As part of the organization's mission to foster service and leadership in forensic nursing, each year the Academy of Forensic Nursing recognizes exemplary members for their contributions to forensic nursing and the organization with the Distinguished Fellow (DF-AFN) and Distinguished Member (DM-AFN) awards. For 2026, three new Distinguished Members and two Distinguished Fellows received this honor.

The Distinguished Fellow award – the highest recognition awarded to active AFN members – recognizes those who have contributed significantly to the field of forensic nursing for a minimum of ten years through scholarship, education, and service. The newest recipients of this title are Kimberly Kasper and Deborah St. Germain.

The Distinguished Member award recognizes members in good standing who participate in AFN committees or educational opportunities, and who help educate others about forensic nursing by presenting or publishing about forensic nursing topics in conferences, posters, podcasts, webinars, or journals. The 2026 recipients of this honorary title are Lisa Beasley, Vikki Vodosia, and Frankie Wallis.

Click here to learn more about AFN Distinguished Memberships.

AFN Distinguished Fellow

Kimberly Kasper, DHSc, RN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, AFN-C

Dr. Kimberly A. Kasper blends over 30 years of emergency, trauma, and forensic nursing experience with dedicated academic leadership. Her career is defined by clinical advocacy, extensive board governance, and an unwavering commitment to supporting survivors of violence.

Clinical & Military Background: Kasper has practiced as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner for more than 26 years, anchoring a 31-year clinical background that spans roles as an EMT, RN, and ARNP. Her primary specialization centers on recognizing and treating adolescents, adults, and elders affected by sexual assault. She also proudly served her country for nine years as a flight nurse in the United States Air Force.

Global Health Policy: Through her work with the U.S. State Department and the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council, she has led health policy development and implementation across more than 30 countries. In this role, she trained world leaders, health ministers, and healthcare providers on critical frameworks for identifying and responding to human trafficking, violence, and sexual assault.

Academic Leadership: As a full-time faculty member at the Duquesne University School of Nursing, Kasper teaches in the Advanced Practice Forensic Graduate, Adult Gerontology Acute Care, and Family Practice Nurse Practitioner programs. To stay rooted in community needs, she maintains a clinical practice at a community clinic for uninsured patients, primarily caring for migrant women, their families, and local human trafficking survivors.

Board Governance & Vision: An experienced leader, Kasper has served on numerous executive boards in the roles of Director at Large, Treasurer, and President. As a board member of the Academy of Forensic Nursing, her mission is to expand membership, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and build robust global academic partnerships to ensure patients everywhere have access to the vital, specialized expertise of a forensic nurse.

Deborah St. Germain, DNP, RN, AFN-C, IVSE-C, SANE-A, SANE-P

Dr. Deborah St. Germain brings four decades of experience as a critical care nurse, emergency nurse, legal nurse consultant, and academic nurse educator, including 25 years dedicated to forensic nursing practice. She is the 2025–2026 President of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board, offering two specialty (AFN, GFN) and three subspecialty (IVSE, SVFN, HTFN) forensic nursing certifications. She currently works as Clinical Faculty in the Graduate Forensic Nursing MSN and Certificate Programs at Texas A&M University College of Nursing and the Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing. She practices as a Forensic Nurse Examiner at the Family Justice Center HOPE Community Health Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her clinical practice encompasses the care of patients across the lifespan—including adults, adolescents, children, and decedents—who have experienced trauma or violence. Her areas of expertise include pediatric, adult, and older person interpersonal violence, death investigation, strangulation, human trafficking, and sexual violence. St. Germain has also been recognized as an expert witness in nursing, forensic nursing, and as a sexual assault nurse examiner in both criminal and civil court proceedings.

St. Germain contributes to statewide public health and violence-prevention initiatives through her service on the Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Team and the Louisiana Senate Child Abuse Investigations Task Force. She also Co-Chairs the Louisiana State Nurses Association’s Nurses Against Trafficking Task Force and is an active member of the Louisiana Coalition of Forensic Nursing. She is a widely published author of forensic nursing articles and book chapters and has delivered hundreds of presentations at local, state, and national levels.

She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Forensic Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2008, a Master of Nursing in Parent–Child Nursing (Clinical Nurse Specialist) from Louisiana State University Medical Center in 1990, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Murray State University in 1985.

AFN Distinguished Member

Lisa Beasley, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, AFN-C, DF-IAFN

Dr. Lisa Beasley is an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing and a practicing certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Forensic Nurse. After completing a post-master’s certificate in forensic nursing, she has integrated this focus into her clinical work, providing both primary care and forensic nursing services to underserved youth at the Wilder Youth Development Center. Her practice is centered on serving vulnerable and rural populations, with experience in primary care, pain management, and palliative care. Beasley is passionate about advancing forensic nursing education and improving access to care for those who face barriers to services, while actively engaging nursing students in clinical and community-based learning.

Vikki Vodosia, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P

Vikki Vodosia is a dedicated forensic and pediatric nurse with a passion for caring for others and advocating for patients during some of life’s most challenging moments. With a strong commitment to compassion, excellence, and service, she combines clinical expertise with a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families.

Outside of nursing, Vodosia enjoys reading, studying the Bible, gardening, traveling, and spending time at the beach. She values an active lifestyle and enjoys working out, as well as cheering on baseball and softball games of her grands. A proud mother and grandmother, she treasures time with her family and her beloved Goldendoodle. Her faith, family, and commitment to helping others continue to guide both her personal and professional life.

Frankie Wallis, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, COI

Dr. Frankie Wallis is an Associate Vice President for the University of Alabama Hospitals (UAB), overseeing Emergency Services, Critical Care Transport, and operational assignments.. He holds dual faculty appointments with the UAB School of Nursing and Samford University, teaching leadership and forensic nursing at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A former Chief of Police and graduate of the FBI National Academy (162nd), Wallis brings 28 years of investigative and administrative law‑enforcement experience, coinciding with his 25-year nursing career. With a clinical background in emergency, pediatric, psychiatric, and critical‑care nursing, Wallis holds a Family Nurse Practitioner degree and an Advanced Forensic Nursing certificate, positioning him at the intersection of nursing, public safety, and systems leadership. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Forensic Nursing and the Alabama Nurses Foundation. Wallis resides in Sylacauga, Alabama, with his wife and family.