Susan Cannon, M.S.N., RN, CPN, NE-BC
Assistant Vice President
Nursing for Women's and Children's Hospital Operations
Cooper University Health Care
Camden, NJ
Term ends: 09/11/2025
The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) includes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or a delegate who serves as an ex officio member and chairperson. The HHS Secretary will choose between 21 and 23 members, who serve four-year terms on a rotating basis.
The Division of Nursing and Public Health, Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), runs and supports the Advisory Council.
NACNEP leadership
Dr. Leah FitzGerald is the Director of the Division of Nursing and Public Health at the Health Resources and Services Administration in the Bureau of Health Workforce, where she is responsible for the strategic guidance for a $610M/year portfolio of programs spanning more than 900 federal awards in nursing, public health, and behavioral health. In this capacity, Dr. FitzGerald serves as principal advisor on strategies and decisions regarding national policy regarding support of nursing practice and education, and behavioral and public health programs. Dr. FitzGerald completed a BSN and MSN at Boston College School of Nursing and then earned a PhD in Nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She completed post-doctoral training at the UCLA Norman Cousins Center in psychoneuroimmunology, providing a strong foundation for Biobehavioral Nursing, recognizing the benefits and risks of preventive health services/behaviors and the complexity and importance of nursing in primary care. Dr. FitzGerald is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and has over 35 years of clinical experience. Prior to joining HRSA in 2023, she was Professor and Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair Community Partnerships at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, California where she also served as Dean of Nursing for 7 years. From 2005-2015, she was faculty at University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. FitzGerald was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in 2021. She is the current president of The Roy Adaptation Association International.
Membership roster
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Nina McLain, Ph.D., CRNA
Associate Professor
Nurse Anesthesia Program
University of Southern Mississippi
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Hattiesburg, MS
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Patricia Dieter, M.P.A., RN, PA-C
Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health
Chief, Division of Physician Assistant Studies
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Courtney Pitts, D.N.P., M.P.H., FNP-BC, FAANP
Director, Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty Associate Professor
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Nashville, TN
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Kristie Hartig, M.S.N., RN, PHN, CWOCN, CNE
On-call registered nurse, PACE
Midland Care Connections, Inc. Post-Surgical RN
The University of Kansas St. Francis Campus
Topeka, KS
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Carolyn Porta, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN, SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP
Associate Vice President for Clinical Affairs
Professor
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Meredith Kazer, Ph.D., APRN-BC, FAAN
Dean and Professor
Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Constance R. Powers, M.S.N., RN, CCRN, CNE
Department Chair
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Kae Livsey M.P.H., Ph.D., RN
Associate Professor
Western Carolina University
School of Nursing
Cullowhee, NC
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Teresa Shellenbarger, Ph.D., RN, CNE, CNEcl, ANEF
Executive Director
National League for Nursing
Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation Washington, DC
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Christine Smothers, B.S.N., RN
Doctoral student (Ph.D. Nursing Science program)
The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
Term ends: 09/11/2025 -
Ex-Officio Member – Interim Chair
Leah FitzGerald, Ph.D., FNP-BC, FAAN
Director
Division of Nursing and Public Health
Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA
Rockville, MD -
Designated Federal Official
Justin Bala-Hampton D.N.P., M.P.H., M.H.A., RN, AGACNP-BC, AOCNP
Senior Advisor
Division of Nursing and Public Health
Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA
Rockville, MD
Briefing Guide for Council Members (PDF - 111 KB)
Note: If you use assistive technology, you may not be able to access information in these files. For assistance, email us.
Nominations for membership
We are seeking nominations of qualified candidates to fill up to 11 open positions. However, we keep the CVs and resumes of all NACNEP nominees we receive for up to three years to fill future openings. If you no longer wish to be considered for future openings, contact us.
You can find more information about nominations in the Federal Register.
Contact us for more information about eligibility and application requirements.
Are you eligible?
The HHS Secretary will consider nominations of all qualified people in:
- Nursing, higher and secondary education, and associate degree schools of nursing
- Advanced education nursing groups,such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists
- Hospitals and other groupsthat provide nursing services
- Practicing professional nurses
- The public
- Full-time students enrolled in schools of nursing
Questions about eligibility?
Email Justin Bala-Hampton, Designated Federal Officer
Date Last Reviewed: