Marianna Gurrola
Alliant International University Phoenix, AZ
Hello fellow NSNA Leaders, I am honored to serve as a 2025-2026 Resolutions Committee member. I am a first-generation nursing student, a mother, a future flight nurse, and someone deeply rooted in my faith and community. I have learned that strength is not just about perseverance; it is about purpose. My lived experience navigating healthcare, poverty, and systemic barriers fuels my passion for advocacy, health equity, and policy reform. Throughout my journey, I have had the honor of serving as the Health Policy Chair for the Student Nurses’ Association of Arizona( SNAAz), President of my campus’ s Student Nurses Association, and Treasurer of Student Government. These roles have allowed me to elevate student voices, lead policy initiatives, and represent Arizona nursing students on national platforms, including a scholarship and policy panel with Johnson & Johnson’ s Global Health Equity team. Having previously served as a delegate in the House of Delegates at Convention and writing my own resolution that was adopted at the NSNA 2025 Annual Convention, my goals during my term are bold, urgent, and grounded in action. I aim to expand our policy efforts around mental health support, equitable nursing education, and institutional accountability. I am currently leading the Nursing Student Wellness & Policy Engagement Survey to better understand burnout and barriers to success among students like me. The data will inform a new resolution and actionable advocacy priorities.
My vision for this term is to leave the nursing student community more empowered, informed, and connected, whether through town halls or national conventions. I want every student to know that their voice has power, and that policy is not just paperwork; it is personal. Advocacy saved my academic journey. Now I am here to return the favor for my peers and the future of nursing.
Alicia Lillywhite
UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing Chapel Hill, NC
My name is Alicia Lillywhite and I am honored to serve as a member of the NSNA Resolutions Committee for the 2026 term. As a nursing student passionate about leadership, advocacy, and the power of student voice, I am excited to help uplift meaningful resolutions that reflect the priorities and values of nursing students across the country.
I currently serve as the Vice President of the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students( NCANS), where I’ ve had the opportunity to help guide initiatives that promote student engagement, professional development, and community impact. My past leadership as
NCANS Publications Director and my involvement as Breakthrough to Nursing co-chair and Member Liaison for my local school ANS chapter has strengthened my commitment to inclusivity, equity, and addressing the real-world issues that future nurses care deeply about. These experiences have shown me the value of well-crafted resolutions as powerful opportunities to initiate change.
This year, my goals as a Resolutions Committee member are rooted in three key areas: accessibility, clarity, and impact. First, I aim to support students in making the resolutions process more approachable and less
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