Jennifer S. Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, serves as the 38th president of the American Nurses Association (ANA). In this national leadership role, Mensik Kennedy boldly advocates for the nation's 5.5 million RNs. In 2023, she was named by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. Mensik Kennedy is a sought-after presenter and prolific author based on herinsights about and experience involving key nursing issues. Her books include Lead, Drive, and Thrive in the System, 2nd edition, and The Nurse Manager's Guide to Innovative Staffing, 2nd edition. She co-authored Lead Like a Nurse; A Nurse's Step-By-Step Guide to Transitioning to the Professional Nurse Role; and The Power of Ten, 2nd edition, and contributed a chapter to The Career Handoff: A Healthcare Leader's Guide to Knowledge & Wisdom Transfer Across Generations.Prior to her presidency, Mensik Kennedy held key leadership positions within the nursing profession, including serving the American Nurses Association as Treasurer, Second Vice President, and Director-at-Large. She also served as President of the Arizona Nurses Association from 2007 to 2010. Additionally, Mensik Kennedy held the role of Governor of Nursing Practice for the Western Institute of Nursing in 2010-2014.Mensik Kennedy earned a PhD from the University of Arizona College of Nursing with a focus on health systems and a minor in public administration from the Eller College of Management. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BSN from Washington State University. Mensik Kennedy also earned an ADN from Wenatchee Valley College-North. Prior to assuming the presidency of ANA, she was an Associate Clinical Professor at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Nursing. Mensik Kennedy was inducted in 2014 as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She has been recognized as Alumna of the Year by both University of Arizona College of Nursing and Washington State University College of Nursing. Brienne Sandow, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, is the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer (COO/CNO) of St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center and Eagle Medical Plaza, part of the St. Luke's Health System in Idaho. She has strategic oversight for both sites, working collaboratively with clinical disciplines, providers, and ancillary leaders to ensure services are fully integrated in pursuit of patient-centered outcomes. Sandow fosters a culture of partnership and commitment to high performance in all areas, focusing on exceptional staff and patient experiences, quality, safety, and efficiency of care. In 2002, Sandow joined St. Luke's Health System. During her 21 years with the organization, she has served in multiple leadership positions and driven numerous critical initiatives. Prior to her current role, she was instrumental insupporting operations throughout the health system during the pandemic as the Director of the Enterprise Resource & Staffing Office.Sandow earned a bachelor of science in psychology and a bachelor of science in family and consumer sciences from the University of Idaho, a bachelor of science in nursing from Boise State University, and an MSN, emphasis patient care services administration, from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She is American Nurses Credentialing Center certified in Nurse Executive Advanced. Sandow was recently elected President of Nurse Leaders of Idaho, the local chapter of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. She has previously served as Director-at-Large on the national ANA Board of Directors and as President of ANA Idaho. Sandow has been honored by the Women's and Children's Alliance with the Tribute to Women and Industry award and by the Idaho Business Review with the Accomplished Under 40 award. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau InternationalHonor Society of Nursing and the American College of Healthcare Executives.