• Board of Directors

    • Certification Corporation Board

    • Nominating Committee

    • How to Serve

    The AACN Board of Directors unites our community of exceptional nurses, to shape the future of nursing practice. These leaders help to further our mission of a patient- and family-driven healthcare system where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. 

    Jennifer Adamski

    President

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Rebekah Marsh

    President-elect

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Tiffany A. Mullen

    Secretary

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Jarrod Atkinson

    Treasurer

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Kristina Brooks

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2027

    Dawn Carpenter

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2027

    Kelly Carter

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2027

    Nicole Fontenot

    Director

    Jul 01, 2022 – Jun 30, 2025

    Desiree Hodges

    Director

    Jul 01, 2023 – Jun 30, 2026

    Sara Knippa

    Director

    Jul 01, 2023 – Jun 30, 2026

    Dannette Mitchell

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2027

    Lynn Orser

    Director

    Jul 01, 2023 – Jun 30, 2026

    Kirsten Skillings

    Director

    Jul 01, 2022 – Jun 30, 2025

    Theresa Davis

    Immediate Past President

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Dana Woods

    Chief Executive Officer

    AACN Certification Corporation, AACN’s credentialing arm, enhances patient health and safety by establishing and maintaining high standards of nursing excellence through certification and certification renewal for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. We develop and administer the CCRN, PCCN, ACNPC-AG, ACCNS-AG, ACCNS-P and ACCNS-N specialty exams and the CMC and CSC subspecialty exams.

    Myra Ellis

    Chair

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2026

    Jodi Berndt

    Chair-elect

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2026

    Carly Byrne

    Secretary/Treasurer

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Stephen Holman

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2027

    Sara Knippa

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Carol Olff

    Director

    Jul 01, 2023 – Jun 30, 2026

    Lynn Orser

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Kathleen Siedlecki

    Consumer Representative

    Jul 01, 2022 – Jun 30, 2025

    Tonka Williams

    Director

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Elizabeth Scruth

    Immediate Past Chair

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2026

    Dana Woods

    Chief Executive Officer

    Ensuring future governance leaders is critical to the success of AACN and AACN Certification Corporation. Acting on behalf of AACN members, the Nominating Committee has a thoughtful, systematic process to evaluate nominee qualifications that ensures each candidate selected possesses the required competencies to fulfill the role. With this assurance, Association members can be confident that the candidates for whom they vote will be prepared for success in their governance role.
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    Theresa Davis

    Co-Chair

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Elizabeth Scruth

    Co-Chair

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Lisa Ayers

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Jodi Berndt

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Kelly Carter

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Nicole Fontenot

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Derek Free

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Myra King

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Carol Olff

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Shelly Orr

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Kirsten Skillings

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

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    Tonka Williams

    Committee Member

    Jul 01, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025

    Dana Woods

    Chief Executive Officer

    About Governance Leadership Positions

    This page provides detailed information for anyone interested in pursuing a leadership role with AACN. Nominations are accepted annually in April and May.


    What are AACN’s governance leadership positions?

    AACN’s governance leaders are composed of the members of three bodies: AACN board of directors, AACN Certification Corporation board of directors and AACN – AACN Certification Corporation Nominating Committee. In partnership with AACN members, constituents, the chief executive officer and national staff, these leaders ensure achievement of the organization’s mission, vision and strategies.


    Are you ready to apply for an AACN governance leadership position?

    This year we are excited to share a new tool to assist anyone interested in evaluating their own leadership journey compared with the AACN Governance Leadership Competencies. We encourage you to review the information on this page and then use the Readiness Assessment Tool to reflect on your leadership journey and identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth. This tool is for your personal use only.

    Readiness Assessment Tool


    What are the competencies to serve in a governance leadership position?

    Highly qualified and committed governance leaders are vital to AACN’s continuing progress. With this goal in mind, the organization has defined Essential Competencies for Governance Leadership to help members and certificants assess their readiness for a governance leadership position. The competencies are as follows:

    • Self-Leadership
    • Global Thinking
    • Visioning
    • Consensus Building
    • Delivering Effective Messages
    • Knowing and Committing to AACN and Its Governing Bodies

    Detailed information about the competencies


    AACN Board of Directors

    AACN membership required

    Accountabilities:

    • Define and support the mission, vision and values of the association.
    • Ensure effective organizational planning.
    • Effectively manage the association's resources.
    • Determine, monitor, evaluate and strengthen the association's programs and services.
    • Uphold legal requirements and ethical integrity.
    • Assess board performance and ensure board succession.
    • Ensure effective communication between AACN and AACN Certification Corporation and other subsidiaries of the association.

    Detailed information about these positions


    AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors

    AACN membership not required

    AACN Certification Corporation bylaws and accreditation require board members to represent the populations certified. To fulfill these requirements, different credentials or experience is required on a rotating basis, which determines the available positions each year.

    Accountabilities:

    • Define and support the mission, vision and values of the corporation.
    • Ensure effective planning.
    • Effectively manage the corporation’s resources.
    • Determine, monitor, evaluate and strengthen certification programs and services.
    • Act with integrity and uphold all legal requirements.
    • Assess board performance and ensure board succession.
    • Ensure effective communication between AACN and AACN Certification Corporation.

    Detailed information about these positions


    AACN - AACN Certification Corporation Nominating Committee

    AACN membership required

    Accountabilities:

    • Ensure the election process is in accordance with established procedures, policies and bylaws.
    • Conduct comprehensive interviews of nominees.
    • Review, synthesize and analyze nominee applications, references and interview transcripts.
    • Select candidates through a group process.
    • Communicate the committee's decisions and feedback to nominees.

    Detailed information about these positions

    Board Only Access

    For present and past AACN leaders.