Mary Ellen retired after 20 years as the Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) for Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NH NHRMC). During her 48-year nursing career, she has practiced nursing in various adult critical care clinical environments, nursing education, performance improvement and executive leadership. She has a strong passion for shared governance and ensuring nurses have a voice in practice. Before joining NH NHRMC, she served as CNE at Ocean Medical Center/Hackensack Meridian Health in NJ.

Mary Ellen earned her BSN from Wagner College in NY, MPA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ and DNP in Nurse Executive Leadership from University of North Carolina at Wilmington, NC. She holds national board certification as an Advanced Nurse Executive from the ANCC. Mary Ellen currently serves as President of the North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders.

Mary Ellen and Joe, her husband of 40 years, are strong community advocates. Her community engagement includes serving on numerous non-profit boards focusing on serving the youth in her community. She actively serves on the UNCW Nurse Advocacy Board and consults in nursing leadership research projects. Mary Ellen is reuniting with her love of family and spending time with her 7 grandchildren, pursuing her love of music, learning the game of golf and finding solace in her garden.