2021-2022 IANS Board

Executive Board of Directors
Get to know your IANS Board. Contact us with your questions and let us tell you why we chose Iowa for our nursing education and how you can be part of the action!
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President: Emily Kolker
​Bio:
  • Emily attend Briar Cliff University and plans to graduate in 2023 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is involved in her school community by being a part of Briar Cliff University Nursing Student Association, Science and Health Club, and Honors Program. Emily is honored to serve as the President this year on the IANS board. She has spent three years working in memory care units and psychiatric hospitals. She is beyond excited to work alongside her fellow nursing students. When Emily is not nose deep in her books or practicing lab skills, you can find her at the gym, hanging with her friends, or at the chapel. Emily is interested in receiving her doctorates after nursing school school or working as a CRNA and specialize in pediatrics. 

      Duties of the President:
  • Preside at all meetings of the association, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee.
  • Appoint special committees with the approval of the Board of Directors.
  • Serve as ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominations Committee
  • Represent IANS in a matter relating to the association and perform all other duties pertaining to the office.
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Vice President: Vacant
​Bio:
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Duties of the Vice President
  • Assume the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President.
  • Assume the office of the President in case of a vacancy in the office.
  • Nominate three 3-4 members for the annual state convention planning committee.
  • Serve as chairperson of the planning committee for the annual state convention.
  • Be responsible for visiting and recommending to the Board of Directors the annual convention site.
  • Be responsible for all convention publicity including the convention program but excluding the convention edition of the IANS newsletter
  • Be responsible for selecting, arranging, and planning for speakers, educational sessions, entertainment, and convention registration and all other duties pertaining to the office in collaboration with Public Relations Director, Membership Director, and Nominations and Elections Director.
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Secretary: Sara Cantrell
​Bio:
  • Sara is a senior at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. She plans on graduating in May 2022. She currently serves as president of the Grand View Nursing Student Association and has loved being involved in the organization for two years. When not studying, her hobbies are health and fitness, hiking, and cooking. After graduation, she hopes to work in the ICU and eventually continue her education to get her master's degree in Nursing Leadership.​​​
​Duties of Secretary:
  • Sign documents with the President such as, organizational papers and documents that come into their executive and administrative spheres.
  • Keep in file a permanent record of all reports, papers, and documents submitted to him/her.
  • Conduct general correspondence of the association as requested by the President and Board of Directors.
  • Send to the headquarters of NSNA, Inc. the names and addresses of all officers and directors of their association immediately after the election.
  • Submit annually the officially application for NSNA constituency status, which shall include the following areas of conformity for active and associate members: purpose and function, membership, dues, and representation.
  • Keep on file a register of all constituents and their constituents and their officers and the addresses of all schools with members in this organization for correspondence, roll call, and business procedures
  • Inform Board of Directors, consultants, and constituents as to the time and place of board meetings
Treasurer: Heidi Jenkins
​Bio:
  • Heidi attends Grand View University in Des Moines, IA. She is currently in her senior year. In addition to being treasurer of IANS, she is also the Vice President of Grand View Nursing Student Association, and it's her third year as a board member. Heidi is passionate about emergency and intensive care, as she thinks best under pressure. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching Netflix, hanging out with friends, and her cat, Beans. ​​
Duties of Treasurer
  • Act as custodian of organization funds and see an annual financial report
    and budget is prepared.
  • Oversee the signing and deposit of checks for monetary disbursements, in association with the Finance Committee, as bylaws provide.
  • Serve as chairperson of the Finance Committee when such a committee is established by the Board of Directors.
  • Perform all other duties assigned by the President
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Membership Director: Susanna Saran
​Bio:
  •  Susanna is from The University of Iowa in Iowa City. She is currently in her senior year at the College of Nursing and graduating in December of 2022. She currently serves as the Membership Director for IANS. She is also the Secretary for The University of Iowa Student Nurse Association. Susanna is passionate about critical care nursing and gerontological nursing. She plans on working in an ICU after graduation and then going to get her DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. In her free time Susanna enjoys reading, baking, and hanging out with friends.
Duties of Membership Director:
  • Duties of the Membership Director:
  • Recruit nursing students for membership in IANS.
  • Organize contact information for schools and make available to Board Members at the beginning of the term of office.
  • Serve as advisor to Board Members in planning and development of activities.
  • Formulate and maintain a list of all IANS members with current school and address information to be available to the Officers and Board of Directors as necessary.
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Nominations and Elections Director:  Hunter Morgan
​Bio:
  • Hunter is a second year nursing student in his junior year at Grand View University. He grew up in Carlisle, Iowa not far from Des Moines. He currently serves as the Nominations and Elections Director on the 2021-2022 IANS board. Hunter is also involved in leadership groups on his university's campus. Hunter currently works as a Pharmacy Technician at Hy-Vee. His plans after graduation is to work in the ICU and or another critical care nurse position. Hunter plans to continue his education after college to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. When he's not studying or leading students, you can find him spending time with his family, watching Netflix, or hanging with friends. ​
Duties of Nominations and Elections Director:
  • Serve as chairperson of the Nominations Committee.
  • Send registration packets with scholarship information to schools.
  • Develop a slate of candidates for position on the Board of Directors and Executive Offices.
  • Coordinate the application and selection process for state consultant.
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Public Relations Director: Katie Wichman
​Bio:
  • Katie is currently a second year nursing student at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. She is from Waverly, Iowa. She currently serves as as the Public Relations Director for IANS board 2021-2022. She also serves as the secretary on Grand View Nursing Student Association. Katie currently works at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines as a PCT on a cardiac floor. Katie is passionate about serving others in their most vulnerable times. Her goal when she graduates is to work in the NICU or in labor and delivery. Katie also has plans of possibly becoming a travel nurse after a few years in nursing. In her free time, Katie enjoys relaxing and binge watching Netflix when she isn't studying. 
Duties of Public Relations Director
  • Publish the IANS newsletter at least three times per year.
  • Collect, edit, and write articles to be printed in the IANS newsletter.
  • Keep the website current with updates, scholarship, newsletters and information; and promptly submitting changes to the website developer.
  • Keep social media up to date with information of upcoming events and current news. 
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Breakthrough to Nursing Director: Alondra Ramirez
Bio:
  • Alondra is a junior at the University of Iowa. She is currently the BTN director on the 2021-2022 IANS board. Alondra was born in Storm Lake, Iowa. This is a small, diverse town and she decided to attend a university in a bigger city. This was a big change for her. Alondra is passionate about helping others and she hopes to touch many lives in her career as a nurse. Alondra's goal it to become a pediatric nurse practitioner to help children and their mothers. Alondra loves to spend time with family, her dog, and likes to cook or relax when she isn't studying.​
​Duties of Breakthrough to Nursing Director
  • Promote the positive image of nursing students.
  • Be responsible for the organization of projects to recruit and increase the number of men and minorities into nursing programs, and maintain retention of those already enrolled in nursing programs throughout the state.
  • Coordinate activities with the NSNA Breakthrough to Nursing Project, and serve as a liaison between NSNA, IANS, and the local school Breakthrough to Nursing 
  • chairpersons.
  • Serve as chairperson of the Breakthrough to Nursing Committee, which is NSNA's program, designed to recruit students into nursing.
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Council of School Presidents: Collin Adenk
​Bio:
  • Welcome to the team!
Duties of Council of School Presidents:
  • Serve as chairperson for the annual COSP meeting.
  • Maintain contact with the school presidents throughout the state.
  • Serve as a representative for all schools at board meetings.
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Disaster Relief Director: Lauren Ukena
​Bio:
  • Lauren is currently a second-year nursing student at Grand View University in Des Moines. Lauren grew up in a small town in Northwest Iowa called Twin Lakes. She currently is serving as the Disaster Relief Director for IANS board 2021-2022. She is also a member of student leadership teams on Grand Views campus such as Peer Counselors and Viking Volunteers. Her plan after graduation is to work in the emergency room and later continuing her education towards nurse practitioner specializing in dermatology and wound care. When Lauren is not frantically cramming for exams, she enjoys spending time on the lake, hiking, traveling, or doing anything with her dog Piper! 
Duties of Disaster Relief Director: 
  •  Promote awareness of nursing and its role in disaster relief.
  • Monitor awareness of current disaster relief affecting nursing, nursing students, and health care.
  • Encourage and communicate with schools to participate in a disaster relief program.
  • Encourage and aid its constituents in becoming disaster certified.
  • Directors shall perform such duties as assigned by the President in accordance with the priorities and needs of the association.
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Legislation and Education Director: Vacant
​Bio:
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Duties of Legislation and Education Director: 
  • Review and recommend for changes in the bylaws and policies and procedures.
  • Monitor awareness of current legislation affecting nursing, nursing students, and 
    health care.
  • Encourage and aid in writing resolutions relating to legislative business.
  • Communicate legislative information to the local chapter
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Faculty Consultants:

LaDonna McGohan, DNP, RN | Luther College; Decorah, IA
Sara Kraus, MSN, RN |Grand View University; Des Moines, IA