The vision of the Clinical Nurse Leader Association is to improve patient outcomes through a focus on safety and quality outcomes and the implementation of evidence based practice at the point of care.
President (2026)
Bob LaPointe, MSN, RN, CNL, CPHQ, is a graduate of Seton Hall University College of Nursing’s inaugural Clinical Nurse Leader class. He served as ICNLA President-Elect from 2011-2013 and as the Association’s President from 2013-2015; he is now the VA Liaison to the ICNLA Board. In 2016 Mr. LaPointe was honored to be the recipient of the CNL Vanguard Award by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Nurse Certification. Currently, Bob works in Clinical Informatics at Corporal J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, where he previously worked for seven years as a CNL in Medical Telemetry. He was also Interim Director of Quality Management, and ACLS/BLS Coordinator, among other roles. Bob was on the VA’s national Telemetry Guidebook taskforce, and he was an active member of the national Acute Care EHR workgroup from 2018-2022, including two years as co-chair of the med/surg team. Bob was an Assistant Clinical Professor in the CNL program at Drexel University from 2019-2022. He was previously a founding member of the VA Office of Nursing Services’ national CNL Field Advisory Committee and the Clinical Nurse Leader Research Collaborative (CNLRC). He is passionate about the Clinical Nurse Leader role, complexity science, and the opportunities that emerge from synergy.
As prior President-Elect, President, and Past President of ICNLA, Bob brings detailed knowledge of the organization. During his tenure the board expanded chapter membership and initiated strategic planning with AACN, CNC, and ICNLA. He hopes to build on the contributions of many leaders to help CNLs and the CNL Community meet the current demands of healthcare. Bob is motivated by the integration of clinical practice, change management, high reliability, and financial stewardship in the development of safer, more effective care. He is invested in rigorous measurement, disciplined improvement, and in the power of stories.
Bob is excited to engage again with the ICNLA Board and advisory board, partner organizations, academia and interprofessional advocates of all kinds to help move the Clinical Nurse Leader community forward. Before Bob became a nurse, he was a director of quality in a behavioral health non-profit. He worked closely with the board, learning non-profit management. He also served as a board member for a children’s educational non-profit in Baltimore.
Please contact Bob using the following email address: president@cnlassociation.org
President-Elect (2026)
Please contact Mariah using the following email address: president-elect@cnlassociation.org
Treasurer (2026)
Dr. Tina Ralyea, DNP, MBA, MS-NP, NE-BC, CNL, OCN, CCRN has over 40 years of healthcare experience. She is a passionate and dedicated nurse leader who is willing and eager to make new changes and advance care delivery systems. She has a strong focus on teammate engagement and exceptional care. Currently, she serves as the Chief Nursing Officer for Prisma Health Midlands Market, which includes four hospitals in South Carolina: Richland, Baptist, Baptist Parkridge in Columbia; and Tuomey Hospital in Sumter. She successfully led her two teams through first magnet designation in October 2020 and July 2021 despite the pandemic. She is happy to serve on the ICNLA Board for over 10 years in many capacities and currently as the treasurer.
Marketing & Website Director (2026)
Dr. Veronica Rankin serves as the Director of Nursing Services in the role of Magnet Program Director for Atrium Health – Central Area, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also serves as the Administrator of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Program. Dr. Rankin has been a nurse for more than 20 years and a certified CNL for more than 12 years. She earned her master’s as a CNL from Queens University of Charlotte in 2011 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree, as well as her post-master’s certification as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner from East Carolina University. She serves as adjunct faculty for Northeastern University’s accelerated BSN program and teaches CNL exam certification review sessions with CNL students regularly. Dr. Rankin is a proud recipient of the North Carolina Great 100 Nurse Award in 2017 and the CNL Vanguard Award presented to her in 2020 by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Nurse Certification. As a mentor, published author, and member of various professional organizations including the Sigma Nursing, AONL, and the National Black Nurses Association, Dr. Rankin’s primary career goal is to promote and advance the profession of nursing.
Please contact Veronica using the following email address: marketing@cnlassociation.org
Secretary (2026)
Dr. Brianna Salinas currently serves as the Associate Director of Magnet at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she provides strategic leadership to advance nursing excellence and professional practice. In this role, Dr. Salinas helped guide the institution to its sixth Magnet® Designation-and its first ever with Distinction-a historic achievement that reflects the organization’s unwavering commitment to high quality, evidence based nursing care. This work required meticulous coordination, rigorous documentation, and the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable communication for stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
Chief Academic Officer at American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Dr. Joan Stanley is the chief academic officer at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She has spent more than 25 years helping shape nursing education at AACN. Dr. Stanley graduated from Duke University with her BSN. She received a master of science in nursing from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and her PhD in higher education policy and organization from the University of Maryland at College Park.
Advisory Practice Partner
Performance Improvement Manager University of South Alabama Health System The clinical nurse leader (CNL) role was developed as a strategy for redesigning care delivery to address quality and safety gaps in health care. Kristen Noles has certainly added value to this endeavor. As a nurse manager at UAB Hospital’s Acute Trauma Care Unit and the Outpatient Clinical Decision Unit, she is also an adjunct faculty member for the School in the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) specialty track and helped implement the CNL position throughout UAB Hospital.
The vision of the Clinical Nurse Leader Association is to improve patient outcomes through a focus on safety and quality outcomes and the implementation of evidence based practice at the point of care.