Alexander Leaves Board; VanderMeulen Steps In

PAEA Immediate Past President Lisa Mustone Alexander, EdD, MPH, PA-C, has stepped down from the PAEA Board of Directors. She will be replaced by former president Stephane VanderMeulen, MPAS, PA-C, who will complete the remainder of Alexander’s term on the Board, through December 31, 2019. 

Alexander resigned her position on the Board last week, after sustaining the loss of three family members over the course of the summer. In a letter to PAEA President Jon Bowser she stated, “My other professional and personal commitments have made it difficult to continue in my role,” adding that “It has been a great pleasure being part of the Board, and I am proud of what we collectively accomplished on behalf of our member programs during my tenure with the Association.”

In appointing VanderMeulen to complete the past president term, the Board exercised its authority, outlined in the PAEA Bylaws, to “fill a vacancy in any PAEA office,” and followed precedent in appointing a recent past president — someone who can quickly get up to speed with the work of the Board. VanderMeulen, who served as PAEA president in 2015, will leave the Board on January 1, 2020, when the new terms begin, and Bowser moves from president to immediate past president. The Board will also welcome three new directors at large at that point, following the Board of Directors election held in conjunction with the Education Forum in October.

“The PAEA Board extends its warmest wishes to Lisa as she steps away from the Board to tend to other matters in her personal and professional life,” said Bowser. “I’d like to personally thank Lisa for her mentorship as past president and for her strong voice on the Board over the past few years. She has been a leader in PA education for decades, and I know we will continue to benefit from her broad experience moving forward.”