AARC Announces 2026 Marketing Education and Faculty Grant Recipients

Many future respiratory therapists don’t yet know the profession exists or have the resources to grow their respiratory care education faculty skills. AARC worked to change that with its 2026 Marketing Education and Faculty grants. This year’s grant recipients will help grow and enhance respiratory therapy programs around the country and reach prospective students, raising the profession’s profile in their communities. 

The marketing grants were open to program directors at schools offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in respiratory therapy. Programs could request up to $2,500 per application per year. Faculty grant applicants could request up to $5,000 for graduate respiratory therapy education.  

Reaching students before they know RT exists 

“This AARC grant allows us to reach students before they even know respiratory therapy is a career option,” said Dr. Hannah C. Beriault, RRT, of the Georgia Southern Research and Service Foundation, Inc. “By expanding community awareness now, we’re building tomorrow’s workforce of skilled clinicians.” 

Getting new programs off the ground 

For some recipients, the grant arrives at a pivotal moment. Missouri Western State University recently launched its Respiratory Therapy Program and will use the funds to reach students across northwest rural Missouri. 

“Receiving this grant will expand outreach to students across rural northwest Missouri, increasing awareness of Missouri Western State University’s new Respiratory Therapy Program,” David Northrop, MBA, RRT,  Program Director, and Sarah McDaris, MBA, RRT, NPS, Director of Clinical Education, said. “By inspiring future respiratory therapists, we can help address the critical healthcare workforce shortage, improve access to care, and advance the respiratory therapy profession.” 

When there’s no marketing budget 

“This AARC Marketing Grant is a gamechanger for our recruitment efforts,” said Jennifer Anderson, EdD, RRT, RRT-NPS, FAARC, of Midwestern State University. “With no dedicated marketing funds, this grant lets us spread the word about careers in respiratory therapy.” 

Even long-established programs face recruiting pressure. Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s program has prepared respiratory therapists for 50 years. Jackie Heisler said the grant will strengthen its pipeline, adding, “We hope to duplicate the 50 years of program existence.” 

Congratulations to the 2026 Marketing Education Grant recipients 

By investing in program marketing, the AARC aims to elevate the profession’s profile and ensure a steady supply of skilled respiratory therapists to meet future patient needs. This year’s grant recipients include: 

• Florida A&M University — Kandy Woods, MPH, RRT 
• Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University — Sue E. Davis, MEd, RRT, RRT-NPS 
• Georgia Southern Research and Service Foundation, Inc. — Hannah C. Beriault, PhD, RRT 
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania — Jackie Heisler, PhD, MHP, RRT 
• Lewis University — Zbigniew “Ziggy” Swiatkowski, BS, RRT 
• Louisiana State University Health Shreveport — Tim Gilmore, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, CPFT, AE-C 
• Midwestern State University — Jennifer Anderson, EdD, RRT, RRT-NPS, FAARC 
• Missouri Western State University — David Northrop, MBA, RRT, and Sarah McDaris, MBA, RRT, NPS 
• NDSU/Sanford Respiratory Care Program — Robyn Urlacher, MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS 
• Northern Kentucky University — Jackie W. Davis, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RCP 
• Ozarks Technical Community College — Sara Hough, EdD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, AE-C 
• Rush University — J. Brady Scott, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC 
• Seattle Central College — Jennifer Jones Clark, MPH, RRT, RRT-ACCS 
• St. Alexius Medical Center/University of Mary — Erin Haustveit, MEd, BSRT, RRT, RRT-NPS 
• St. Louis Community College — Lindsay Fox, MEd, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC 
• Texas State University — Chris Russian, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, FAARC 
• University of Southern Indiana — Mary Phillips, MEd, RRT, RPFT, AE-C 
• University of Texas Medical Branch — Brian K. Walsh, PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC 
• The University of Toledo — Nicole McKenzie, PhD, RRT 
• Utah Tech University — Jessica Munk, EdD, MBA, RRT, RRT-NPS 
• Weber State University — Janelle Gardiner, DHSc, RRT, RRT-NPS, AE-C, FAARC 

Investing in those who teach 

Recruiting students is only half the equation. Programs also need faculty with advanced education to teach them. The 2026 Faculty Education grants provided $50,000 to RT educators, including program faculty and clinical educators, who are pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Recipients received up to $5,000 each to cover tuition, school supplies, or a capstone, thesis, or dissertation project. 

Rachel Wagner, RRT, of Chippewa Valley Technical College named a challenge many educators share: “Teaching is my passion, yet education remains one of the most undercompensated roles in respiratory therapy,” she said. The grant will help her stay in education while she works toward becoming a CoARC site visitor. 

Other recipients are looking to shape the profession’s future. Adrianne Kowalski, MRC, BAHS, RRT, RRT-NPS, a program director at Lake-Sumter State College pursuing her doctorate, is working toward an advanced practice respiratory therapist (APRT) program “that prepares clinicians to lead with both advanced skill and genuine empathy.” At South Dakota State University, Ranae Phinney, RRT, RPSGT, is building a pipeline for advanced practice RTs. “This funding will advance our profession while delivering life-saving, specialized cardiopulmonary care directly to rural, underserved populations that need it most,” she said. 

Several recipients, including Kellee Rickerl, Morgan Henry, and Adam Thompson, are pursuing doctorates and plan to bring what they learn back to their programs and students. “I look forward to bringing what I learn through my doctoral studies and research back to our respiratory care program, our students, and the broader respiratory care education community,” Rickerl said. 

 Faculty Education Grants went to: 

• Chippewa Valley Technical College — Rachel Wagner, RRT 
• Foothill College — Adam Thompson 
• Indiana University Health — Ashley McClain, BS, RRT 
• Lake-Sumter State College — Adrianne Kowalski, MRC, BAHS, RRT, RRT-NPS 
• Rockhurst University — Kellee Rickerl, M.Ed., RRT 
• South Dakota State University — Ranae Phinney, RRT, RPSGT 
• Southwestern Community College — Morgan Henry, MHS, RRT-RCP 
• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center — Amanda Hill, BSRC 
• University of Kansas — Lawrence F. Stein, MSRT, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS 

Additional marketing and education grants will be provided to programs in 2027. Check your inbox and aarc.org for updates.