I have over 30 years of healthcare experience, including 13 years of leadership experience. As a nurse, I cared for retirees from the Panama Canal construction, home health, Med/Surg, step down, ICU, critical care education, and public health before stepping into leadership roles. In nursing leadership roles, I was a Nursing Director over orthopedic and neuroscience units for almost four years before being selected for the Chief Nursing Officer Development Program (CNO DP). After the CNO DP program, I worked as an Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Nursing Officer for ten years in my leadership experience. For three years, I taught students in the associate and bachelor’s degree programs before getting promoted to the associate dean of the nursing program for 800 nursing students in less than a year.

I obtained a bachelor’s Degree (BSN) from the University of Panama in 1992, a Master in Science of Nursing (MSN) from the University of South Florida in 2008, a Master’s in Business (MBA) from the University of Phoenix in 2011, and Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from Walden University in 2019.

I enjoyed running, which I started in 2012. I completed a 10K over the Skyway bridge in the Tampa Bay area and a half marathon in Las Vegas along the Red Rock Canyon. They were great experiences and had incredible views. I also enjoy reading and supporting my church with outreach.

My name is Maura Stafford; I am originally from Panama. I moved to the US in 1998 as a nurse with a BSN. In Panama, I had the privilege of working with a fantastic group of people who were working on constructing the Panama Canal.

I have been married to Andre for the past seven years, and our beautiful daughter Heaven just turned 18th and graduated from High School on June 1st, 2024. After graduation, Heaven will pursue a career goal at the Savanah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, GA. We are also delighted to have a labradoodle named Milkshake and a cat named Sadie.