Board of Directors

Executive Director

Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS

University: Vanderbilt University

CLAS Board of Directors Role Description: As the executive director, I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization, our internal and external reporting and recordkeeping, and maintaining our state and federal exemptions. I work closely with the board of directors to leverage the organization’s resources in service of its mission, vision, and values.

Accolades/Accomplishments: This year, we obtained both state and federal recognition as a 501c (3) nonprofit organization. This required quite a bit of learning on my part, and I continue to learn every day in this role! I am proud to use my background as a clinical child life professional, researcher, and child life academic to consider our organization’s needs from all vantage points.

Professional Interests: My longstanding clinical interests have been oncology (especially adolescents and young adults), pediatric intensive care, children with medical complexity and their families, and end-of-life care (specifically legacy building). As an academic, I am passionate about experiential learning opportunities, innovating child life training pathways, and expanding the child life research foundation.

Why I'm part of CLAS: There’s nowhere else I would rather be. I find joy and energy in the interconnections of teaching, research, and clinical practice; this is the perfect organization for me to funnel these together for the benefit of child life students and emerging professionals.

I'm passionate about the work CLAS is doing because: I was once a child life student myself and I remember how difficult it was to access information and support along my journey. I had the benefit of an amazing academic mentor who really saw my potential, and I see the work of CLAS as invaluable in assuring every rising child life professional has access to that kind of support.

President

Cara Sisk, PhD, CCLS

University: Tennessee Technological University

CLAS Board of Directors Role: As the president, I serve the organization by leading the board, coordinating collaborations among committees and task forces, provide organizational oversight for success, and foster member involvement via communication.

Accolades/Accomplishments:

2024 Promotion to Associate Professor

2024 ACLP Professional Research Award

2021 Tennessee Tech University 10 Year Service Award

Professional Interests: Child Life Research, Solutions to Child Life’s Pathway to the Profession Challenges, Child Life Student Internship Readiness, Child Life Pedagogy

Why I'm part of CLAS: I am a member of the Child Life Academic Society, because it is the organization that represents child life students, academic professionals, and academic programs based on evidence for best practices.

I'm passionate about the work CLAS is doing because: I am passionate about the work the Child Life Academic Society is doing, because this is pioneering work in child life. The work of the CLAS is vital for moving child life academics forward successfully and providing strong foundations for child life in higher education, which impacts the sustainability of the child life profession.

President-Elect

Katie Glass, EdD, CCLS

University: Edgewood College

CLAS Board of Directors Role: Within this position, I support the roles and responsibilities of the President and look to the organization’s future plans and goals. I also serve as a liaison with organizational committees and workgroups.

Accolades/Accomplishments: In addition to being a part of the founder’s council of CLAS I am humbled to be a part of the first board of directors within our organization. Edgewood College, my home institution, was able to be hosts to the 2nd annual Child Life Academic Society Academic Summit in 2023 which really laid a lot of our organization groundwork in creating our mission, vision and values. This moments in our organization history are inspiring to be apart of.

Associate Dean /Director, Child Life & Child and Family Studies

Edgewood College 2020-Present

Program Director of Child Life Program

Edgewood College 2008-2020

In my tenure at Edgewood College, I’ve grown our program from being a single-faculty program to a team of five, including three full-time faculty and two adjunct instructors.

UW Health Kids: Child Life Clinical Leadership Position, Child Life Educator 2017 - Present

Professional Interests: Some of my professional interests include leader development, networking, mentorship, academic growth, child life training pathways, and curriculum development. My clinical focus has been in trauma, burn and critical care. As previous internship coordinator in my clinical roles I enjoy mentoring clinical staff into supervisors, leaders within their current positions and succession planning.

Why I'm part of CLAS: I’m part of CLAS because I want to represent the building block of child life which is academics. I find it to be such a privilege to work in higher education representing child life and leading a program. CLAS representants the important role the child life academics play, gives credibility to our profession, and enhances accessibility for students. I’m excited to be part of it and for what is to come!

I'm passionate about the work CLAS is doing because: The opportunities that CLAS will provide to our industry, inspires and motivates me. I believe we can make greater change and advancement in our field than ever before, with the expertise of our members, the partnerships we are forging, and the accessibility and representation we are bringing to students.

Emeriti Delegate

Anita Pumphrey, MS, CCLS

University: Retired, Louisiana Tech University

CLAS Board of Directors Role: As the Emeritus Delegate to the Board, my responsibilities include keeping digital records of meeting minutes and CLAS documents and serving as liaison to the Emeriti Council and other committees within the organization.

Accolades/Accomplishments: Over the past year, I have liaised with the Communications Committee to develop the Social Media Policy and to develop and implement the roll out of our CLAS website.

Professional Interests: Throughout my 30 year teaching career, I was a determined advocate for high standards in child life education and recognition for strong academic programs! Through the ups and downs of this journey, I remain committed, even in retirement, to contribute what I can to ensure these successes in our profession.

Why I'm part of CLAS: Although I retired from the classroom, I am still very interested in continuing to work on all things related to child life education. I am thankful that through CLAS, and with the support of the membership, I am able to contribute to work that is near and dear to my heart even as a retiree! It is my dream to see a sustainable and meaningful recognition for strong academic programs providing excellence in teaching and preparing students for the profession that has meant so much to me!

I'm passionate about the work CLAS is doing because: I have always believed that when students select an academic program at a university, they should have the assurance that that program will provide a challenging path of learning and preparing for clinical experiences. Those of us who have been in the field for a long time remember the days when a student did not have to have taken a child life class, been taught by a CCLS, or even have read a child life textbook to apply for an internship. We’ve come a long way but we still have a way to go and I am grateful for the work CLAS is doing to continue to support students in reaching their dreams of becoming highly competent child life specialists!

Public Director

Melinda Anderson, PhD, RDN, LDN

University: Tennessee Tech University

CLAS Board of Directors Role: Within this position, I contribute respective expertise to assist in board decision-making.

Accolades/Accomplishments:

Director, School of Human Ecology since 2011

Professional Interests: Higher Education Accreditation processes

Why I'm part of CLAS: To be part of the process of enhancing the educational preparation of Child Life students.