Speakers

Juliann Sebastian, PhD
Dean Emerita
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Juliann G. Sebastian retired from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing in July 2023 as Professor Emerita and Dean Emerita, having served as Professor and Dean from October 2011-July 2023. She had previously served as Dean and Professor at the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and, prior to that, as Assistant Dean for Advanced Practice Nursing and Professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Nursing. Dr. Sebastian earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Nursing degrees from the University of Kentucky (UK), College of Nursing and her doctorate in Business Administration from the UK College of Business and Economics. Her areas of expertise are academic nursing, nursing workforce, and health policy. Her scholarly work has been published widely, including journal papers, book chapters, and three books, and she has presented scientific and professional papers extensively at regional, national, and international meetings. She was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1999. Dr. Sebastian has been actively engaged in national academic nursing through her service on many task forces for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and as Chair of the AACN Board of Directors from 2016-18. She served as Chair of the Board of the Global Alliance for Leadership in Nursing Education and Science from 2015-17. She was a member of the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation’s Competency-Based Education Invitational Conference Planning Committee (2016-17) and of the National Academy of Science and Medicine’s Committee on The Health and Medical Dimensions of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (2018-20). She currently chairs the AACN Clinical Nurse Leader Competencies Workgroup and is an emeritus member of AACN.
 

Jacklyn Barber, EdD
Dean
Nylen School of Nursing & Health
Morningside University 

Jackie Barber is the Dean of the Nylen School of Nursing and full professor at Morningside University. She received her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Morningside College; her master of science in nursing degree from Creighton University; and her Doctorate in education/health professions from College of Saint Mary. She demonstrates expertise in medical-surgical, oncology, infusion therapy, and community/population health. She continues to deliver patient care in the practice of home infusion in the rural setting. She has more than 26 years of teaching experience and is a certified Quality Matters evaluator. She led the initiative for designing and implementing the graduate and doctorate nursing programs at Morningside University. In 2021, she was awarded the Siouxland Nurse of the Year. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Thompson Employee of the Year award. She was also the recipient of the Lucille and Charles Wert Faculty Excellence Award in 2014, the Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Award in 2006 and 2012, and the ODK Faculty Person of the Year Award in 2005 and 2013. She was a past recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) LANP Fellowship and the Wharton Executive Leadership Program. She served on the AACN Essentials Revision Taskforce and the AACN CNL Competency Taskforce; chaired the AACN’s Nominating Committee; and is currently serving as AACN’s Essentials Consulting Coach. She is a member of the Commission on Nurses Certification Board of Commissioners (CNC), past board member of the Iowa League of Nursing, and past president of the Iowa Association of Colleges of Nurses. She currently serves on the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Sarah Craig, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Nursing
University of Virginia
CNL Program Director (former)

Sarah Craig is an experienced intensive care unit nurse and certified advanced practice clinical nurse specialist. She has been a faculty member since 2014 at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Previously, she supported the school as a clinical instructor and graduate teaching assistant, and worked at the University of Virginia Health System as a clinical nurse specialist in post-operative cardiovascular and thoracic surgery care. Sarah is a ‘double Hoo’, earning both her Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Philosophy from the University. She recently completed a post-Graduate certificate in Nursing Education from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Prior to moving to Charlottesville for graduate school, she worked in intensive care units in Virginia and North Carolina.

Speakers

Marta Okoniewski, MPA
Director of Student Engagement
AACN

Marta Okoniewski, MPA, is the Director of Student Engagement at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She led the development, launch, and growth of the GNSA, a national network providing high value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Prior to joining AACN, Ms. Okoniewski worked as the Program Coordinator at New York University College of Nursing within the Academic and Clinical Affairs Department. She received her master’s in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton.

Anne Pearson, BA
Student Services Coordinator
AACN

Anne Pearson is the Student Services Coordinator at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She supports graduate nursing students across the country through the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) and Liaison leadership program. She has a background in education equity policy research and received her baccalaureate degree in political science from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Speakers

Marta Okoniewski, MPA
Director of Student Engagement
AACN

Marta Okoniewski, MPA, is the Director of Student Engagement at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She led the development, launch, and growth of the GNSA, a national network providing high value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Prior to joining AACN, Ms. Okoniewski worked as the Program Coordinator at New York University College of Nursing within the Academic and Clinical Affairs Department. She received her master’s in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton.

Anne Pearson, BA
Student Services Coordinator
AACN

Anne Pearson is the Student Services Coordinator at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She supports graduate nursing students across the country through the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) and Liaison leadership program. She has a background in education equity policy research and received her baccalaureate degree in political science from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Speakers

Staci Sue Reynolds, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN
Editor-in Chief, Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Associate Clinical Professor, School of Nursing, Duke University

Dr. Staci Sue Reynolds is an Associate Clinical Professor at Duke University School of Nursing in the USA. Dr. Staci Reynolds joined Duke in January 2016, with a joint position between Duke University School of Nursing and Duke University Hospital (DUH). At DUSON, Dr. Reynolds teaches in the ABSN Program (evidence-based practice) and DNP program (healthcare quality improvement methods). Clinically, she served as a neuroscience Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the inpatient neuro units at DUH for 3 years. In March 2019, she transitioned to being a CNS for the DUH Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology department. Additionally, Dr. Reynolds coordinates the Duke Advancement of Nursing, Center of Excellence (DANCE) academic-practice partnership. She is also the faculty lead for the post-DNP Quality Implementation Scholars Program that began in May 2019. Before coming to DUSON, she was a neurocritical care nurse and a neuroscience Clinical Nurse Specialist at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital. Dr. Reynolds received a baccalaureate degree in nursing science from Indiana University (IU) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She earned a Master’s degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at IU in 2011 and completed her PhD at IU in May 2016. Dr. Reynolds’ dissertation focused on the implementation of clinical practice guidelines, and her current research interests include evidence-based practice implementation and quality improvement.

Veronica Rankin, DNP, RN-BC, NP-C, CNL, NE-BC
Magnet Program Director Central Division
Clinical Nurse Leader Program Administrator
Carolinas Medical Center - Central Division Atrium Health

Dr. Veronica Rankin serves as a Director of Nursing Services in the role of Magnet Program Director for Atrium Health - Carolinas Med ical Center Central Division, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also serves as the Administrator of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Program at this magnet-designated Level 1 Trauma Center. Dr. Rankin has been a nurse for more than 17 years and a certified CNL for more than 9 years. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree as well as her Postmasters certification as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner from East Carolina University. She earned her master’s as a CNL from Queens University of Charlotte in 2011. She serves as adjunct faculty for Queen’s University’s graduate nursing program and teaches CNL exam certification review sessions with CNL students regularly. As a published author and member of various professional organizations including Sigma International where she serves as treasurer of the Mu Psi Chapter, Dr. Rankin’s primary career goal is to promote and advance the profession of nursing.

Angie Hatley, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, CNL
Associate Professor
Presbyterian School of Nursing, Blair College of Health

Dr. Angie Hatley is an Associate Professor at the Presbyterian School of Nursing, Blair College of Health, teaching in the graduate and undergraduate programs. She has over eight years in higher education and has taught across programs, including general education. Dr. Hatley has served as the Chair of Graduate Studies in Nursing and is currently the MSN Track Coordinator for the MSN program. Dr. Hatley is a 2014 Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate from Regis University. Her doctoral studies focused on transitions in nursing practice and completed her scholarly project on Nurse Preceptor Development and the Impact on the Self-Efficacy of Newly Hired Nurses. She has practiced as a clinical nurse, educator, and/or administrator since 2001, following graduation from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree and a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Education from Regis University in 2008. Following licensure as a Registered Nurse, Dr. Hatley served in various clinical and nursing leadership roles for more than 15 years with Atrium Health in Charlotte.