Gayle is a pediatric nurse practitioner and Professor Emeritus at Winona State University. Throughout her career, she has combined teaching, research and clinical practice, the majority focused on children and families facing challenges including poverty, behavioral, developmental and mental health problems. After retiring from the University, she helped establish and provide care at a free school-based clinic at the Alternative Learning Center, where many students were affected by family addiction. Based on her professional and personal experiences with family addiction, she helped establish CPFHR, which is focused on supporting families, especially children and caregivers, impacted by SUD. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren.