ASBN - Board Members Arkansas Department of Health

ASBN - Board Members

For information on Board Member appointments, length of terms, etc. see Arkansas Nurse Practice Act 17-87-201.

Haley Strunk, LPN
LPN | October 1, 2025

Haley Strunk, of Crossett, is a licensed practical nurse and is an EHR Coordinator/ Clinical IT Nurse at Ashley County Medical Center. She has worked at Ashley County Medical Center since 2005 and has worked in med/surg, ICU/CCU, geropsych, nursery, emergency department, COVID infusion clinic, and continues to work in all nursing departments when needed.

She received her practical nursing certificate from the University of Monticello College of Technology-Crossett. Strunk is the mother of three children, ages 18, 9 and 7.

“I love helping people. My mom started her career at ACMC when I was two and I grew up watching many nurses who I now have the privilege of working with over the years. I knew at a very young age that nursing is what I wanted to do. Patient safety, as well as the safety of our nurses, has always been a top priority. I served on the Board from 2014-2018, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve again.” Strunk said.

Lance K. Lindow, RN
RN | October 1, 2021

Lindow fills the at-large position for a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. He is a registered nurse and earned his associate degree from National Park Community College. He received the Duke University Hospital “Strength, Hope, and Caring” award in 2012. Lindow’s nursing background includes being a flight nurse and NICU. Currently, he is an emergency room nurse at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He states, “I became a nurse because I can’t change the world, but I can change my patients’ world 12 hours at a time. Lindow is married and has two sons. In his spare time, he likes Razorback sports and being with family.

Leslie Harmon Branman, RN
Vice President
RN | October 1, 2025

Leslie Harmon Branman is a certified plastic surgery nurse and certified aesthetic nurse specialist and is a clinical and surgical services director at the Cosmetic Surgery Center. Her nursing background includes labor and delivery, trauma ICU, and as clinical and surgical services director at Vanderpool Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.

Branman is a native Arkansan from Little Rock and graduated from Central High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and was an athletic trainer for TCU.

She stated, “I am passionate about caring for and the safety of the citizens of Arkansas and offer a different nursing specialty from other board members.”

Branman enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing with her dog, Brisket.

Lynne Ritchie
Rep. of the Older Population | October 1, 2023

Lynne Ritchie is the representative of the older population on the Board. She is a retired dental hygienist and resides in Little Rock.

Ritchie has been married to her husband, Elmer, for 44 years and has three sons and four grandchildren. Her hobbies include pickleball, bridge, and exercising.

She said, “I have always been interested in science, and after I retired, I thought it would be a good way to give back to my community and state. Being the non-nurse on the board, I think I can bring a different perspective to the discussions.”

Janice Denton Ivers, RN
Secretary

RN (BSN or higher) | Term expires October 1, 2020

Janice Denton Ivers, of Jessieville, is the Dean of Nursing at National Park College in Hot Springs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1983 from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and a master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Ivers has served in various capacities of nursing education since 2001 and is a Certified Nurse Educator. Previously, she practiced in various patient settings in Arkansas and Colorado, with the majority of her experience in oncology. Ivers states, “I became a nurse because as a nurse, I have the unique opportunity to help people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I love serving others and, hopefully, being able to have an impact on their lives. To top it off, I get to enjoy one of the most exciting and fast-paced professions. ”She wants to serve on the Board to protect the public, administer accountability and direction to the current workforce and refine the future workforce. Ivers is married and has three grown sons.

Jasper Fultz, LPN
LPN | Term expires October 1, 2023

Jasper Fultz, of Augusta, is a licensed practical nurse. He has been employed at White County Medical Center for over 30 years. Fultz’s awards include the Arkansas Nursing Compassion Award and the Arkansas Business Healthcare Hero. He hopes to make a positive difference in nursing by serving on the Board and feels his many years of experience will be beneficial to the Board.

Neldia Dycus, RN
President
RN (diploma) | Term expires October 1, 2021

Neldia Dycus, from Cabot, is a registered nurse and works at the Arkansas Department of Health as a Regional Director. Previously she practiced at Baptist Medical Center as a staff nurse for labor and delivery and ICU, and as a chief nurse at St. Anthony CHI and St. Vincent North CHI. She earned a nursing diploma from the Baptist School of Health, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a master's degree in health services administration and human resource development from Webster University. Dycus also has a post-graduate certificate in public health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. When asked why she wanted to serve on the Board, she said, "I have been interested in serving on the board for many years. I see it as a way to contribute to my profession and to give back to the nursing community." Dycus is married to Dennis Dycus and has one daughter, 2 stepsons, and six grandchildren. Her hobbies include drawing, writing, and reading.

Melanie Garner, LPN
LPN | Term expires October 1, 2020

Melanie Garner, of Fort Smith, is a licensed practical nurse who graduated from Westark Community College. Garner has worked in women’s health and public health and is a Certified Lactation Consultant. She is a lifelong resident of Sebastian County and is married with a son, daughter-in-law, and foster grandson who will soon be adopted. Garner wants to serve on the Board to serve her state and profession and to ensure that all respondents have a fair hearing. Her hobbies include exercising, reading, and Beth Moore Bible studies.

Ramonda Housh, APRN
APRN | Term expires October 1, 2023

Ramonda Housh, of Pocahontas, is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and fills the Board position for advanced practice registered nurse. She received her bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and earned her Master of Nursing Science degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Housh is the Division Chair for Allied Health and RN Program Chair at Black River Technical College in Pocahontas. Previously she served patients as a registered nurse in medical-surgical nursing and as a community health nurse, as well as pediatric patients as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Housh is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. Housh, a native Arkansan, stated, “After 20 years as a nurse and ten years as a nurse educator, I want to be involved in the protection of the public and in the regulation of our profession.” She is married to Eric Housh and has two children, Dylan and Sydney.

Stacie Hipp, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Treasurer
RN (BSN or higher) | Term expires October 1, 2020

Stacie Hipp, of White Hall, began her nursing career in 1996 after graduating from the Jefferson School of Nursing diploma program. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2010 and graduated in December 2016 with a master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas. Hipp is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society-Kappa Rho at Large, International Association of Forensic Nurses, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association. She is an advanced practice registered nurse at CHI St. Vincent in Mount Ida and a sexual assault nurse examiner at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Pine Bluff. Hipp said, “I want to serve on the Board because I want to be part of a team of different disciplines that all have one goal in mind, which is to protect the public by ensuring nurses at all levels provide safe and effective care that is achieved through proper education and by continuing education. "She is married with three children and one grandson and loves to spend time with family and enjoys forensics.

Arkansas Department of Health

ASBN - Board Members

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