The students “bring an essential and grounding presence” to the council, which encourages departments and units across the school to use UMB’s core values to guide their activities.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) will present its MLK Leadership Awards at the 2026 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 5. The student members of the School of Nursing’s Strategic Engagement and Impact Council will be honored with the award for outstanding student group. (Photo: From left, Soraya Abediyeh, Krista Dowuona-Hammond, Nikki Akparewa, and Maria Rangwala. Note: Dowuona-Hammond succeeded Lizzy Law on the council.)
Yvette Conyers, DNP, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS, CNE, FADLN, CWCN-AP, sees great value in the student representation on the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Strategic Engagement and Impact (SEI) Council. Conyers, who is an assistant professor and UMSON’s associate dean for strategic engagement and impact, said the group’s students “bring an essential and grounding presence to the SEI Council.”
“They ensure that the council’s conversations remain connected to the lived experiences of students across various programs, ensuring that our strategies and initiatives are in alignment with their needs,” Conyers said. “Their participation adds authenticity and urgency to our work, reminding us to balance institutional priorities with the realities students face day to day.
“Beyond representing student perspectives, they strengthen the council through their preparation, thoughtfulness, and willingness to engage in complex dialogue,” she added. “They ask questions that prompt deeper reflection, challenge assumptions when needed, and help the council stay accountable to its stated values of equity, inclusion, and impact. Their voices help bridge the gap between policy and practice.”
The SEI Council, which was formed in 2021, is an elected body within UMSON’s shared governance that is made up of student, faculty, and staff members and encourages departments and units across the school to use UMB’s core values to guide their activities. The council works with the Office of Strategic Engagement and Impact (OSEI) on initiatives that foster dialogue, elevate marginalized voices, and embed principles of social justice into nursing education and practice.
The four students represent the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at the Universities at Shady Grove campus and three programs at the Baltimore campus: BSN; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/MSN Entry-Into Nursing (MSN-E); and doctoral (PhD, Doctor of Nursing Practice). The MLK Leadership Award honorees are Lizzy Law, Maria Rangwala, Soraya Abediyeh, and Nikki Akparewa.
OSEI’s initiatives include the Booked for Lunch Club, which allows members of the UMB community to come together and read literature or watch media that spur conversations to promote awareness and build rapport while creating opportunities for collaborative thinking.
Akparewa, RN, MSN, MPH, a second-year PhD student, finds the discussions to be impactful. She noted one in particular in 2024 when the club gathered to talk about the book “The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis” and was joined by author Maria Smilios and Virginia Allen, the last surviving “Black Angel.”
“These rare moments are so precious and are fundamentally about the care that we as nurses provide,” Akparewa said of the Booked for Lunch Club events. “I love that we continue this practice — expanding our understanding of others, ourselves, and the monumental contributions that nurses of color have made and continue to make to the profession.”
Akparewa added that she is proud to work with a group that is dedicated and mission-driven.
“Due to my work/school balance, I was unable to attend many SEI Council meetings in person, yet I felt included and valued each time I was able to join,” she said. “Working with people who stay committed to our mission, especially at such a time as this, is truly inspirational.”
Abediyeh, who is in her second year in the MSN-E Program, said she appreciates the opportunity to lend her voice to the planning and execution of the group’s initiatives and events.
“The SEI Council truly opens the floor to students and invites them into the work, not just as observers but as active contributors,” Abediyeh said. “I am consistently able to offer my thoughts as they are actively sought out throughout our meetings. Our monthly meetings are open to all students, and the Office of SEI welcomes any student to visit their office.”
Abediyeh has been involved in the planning of OSEI’s inaugural summit, “The Gathering: Committing Our Core Values to Action,” which will be held Feb. 23 at the SMC Campus Center. The summit will include facilitated conversations, interactive activities, and a panel discussion featuring faculty, staff, and students reflecting on shared experiences and community within UMSON.
“Much of my role has focused on advocating for meaningful student inclusion and ensuring that students are present not just as attendees, but as contributors,” she said. “I have also participated in the creative planning of the Tablecloth Project for the event, which will serve as a physical manifestation of the shared experience and will be displayed outside of the SEI office.
“One of our priorities for this year is to create meaningful opportunities for inclusivity and equity through professional development that is open to students and faculty,” Abediyeh added. “I believe this initiative is especially impactful because it can foster institutional growth while also helping students explore and solidify future career paths.”
Conyers, who nominated the student members for the MLK Leadership Award, said their impact can be seen in “how they share insight into how policies, programs, and campus climate are actually felt, not just how they are intended.”
“That perspective has influenced how the council frames priorities, evaluates initiatives, and approaches decision-making. Their voices matter!” she said. “Equally important is the leadership they model. They contribute not only by speaking, but by building consensus, demonstrating courage in difficult conversations, and consistently centering the community. Their presence elevates the quality of dialogue and keeps the council focused on meaningful, student-centered outcomes.”