ASNA President-Elect Candidate

School Nurses:

I’m excited to share some important news regarding ASNA leadership. LeAnne Rhodes has been unanimously elected as President-Elect. According to ASNA bylaws:

“A vacancy in the office of president shall be filled by the president-elect, who shall serve for the unexpired term of the president and the term of office as president to which he/she was elected.”

With this provision, LeAnne will now serve as President of ASNA. Congratulations to LeAnne!

This transition creates a new vacancy for the position of President-Elect. I’m pleased to announce that Christine Duellman has submitted her application for this role. Many of you know Christine as she has been serving as ASNA Secretary over the past few years. For those who haven’t had the chance to meet her, I’ve included her bio below.

An electronic vote will take place on December 19th. Ballots will be sent to all ASNA members—please watch for yours and submit it promptly so we can move forward with Christine’s installation at our next Board of Directors meeting.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support!

Valerie Beshears, DNP, RN
Johnson & Johnson SHL Fellow
Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
5210 Grand Avenue | Fort Smith, AR 72913 | 479-629-4001

Candidate Bio – Christine Duellman

I am a dedicated school nurse with 18 years of experience supporting students and families in Arkansas. As a Nationally Certified School Nurse since 2020, I have served in diverse roles—including school nurse specialist, float nurse, and currently as a team nurse at a high school in the Little Rock School District.

I am an active advocate for school health and professional growth, currently serving as Secretary of the Arkansas School Nurses Association and previously as Regional Director. I also represent school nurses on the EMSc Board and the Arkansas Children’s Diabetes Advisory Board, contributing to statewide initiatives that enhance student health and safety.

With a passion for advancing school nursing practice and amplifying the voices of school nurses across Arkansas, I am eager to continue serving through the role of President-Elect of the Arkansas School Nurses Association.

During my term as President-Elect, I would like to strengthen connections between school nurses statewide, promote professional development opportunities, and advocate for policies that support student well-being and nursing excellence. I also aim to collaborate closely with our executive board to build on the strong foundation of advocacy, education, and engagement that defines our organization.