of the Foundation for Nursing Excellence, and member of the North Carolina Future of Nursing Action Coalition. She has also been involved in committees with the American Organization of Nurse Leaders and the International Association of Continuing Education and Training. Her impact spans state and national healthcare initiatives.
Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Edwards has received honors from the Great 100 in Nursing, the North Carolina Nurses Association, and more. She completed an executive leadership fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic and earned her BSN from Barton College, MSN from Villanova University, and EdD from North Carolina State University. Outside work, she enjoys life on her horse farm in Willow Spring, North Carolina.
- Dr. Edwards on Linkedin
- Publications on ResearchGate
- Profile on Duke AHEAD
- Campbell University Profile
- Dr. Edwards’ articles on PubMed
- Dr. Edwards Contribute to COVID Article
- Bev Foster in NHGRI Consultant Directory
Polly Johnson, RN, MSN, FAAN – Secretary
Polly Johnson, BSN, has devoted over 20 years of her career to enhancing healthcare regulation as a key player in promoting safe, effective patient care. With a BSN in Nursing from The Ohio State University, she serves as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Nursing, where she has led efforts to transform healthcare regulation from a blame-based system to one focused on quality improvement and evidence-based practices.
Under her leadership, North Carolina became the first state to implement an early intervention program to address the competencies of individual licensees within their employment settings. This program, which has since been adopted by regulatory boards in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, aims to retain nurses while enhancing patient care quality. Her visionary approach to addressing practitioner competence has become a model for international regulatory practices.
Beyond state initiatives, Polly Johnson has significantly contributed to national healthcare policy through her 15-year leadership with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. As the founding President and CEO of the Foundation for Nursing Excellence, she has been instrumental in advancing patient safety. Her commitment is further reflected through her appointments to national committees, including the IOM Health Professions Education Committee, and as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Michael Vazquez, CMA, CPA, MSA – Treasurer
Michael Vazquez is an accomplished finance and accounting expert with a proven track record in federal grant management and overseeing diverse revenue streams. In his recent roles with the Friends of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the Foundation for Nursing Excellence in Raleigh, NC, he played a key role in growing assets, improving internal processes, and streamlining operational efficiency.
He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. As a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant, Michael is also affiliated with several professional organizations. His board memberships and affiliations include the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Institute of Management Accountants, and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. These memberships reflect his commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the accounting profession.