Meet the Candidates
The Kansas State Nurses Association is pleased to introduce the candidates seeking to serve in KSNA leadership positions for the 2027 term.
KSNA’s elected leaders help guide the association’s priorities, strengthen the voice of nurses across Kansas and support our work in advocacy, professional practice, education and member engagement. We encourage you to learn more about each candidate, review their position statements and consider the experience and perspective they would bring to the role.
Your participation helps shape the future of KSNA and ensures our association continues to reflect the nurses and communities we serve.
Make Your Voice Count
Eligible KSNA members will receive voting instructions by email when the election opens on September 1st. Please review the candidates below and confirm that your contact information is current in your KSNA member profile.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
SECRETARY
CANDIDATE
Linda Adams Wendling
PhD, MSN, MBA, APRN, CNP, GNP-BC, NEA-BC, CNE
Position Statement
I believe that nursing is an art and a science that continuously evolves. I believe that nursing is a profession with it’s own distinct body of knowledge. I also believe that it is essential that as a profession we continue to advocate for federal funding to support all levels of nursing education to facilitate the current and future nursing workforce at the state and national levels. I believe that KSNA should continue to support and advocate for safe staffing, address continued violence in the workplace, support strategies for self care and healthy work cultures and environments, I believe that nursing must stay on the forefront to lead and guide the integration and appropriate application of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) within the profession of nursing. I believe it is essential that nursing through professional organizations such as KSNA continue to be a unified voice for these and other key issues in nursing. I would be honored to serve as the KSNA secretary.
BOARD MEMBER
CANDIDATE
Laura Felty
RN, ADN, BSN
Position Statement
I am committed to representing my region. There are many major issues that need to be addressed in nursing. The government’s consideration of nurses as non-professionals when it comes to education loans is one of the most important. The nursing profession needs more professors. Many of us are unable to become professors without the benefit of these loans. This directly affects how many nurses are allowed to enter nursing programs. This will exacerbate the nursing shortage by not graduating enough student nurses to replace those who may be retiring.
CANDIDATE
Alissa Stinnett
DNP, MPH, BSN, RN, CENP
Position Statement
Kansas, and the nation, continue to face critical workforce shortages driven by burnout, staffing challenges, and increasing complexity of care. I believe we must move beyond temporary fixes and advocate for sustainable workforce solutions. My position is to support policies that prioritize safe staffing models, invest in nurse well-being, and create flexible career pathways that allow nurses to remain in the profession long-term. Retention is not just a workforce issue, it is a patient safety issue.
Access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas, remains a pressing concern. I strongly support removing unnecessary barriers that limit nurses from practicing to the full extent of their education and training. Expanding scope of practice, especially for advanced practice nurses, can significantly improve access, reduce disparities, and strengthen community health outcomes. I am committed to advancing evidence-based policy that empowers nurses while maintaining high standards of care.
CANDIDATE
Angela Storrer
PhD, APRN, ACNP- BC
Position Statement
I am seeking election to the KSNA Board to advocate for policies that strengthen nursing practice and improve healthcare access across Kansas. With over 32 years of experience as a nurse, nurse practitioner, and educator, I understand the realities of practice in both rural and urban settings and the support nurses need to provide safe, high-quality care. Two critical issues shape my commitment to this role: safe staffing standards and the ability for nurses and APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Safe staffing protects patients, reduces burnout, and supports retention. Full practice authority ensures Kansans receive timely, high-quality care, especially in underserved areas. I also strongly support ongoing improvement in nursing education and environments that encourage no-fault error reporting to strengthen safety culture. I believe Kansas nurses deserve strong, experienced representation, and I would be honored to continue serving our profession.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
CANDIDATE
Laura Mallett
MSN, RN
Position Statement
I am running for a position on the nominating committee because I am committed to supporting strong leadership and fostering inclusivity within our organization. The nominating committee plays a vital role in identifying and encouraging nurse leaders across Kansas, ensuring that every voice is represented in our election process. If elected, I will work diligently to guarantee a fair and transparent nomination process, and to build a diverse and qualified slate of candidates that reflects the values and aspirations of our membership.
ANA MEMBERSHIP ASSEMBLY REPESENTATIVE
CANDIDATE
Shanna Cannaley
BSN, RN
Position Statement
My personal position is that the overall healthcare system would be improved by supporting the Affordable Healthcare for Kansas initiative to provide healthcare access affordability to low-income working adults. My personal position also is against the nursing loan cap. A strict loan cap will prevent the education needed to enter or advance in the nursing profession. A cap of $200,00 will create barriers for earning advanced nursing degrees and ultimately worsen the nursing shortage.
