American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Announces Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2026

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has announced its Board of Directors for fiscal year 2026, with terms effective July 1, 2025. The board leadership includes Rebekah Marsh as president, Tonka Williams as president-elect, and Sara Knippa as secretary.

Rebekah Marsh, a clinical nurse educator at Harborview Medical Center, is the new president of the AACN Board of Directors. She is the first graduate of AACN's Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy nurse empowerment program to serve as AACN president. Tonka Williams, senior nursing director for practice and innovation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, begins a one-year term as president-elect. Sara Knippa, a critical care clinical nurse specialist at UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado, starts a one-year term as secretary and her third year as a director.

The board also includes several new directors, including Daniel Arellano, Jennifer Hayakawa, and Audrey Roberson, each serving a three-year term. Jennifer Adamski, immediate past president and co-chair of the AACN - AACN Certification Corporation Nominating Committee, returns to the board, along with other returning directors.

Key Takeaways:

• Rebekah Marsh, a clinical nurse educator at Harborview Medical Center, becomes the first graduate of AACN's Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy nurse empowerment program to serve as AACN president.
• Tonka Williams, senior nursing director for practice and innovation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, begins a one-year term as president-elect, leading strategic efforts to advance patient care through clinical excellence, innovation, and interprofessional collaboration.
• Sara Knippa, a critical care clinical nurse specialist at UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado, starts a one-year term as secretary and her third year as a director.
• The board also includes new directors Daniel Arellano, Jennifer Hayakawa, and Audrey Roberson, each serving a three-year term.
• Jennifer Adamski, immediate past president and co-chair of the AACN - AACN Certification Corporation Nominating Committee, returns to the board, along with other returning directors.
• The AACN Board of Directors includes 15 members, with terms effective July 1, 2025.
• The board members serve various roles in critical care nursing, including as clinicians, educators, and leaders in the industry.

Statistics:

• 15: The number of members on the AACN Board of Directors.
• 7: The number of new directors joining the board in 2025.
• 1: The number of times a CSI Academy nurse empowerment program graduate has served as AACN president (Rebekah Marsh).
• 130,000: The number of AACN members worldwide.
• 200: The number of AACN chapters in the United States.

Sources:

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) - AACN Certification Corporation Nominating Committee
• Contify.com (Copyright 2017)