2026 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions Recipients Announced
Media Contact: Bryan Black
Meet the individuals being honored for their remarkable contributions.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is pleased to announce the recipients of the prestigious 2026 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions. This award honors individuals who have made significant strides in advancing health care through practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership (PEARL), and have demonstrated efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of nurse practitioners (NPs). Award recipients will be honored for this achievement at the Salute to the States Award Ceremony on June 26, 2026, at the 2026 AANP National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Each of these honorees exemplifies the very best of our profession,” said AANP President Dr. Valerie Fuller, PhD, DNP. “Their dedication to advancing patient care, strengthening our communities and elevating the role of nurse practitioners is truly inspiring. AANP is proud to recognize their leadership and the meaningful difference they make every day.”
Over the years, AANP’s state-level awards have evolved to reflect the full scope of NP impact. Today, the AANP State Awards for Outstanding Contributions honor one individual per state whose exemplary clinical care, advocacy and leadership have strengthened the NP profession and improved the health of communities nationwide. These awards celebrate the extraordinary dedication of NPs and advocates who go above and beyond to advance patient-centered care and elevate our profession.
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2026 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions Recipients
Alabama
Kelley Borella, DNP, CRNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP
Arizona
Sun Wright, RN, APRN, DNP, FNP-C
Arkansas
Neil Langer, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CHC
California
Shelitha Campbell, DNP, MSN, BSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PHN
Colorado
Christina Mulkey, DNP, APRN, AGNP-C
Delaware
Stacy Thomas, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Florida
Jessica Pelkowski, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, ONP-C, FAANP, FNAON
Georgia
Joy King, DNP, MBA, APRN, NP-C, FAIHM
Hawaii
Berkeley Haney, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Idaho
Michelle Anderson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Illinois
Carolyn Dickens, PhD, MBA, APRN-FPA, ACNP-BC, HFSA, FAANP, FAAN
Indiana
Megan Goetz, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Kentucky
Lela Baker, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC, C-ONQS
Louisiana
Jennifer Lemoine, PhD, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC
Maine
Rachel Koransky-Matson, DNP, FNP-C, BC-ADM, CNE
Maryland
Patricia McMullen, PhD, JD, WHNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Michigan
Naila Russell, DNP, FNP-BC
Minnesota
Kimberly Heckmann, APRN, FNP-C
Mississippi
Amy Smith, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, CENP, FAANP, FACHE
Montana
Judy Lauridsen, FNP-BC, RN
Nebraska
Jill Reed, PhD, APRN-NP, FNP-BC
Nevada
Susan VanBeuge, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
New Jersey
Marcel Kaganovskaya, DNP, PMHNP-BC, PMHNP-C, FNP-BC, FNP-C, CCRN, VA-BC, FNYAM
New Mexico
Kate Goldblum, MSN, RN, FNP
New York
Maria Pizzirusso, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, AAHIVS
North Carolina
Jamie Rouse, DNP, AGNP-C, ACHPN, CLE
North Dakota
Stephanie Hendricks, DNP, FNP-C
Ohio
Janine Galeski, DNP, MA, APRN, FNP-BC, ACHPN-BC
Oklahoma
Cene' Livingston, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, IPP-C
Oregon
James Sims, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, NP-C, CENP
Pennsylvania
Donald Bucher, DNP, ACNP-BC, AGNP-C, FAANP
South Carolina
Stephanie Burgess, PhD, APRN, BC, FAAN, FAANP
Tennessee
Andrea Sebastian, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, AFN-C, SANE-P, DF-AFN
Texas
Shelagh Larson, DNP, WHNP, MSCP. IF, FAANP, FNPWH
Utah
Jennifer Clifton, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CCHP-A, CCHP-CP, FAANP
Virginia
Alysia Pack, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Washington
Cydne Marckmann, DNP, MN, RN, ARNP, FNP-BC, ANP-BC, FAANP
West Virginia
Melody Wilkinson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAANP, FAAN
Wyoming
Brenna Kirsch, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
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The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 461,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NPs' patients and other health care consumers. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. To locate an NP in your community, visit npfinder.com. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org.