Nursing School's Assistant Director Named to Farm Bureau Committee

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Lepaine Sharp-McHenry

Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, assistant director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas, has been appointed to the Arkansas Farm Bureau Rural Health and Safety Committee for a two-year term ending in 2012.

Sharp-McHenry is a registered nurse who holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Arkansas. She is also a clinical instructor in the nursing school.

The Arkansas Farm Bureau is an independent, voluntary organization of farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity, social advancement and to promote the national well-being, according to its Web site. Its mission is to advocate for the interests of agriculture in the public arena, disseminate information concerning the value and importance of agriculture and provide products and services that improve the quality of life for members.

The Rural Health and Safety Committee, chaired by Richard Armstrong of Ozark, addresses issues that affect rural communities such as water services, fire departments, school districts, transportation infrastructure, health care and job creation for these communities. Strengthening rural communities is a priority for Farm Bureau, and rural development efforts focus on five critical areas:

• Economic development
• Strengthening education
• Rural infrastructure
• Broadband accessibility
• Health care

"Having grown up in Magnolia (Columbia County), I understand the needs of rural communities," Sharp-McHenry said. "This appointment provides me with the opportunity to contribute my expertise in the development of strategies that will address these needs to improve the overall quality of life for Arkansans."