Organizations and Associations
Organizations and AssociationsAALANA
The mission of AALANA is to celebrate diversity within the College of Nursing and create safe spaces for historically underrepresented students to connect and mobilize resources needed to thrive. The goals of AALANA are:
1. Create a safe space for underrepresented students within the College of Nursing.
2. Establish communication and peer mentorship among cohorts.
3. Provide opportunities for networking and creating professional connections.
4. Mobilize resources for underrepresented students in the College of Nursing.
5. Connect AALANA members with the broader campus community.
6. Develop outreach programs and collaborate with surrounding communities. Leadership: AALANA Nursing is for students and by students. Its leadership comprises a dynamic e-board. The AALANA faculty advisor collaborates with the e-board and provides mentorship and advocacy. The organization holds a general meeting once a month. Activities include social events for networking and peer mentorship, conversations with senior students and alumni and information about various College of Nursing and other professional opportunities.
The faculty advisor for AALANA for 2023-2024 is Dr. Memnun Seven, Mseven [at] umass [dot] edu.
American Association for Men in Nursing
https://www.aamn.org
The AAMN’s mission is to shape the practice, education, research, and leadership for men in nursing and advance men’s health. The purpose of AAMN is to provide a framework for nurses, as a group, to meet, to discuss and influence factors, which affect men as nurses.
The National Black Nurses Association- Western MA Chapter
https://www.nbna.org/about https://www.nbna.org/AF_MemberCommittee.asp?committeeid=63
The National Black Nurses Association was organized in 1971 in Tuskegee, Alabama and represents approximately 200,000 African American nurses from the USA, Canada, Eastern Caribbean and Africa, with 115 chartered chapters nationwide. The NBNA mission is to provide a forum for collective action by African American nurses to represent and provide a forum for black nurses to advocate for and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color. NBNA is committed to excellence in education and conducts continuing education programs for nurses and allied health professionals throughout the year. The association provides annual scholarships for students. Dr. Gabrielle Abelard is the UMass faculty advisor: gabelard [at] umass [dot] edu.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
https://nahnnet.org/
Western Mass Chapter https://www.facebook.com/NAHNWMASS/
The NAHN-WMASS Chapter promotes nursing leadership of Hispanic nurses through healthcare awareness, advocacy, collaboration, and educational advancement. Competent quality healthcare is delivered through community partnerships who pledge to promote health equity within the Hispanic communities in Western Massachusetts. Our mission is to empower Hispanic nurses to improve the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and communities by the use of action-based, culturally sensitive, evidence-based nursing practices. We welcome membership participation from students in the effort to reduce health disparities and improve healthcare outcomes for culturally diverse populations.
National Student Nurses’ Association and UMass Student Nurses’ Association
https://www.nsna.org
The National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) is an organization that was established in 1952, with the assistance of the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing, to prepare nursing students to be active nurse leaders and participants in their professional organizations. NSNA strives to provide the opportunities necessary to explore and understand the many different aspects of the nursing profession. Through the guidance of prominent nursing leaders and peers from around the country, students will learn self- governance, advocacy for student rights and the rights of patients and to take collective, responsible action on vital social and political issues. Membership in NSNA is voluntary and is open to all nursing students.
The Student Nurses’ Association (SNA), a chapter of the national association, is a UMass registered student organization (RSO) that has been formed in conjunction with the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass. SNA was developed to meet the needs and goals of student nurses while enabling them to grow socially and professionally. The SNA is a very active organization focused on leadership and fellowship. In a community-focused atmosphere, SNA allows the student to explore the many aspects of the nursing profession. All nursing students at the university are encouraged to participate actively in SNA. Students are able to learn leadership and organizational skills, which are expected in the practice of professional nursing. Several programs that SNA has sponsored throughout the years have gained the support of the student body and have contributed to the ongoing success of this organization within the Commonwealth and nationally. There are biweekly SNA meetings in Skinner Hall. The faculty sponsor for 2023-2024 is Dr. Kristy Pereira, kpereira [at] nursing [dot] umass [dot] edu
Sigma Theta Tau International
https://www.sigmanursing.org/
Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), Honor Society of Nursing, was founded in 1922 by six nursing students at Indiana University. Sigma Theta Tau International now is the second largest nursing organization in the United States and among the five largest and most prestigious in the world. Sigma Theta Tau was organized to encourage and recognize superior scholarship and leadership achievement at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Nursing. Membership is available by invitation through active chapters and assumes acceptance of the purposes of the society and responsibility to participate in achieving the goals consistent with the professional and scholastic character of Sigma Theta Tau. The Beta Zeta-At-Large Chapter at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst was established in 1972 as the fifty-second chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. It amended its charter in 2002 to include affiliation with Elms College, Chicopee, MA. In 2006 the chapter again amended its charter to include American International College in Springfield MA and later, Westfield State University Westfield, MA. It is committed to serving its growing membership in the development of knowledge, encouragement of professional achievement and the advancement of nursing through research. Membership is conferred upon students in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs and nursing leaders in the community, who demonstrate exceptional achievement in the nursing profession. Membership is by invitation and takes place in the fall semester for those students at the junior and senior level. Membership criteria and further information are available on the website.
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Alumni Association
Every graduate of a nursing program of the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing is automatically a member of the college Alumni Association. The Association’s Board of Directors is a group of tremendously enthusiastic and loyal alumni engaged in many different areas of nursing. Nancy Thompson is the current chair of the association. Each year, the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing organizes several events to provide opportunities for alumni networking. One such event is our annual luncheon during Homecoming Weekend, which includes an exciting and timely educational program as well as the presentation of Outstanding Alumni Achievement awards. The Alumni Association is an important vehicle that creates and sustains alumni support, enthusiasm and participation essential for promoting the college’s mission, “To provide an affordable and accessible education to enhance health and healing through nursing leadership in teaching, scholarship, practice and service.”