Dr Cheryl Richards serves as the Director of Education for the Forum for Shared Governance. She can be contacted at cherylrichardsrn@gmail.com.

Current Professional Role

Cheryl Richards currently works as the nursing professional development specialist for Providence Nursing Institute, Clinical Academy. Previously, she served as the education coordinator for Logan Health – Whitefish in Whitefish, MT. During that time, she facilitated the development and implementation of shared governance at Logan Health – Whitefish. As a result, the facility (then known as North Valley Hospital) earned accreditation in shared governance from the Forum for Shared Governance in 2020.

Career Experience

Over a career spanning more than 30 years of nursing, Cheryl has held many positions. These include staff nurse, charge nurse, adjunct faculty member, faculty, and program director. Moreover, she has extensive experience with development and implementation. For example, she initiated and directed a nursing program for the local community college in 2007 when the community needed licensed practical nurses.

Education and Memberships

Cheryl Richards earned her bachelors of science in nursing from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. She then completed her masters from South Dakota State University in Brookings South Dakota, followed by her doctorate in education from Capella University. In addition, she has served on the board of directors for the MT nursing association and currently sits on the ANPD education committee. She maintains membership in the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, the Association for Nursing Professional Development, and the Emergency Nurses Association, for which she volunteers as a peer reviewer for the ENA (continuing education) provider unit.