Meet Your 2026 NomCom Endorsed Candidates

April 16, 2026

By Julia Burkhardt, PA-C, Chair, AAPA Nominating Committee 

The dedication and vision of AAPA’s volunteer leaders contributes to the success of AAPA’s strategic goals. Central to this effort is the Nominating Committee (NomCom), which is comprised of five elected and two appointed fellow members, each of whom brings an array of perspectives and experiences to the work of the committee. We are charged by AAPA’s Bylaws to recruit, evaluate, and endorse candidates to run for positions on the AAPA Board of Directors, and our work is crucial to ensuring transparency and excellence in the electoral process. 

Members of the NomCom attended commission, committee, and Constituent Organization (CO) meetings to inform potential candidates of the eligibility requirements and election timeline. This proactive approach reflects our commitment to cultivating a diverse pool of qualified candidates. NomCom members were available to answer questions and assisted interested volunteers in discovering their AAPA volunteer leadership pathway.  

As chair of the Nominating Committee, it is my privilege to announce the slate of candidates the NomCom has endorsed to run in the 2026 AAPA Board of Directors and House of Delegates Officer elections: 

President-elect 

Leslie Clayton DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA 

Kris Pyles-Sweet, DMSc, PA-C 

Secretary-Treasurer 

Brendan Lucas, DMSc, PA-C 

Director-at-Large 

Paola Gonzalez, MPAS, PA-C 

Alisa Gifford, PA-C, DMS, DFAAPA  

Vic Holmes, PA-C, EdD 

Vice President/Speaker of the House 

Peggy Walsh Sheryka, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA 

Director/First Vice Speaker of the House 

Rachel Weinzimmer, DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-EM, CPAAPA 

Director/Second Vice Speaker of the House 

Jeremy L Nelson, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA 

Endorsement is a complex, confidential process through which eligible candidates are evaluated to determine who is best suited to fulfill the duties of the position and serve the needs of AAPA during a given term. The final endorsed slate reflects the Committee’s support for endorsing candidates that can represent the interests of the membership and the organization.   

The NomCom used the following process to conduct the endorsement evaluations: 

• Adopted a competency framework and scoring rubric used to evaluate the following competencies: 

• • Team orientation and interpersonal skills, 

• • Personal leadership skills, 

• • Knowledge of AAPA and the PA Profession, 

• • Commitment and loyalty, 

• • Integrity and capacity to serve, 

• • Diversity, equity, and inclusion, 

• • And preparedness for an officer position (President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and Vice President). 

• Reviewed each candidate’s entire application packet. 

• Conducted individual interviews utilizing a consistent format providing all pre-written questions to candidates in advance. 

• Deliberated as a group to develop a slate that reflects the highest qualified candidates for each position. 

• All candidates were notified of the competency criteria ahead of the interview process and were confidentially informed of the final slate. 

While the NomCom has set forth its endorsements for the 2026 election cycle, we encourage all candidates to continue their leadership journey and grow in service to the PA profession. Candidates who are not endorsed were eligible to run for office as self-declared candidates under AAPA’s Bylaws.  

It has been our honor to conduct this important component of AAPA’s elections and to do so in a rigorous, informed, and thoughtful manner. We encourage every AAPA member who is eligible to vote to take the time to learn about each candidate, understand their vision, and cast their ballot with confidence. Your vote is not just a choice; it is a voice for the future you envision for our profession. 

To learn more about current election timelines and policies, please check out aapa.org/elections.