AAN Executive Staff
The AAN Executive Staff implements strategic goals set by the AAN Board of Directors and the AAN Foundation Board of Trustees. Providing excellence in customer service to AAN Members, sound guidance to Academy leadership, and collaborating with AAN staff through teamwork are among the executive team's core values.
AAN Departments
Executive Administration
Directs staff and daily operations, strategic planning facilitation, and implementation
Catherine M. Rydell, Executive Director/CEO
crydell@aan.com or (651) 695-2800
Donna Honeyman, Administrative Services Manager
dhoneyman@aan.com or (651) 695-2713
General Counsel
Provides legal and management support to the AAN, AEI, AAN Foundation, and other boards and committees.
Murray Sagsveen, JD, General Counsel
msagsveen@aan.com or (651) 695-2780
Legal Administrative Assistant: Karen Kasmirski
kkasmirski@aan.com or (651) 695-2731
Finance and Operations
Oversees finance, human resources, information services, facilities management, and meeting services departments.
Tim Engel, Chief Financial Officer
tengel@aan.com or (651) 695-2764
Administrative Assistant: Cora Jansma
cjansma@aan.com or (651) 695-2768
Center for Health Policy
Promotes state and federal advocacy initiatives (legislative, regulatory, and coding/ reimbursement) and develops and disseminates clinical guidelines and practice management tools to benefit the practice of neurology and improve the lives of patients.
Rod Larson, Chief Health Policy Officer
rlarson@aan.com or (651) 695-2772
Specialist, Health Policy: Nicole Johns
njohns@aan.com or (651) 695-2810
Center for Education and Science
Advances the fields of neurology and neuroscience by developing innovative, quality programs designed to enhance and improve the treatment of patients with neurological disorders.
Christine E. Phelps, Chief Education and Science Officer
cphelps@aan.com or (651) 695-2727
Administrator, Center for Education and Science: Tina Novack
tnovack@aan.com or (651) 695-2734
Marketing, Communications and Digital
Develops and maintains all communications and provides strategic marketing, media/public relations, writing/editing services, digital development, and print design in support of the Academy's strategic plans and objectives.
Jason Kopinski, Director, Membership, Marketing and Communications
jkopinski@aan.com or (651) 695-2797
Administrative Assistant: Heather Dawley
hdawley@aan.com or (651) 695-2723
AAN Foundation
Works to broaden the base of support for basic science and clinical research in neurology.
Christine E. Phelps, Interim Foundation Director
cphelps@aan.com or (651) 695-2727
Administrator: Tina Novack
tnovack@aan.com or (651) 695-2734
AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Facilitates the development of new products and services for members and provides management responsibilities for such AAN Press publications as Neurology®, Neurology Today®, AANnews®, and the Patient Education book series, among others.
Bruce Polsky, Chief Executive Officer
bpolsky@aan.com or (651) 695-2794
Executive Assistant: Kathy Sasik
ksasik@aan.com or (651) 695-2782