AACN Announces 2025 Election Results for Board of Directors and Nominating Committee

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 election to fill seats on the AACN Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. With votes cast by member deans from the nation's nursing schools with baccalaureate and higher degree programs, those selected to serve as AACN's top leaders include Judith Karshmer (Treasurer) from Arizona State University; Lorna Finnegan from Loyola University Chicago; Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow from Duquesne University; Valerie Howard from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Shannon Bright Smith from Florida A&M University; and Julie Swann from Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital. New members of AACN's Nominating Committee include Vivienne Friday from Goodwin University; Katherine Gregory from Boston College; and Holly Wei from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

"Working at the intersection of healthcare and higher education, AACN is committed to serving as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, and practice," said AACN Board Chair Jean Giddens, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF. "I look forward to collaborating with the new and returning members of the Board and Nominating Committee to magnify the impact AACN has on meeting nursing workforce needs and keeping communities thriving."

AACN is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors, which includes 4 elected officers (Chair, Chair-Elect, Treasurer, and Secretary), 7 at-large members representing schools of nursing, and 2 members representing practice. AACN's President and Chief Executive Officer serves on the Board as an ex-officio member.

With online ballots cast from January 6-31, those elected to the AACN Board and Nominating Committee will begin their terms of service following the membership meeting at AACN's Deans Annual Meeting on March 31, 2025. New and re-elected Board members include:

Judith Karshmer, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, RN, FAAN, dean and professor at the Arizona State University (ASU) Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, was elected to serve a two-year term as treasurer. Prior to her appointment at ASU in 2018, where she also serves as Chief Wellness Officer, Dr. Karshmer held the roles of professor, dean, and dean emerita at the University of San Francisco as well as academic appointments at the University of South Florida, New Mexico State University, and the University of Massachusetts. Her leadership in the community and on behalf of the profession includes serving as commissioner for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, board chair for the Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center, board member of the California Association of Colleges of Nursing, and president of the Jesuit Conference of Nursing Programs. For AACN, she has served as Board member at-large, member of the AACN-AONL Academic-Practice Partnerships Task Force, and member of the Competency-Based Education for Doctoral Prepared APRNs National Task Force. Her extensive service to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education includes board chair, treasurer, and board member.

Lorna Finnegan, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN, dean of the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University Chicago, was elected to serve a two-year term as Board member at-large. Her distinguished career encompasses research, teaching, clinical practice, and expert advisory roles. Prior to Loyola, she held a variety of leadership positions at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. She recently served as president of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, where she led national efforts to transition nurse practitioner programs to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Through her scholarship, practice, and leadership, she has integrated big data analytics, academic-practice partnerships, creative pedagogies, and policy-changing leadership strategies to increase access to primary care and improve health equity in vulnerable and underserved populations. She has been a visiting scholar at universities in Thailand, South Africa, and South Korea. Dr. Finnegan has completed AACN's Wharton Executive Leadership Program and the Advancing Academic Leadership for Deans program. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Finnegan was named a 2024 Notable Leader in Health Care by Crain's Chicago Business. 

Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, ANEF, FNAP, FAAN, dean and professor of the Duquesne University School of Nursing, was elected to serve a two-year term as Board member at-large. Serving as dean since 2012, she also was appointed as Duquesne's Vice Provost of Research from 2021-2023. Previously, she served as Associate Dean and professor, and Chair at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions. Dr. Glasgow has earned an international reputation as an innovator in nursing education due to her pioneering work to advance accelerated education, health profession pathway programs, and online pedagogy. A noted scholar, she has published more than 100 articles and 5 books and was recognized with two first-place American Journal of Nursing Book-of-the-Year Awards. Currently, Dr. Glasgow is a member of the boards of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and Shadyside Hospital, and the Center for Healthcare Solutions. In addition to being a new dean mentor, she served AACN as a subcommittee member for the Executive Development Series, Baccalaureate, and Hot Topics Conferences.

Valerie Howard, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, dean and professor of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing and Vice President of Nursing for Academic Affairs at UNC Health, was elected to serve a two-year term as Board member at-large. Her distinguished career in nursing education includes leadership roles at Duke University and Robert Morris University. As president of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning, Dr. Howard contributed to the development of the first standards for simulation best practices. A pioneer in simulation-based education, she led the development of one of the first Simulation Learning Systems, which has been implemented in over 400 nursing schools worldwide. Beyond academia, she has served as director of the North Carolina Future of Nursing Action Coalition and on the steering committee of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce. Active in AACN, Dr. Howard has served on the Program Committee, as chair of the Doctoral Conference Subcommittee, as a state grassroots liaison, and as chair and co-chair of the Organizational Leadership Network.

Shannon Bright Smith, PhD, DNP, APRN-ACNS-BC, CNE, dean of the School of Nursing at Florida A&M University (FAMU), was elected to serve a two-year term as Board member at-large. With a career spanning clinical practice, academia, and leadership, she is dedicated to advancing nursing education and improving healthcare outcomes for diverse populations. Prior to joining FAMU in 2024, she led nursing at Claflin University from its inception in 2016. Under her leadership, Claflin achieved national accreditation, launched an MSN program, and was recognized for excellence in diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in nursing education. Her efforts secured over $8 million in funding, including money to build a school of nursing building, the development of a simulation center, and student scholarships. Her research focuses on reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors in African Americans emerging adults. Dr. Smith's engagement with AACN includes service on the Government Affairs Committee, as a contributor to the revision of the diversity position statement, and as a like-schools facilitator.

Julie Swann, MBA, MHA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer (CNO) for Emory Saint Joseph Hospital as well as EHC Inpatient Virtual Nursing, was re-elected to serve a two-year term on the Board as a practice representative. Ms. Swann began her career at Saint Joseph's Hospital in 2000 as a staff nurse in the intensive care unit. During her tenure, she led the medical-surgical ICU for several years before being promoted to Specialty Director of Cardiac Services. She also has had oversight of perioperative services as well as the emergency department. Ms. Swann not only supported nursing practice but also developed a strategic plan to increase services and volumes to advance the overall goals of the organization. Following her transition to CNO more than 8 years ago, she oversees ongoing clinical best practice and research, professional governance in a seven-time ANCC Magnet® designated with distinction organization, strategic and capital planning, risk assessment, and compliance as key aspects of her role. A strong supporter of strengthening ties between academia and practice, Ms. Swann promotes lifelong learning and higher education, creative approaches to workforce development, and volunteer service.

Continuing members of the AACN Board of Directors include Chair Jean Giddens from the University of Kansas; Chair-Elect Julie Sanford from The University of Alabama; Secretary Victoria Niederhauser from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville; Stephen Cavanagh from the University of California Davis; Rhoberta Hailey from Pacific Lutheran University; Kimberly Hunter from Iowa Health Care; Rita Trofino from Saint Francis University; and Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer (who serves as an ex-officio member of the AACN Board).

The newly elected members to AACN's Nominating Committee include:

Vivienne Friday, EdD, MSN, RN, MSOL, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, at Goodwin University, was elected to serve a two-year term on the Nominating Committee. Among her many accomplishments at Goodwin, Dr. Friday created seamless pathways for students in healthcare education and spearheaded the development of a state-of-the-art simulation education program, securing over $1 million in funding. In addition to serving in several leadership roles at Goodwin University since 2018, she has served academic nursing and the profession through appointments to the Northern Connecticut Agency on Aging, Connecticut Canter for Nursing Workforce, Connecticut Nurse Association, and the National Education Progression in Nursing Committee. For AACN, she has participated on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network; the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; as an Essentials Champion; and a contributor to the Essentials Tool Kit (Domain 8).

Katherine Gregory, PhD, RN, dean and professor of the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College, was elected to serve a two-year term on the Nominating Committee. Prior to her current academic appointment in 2021, Dr. Gregory was previously the associate chief nursing officer, women's and newborn health, research, and innovation, at Brigham and Women's Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Her research has focused on preterm infant health outcomes, intestinal and milk microbiome, nutrition during pregnancy and early life, and nursing workforce trends. She helped establish the Haley Nurse Scientist Program, a partnership between the Connell School of Nursing and Brigham and Women's that funded clinical nurses and nursing faculty to engage in scholarly activities and lead clinical research while strengthening holistic care for patients and families. She was selected as the inaugural Haley Nurse Scientist. Her work to promote nursing scholarship extends to serving as editorial board member of the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing.

Holly Wei, PhD, RN, CPN, NEA-BC, FAAN, dean and professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing and the University Medical Center Health System Endowed Chair for Care Excellence in Nursing, has been elected to serve a two-year term on the AACN Nominating Committee. Dr. Wei is a distinguished nurse leader and scholar dedicated to advancing nursing leadership, workforce development, and healthcare innovation. She has served on many national task forces, editorial boards, and governance committees, including the American Academy of Nursing, the American Nurses Foundation Summit on Mental Health, and the National Forum of Nursing Workforce Centers. Her leadership has shaped policies on workforce advocacy, leadership development, and healthcare culture transformation. Through her scholarly work and AJN award-winning leadership textbook, Dr. Wei has driven systemic transformation in nursing leadership. An experienced board member, associate editor, and policy advocate, she is committed to building a resilient nursing workforce, driving sustainable healthcare solutions, and fostering innovations that support nurses and improve patient care.

Continuing Nominating Committee members include Tammy Austin-Ketch from SUNY Upstate Medical University; Cynthia McCurren from the University of Michigan-Flint; and Tony Umadhay from Barry University.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 member schools of nursing at public and private institutions nationwide. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice. Learn more at aacnnursing.org.

CONTACT:

Robert Rosseter
Chief Communications Officer
202-463-6930, x 231
[email protected]

SOURCE American Association of Colleges of Nursing