The Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA) was founded at AARP in 2007 with a $10 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), with a mission to see that Americans have the nurses they need, now and in the future. Housed in AARP’s Public Policy Institute, CCNA is an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and RWJF, and it seeks to answer the need for Americans to have access—in all settings—to highly skilled nurses. CCNA coordinates the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a national initiative that is working to improve America’s health through nursing. The Campaign is also an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and RWJF.

Leadership

Susan Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Director, AARP Public Policy Institute & Chief Strategist, Center to Champion Nursing in America

Areas of Expertise: Aging; family caregiving research, policy, program development, practice, research and policy analysis, Medicare, Medicaid, Health care policy, quality, delivery system reform, system regulation, payment, managed care, culture of health/well-being, nursing research, education, regulation, workforce development, long term services and supports research, financing, technical assistance, measurement/scorecard, age friendly communities, livable communities, grantsmanship, strategic planning, public speaking, translating research into policy and practice.

Mary Boyle, MS, Director of Communications

Areas of Expertise: Message strategy and development, public and media relations, crisis communications, issue advocacy, social media, fundraising, and journalism.

Jennifer A. Peed, MSW, Director, Office of Center Integration; Deputy Director, RWJF, State Implementation Program

Areas of Expertise: Health care program analysis and administration.

Patricia Polansky, RN, MS, Director, Program Development and Implementation

Areas of Expertise: Health care administration, executive leadership, interprofessional collaboration (health), primary care, home and community health care, aging issues and long-term care, and nursing education.

Winifred V. Quinn, PhD, Director, Advocacy and Consumer Affairs

Areas of Expertise: Stakeholder engagement and networking, coalition organizing, advocacy, state scope of practice policies, nursing workforce funding, and nursing workforce and diversity.

Staff Members

Andrea Brassard, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor

Areas of Expertise: Primary care, retail health, home health care, nursing research, education, regulation, workforce, policy analysis, advanced practice registered nurses, scope of practice.

Jazmine Cooper, MBA, Project Manager

Areas of Expertise: Coordinating special projects, and speaking engagements, providing technical assistance to state Action Coalitions on fundraising.  

Jordan Green, MS, Senior Advisor

Areas of Expertise: Communications and outreach, social media, web design, speaking engagements, and collaboration with Campaign stakeholders.

Claudio Gualtieri, JD, Project Advisor

Areas of Expertise: Stakeholder engagement, advocacy, Campaign outreach to AARP state offices, Action Coalitions and community partnerships.

Ana Hervada, LMSW, MPH, Project Specialist

Areas of Expertise: Advancing nursing education and promoting nurse leadership. 

Aidan McCallion, MS, Digital Communications Project Analyst       

Areas of Expertise: Message strategy and development, public and media relations, social media, and web design.

Lynn Mertz, PhD, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor

Areas of Expertise: Higher education program design and management, strategic planning, and fund development.

Barbara Mitchell-Swain, Meetings and Events Advisor

Areas of Expertise: Planning and managing meetings, conferences and other events.   

Stacie Sampson, MA, Project Specialist

Areas of Expertise: Supporting operational activities and coordinating special projects.

Scott Tanaka, MSW, Project Specialist

Areas of Expertise: Increasing the diversity of stakeholder engagement, and coalition building.

Kristin Thomas, Administrative Associate

Areas of Expertise: Administrative support