Board of Directors

President-Elect 2024-2025/President 2025-2027/Past President 2027-2029 | Strategic Planning Committee Chair | TNA State Policy Council Committee Member | TNA Evidence-Based Practice Fellow | A. Louise Dietrich Scholarship Recipient 

Ebony is Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Master's Degree candidate and Registered Nurse (RN) with ten years and varying levels of clinical experience across the care spectrum — from clinic to corrections, hospital to home health. She is working diligently while seeking opportunities to further develop herself, both personally and professionally, and as a leader. Ebony is committed to lifelong learning, self-development, and an exceptional work ethic. She has a reputation to be a trailblazer, this is evident as an A. Louise Dietrich Scholarship recipient from the Texas Nurses Association (TNA).

Presently, Ebony has the privilege to showcase her servant and transformative leadership as the District 7 President of the Texas Nurses Association, serving nurses across Bell, Falls, Lampasas, and Milam counties. She holds leadership positions as a Board Member on the Membership Involvement Committee for Tau Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and an appointment to the Policy Council Committee for TNA. These roles allow her to influence nursing policy, advocacy, and mentor emerging nurse leaders.

Ebony previously served as President of the Lambda Theta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Temple College. During her tenure as President, Lambda Theta became a Top Texas Chapter and a Top 100 Chapter internationally of 1,300 chapters worldwide. Ebony was named a 2023 All-Texas Academic Team Scholar, received the Award of Distinction for Leadership, and the Lifelong Leopard award from the Temple College Foundation.

She is a proud member of the Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership, the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and the Texas Rural Health Organization. Ebony is a fierce advocate and change agent, passionate about caring for and educating Texans and underserved communities. She has been an outspoken advocate for workplace psychological safety and reform, and has a proven track record of fostering engagement, stakeholder and project management, and commitment to clinical excellence.

Her goal is to continue to pursue higher education and opportunities that focuses on removing barriers to equity and innovation while mitigating social determinants of health (SDOHs). This is exemplified by her work as an AHEC Scholar and selection to the inaugural cohort of the Texas Nurses Association Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship and her involvement in a multitude of community-based projects. 

President-Elect 2025-2027/President 2027-2029/Past President 2029-2030

Vice President-Elect 2024-2025/Vice President 2025-2027 | School of Nursing District Liaison - Temple College

Erica Perrine serves as the dedicated Vice President of Texas Nurses Association District 7, bringing passion, purpose, and a strong voice for nursing leadership to her role. With a background in clinical nursing and a commitment to advancing the profession, Erica plays a vital role in shaping and restructuring our District. Her leadership is marked by collaboration, innovation, and a deep belief in the power of nurses to drive change.

Erica has been a nurse for 23 years in a number of specialties, including Med/Surg, Step Down ICU, Wound Care, Orthopedics, and Oral Surgery.  She is currently the Clinical Coordinator and a Nurse Educator with Temple College and has been positively impacting the lives of students for the past 10 years in her role. Erica is currently enrolled in the EdD program at Northern Illinois University and is a member of a number of organizations outside of TNA, including Sigma Theta Tau and the National League of Nursing. She was awarded the MSN Outstanding Student in May 2015 and the NISOD Excellence Award in May 2022 and 2024.

Erica is a proud mom to a beautiful and bold 5-year-old. She shines brightly and is most passionate about people and their success.

Vice President-Elect 2025-2027/Vice President 2027-2029

Secretary 2025-2027

Treasurer 2025-2027

Historian 2025-2027 | Programs & Events Committee Member

La’Gidgette Robinson is a dedicated Nursing Professional Development Specialist at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, where she brings nearly two decades of nursing excellence, mentorship, and community engagement to her work. Her passion lies in empowering nurses through education, innovation, and collaboration.

With a master’s degree in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University and a long-standing commitment to clinical excellence, La’Gidgette develops and delivers impactful educational programs that strengthen the bridge between academia and practice. She has supervised and mentored nursing students at Temple College, Central Texas College, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor—guiding the next generation of nurses toward competence, confidence, and compassion.

In her current role, she supports the professional growth and competency of acute care nursing staff, designs unit-specific curricula, and leads community outreach initiatives that inspire local youth to pursue careers in healthcare. Her commitment to advancing workforce development and lifelong learning embodies the spirit of nursing leadership.

As the Historian and a proud member of the Programs & Events Committee for TNA District 7, La’Gidgette helps preserve the district’s legacy while bringing creative energy and organizational excellence to every event she supports. Whether coordinating professional development opportunities or celebrating members’ achievements, she ensures each experience is meaningful, memorable, and mission-driven.

Outside of work, La’Gidgette is a self-proclaimed “plant enthusiast” who loves gardening, traveling, event planning, and health coaching. She finds joy in nurturing growth—whether in a classroom, a garden, or her community.

TNA District 7 is proud to recognize La’Gidgette’s exceptional contributions, leadership, and unwavering commitment to empowering nurses and building stronger communities across Central Texas.

RN/APRN Board Member 2023-2025

RN/APRN Board Member 2025-2027

RN/APRN Board Member 2025-2027 | TNA State Policy Council Committee Member | EMPOWER Committee Member 

Dr. Marlene Porter is a distinguished Nurse Scientist at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, TX, where she directs and oversees all research and evidence-based practice activities. With a robust background in nursing research, quantitative and qualitative research, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice, Dr. Porter is dedicated to advancing nursing science and implementing evidence-based practices that align with the strategic focus of the National Institute of Nursing Research.

Dr. Porter earned her PhD in Nursing Science from The University of Texas at Arlington, a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Western Governors University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New Mexico State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Texas Tech University. Her academic excellence has been recognized with multiple scholarships and awards.

 Professionally, Dr. Porter is board certified in Emergency Nursing (BCEN), Critical Care Nursing (CCRN), and Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC). She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Texas Nurses Association,  Southern Nursing Research Society, the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Dr. Porter has held various roles throughout her career, highlighting her professional development and clinical practice expertise. Her leadership in nursing research is evident through her guidance and support of multiple research projects, ensuring they meet IRB requirements, and developing grant applications to support nursing research.

Dr. Porter is also a prolific presenter and author, contributing to numerous conferences and publications. Her research interests include work engagement, burnout, well-being in nursing professional development practitioners, and the transition of internationally educated nurses. She has received several awards for her contributions to nursing, including the Excellence in Nursing Award and the Daisy Health Equity Award.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Porter is committed to service and mentorship. She has been an abstract reviewer for various conferences, participated in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and mentored pre-nursing students. Her dedication to improving patient care and advancing the nursing profession is evident in her numerous innovative projects, leadership, and new role as a nurse entrepreneur launching MP Insight Solutions LLC. 

Lisa Tolls, MSN, RN, PMH-BC, NPD-BC

RN/APRN Board Member 2025-2027 | Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair | GAC Liaison

Lisa Tolls is a Nursing Professional Development Specialist with over three decades of clinical, academic, and professional experience in adult and pediatric medical-surgical and psychiatric-mental health nursing. She currently supports regional efforts in onboarding, orientation, and academic partnership development for the Temple Region at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center while advancing system-level initiatives in workforce education and violence prevention.

Lisa is a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. Her scholarly work focuses on identifying what supports or hinders nurse leaders in referring colleagues with suspected substance use concerns to alternative-to-discipline programs, such as the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses. Using behavioral science and implementation frameworks, her aim is to inform recovery-focused, non-punitive approaches that support nurses and protect patient safety.

In addition to her doctoral work, Lisa has done extensive work in professional identity formation in nursing, workplace violence prevention, and communication in high-stakes or conflict-prone situations. As the Government Affairs Committee Liaison for TNA District 7, she brings both bedside credibility and a systems-thinking approach to her leadership, all grounded in advocacy, clarity, and the belief that when we support nurses, we strengthen the future of nursing.

Lisa grew up attending school in many parts of the world before eventually putting down roots in Texas, a place she’s happy to call home. She enjoys estate sales, junking for vintage finds, and serving two foster fails, Moose and Stella, who run the household with unapologetic authority. Most of her free time is spent retrieving stolen shoes, brushing dog hair off her clothes, and reassuring the dogs that delivery trucks, friendly neighbors, and weed-eaters aren’t threats to national security.

 

RN/APRN Board Member 2025-2027

RN/APRN Board Member 2025-2027