ANA-Illinois is pleased to announce the selections for the Expert Panel on Nursing Education.

The ANA-Illinois Board of Directors has chosen the following people to serve as the steering committee.

Carol Alexander DNP, APRN, ACNS/NP-BC – CAAN Academy of Nursing
Julie Bowen MSN, RN, CPHQ – Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services
Yolanda Coleman PhD, MS, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC – CTCA Chicago
Jeannine Haberman DNP, MBA, MSN, CNE – Oak Point University
Nadja James PhD, MSN, MHA, RN, CNE – National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Joan Libner EdD, MSN, FRE, RN-BC, CNE – Benedictine University
Judy Neubrander EdD, APRN, FNP – Illinois State University
Julio Santiago RN, DNP, CCRN, VA-BC – Joliet Junior College

Additionally, 19 other individuals have been appointed to serve on the advisory group. The advisory group will help with workgroups, provide feedback on processes, and give input on the recommendations developed by the steering committee. The advisory group members include –

Anne Kowalczyk MS, RN-BC, CPN – DePaul University
Melinda Wildermuth DNP RN – Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Julia Koklys DNP, APRN, FNP-BC – Lewis University
Julie Kennedy PhD, RN, CMSRN – Millikin University
Barbara Meagher DNP, MSN, MAPS, CNM, RDMS, RN – University of Illinois Chicago
Debra Chudzik DNP, CPNP-PC, RN, BS – Independently contracted
Vanessa DeBiase MSN, MEd, RN, NPD-BC – Northwestern Medicine
Jennifer Maffucci EdD, RN, ACNS-BC – University of Illinois at Chicago
Michelle Dawn Metzger DNP, MBA, RN – Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie
Linda F Samson PhD, RN, BC, NEA, BC – Governors State University
Sheila M Auer RN MDS Coordinator – Sharon Healthcare Elms
George Velianoff PhD, RN
Janet Thorlton Ph.D., M.S., R.N. – University of Illinois Chicago
Lovey Reynolds MSN, RN, CPN – Malcolm X College (Nursing Adj at DePaul Univ)
Christina Haag MSN, RN, NPD-BC – Gibson Area Hospital
Deborah S. Adelman PhD, RN, NE-BC – Purdue University Global
Melissa A Bateman BA,RN – Humana, Inc
Ann M. O’Sullivan MSN, RN, CNE, NE-BC, ANEF – Illinois College
Gretchen LaCivita DNP, MPH, RN, CNE, CPN – Oak Point University

Nurses must be better prepared to work in the evolving health care environment with a nursing workforce representative of the population being served. The panel will look at the current state of nursing education in Illinois and make recommendations to the Board on how ANA-Illinois and our partners can proactively address the education, regulation, and practice of nursing to better prepare individuals interested in entering the profession.

ANA-Illinois Board of Directors issued the call for expert panel members who will guide the association in proactively addressing nursing education issues that limit our ability to address the supply of nurses and the level of health care services needed in Illinois. The expert panel will meet primarily by conference call and via e-mail starting in late August 2020. Thank you to everyone who promoted this application opportunity.  The successful outcome and caliber of the applicants are a testament to your efforts.  We will certainly keep the nursing community apprised as this work moves forward.