Since 2004, State Grassroots Liaisons have worked with AACN staff and
the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) to a) coordinate AACN member visits to their Senators
during the AACN Fall and Spring annual meetings; b) mentor
less experienced Deans/Directors/Chairs in Capitol Hill
visits; c) keep the GAC and AACN staff informed of state
legislative issues related to nursing education and research;
d) monitor their state for new or reopened nursing programs;
e) advise the GAC on educational needs of the AACN membership;
and f) serve in the role for 2 years with the possibility
of reappointment. The following are confirmed State Grassroots
Liaisons:
Alabama
Sara Barger-The University of Alabama
Barbara Witt-Auburn University
Alaska
Jean Ballantyne-University of Alaska Anchorage
Arizona
Marjorie Isenberg-University of Arizona
Bernadette Melnyk-Arizona State University
Arkansas
Rebecca Burris-Arkansas Tech University
Thomas Kippenbrock-University of Arkandsas-Fayetteville
California
Ellen Olshansky-University of California-Irvine
Aja Tulleners-Lesh-Azusa Pacific University
Colorado
Pat Moritz-University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Connecticut
Jeanne Novotny-Fairfield University
Delaware
Kenneth Miller-University of Delaware
Florida
Nilda Peragallo-University of Miami
Jean Wortock-St. Petersburg College
Georgia
Lucy Marion-Medical College of Georgia
Lisa Eichelberger-Clayton State University
Hawaii
Mary Boland-University of Hawaii at Manoa
Idaho
Carol Ashton-Idaho State University
Illinois
Linda Samson-Governors State University
Maria Connolly-University of Saint Francis
Indiana
Julie Novak-Purdue University
Carol Sternberger-Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
Iowa
Contact AACN GA staff at gthrowe@aacn.nche.edu
Kansas
Juanita Tate-Wichita State University
Cynthia Hornberger-Washburn University
Kentucky
Jane Kirschling-University of Kentucky
Marilyn Musacchio-Spalding University
Louisiana
Norann Planchock-Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Maine
Barbara Higgins-Husson College
Maryland
Judith Feustle-Villa Julie College
Massachusetts
Kathleen Scoble-Elms College
Michigan
Linda Thompson Adams-Oakland University
Suzanne Mellon-University of Detroit Mercy
Minnesota
Ruth Lindquist-University of Minnesota
Marti Witrak-The College of Saint Scholastica
Mississippi
Kaye Bender-University of Mississippi Medical Center
Lizabeth Carlson-Delta State University
Missouri
Nancy DeBasio-Research College of Nursing
Susan Fetsch-Avila University
Montana
Elizabeth Nichols-Montana State University-Bozeman
Nebraska
Virginia Tilden-University of Nebraska Medical Center
Eleanor Howell-Creighton University
Nevada
Connie Carpenter-Nevada State College
Patsy Ruchala-University of Nevada-Reno
New Hampshire
Lynette Hamlin-University of New Hampshire
Paula Williams-Rivier College
New Jersey
Phyllis Hansell-Seton Hall University
Felissa Lashley-Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey
New Mexico
Karen Carlson-University of New Mexico
Esperanza Villaneuva Joyce-New Mexico State University
New York
Glenda Kelman-The Sage Colleges
Verna Kieffer-D'Youville College
North Carolina
Virginia Adams-University of North Carolina-Wilmington
North Dakota
Chandice Covington-University of North Dakota
Ohio
Jeri Milstead-The University of Toledo
Patricia Martin-Wright State University
Oklahoma
Carole Kenner-University of Oklahoma
Oregon
Saundra Theis-Oregon Health and Science University
Pennsylvania
Christine Alichnie-Bloomsburg University
Rhode Island
Jane Williams-Rhode Island College
South Carolina
Peggy Hewlett-University of South Carolina
Rosanne Pruitt -Clemson University
South Dakota
Roberta Olson-South Dakota State University
Tennessee
Patty Kraft-Carson-Newman College
Texas
Josephine Kahler-Texas A&M University-Texarkana
Utah
Maureen Keefe-University of Utah
Vermont
Gregg Newschwander-University of Vermont
Virginia
Richardean Benjamin-Old Dominion University
Washington
Nancy Fugate Woods-University of Washington
West Virginia
Rose Kutlenios-Wheeling Jesuit University
Wisconsin
Sally Lundeen-University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
Rosemary Smith - University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh
Wyoming
Mary Burman-University of Wyoming