Ronald A. Hammond Scholar Britney Simon is just a few months shy of earning her nursing degree at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, but that doesn’t mean she's suffering from senioritis. Far from it. Simon, president of the school’s chapter of the Multicultural Nursing Student Association (MNSA) since 2024, is as engaged as ever. This month, she and her MNSA Executive Board are especially busy, co-hosting activities for Black Awareness Month (BAM), which celebrates and promotes awareness of Black history and Black culture each February.
Simon and fellow MNSA members recently took part in the University’s BAM opening ceremony, hosted February 2 by United Black Students. At the BAM kickoff, MNSA shared trivia questions about notable African-American nurses such as Mary Eliza Mahoney and Miami's own Jessie Collins Trice, BSN '66.
“Even if you don’t have a health care major, these are activities of interest,” said Simon. “MNSA is a good place to learn. We have plenty more events and collaborations coming up throughout the month!” These include a comedy movie night, a hand-washing public health activity at Gibson Bethel Community Center in South Miami, a health care alumni panel discussion, and a “Students of Color Symposium” and tabling event in the Shalala Student Center Grand Ballroom.
Simon is quick to credit MNSA’s success to the contributions of her executive board: Shirley Alvarado ’26 (co-president), Zahira Cirilo-Laverde ’28 (vice president), Tryston Smiley ’27 (treasurer), Loriann Anderson ’26 and Lorana Gustinvil ’27 (PR co-chairs), Terryona Smith ’27 (events chair), Dianni Sanchez ’26 (secretary), Kirstin Fontenot ’26 (outreach coordinator), Desiree Gowie ’29 (first-year liaison), and faculty advisor Dr. Brenda Owusu, DNP ’11, assistant professor of clinical and director of the school’s adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner program. “They are all a huge part of why I continue to be part of MNSA,” stated Simon.
And while Black Awareness Month may mark her last major endeavor as MNSA president before commencement in May, Simon’s impact in nursing is just beginning. Raised in Miramar, Florida, she seems to be following the footsteps of prominent Cane Nurse Trice, who was a passionate pioneer for women’s health care. After gaining work experience as a labor and delivery registered nurse, Simon said she plans to pursue her master’s degree in nursing and become a certified nurse midwife.
“I’m very big on advocacy and education for underprivileged women, especially because women’s health has been so overlooked throughout history,” she said, noting that most health studies prioritize men. “Women are less likely to be diagnosed with things like autism, for example. I really want to be a strong voice for women to ensure their care.”
MNSA Black Awareness Month Events:
- MNSA x Iota Lambda Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated: Laughter is the Best Medicine: BHM Movie Night: Thurs Feb 12 | 6:00pm-8:00pm | Mahoney 116
- MNSA x Kids 'n Culture: Washy Washy! Handwashing Event: Fri Feb 20 | 3:15-5:30pm | Gibson Bethel Community Center
- MNSA x Minority Women in Medicine: Celebrating Black Excellence in Nursing and Medicine: Alumni Panel: Thurs Feb 26 | 6:00pm-8:00pm | School of Nursing and Health Studies SHARE Auditorium
- MSA x MNSA: Students of Color Symposium: Recap Tabling: Sat Feb 28 | 9:00am-4:30pm | Shalala Grand Ballroom
Visit https://miami.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/multicultural-nursing-student-association for more about MNSA.
