Past Board Members

2023-2024 Board of Directors

PRESIDENT, Matthew Zender

Matthew Zender is a sophomore at Stony Brook University School of Nursing and is expected to graduate in May 2025. Matthew plans to work in a Pediatric Oncology unit as well as further his education in nursing leadership. Matthew serves as the Nursing Scholar's representative to his school's student nursing association where he observes and brings back any pertinent information to the Nursing Scholar’s program. He has also served as the Genesee Valley Regional Director (2022-2023) on last year's NSANYS Board of Directors. Matthew is also involved with his school’s Project Sunshine which provides free social, recreational, and educational programs to pediatric patients and their families. He also works as a sports photographer for Stony Brook University Athletics. His hobbies include sports photography, watching sunsets, playing spikeball, hanging out with friends, and riding his bike. He is very excited to be the NSANYS President and is looking forward to an eventful and exciting term!

CO-VICE PRESIDENT, Amy Zheng

Amy is a Junior Global Public Health/Nursing major at New York University in the honors program. She is the current Co-Vice President of NSANYS. Amy has an immense interest in healthcare issues and public health policy, and is taking part in research and projects that addresses health disparities among minorities and older adults, particularly in regards to dementia. Aside from research, she is also the Co-President of NYU's Nurse Anesthetist and Practitioner Student Interest Group and the traditional sequence representative of the Mental Health Advocacy Nursing Student Association. Working with others on events and bringing greater awareness to the interests and the health of nursing students is something that she enjoys doing. During her free time, she loves trying foods of different cuisines, taking naps, learning about herbal remedies, scrolling through cat videos, and chatting with friends. Her goal is to go into the ICU or Oncology and possibly get a PhD. She is extremely thankful to NSANYS for providing her with the opportunity to learn from and work with so many amazing student leaders and role models, and hopes to continue doing so!

CO-VICE PRESIDENT, Anna Kulikowski

Anna is a junior nursing student at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is serving at the Co-Vice President along Amy Zheng. Since attending Rory Meyers and getting involved with organizations such as the Nursing Students’ Association of New York State, Anna recognizes that her role as a nurse goes beyond the bedside and ultimately, found her passion in global and community health which will always be her core reason for pursuing nursing. She is inspired and called to work with patients in difficult times of their lives—whatever that may mean to them—to be the person they can count on to ensure they receive the care they need and deserve. Nursing allows Anna to work directly with individuals to be able to build relationships and learn about their situation, lifestyle, and needs. Doing so allows her to address the challenges that may be standing in their way of receiving care and providing them with the available resources to do so.
In her capacity as Co-Vice President, Anna hopes to meaningfully contribute to the execution of the annual convention to cultivate a time for nursing students across New York State to have the opportunity to exchange ideas, delve into their passions, and further discover their purpose in the nursing field.

SECRETARY, Racquel Whittingham

Racquel Whittingham is a junior at Binghamton University, Decker School of Nursing. As the new secretary for the 2023-2024 term, Racquel intends to spread more awareness throughout the upstate region with fellow nursing students about NSANYS opportunities with helpful tips on networking within nursing! Throughout her nursing career, Racquel's aim is to bring more awareness to health disparities and as a new generation of nurses, she wants to build a community focused on creating ways to improve health conditions of underserved communities. Racquel is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and spends her time in the community doing service or advocating for those who need the support! She is also a part of several student organizations on Binghamton University's Campus. Outside of nursing and community service, Racquel likes to spend her time with her family and enjoys a good sunset! She also is a writer of poetry and enjoys the arts as well. She is excited to gain more leadership skills and expand her mind within the realms of her nursing career. Racquel is elated to be apart of the Board of Directors of NSANYS 2023-2024 term and she is looking forward to building a better platform for nursing students who are not aware of the endless possibilities the realm of nursing has to offer!

TREASURER, Temidayo Taiwo

Temidayo Taiwo is honored to serve as the NSANYS Treasurer for the 2023-2024 term. She is a junior year student at Stony Brook University and is expected to graduate in 2025 when entered into Stony Brook Nursing Program. Temi hopes to further her career as an NP to open up her own practice that focuses on holistic care for individuals throughout their lifespan that emphasizes accessibility to health care, health, and nutritional education for the underrepresented and most vulnerable communities. She is part of the board for the Stony Brook NAACP which advocates to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of the rights of all students on campus while promoting unity through social and academic events. She is also passionate about environmental justice and the disparities in amenities and disamenities in low income and minority neighborhoods. As a certified nursing assistant, she was able to grow her passion for helping others, being an advocate for her residents, and learning to still prioritize patient care in a fast paced environment. In her free time, she enjoys writing, painting, singing in gospel choir, reading, and exploring somewhere in nature.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, Emily Tricarico

Emily Tricarico is a junior at Molloy University and is expected to graduate in May 2024 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As she pursues her second term on NSANYS, she is excited to serve as the Communications Director and excited to meet more nursing students! Her main purpose is to use her position to expand NSANYS' social media presence and to help nursing students understand what the organization is all about and what it has to offer. She is actually from Connecticut, but when she heard about Molloy’s amazing nursing program, she knew she found her dream school. Ever since she was little, she has wanted to be a nurse, and she’s always lending a helping hand wherever she can. In the future, she hopes to further her education by going back to school and earning her Masters, with the goal of teaching the future generations of nursing students. She also aspires to specialize in Pediatrics or Labor and Delivery. She currently works at a pediatrics office in Manhasset, NY. In her free time, she likes to read, and spend time with family and friends. Emily previously served as the 2022-2023 Regional Director Chair, Nominations and Elections/Scholarships and Awards Chair, and Long Island Regional Director. She is also involved on her school board, Molloy Nursing Student Association (MNSA), as Co-Treasurer for the past 2 years. She will now be the Co-Secretary for the 2023-2024 year. She is also a Student Ambassador, Molloy Peer Mentor, MNSA Peer Mentor, and a Peer Mentor in the Clinical Learning Center at Molloy. Emily recently got elected to be the NSNA Resolutions Committee Assistant Chair for the 2023-2024 term! Emily is very excited and honored to have this opportunity and to meet fellow members from all over the state and community!

COMMUNITY HEALTH DIRECTOR, Laci Janus

Laci Janus is a second-year nursing student at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing in the LEAD Honors Program. Laci hopes to continue her education and eventually become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). She has always been passionate about helping others and volunteering and is looking forward to serving as the Community Health Director for the NSANYS 2023-2024 Board of Directors. Currently, Laci is involved in many organizations that help bring smiles and joy to children with cancer and their siblings. She also serves on the board of the Nursing Student Government at NYU and the Nurse Anesthetist and Practitioner Student Interest Group at NYU. She hopes that as the Community Health Director she can inspire other nursing students to volunteer and attend community service events. In her free time, Laci loves to surf, go to the beach, walk her adorable puppy, and, of course, volunteer! If anyone is interested in introducing an organization to NSANYS, please contact Laci. She would love to hear your ideas and discuss how NSANYS can become involved in organizations you are passionate about.

BREAKTHROUGH TO NURSING DIRECTOR, Jasmine Derbala-Gonzalez

Jasmine is thrilled to serve as the BTN Director for the 2023-2024 term! She is a freshman in the BSN program at Long Island University - Brooklyn and is expected to graduate in May 2026. She is also currently the Membership Director for LIU’s SNA chapter. Jasmine aspires to be an ICU nurse to later become a CRNA and specialize in pain management! In her free time, she loves to spend time with family and friends and work on her business doing lash extensions! She is grateful to hold this position and hopes to increase the engagement of nursing students not just at the school level but at the state level as well. Jasmine is honored to have this opportunity and looks forward to what is to come this year as the Breakthrough to Nursing Director!

POLICY AND EDUCATION DIRECTOR, Brianna Augustin

Brianna Augustin is a distinguished individual who is committed to excellence and service. As she embarks on her third term in NSANYS board, she brings a wealth of experience, passion and dedication to the organization. Brianna is a junior at Molloy University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is expected to graduate in May 2024. In addition to her academic pursuits, Brianna is an active member of the Molloy Nursing Student Association where she is a peer mentor. She also upholds the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the African-American Caribbean Organization at Molloy. Outside of the classroom, Brianna has gained valuable experience in the medical field. She works as a medical assistant and pediatric office, where she provides support and care to patients. Brianna has also worked as a substitute teacher at Little Minds Montessori to serve over the past two years. Brianna's current areas of interest include labor and delivery, pediatrics, and ICU. She is eager to immerse herself into the nursing profession in the upcoming months.

STAT Editor, Demitra Cascio

Demitra Cascio is thrilled to serve as the NSANYS STAT Editor for the 2023-2024 term! She is a junior in the traditional Baccalaureate Nursing Program at Molloy University. She is expected to graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May of 2024. In the 2022-2023 calendar school year, she holds the position of Vice President of the Molloy Nursing Student Association. For the 2023-2024 calendar school year, she will hold the position of President of the Molloy Nursing Student Association. In addition to this, she is a Molloy Media Scholar, Missions Scholar, Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor for the Molloy Nursing Student Association Peer Mentorship Program and the Molloy University Accepted Students Peer Mentorship Program, a member of the Northwell Health Student Advisory Board, a member of the Homelessness Committee for the Molloy Service Corp, and more. Demitra found that she enjoys volunteering with children who have special needs in her free time. For the past several years, she has taught children with special needs how to play softball. In addition to this, she has also volunteered as a coach for girl's swim, soccer, and softball teams. For work, Demitra teaches private swim lessons and holds a head camp counselor position during the summer. Demitra is the oldest child and the first in her family to attend college. Following graduation, Demitra hopes to work in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and go back to school to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, DNP. Demitra Cascio is very excited to continue her leadership journey through NSANYS.

CO-REGIONAL DIRECTOR CHAIR, NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS CHAIR, and
MID-HUDSON REGIONAL DIRECTOR, Victoria LoGiudice

Victoria LoGiudice is a sophomore in the traditional nursing program at Molloy University. She is planning to graduate Molloy University in May 2025 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and becoming the first registered nurse in her family. Victoria would like to earn her master's degree and specialize in cardiac care. Later on, Victoria hopes to earn her DNP (Doctorate in Nursing Practice) and teach future nursing students. Victoria is the Communications Director Subcommittee of the Molloy Nursing Student Association for the 2022-2023 term, but looks forward to becoming Vice President in the 2023-2024 term in her junior year. Victoria has always had a passion for helping people no matter what career she had chosen as a child as it was always changing, but nonetheless it was always a career that involved helping others succeed. To take it one step further, after enjoying her biology and chemistry classes in high school, Victoria decided to volunteer at a local hospital to get a feel for the hospital environment. She absolutely fell in love with the program and earned her 36 hours of Service Award. Through NSANYS, Victoria hopes to guide and support nursing students through nursing school along with building her leadership, teamwork, and communications skills in order to provide the best nursing school experience for all.

CO-REGIONAL DIRECTOR CHAIR, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS CHAIR and CENTRAL REGIONAL DIRECTOR, Susan Donohue

Susan Donohue is honored to serve as NSANYS Co-Regional Director Chair and Central Regional Director for the 2023-2024 term! Susan is currently a junior nursing student in the traditional BSN program at Molloy University with a minor in biology. She is a student in the Honors Program and is expected to graduate in May 2024. Along with her role in NSANYS, Susan is also the Co-Community Service Director of Molloy’s Nursing Student Association (MNSA), a position she has held since 2021. Through teamwork with MNSA’s Community Service Committee, Susan organizes the Peer Mentorship Program for nursing students as well as enriching opportunities for students to connect and contribute to their community. Susan’s commitment to community service is further seen in her role as a Student Nurse Fellow on Molloy University’s Community Health Mobile Clinic, where she collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to provide health screenings and education to community members. As a nurse, Susan hopes to work with children in a pediatric care setting where she can have a meaningful impact on the health and lives of children and their families. She also hopes to further her education to become a pediatric nurse practitioner as she develops in nursing practice. In her free time, Susan loves to spend time at the beach or exploring Long Island with her family and friends. She has been involved with the NSANYS Board of Directors since her first year of nursing school and is eager to continue developing her leadership skills while collaborating with students across the state.