Nominations and Elections
In 2024 - ACHNE Members will vote for President-elect, Treasurer, Southern Region Member-at-Large*, Western Region Member-at-Large*, International Member-at-Large, and two candidates for the Nominating Committee.
*Reminder: You are only allowed to vote for North American Members-at-Large (MALs) for the region in which you live. If you do not live in the Southern or Western region, you will skip this step.
- Southern: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia
- Western: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Available Board Position candidates, responsibilities, and job descriptions can be found below. Click here to download the 2024 Candidate Statements.
Vote by 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, April 18.
Results will be announced during the 2024 Annual All Members Business Meeting.
President-Elect
It shall be the duty of the President-Elect to carry out such functions as are delegated and, in the absence of the President, to act on the President’s behalf.
Eligibility: Four (4) years as an ACHNE member.
Responsibilities:
- Assists in providing direction and structure for organizational activities through active participation on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
- Prepares written report for annual and midyear Board of Directors meetings.
- Helps with long-range planning for ACHNE Annual Institute.
- Serves as a liaison between Board of Directors and Committees.
- Participates in orientation of newly elected President-Elect.
- Assembles relevant documents and materials for collection by Archivist after the Annual Membership Meeting.
- Performs other duties and organizational responsibilities as identified by the President.
- Serves as an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nomination Committee.
- Serves as a member of the Quad Council Coalition.
Joy Hoffman, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC
Why are you interested in this office?
ACHNE has truly been a valuable resource for me. I joined the organization in January 2006, just months after starting to teach. It has given me access to information and new ideas, valuable relationships, and opportunities. I welcome the opportunity to give back to ACHNE, its members, and the profession.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
I have worked in a community-based organization and in local and state health departments. I have a DNP in Public Health Nursing and hold the PHNA-BC certification. I have taught Community /Public Health (C/PH) nursing both didactic, clinical, and online RN-BSN at the University of Memphis since 2005. I have served as the BSN Program director since 2017 but will be stepping down from that role at the end of this spring- and am ready to apply skills I developed in that role within C/PH nursing.
ACHNE Leadership Positions:
- Chair/Co-Chair of Education Committee, 2017 - Present
- Program Planning Committee, 2018 - Present
- Strategic Planning Taskforce, 2021
- Strategic Planning Advocacy Workgroup, 2022
Additional leadership positions:
As BSN Program Director at the University of Memphis I have served on several University level committees (University Undergraduate Council, General Education sub-committee, University Risk Mitigation workgroup, University Health Preparedness Committee, University Crisis Management Team are some). I also chair the Undergraduate Council/Sub Committee for our Undergraduate Program, Chair the Admissions Committee, and I have served on the Curriculum Committee, the Curriculum Revision Taskforce, Faculty Promotion Committee, Tenure and Promotion Committee, and numerous search committees to name some.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
I want ACHNE to be a valuable resource for all C/PH nursing educators and for nursing education overall. Recently, C/PH and nursing education have both evolved- and we need to work to make sure ACHNE remains relevant. I want to help the organization grow and change while helping advocate to keep CPH nursing education and practice strong. Our priorities need to revolve around how to remain relevant as an organization, how to get more members actively involved, help grow professional relationships, mentor individuals to develop leaders, and advocacy for C/PH and our profession. As a BSN program director, I have dealt directly with the competing priorities between NCLEX and true C/PH nursing education for BSN students. As an organization we need to understand, advocate, and provide faculty with resources to keep C/PH education strong at all levels.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for all fiscal matters and the accounting thereof and serve as chair of the Finance Committee. Funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the rules and instructions established by the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Eligibility: Four (4) years as an ACHNE member.
Responsibilities:
- Assists in providing directions and structure for organizational activities through active participation on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
- Serves as the financial officer for the Association.
- Prepares the budget for board approval based on past experience and projected plans of the association with assistance of the Finance Committee and the management company.
- Makes recommendations to Executive Committee or Board of Directors regarding expenditure of funds.
- Monitors Association expenditures in conjunction with the management company.
- In conjunction with management company, submits the annual independent CPA review of prior year’s financial statement to Board for review and acceptance. Document is posted on members’ only website as well as notification of acceptance of the review.
- Participates in the orientation of the newly elected Treasurer.
- Serves as chair of the Finance Committee.
- Prepares written report for annual and midyear Board of Directors meetings.
- Prepares summary of financial information for Executive Committee meetings.
- Assembles relevant documents and materials for collection by Archivist after the Annual Membership Meeting.
- Performs other duties as identified by the President.
Charlotte Armbruster, DNP, MS, RN
Why are you interested in this office?
I have been treasurer in the past for ACHNE and I am a Retired Member since 2020. I am willing to fill in as the treasurer for the upcoming term with the hope to mentor a future treasurer during that time.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
I have been a member of the finance committee since 2010 and treasurer for two terms from 2014 to 2018.
ACHNE Leadership Positions:
- Finance Committee, 2010 - Present
- ACHNE Treasurer, 2014-2018
- Western Member-at-Large, 2008 - 2010
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
As an organization, our membership is stagnant or slightly declining. A big priority for ACHNE should be increasing our membership. This could be done with new financial incentives while at the same time keeping us financially stable for the coming years.
International Members-at-Large
It shall be the responsibility of Members-at-Large to serve as the link between membership in regions and the organization for the purposes of communication and recruitment of new members.
Eligibility: One (1) year as an ACHNE member.
Responsibilities: The Members-at-Large serve as the contact person for the members of the ACHNE regions. The Members-at-Large serve on the Board of Directors and as the Membership Committee. The general Member-at-Large serves as the Chairperson of the Membership Committee. Member-at-Large functions include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Monitoring the membership activities of the organization and submitting to the Executive Committee as requested.
- Writing a column for each ACHNE Newsletter including a member highlight.
- Actively recruiting members at all ACHNE meetings and at other nursing organization meetings.
- Developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a plan of action for recruitment and retention of members.
- Preparing written reports for the Executive Committee meetings, Annual meeting, and midyear Board of Directors meeting.
- Creating materials necessary for the recruitment and retention of members as needed, approved, and budgeted.
- Monitoring and recommending changes in member benefits.
- Maintaining a list of graduate PHN programs for the ACHNE website.
- Assembling relevant documents and materials for collection by Archivist after the Annual Membership Meeting.
International: All jurisdictions and countries not considered part of the United States of America.
Emma Mitchell, PhD, RN
Why are you interested in this office?
Since 2011, I have taught community/public health/population-focused nursing at the pre-licensure level (undergraduate and graduate) in accelerated, traditional, and RN to BSN programs at two Universities in the Southern Region catchment area. Further, I have taught both didactic and clinical sections of these core courses and have taught clinical sections specifically in Miami/South Florida, Charlottesville, far Southwest/Appalachian Virginia, and in global settings (Nicaragua and Honduras mainly). Since 2014, I have taught in Virginia, where - despite pandemic-related short-term funding and resource allocation - public health nurses continue to face challenges. The Virginia Board of Nursing in particular has a significant impact on the way we are able to teach community/public health/population-focused nursing. I am interested in running for Southern Region Member at Large, as I want to see how regional collaborations can help us continue to creatively innovate our teaching approach in post-pandemic public health nursing.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
I served as a Section Councilor for the PHN Section of APHA during the pandemic and continue to serve on their global health committee. In this role I've contributed to global-oriented programming for the annual meeting. I also have experience teaching community/public health/population-focused nursing at multiple levels, as outlined above (didactic and clinical). As such, I'm interested in bringing together experiences and expertise Regionally to inform challenges we face in teaching this specialty within nursing.
Additional Leadership Experience:
More locally, have served as a member of the Coalition Against Cancer for Virginia's HPV Immunization Taskforce since 2017. I am also on the Editorial Board for Public Health Nursing, our specialty journal.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
Nationally there is a trend to decrease clinical hours dedicated to community/public health/population-focused nursing, which in turn limits students' exposure to the specialty, thereby limiting the number of students we might otherwise attract into the specialty. I have experience in curricular development at two Universities in the Southern Region and would look to hear from other members and leaders within ACHNE for creative solutions to this and other challenges.
Southern Member-at-Large
It shall be the responsibility of Members-at-Large to serve as the link between membership in regions and the organization for the purposes of communication and recruitment of new members.
Eligibility: One (1) year as an ACHNE member.
Responsibilities: The Members-at-Large serve as the contact person for the members of the ACHNE regions. The Members-at-Large serve on the Board of Directors and as the Membership Committee. The general Member-at-Large serves as the Chairperson of the Membership Committee. Member-at-Large functions include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Monitoring the membership activities of the organization and submitting to the Executive Committee as requested.
- Writing a column for each ACHNE Newsletter including a member highlight.
- Actively recruiting members at all ACHNE meetings and at other nursing organization meetings.
- Developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a plan of action for recruitment and retention of members.
- Preparing written reports for the Executive Committee meetings, Annual meeting, and midyear Board of Directors meeting.
- Creating materials necessary for the recruitment and retention of members as needed, approved, and budgeted.
- Monitoring and recommending changes in member benefits.
- Maintaining a list of graduate PHN programs for the ACHNE website.
- Assembling relevant documents and materials for collection by Archivist after the Annual Membership Meeting.
Southern: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia
Sarah Grenon, DNP, RN
Why are you interested in this office?
As a nurse educator, it is a unique privilege not only to teach clinical skills to clients in a variety of settings, but it is also a necessity to guide them in their practice to care holistically for clients by providing equitable healthcare to clients regardless of their social determinants. Serving on this committee allows me to engage with likeminded educators and gain invaluable knowledge to share with my community and students.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
I have been a nurse in a community health role for the last 15 years. I have been in nursing education since 2011, first in an adjunct role and then full time for the last 8. I have also served on various schools of nursing, university, and community boards.
Additional Leadership Experience:
I am currently the co-chair of the Education Advisory Committee for the Global Rural Nursing Exchange Network (GRNEN) 2023-present. I also serve as a board member of my local swim club and Lot 2540 which is a salvage ministry program providing vital hunger relief services across a local North Carolina community.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
Just as any role in community or population health, there is not as much interest in this area as some other nursing roles. I am passionate about health equity, decreasing health disparities, and bringing awareness to the importance of preventative care. Being on this board allows me to have a sounding board as well as a position that would encourage others to listen when addressing the above concerns. I will also have access to resources within the association to help engage in policy development.
Stephanie Rudolf, DNP, RN
Why are you interested in this office?
I have always had a love for Public/community health and for the topic of health disparities, and I desire to pass this love down to other nurses no matter where they are in their journey. I feel that it is just as important to educate staff nurses on the unit as it is to teach future nurses about social determinants of health and why curtailing disparities is imperative. I am interested in serving ACHNE because I would like to be more involved with the organization as well as in my local area to promote the passion that I already possess. I believe that, given the chance, I can use the experience and platform that I have gained as an asset to the organization by sharing what I have learned. On the other hand, serving in the organization can help me to learn and share more with the community.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
As a registered nurse for 15 years and a nurse educator for 9, I have been in a leadership role in many capacities. This includes serving as a staff charge nurse in acute care as well as course coordinator, team leader and faculty advisor for student organizations at both the Community college and University level. I am currently faculty advisor for a Student Run Free Clinic which serves directly in our local University community.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
I know that resources for primary healthcare are scarce and the challenge for ACHNE is to reach educators and give them practical tools which can be passed on to students and therefore the workforce. We need innovative methods that are evidence based and appropriate to our ever-changing healthcare climate. I can contribute within groups and individually to find the best practices for our specific interests and will work hard to help make ACHNE as useful and community-impacting as possible.
Western Member-at-Large
It shall be the responsibility of Members-at-Large to serve as the link between membership in regions and the organization for the purposes of communication and recruitment of new members.
Eligibility: One (1) year as an ACHNE member.
Responsibilities: The Members-at-Large serve as the contact person for the members of the ACHNE regions. The Members-at-Large serve on the Board of Directors and as the Membership Committee. The general Member-at-Large serves as the Chairperson of the Membership Committee. Member-at-Large functions include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Monitoring the membership activities of the organization and submitting to the Executive Committee as requested.
- Writing a column for each ACHNE Newsletter including a member highlight.
- Actively recruiting members at all ACHNE meetings and at other nursing organization meetings.
- Developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a plan of action for recruitment and retention of members.
- Preparing written reports for the Executive Committee meetings, Annual meeting, and midyear Board of Directors meeting.
- Creating materials necessary for the recruitment and retention of members as needed, approved, and budgeted.
- Monitoring and recommending changes in member benefits.
- Maintaining a list of graduate PHN programs for the ACHNE website.
- Assembling relevant documents and materials for collection by Archivist after the Annual Membership Meeting.
Western: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Amanda Jean Madrid, RN, MSN-Ph, PHN-CPH
Why are you interested in this office?
As a public health nurse and educator, I am interested in building better linkages between health systems, communities, and academia. As the Western Member-At-Large, I can learn about the inner workings of our organization while forming new networks and relationships that will help our objective. Building better linkages will promote improved curriculum for community health nursing, practicum experiences, and relationships with significant stakeholders.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
Professionally, I have experience in board leadership, collaborative innovation for community health, and interdisciplinary professional education. I enjoy learning from and with other professionals and can bring new perspectives to the role. In the community, I also have experience in recruitment, retention, and reclamation of membership within my current networks.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
One of the major priorities I see facing ACHNE is the reconstruction of community health nursing education and community engagement. As an organization, we should continue progressing forward as a leading voice in this initiative, from grassroots through health policy development. Although I am new to the organization, I would love to contribute to our advancement through sharing knowledge from my professional, personal, and education-based experiences. It would be a pleasure to learn and grow through this service.
Nominating Committee - 2 Positions Available
It shall be the responsibility of the Nominating Committee to propose candidates for the positions of President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Members-at-large, Chairperson for the Nominating Committee, and Nominating Committee members. The Nominating Committee shall prepare the ballot for membership voting.
Eligibility: Two (2) years as an ACHNE member.
Responsibilities:
- Conducts Fall call for nominations for officers.
- Compiles nominations and completes ballot for spring elections.
- Upon return of ballots, tallies results and notifies the Association President.
- Notifies all nominees of the election results.
- Notifies the Board of Directors of election results at the Spring Board meeting.
- Notifies ACHNE members of election results at a time determined by the Association President, either via electronic means and/or in person at the Annual Business Meeting.
- Participates in the orientation of the newly elected Chairperson-elect.
- Assembles relevant documents and materials for collection by Archivist after the Annual Membership Meeting.
- Performs other duties as identified by the President.
Conni DeBlieck, DNP, APRN
Why are you interested in this office?
I have a strong leadership background with PINE, STTI, and ACHNE, as well as experience in the NMSU Graduate Program. I have gained valuable insights into public health nursing practices and collaboration, developed strong leadership skills through committee roles and organizing events, and gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by community health nursing educators. My active participation in ACHNE has also provided me with advanced knowledge in nursing research and policy development. With my diverse background, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to ACHNE's mission and goals as a leader within the organization. In addition, I am interested in the nominating committee position due to their passion for recognizing and promoting talent within the ACHNE organization. I believe that being part of the nominating committee would allow me to contribute my skills in identifying individuals with the necessary qualities for leadership roles. I believe that carefully selecting candidates for key positions can ensure a diverse and dynamic leadership team, driving positive change and growth within the ACHNE organization.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
Due to my extensive knowledge and track record of leadership in PINE, STTI, and ACHNE, in addition to my participation in the NMSU Graduate program, I am highly qualified to assume a leadership position within ACHNE. Engaging in PINE (Public Health Nursing Excellence) has provided me with invaluable knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of public health nursing and the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Through active participation in STTI (Sigma Theta Tau International) and coordination of numerous events, I have had the privilege of cultivating robust leadership capabilities. Furthermore, my active engagement in the ACHNE has endowed me with a profound comprehension of the obstacles encountered by educators in community health nursing and underscored the imperative for novel educational methodologies.
ACHNE Leadership Experience
- Education Committee
- Research Committee
Additional Leadership Experience:
Including serving as president, governance, counselor, and secretary on the STTI (local Chapter Pi Omega board) since 2010. Since 2015, I have held the position of Co-Chair for the Partnership in Informatics Nursing Education. Additionally, since 2022, I have been a member of the Mental Health Coordination Board at NMSU. I also serve as the MSN-DNP Program Director at NMSU School of Nursing.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
In order to address these concerns or priorities, one could advocate for resources and support for community health nursing education programs as a leader in ACHNE. With the aim of facilitating networking opportunities where members can share their expertise and optimal methodologies. In order to champion opportunities for professional development that are specifically related to curriculum development, research skills, and leadership training. Collaboration with other organizations in the domain of nursing education and active participation in policy discussions are effective strategies for cultivating interdisciplinary cooperation. Additionally, it offers support for initiatives that aim to reduce disparities through the implementation of inclusive curriculum development, culturally sensitive methods, and community engagement strategies. Moreover, it is imperative that leaders of ACHNE stay updated on prevailing trends, actively engage in member consultation regarding concerns, and cooperate in order to resolve the identified challenges or priorities that confront the ACHNE.
Linda Gibson-Young, PhD, CRNP, MBA, FAANP
Why are you interested in this office?
I am seeking a position on the nomination committee for the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators. As the recent Southern Member at Large, we made strides in advancing community health education through active discussion in frequent Zoom Meetings. Such meetings allowed members to connect with classroom, clinical, and community discussions for undergraduate and graduate nursing education. I am passionate about fostering collaboration, innovation, and advocacy within our region. Together, let's amplify the voice of community health educators, address emerging challenges, and enhance the impact of our profession. With your support, I aim to further elevate our association's reach and influence by nominating leaders for positions within this growing organization. We will ensure that community health education remains a powerful force for positive change across the U.S. Thank you for your trust and partnership.
What expertise and leadership experience do you bring to this position?
I bring experience and passion forward in running for this position. We have increased innovations with membership recruitment efforts and engagement throughout the past year and have other ideas to move forward.
ACHNE Leadership Experience
- Southern Region MAL, 2022 - Present
Additional Leadership Experience:
I serve as the Outreach Coordinator for Auburn University College of Nursing and Health Services Director with our Rural Health Initiative. Additionally, I serve as the Alabama Asthma Coalition Chair for our grassroots, non-funded organization. We are currently expanding in all efforts.
What do you see as the major priorities or issues facing ACHNE and how would you contribute to addressing them?
The three major issues impacting members of ACHNE are 1) Community-Centered Curriculum: Through teamwork we can develop and implement nursing education curricula that prioritize community-based learning. Integrate practical experiences within diverse community settings, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world health challenges and fostering a deeper understanding of community health; 2) Cultural Competency Training: Together we can enhance cultural competency training in nursing education to better prepare future nurses for diverse community interactions. We should aim to emphasize cultural sensitivity, awareness of social determinants of health, and strategies for delivering patient-centered care that respects and values the cultural backgrounds of individuals and communities; 3) Increase Interprofessional Collaboration: ACHNE promotes interprofessional collaboration within nursing education programs by fostering partnerships with other healthcare disciplines, social services, and community organizations to highlight a holistic view of healthcare delivery with nurses leading the efforts. We encourage collaboration to address complex community health issues and enhance the effectiveness of healthcare teams. However, we have room to move and will continue advancing. I see these as priority efforts in moving our region forward.
