WHEN ARE ALA NATIONAL OFFICERS ELECTED?
These national officer positions serve one-year terms and are elected at National Convention, serving until adjournment of the following National Convention. In addition to these candidates, any member in good standing may be nominated for any of these national offices from the floor at National Convention. ALA national division vice presidents are nominated in their respective division caucuses and are elected by convention delegates. Information presented on this page was provided by the candidates.
Dr. Coral May Grout
Department of Massachusetts: Eugene M. Connor Unit 193
Eligibility: Through father, Charles E. Grout, who served in the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines and Australia during World War II. Also adds military service of her grandfather, Stanislas Laplante, who served in the U.S. Army during WWI.
Offices Held: Served several unit-, district-, and department-level chairs and offices, including the district Education chair for 25 years and department president three times. National: chair of Children & Youth, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Education (twice), Americanism, Constitution & Bylaws, Public Relations, Legislative, Leadership, Community Service, and Junior Activities committees. Also served on the National Executive Committee, and as national secretary, national historian, and national vice president.
Professional/personal background:Coral retired from her position as Superintendent of Schools in Acushnet, Mass., in 2006. To keep busy, she accepted an offer to work for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as an evaluator of underperforming school districts and an evaluator for RETELL — a required program to ensure that students who do not speak English receive proper instruction and assistance. Coral left DESE at the end of the 2025 school year. Her education includes an A.B. in Psychology & Education from Mount Holyoke College; M.Ed. in Secondary Administration from Boston College; and Ed.D. in Educational Planning, Research, and Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Coral’s religious involvement is with St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Baldwinville, Mass., where she is a leader, Eucharistic minister, and assists with fundraising.
Within her community, Coral has served on multiple town committees and recently retired after nine years as town moderator. She is involved with the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery as a volunteer, the Winchendon Historical Society where she formerly served as secretary of the board, financial supporter of the Clark Memorial YMCA and the Charles E. Grout Memorial Golf Tournament, Catholic Financial Life Insurance Corporation Board Member for eight years, USJB Education Foundation Board Member, and has held positions with the Mount Holyoke College Class of 1975 for the past 50 years. For the past 30 years, she’s been a national presenter on the topics of educational leadership and grant writing to audiences of 10 to 1000.
Coral enjoys traveling and has visited more than 50 countries. In addition, she tries walking four to five miles per day and has completed The American Legion Family’s USA 250 Challenge by walking 250 miles. She enjoys gardening, as well as golfing. She’s the only living member of her family and lives in their 100-year-old home in Massachusetts and spends winters in Florida. Chloe, her 8-year-old tiger cat, lives and travels with her.
Dr. Lisa Chaplin
Department of Virginia: Colonial Heights Unit 284
Eligibility: Through father, John Thomas, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Offices Held: Served several unit-, district-, and department-level chairs and offices, including the district ALA Virginia Girls State board member for five years and department president for a year. National: ALA Girls Nation, Legislative, Children & Youth, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation committee chair.
Professional/personal background: Professionally, Lisa is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Nursing and a Professor at Georgetown University’s Berkley School of Nursing — teaching graduate and doctoral nursing students. She served on the University’s Graduate Research Steering Committee, and the School of Nursing’s Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, the Doctor of Nursing Practice Admissions Task Force, the Task Force to Reduce Admissions Bias, the Council for Outcomes and Evaluation, the Awards and Scholarships Committee, chaired the Faculty Search Committee for two years, and served on the DEI, Belonging and Anti-Racism Committee. Currently, Lisa chairs the Evaluation and Outcomes Committee. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, Rotary International, and volunteers with Virginia’s Medical Reserve Corps.
Lisa comes from an American Legion Family: Her father was a longtime American Legion member, and her mother, Past National President Peggy Thomas, was her biggest ALA influence. Lisa’s husband Kevin is a member of the Sons of The American Legion (SAL) Squadron 284 in Colonial Heights, Va., honoring the service of his father and grandfather, and served as the SAL Detachment of Virginia Commander for two terms from 2023-2025, and he currently chairs the national organization’s Media and Communications Committee. Those eligible of Lisa’s extended family are also Legion Family members.
Teri Miller
Department of Illinois: Peoria Unit 2
Eligibility: Through father, Leonard R. Krapp Sr., U.S. Army Air Corps WWII.
Offices Held: Served several unit-, district-, department-, and division-level chairs and offices, including 2004-2005 department president and Central Division Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation and Education committee chair. National: Education committee vice chair for three years and Poppy committee vice chair.
Professional/personal background:Teri is married to George Miller, married for 25 years. She retired in October 2025 after working for 40-plus years for Peoria Public Library — 35 of those years as the manager of Outreach Services. Teri attended Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s in library science with a K-12 teaching degree. Familywise, she has two sisters and one brother, along with many nieces and nephews.
Doreen Gallagher
Department of New Jersey: Unit 346
Eligibility: Through father, John Gallagher, U.S. Army Vietnam, and maternal grandfather, Christopher Gifford, U.S. Army WWII.
Offices Held: She has served various unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, such as 2015-2016 department president and department Children & Youth committee chair. Eastern Division: Legislative, Membership, Junior Activities, and Children & Youth committee chair. National: Junior Activities, Americanism, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, and Poppy committee vice chair.
Professional/personal background:In her personal life, Doreen is currently employed as an Underwriting Services Representative for an auto/home insurance company and has her Property and Casualty License. She is a graduate of Neptune High School. Doreen is currently involved in the Neptune Township Parade Committee and volunteers as a co-leader for Girls Scout Troop 60054. She has an older brother and sister, a twin brother. Along with their spouses, all are members of The American Legion Family. Doreen’s pride and joy are her four nieces and three nephews.
Jane Benzel
Department of South Dakota: Battle Mt. Unit 71
Eligibility: Through grandfather Cecill Stanley, father John Stanley, husband Dale Benzel, and daughter Kim Benzel-Lewis.
Offices Held: Served unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, including 2015-2016 department president and department Membership committee chair. National: Membership committee vice chair and Constitution & Bylaws committee member.
Professional/personal background: Jane is a widow but joined the Auxiliary under her husband, a Vietnam veteran. She’s a 38-year PUFL member of the Auxiliary and a life member of the VFW. She has three children. Her youngest daughter served 20 years in the U.S. Army.
Jane taught elementary school for 42 years. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a specialist in teaching reading. All these years teaching have given her experience in working with people. Jane is passionate about what she does and strives to work to the best of her ability at whatever she takes on. Her unit relies on her years of experience in the Auxiliary as their chief mentor and advisor. Jane has a very active Legion Family, and there are always events happening. The Legion and Auxiliary are her passion.
Besides her teaching, Jane worked with her husband on their ranch for many years. She now owns and operates a storage unit business. When she retired, Jane planned on volunteering. There are a state veterans home and a VA in Hot Springs, so she has plenty of opportunity. Weekly, she volunteers at the VA and several times a month at the state home. Jane has received the 1,000-hour pin at the VA and is well on her way to the next one. Jane is on the Honor Guard team for her post and is proud to honor those who have passed.
She is an active member of her church and regularly substitutes at the church’s Day School. As a member, she’s served as the church council vice president and secretary and president of the ladies’ guild. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and taking road trips. During her travels, she’s visited over half of the state capital buildings and has been overseas four times, visiting seven countries. Along with traveling, she likes sewing and doing yard work.
Patricia Murray
Department of Arkansas: Wright-Brown Unit 158
Eligibility: Through father, Gordon C. Murray, grandfathers Homer H. Murray and George C. Osborn, and uncle, George C. Osborn Jr.
Offices Held: Various unit-, district-, and department- level offices and chairs, including department president and department Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation committee chair. National: National Executive Committee member.
Professional/personal background:Patricia retired after a 35-year career at the United States District Court in Little Rock, Ark., serving primarily as courtroom deputy and case manager to federal judges. She has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Parents, the late Gordon and Iris Murray, were a large influence in Patricia’s professional and service life. Both were members of the Legion Family, and she followed her mother’s footsteps in serving as department president. She has dedicated herself to many veteran projects because of their guidance and examples of service they gave through the years.
In her retirement, Patricia has kept busy with involvement in veteran, community, and civic projects. Some of the organizations include 8 & 40, Arkansas County Night of Hope, Extension Homemakers Club, Friends of Arkansas Post National Memorial, and most recently, completing her training as a Master Gardener.
Peggy Robertson
Department of Utah: Unit 79
Eligibility: Through husband John Gary Robertson, a Marine, father Kim D. Thompson, Army, and son Gary T. Robertson, Navy.
Offices Held: Served in unit-, district-, and department-level chairs and offices, such as department president and department Membership committee chair.
Professional/personal background:Educated at Weber State University in accounting, Peggy has a banking background in cost accounting for major construction projects over $5 million and a Commercial Relationship Officer and as a Mortgage Loan officer. In 2007, she opened a retail store until 2021.
Currently, she has a direct sales business, which was started in 2006, and obtained Presidents Recognition status from 2007 to 2021.
The only nonprofit membership Peggy has is the ALA. Prior nonprofit membership experience is with the Soroptimist International at the club level. She married her husband, John, in 1994. Together, they have nine children, whom they love, and 18 grandchildren.
Denise Conrad
Department of Ohio: Freedom Unit 183
Eligibility: Through grandfather, Leland Gorrill, WWII, father, Raymond Baker, Korean War, and husband, Charles Conrad, Vietnam War.
Offices held: Served various unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, such as department president and department Children & Youth Committee chair. National: National Executive Committee member, Auxiliary Emergency Fund Central Division chair, Leadership Committee vice chair, and chair of the Americanism and Community Service committees.
Professional/personal background:Denise is an American Legion Auxiliary PUFL member of Freedom Unit 183 in Pemberville, Ohio, and a lifetime member of Paul C. Ladd VFW Post 1148 Auxiliary Bowling Green, Ohio. She’s a member of St. Mary’s/St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Millersville, Ohio. She worked as an inventory controller in manufacturing for 36 years. After the plant closed, at age 56, she went back to school and received a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) degree and worked in healthcare until retirement.
In 2005, Denise became a widow, and through The American Legion, met her sweetheart, PNVC James Higuera, 15 years ago. Between the two, they have two married sons, six grandchildren, three great-granddaughters with two more great-grandbabies due in the summer. Her husband has two married daughters and six grandchildren. They divide their time between Ohio and California.
Gardening and canning fruits and vegetables has been a hobby Denise enjoys and has learned a lot from.
Jane McKnight
Department of Kentucky: Fort Campbell Unit 233
Eligibility: : Through father, Joseph Frank Foytek, WWII Army Air Corps. Her late husband James Arlen McKnight retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years.
Offices held: Served on several unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, including department historian and 2012-2013 department president. Southern Division: Public Relations and Americanism committee chair. National: Poppy Committee vice chair, Legislative Committee member, and National Executive Committee member.
Professional/personal background:Jane has two sons, Carl and Joseph, who live in Kentucky, daughter Carol and son-in-law Daniel (retired U.S. Army), and grandchildren Matthew and Natalia. She is a “proud mama of feline fur babies” Blade and Polly.
Jane is a graduate of John A. Gupton Mortuary College, Nashville, Tenn. She is a retired funeral director/embalmer/office manager.
Beyond the ALA, she is a part of the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels since 2013 and the Kentucky Ambassador for the Freedom Flag Foundation since 2019. Jane is also a member of the Zoning Codes Committee of the City of Oak Grove, Ky.
Elaine Kotler
Department of Connecticut: Gensi-Viola Windsor Locks Unit 36
Eligibility: Through father, Alvin Kotler, U.S. Army Korean War.
Offices held: Served in unit-, district-, and department-level leadership positions, such as department vice president and department Education Committee chair.
Professional/personal background:Elaine is a nationally recognized, award-winning educator, who brings decades of experience in research, documentation, organization, and communication. Recently, she concluded her secondary teaching career due to disability but continues her 25-year role as Adjunct Professor at CT State Community College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Marine Sciences ¬— academic training grounded in research, accuracy, preservation of information, and scholarly presentation.
>br /> To keep engaged with her community, Elaine actively attends Town Hall and Board and Commission meetings, including the Commission on Veterans’ Affairs. Elaine belongs to West Hartford CERT and PROBUS Greater Hartford, volunteers in afterschool programs, and graduated the West Hartford Citizens Police Academy. She also chairs the WestHartford250 Task Force.
Within the ALA, Elaine is a PUFL member and was elected as her unit historian in June 2021 and served through 2023. Currently, she serves as first district president and department vice president representing District 1. At the department level, she served three years as Education Committee chair and was a member of the Americanism Committee. In 2022, Elaine was honored as the Department of Connecticut Unit Member of the Year. At Midwinter 2026, she received a certificate of appreciation from the national Americanism Commission for outstanding service to The American Legion’s Education Program and unwavering commitment to promoting the Four Pillars. In 2025, she received a department award for her history book. Elaine maintains and curates social media pages for her unit and district. In addition to the Auxiliary, she is L’Archiviste (historian) for Departmental Connecticut Salon 19 of the 8 & 40, also serving as an officer and committee chair.
Sandra Lincoln
Department of Rhode Island: Lts. Armstrong-Gladding Unit 69
Eligibility: Through father, Norman Lincoln, U.S. Navy and National Guard.
Offices held: Served unit- and department-level offices and chairs, such as department and unit historian and department Public Relations Committee chair.
Professional/personal background:Sandra graduated from high school in 1983. She has been a crossing guard for the City of Providence for four years.
She is a mother of two: a 35-year-old daughter and 28-year-old son. She has two grandchildren, 12 and 8 years old. Sandra has been a member of Lts. Armstrong-Gladding Unit 69 since 2010 and enjoys participating with her unit and with her department.
Carissa McCann
Department of California: Unit 81
Eligibility: Through her father Javier Guillermo-Tovar, U.S. Army mechanic.
Offices held: Served the unit, district, and department levels in various offices and committees, such as district Americanism Committee chair and unit president.
Professional/personal background:Carissa is an employee within the California Correctional Health Care Services. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration, building on prior undergraduate and graduate studies. Being a first-generation college student has motivated her to focus her doctoral research on leadership, volunteer engagement, and sustainable community impact.
Carissa is an active member in several nonprofit and civic organizations along with the ALA, such as the Soledad Historical Society, where she serves in a role dedicated to preserving local history and community heritage. She is a Girls Scout troop leader.
She has a daughter, for whom she models perseverance, service, and balance.
Karen Marks
Department of Florida: Unit 137
Eligibility: Through father, Ronald E. Marks, U.S. Army Korean War, and grandfather, John F. Marks, U.S. Navy WWII.
Offices held: Served various unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, including district chaplain for two years and 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 department chaplain.
Professional/personal background:Karen was a small business owner, where she would breed dogs for children with disabilities and placed service dogs with veterans with PTSD. She served as Sunday School teacher and PTA president. As a notary public, she assists veterans at VA clinics. She is a Guardian ad Litem — a court-appointed professional who represents the best interests of a child during legal proceedings — with Florida Children’s Services, and a member of 8 & 40.
She has two sons and four grandchildren. As an ordained minister, Karen is looking forward to what God has in store for her, and she cherishes each day as a blessing from Heaven.
AnnaMae Warnier
Department of South Dakota: Cowen-Nilsen Unit 86
Eligibility: Through grandfather Willie J. Kruse, WWI Army veteran, and son Aaron M. Theno Warnier, a Navy veteran.
Offices held: Various unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, such as Department Executive Committee member and department president. She also served as Northwestern Division Education Committee chair.
Professional/personal background:Born and raised with two older brothers on a farm in Iowa, AnnaMae graduated from Charter Oak-Ute High School. She attended and graduated from St. Paul's College, a two-year college, in 1973. Then she transferred to Concordia Teachers College and graduated in 1975 with majoring in K-8 education and minors in early childhood and vocal/instrumental music. She was employed at Rice University in Houston, Texas, as their music librarian for a year, after which she taught various positions from K-12 in private, public, and BIA schools for over 20 years. AnnaMae continues to substitute teach.
She’s been married to Pastor Paul for 42 years. They have two adult children: Aaron, a U.S. Navy Veteran and IT specialist, and Christina, a private school elementary teacher. Paul and Aaron are members of the Sons of The American Legion, Aaron is a PUFL member of The American Legion, and she and Christina are PUFL members of the American Legion Auxiliary. AnnaMae’s entire family are members in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod where Paul has served as pastor for over 45 years.
Debra Jeanne Haas
Department of Kansas: Philips Stuckey Shaffer Unit 296
Eligibility: Through father Edward Crane, WWII Navy veteran, and husband Gary Haas, Air Force Vietnam veteran.
Offices held: Served various unit-, district-, and department-level offices and chairs, including 2015-2016 department president, and department secretary. National: Chair of Junior Activities, Poppy, and Auxiliary Emergency Fund committees, and National Executive Committee member.
Professional/personal background:Jeanne has a Bachelor of Science in education from Emporia State University. She has been an educator for over 40 years. She is the owner and operator of Gary Haas Oil Company. She has three children and seven grandchildren.
Outside of the ALA, Jeanne is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of USA. She is also the City Mayor of New Strawn.
