About me
Gayle is a pediatric nurse practitioner with more than 50 years of experience in clinical care, education, and research. She has held faculty positions at several institutions, including the University of Minnesota, the University of Mississippi, Boston College, and most recently Winona State University. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving outcomes for children and families facing complex challenges and health disparities.
Following her retirement from Winona State University, Gayle helped found and served as a board member of Rochester Student Health Services, which provided free healthcare at Hawthorne Education Center—serving a large immigrant and refugee population—as well as at the Alternative Learning Center for students in grades 7–12 that addresses a wide range of needs, including mental and physical health, substance use, nutrition, and housing stability.
Gayle also served for five years in a government initiative, under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aimed at strengthening nursing and healthcare systems in Tanzania, working with the Ministry of Health as well as with nurses and nursing programs throughout the country.
She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Community Pathways to Family Health and Recovery, (CPFHR) an all -volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families impacted by addiction. CPFHR conducts research, offers a variety of educational programs and materials, conducts a weekly support group for families impacted by addiction as well as individual support.
