About the CNC Board of Commissioners
The CNL certification is administered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC), an autonomous certifying body of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The mission of the CNC is to oversee Clinical Nurse Leadersm (CNL) certification activities to assure communities of interest that certificants have met accepted standards of practice. The CNCBOC governs the CNL certification process. The CNCBOC and staff are solely responsible for the policies and administration of the CNL Certification Program.
Zach Perpetua, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNL
Advanced Clinical Education Specialist
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA
July 11, 2025, Washington, DC – The Commission on Nurse Certification announced that Zach Perpetua, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNL, has been elected Chair of the CNC Board of Commissioners (CNCBOC). He replaces Sonya Curtis, DHA, DNP, MBA, RN, CNL, VHA-CM of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Crowley, TX, who served as CNCBOC Chair from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.
“The CNC Board and staff are excited about Dr. Perpetua’s new role as Chair,” said CNC Director, Lynn Gardner. “He brings renewed energy and innovative ideas to the Board, and we look forward to his leadership.”
An Advanced Clinical Education Specialist, Dr. Perpetua practices at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is also a certified medical-surgical nurse. He earned his Bachelor of Nursing, CNL Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2018, he completed CNC’s certification process and earned certified CNL status.
“I’ve always been passionate about professional development,” said Perpetua. “As Chair, I look forward to leveraging my professional experience in education, and to the opportunity to lead quality improvement processes that enhance CNC’s CNL certification program.”
Dr. Perpetua’s term began July 1st and ends June 30, 2027. Megan Williams, MSN, RN, CNL, Director of Complex Care, Regional One Health in Memphis, serves as CNCBOC’s Vice Chair. In the CNCBOC’s June meeting, several new commissioners were also elected to the board, including:
Schvonna M. L. Brown, MSM, MHCL, LSSBB (Public Member)
VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System
Harlingen, TX
Tymeeka Davis, DNP, RN-BC, CNL (Practicing Member)
Durham VA Healthcare System
Durham, NC
Dr. Leigh Williams, MSN, EdD (Academic Member)
Ozarks Tech
Springfield, MO
