In This Story
George Mason University nurses are instilled with a core belief: “We believe that everyone participating in activities at George Mason School of Nursing is intelligent, capable, cares about doing their best, and wants to improve,” says Mimi Benjelloun, a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) student and president of the Student Nursing Association.
And the sentiment is not exclusive to George Mason students. This year, the university’s Student Nurses’ Association (SNA) hosted the Virginia Nursing Student Association (VNSA) Summit, where inclusivity and commitment to mutual success were on full display. When organizing the Summit, Benjelloun showcased George Mason nurses as they set the standard for ushering in a culture of collaboration in the nursing profession.
“Nursing schools are stereotypically an extremely competitive environment, but being a nurse is more than learning the ins and outs of the human body. Nursing is the selfless profession of taking care of someone in their most vulnerable moments, so we wanted to encourage an environment of not only wanting oneself to improve, but rather that outcomes are greater when we work as a team,” said Benjelloun, also an Honors College student and recipient of the Mason Distinction Scholarship.
Students from George Mason University, Radford University, Liberty University, and George Washington University were present at the summit.
George Mason was directly contacted by April Fox, the president of the VNSA, to host this year’s summit, citing the university as an ideal platform to broaden their network from primarily Central Virginia to statewide. Assistant Professor of Nursing and SNA faculty advisor Susan Koduah entrusted Benjelloun with the execution.
Benjelloun collaborated with VNSA leadership and professional organizations such as the Emergency Nurses’ Association, Association for Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, UVA Health System, and INOVA to create a successful summit for nursing students across Virginia.
“There are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes, and as the host of the event, it required a lot of close communication with the university, the College of Public Health, VNSA Executive Board, and various professional connections I have at different organizations to coordinate a meaningful event. We brought future nurse leaders together to connect and create dialogue about the future of the nursing field,” Benjelloun said, who is expected to complete her BSN in May of 2026.
Benjelloun was recently accepted into the National Student Nurses’ Association Leadership University Honor Society.