Meet Your Board

Nicole has been an active member of the board since 2015, serving four years on the Board of Directors and two years as Vice President.  A CST since 2013, she is also the current President of WIAST and a member of the National AST Board of Directors.  Nicole teaches Surgical Technology and volunteers as a firefighter and EMR.  She enjoys cheering on her 7-year-old-son at wrestling tournaments and is passionate about sharing her love of Surgical Technology.

Bridget Hanson is the current Vice President of WI-AST, with previous experience serving two terms on the Board of Directors, including an additional year during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Certified Surgical Technologist since 2005 and Certified Surgical First Assistant since 2017, she resides in Amery with her husband and two teenage daughters. In her free time, she enjoys cheering at sports events, working on home projects, reading, and being on call. Bridget is dedicated to her role on the board and values learning, growth, and connecting with others in the field. She looks forward to engaging with colleagues at the next WI-AST event.

Ilea Cornelius, CST, FAST, has been a Certified Surgical Technologist for nearly 24 years and currently specializes as a Cardiac CST in Green Bay. She has been a dedicated member of the WI State Assembly board since 2016. Outside of her professional career, Ilea is a wife and mother of two high schoolers. Her family enjoys hockey during the winter and spending time at the lake in the Northwoods during the summer.

Claire Parda, a CST since 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science degree, also holds a Bachelor’s in Health Care Administration from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Living in Muskego, WI, with her significant other and teenage daughter, she works as a travel/agency professional, having served at over five hospitals across Wisconsin. Since joining the WI-AST board in 2019, Claire has served as a Board Director and is currently the Secretary. She has been instrumental in advancing state legislation, expanding newsletter readership, and enhancing member connections.

Bunny Wolover, a Certified Surgical Technologist since graduating with honors from Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2016, has spent the past eight years at Wisconsin’s largest Level 1 trauma center. She began as a Generalist (“jack of all trades, master of none”) but found her niche in Plastic Surgery after starting a family in 2019. Bunny served on the Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 term, took a year off, and was re-elected for a two-year term in 2023. She also represented as a delegate at the 2024 AST National Conference in Denver, Colorado. Outside of work, Bunny enjoys supper clubs, metal concerts with her husband, and spending time with their daughter and rescue pets.

Nicole Sexton is serving her first term on the board. She is a current member of the Bylaws Committee and previously served on the Education Committee. Nicole has been a Certified Surgical Technologist for 17 years, specializing primarily in orthopedics and, more recently, labor and delivery. With over seven years of experience as an instructor, she is now the Program Director for the Surgical Technology Program at Marine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Jessica Jacobson has worked at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital for approximately 6.5 years, where she has gained experience across all specialties, with a particular passion for ENT. She attended Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) and continues to enjoy precepting students. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Chewbacca and Casper, and indulging in a good book or movie. Her goal for this term is to become more involved and to help amplify the voices of surgical technologists in her area.

Megan Siemek, CST, has 13 years of experience as a Certified Surgical Technologist, with a strong passion for orthopedics. She is in her seventh year as the Program Director for the Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing Technician programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Megan is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education, while balancing her professional responsibilities with family life, including supporting her active 15-year-old son and spending time with her fiancé. In her rare free moments, she enjoys baking, board games, kayaking, and running.

Rachel Huber has 16 years of experience as a surgical technologist and 11 years as a certified surgical first assistant. Her diverse background includes working in Level 1 trauma centers, same-day surgery, and rural facilities. She is currently the Program Director and Instructor for the new Surgical Technology program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, WI.  Outside of work, she stays busy as a mother of three, managing a small farm, volunteering as an EMT, coaching little league, and substitute teaching at her children’s school.

Maci Stevens is a second-year surgical technology student at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, WI. In addition to her studies and clinical work, she stays active with her two-year-old son. This is her second year serving as a student representative on the board, an experience that has deepened her passion for the profession and expanded her involvement beyond the operating room. For Maci, becoming a surgical technologist means more than earning a degree; it means advocating for and educating others about the profession. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue representing Wisconsin surgical technologist students.

Sara Lodzinski, is a first-year Surgical Technology student at Mid-State Technical College in Stevens Point, WI and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was recently selected as a student board member for the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). Sara also actively participates in the Mid-State Technical College Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing Technician Advisory Committee. With a passion for the medical field and hands-on experience, she is dedicated to advancing in her surgical technology career. Family plays a central role in her life, and their support has been instrumental in her journey.