Dr. Wanda Hilliard is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certified across the lifespan, with extensive clinical experience serving underserved populations. Her practice background includes correctional psychiatry, child and adolescent mental health care through a Federally Qualified Health Center, and rural emergency medicine as a provider with the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals Initiative (Texas).

Dr. Hilliard's research focuses on the impact of substance use in nursing and the effects of trauma on children, adolescents, and young adults. Her scholarly work has been supported through National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps funding, as well as regional grants aimed at advancing innovation in nursing education. Prior to entering healthcare, she spent more than fifteen years working in accounting and banking, bringing a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her nursing and academic career.

A recognized leader in psychiatric mental health nursing, Dr. Hilliard serves on regional, national, and international psychiatric mental health boards. She has worked as an independent examination writer and reviewer for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). In addition, she was appointed to the 2027 International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Conference Committee and is the co-founder of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses of Houston, a nonprofit professional organization.

Dr. Hilliard holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Millsaps College and a bachelor's degree in accounting. She also participated in international studies programs in London and Munich through International Studies Abroad. In recognition of her academic and professional contributions, she was accepted into the Fulbright Faculty Scholar Program in 2025 and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) in 2026.