The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) has announced that Chief Executive Officer Richard (Rick) Meadows, RN, MS, NP-C, FAANP will retire in June 2021 after serving in the role for over a decade. This leadership transition comes after more than 20 years of Mr. Meadow’ service to the organization as both a volunteer and CEO.

"Rick’s impact and forward thinking is unparalleled", said AANPCB Board Chair Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP, RN, APN-c, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN. "AANPCB and the nursing profession are indebted to the work of Rick. His vision, business acumen, and continual passion for the role of the nurse practitioner has guided all organizational activities. He has guided us through tremendous growth, elevated AANPCB through numerous initiatives that advanced NP certification and credentialing, both nationally and internationally."

Before his tenure as CEO, Rick served in many different capacities throughout his nursing career. He is a retired US Army Nurse Corps officer and taught the US Army Adult Nurse Practitioner Program for several years. He has held several civilian faculty and program director positions teaching nurse practitioners. He maintained an active clinical practice as an NP from 1974 to 2005. He is past AANPCB chair and commissioner and served on certification examination development panels as an adult nurse practitioner subject matter expert for many years before serving as CEO. He was the Colorado State Representative and then Region 8 Director of AANP for two terms. He served as the Secretary/Treasurer of ABNS for more than two terms and was instrumental in the formation and administration of the Southern Colorado Advanced Practice Nursing Association.

Effective July 1, 2021 Diane Tyler PhD, RN, FNP-C, FNP-BC, CAE, FAANP, FAAN will become AANPCB’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr. Tyler is the current Director of Certification for AANPCB. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a family nurse practitioner, nurse educator and recently with AANPCB. She began her career with AANPCB in 2010 as a professional reviewer and in 2013 she began her role as Director of Certification. Dr. Tyler is a certified association executive with ASAE.

A results-oriented leader Dr. Tyler has been instrumental in the strategic foresight and development of high performing teams within AANPCB. She has championed the nurse practitioner profession through health promotion initiatives, models of health care delivery, and excellence in NP certification.

"The AANPCB Board of Commissioners is excited that Diane will lead and guide our respected portfolio of certification programs into the future," said AANPCB Chair Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP, RN, APN-c, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN. "Diane brings a wealth of experience which will build on AANPCB's past accomplishments and chart the course for success in the years to come."

Dr. Tyler received her PhD and master’s degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and a post-graduate FNP certificate from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Tyler is a Commissioner with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and served on the Standards Review Committee for the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification. She was instrumental in launching the Emergency Nursing Practitioner specialty certification program, served on the AANPCB Recertification Task Force that resulted in revision of the requirements to renew certification, and has many certification-related publications and presentations. In her former faculty role, she directed five NP programs, launched an occupational health program for university-based animal-model researchers, provided primary care in community clinics, and developed a health-promotion program of research for families with overweight children. She has been recognized for her leadership, service, research, and writing contributions.

Based in Austin, Texas the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board is the leading certification organization for Family and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners, currently certifying more than 158,000 nurse practitioners. AANPCB provides valid and reliable certification programs for entry-level nurse practitioners that recognize their education, knowledge, and professional expertise. AANPCB provides a process for validation of an advanced practice registered nurse’s qualifications and knowledge for practice as a primary care nurse practitioner. For more information about AANPCB please visit our website at https://www.aanpcert.org.