UNC School of Nursing students participate in national policy summit and Capitol Hill advocacy

Three women stand smiling in front of the U.S. Capitol building on a sunny day. Two wear business attire with badges, and one wears a light blue blazer. The sky is mostly clear with a few clouds. — *(L–R) Randi McArthur, Valerie Howard*
*and Alicia Lillywhite.*

Alicia Lillywhite, an undergraduate student, and Randi McArthur, BSN, RN, a PhD student at the UNC School of Nursing, participated in the 2026 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Student Policy Summit, held March 30–31 in Washington, D.C.

Lillywhite and McArthur attended the two-day conference alongside Dean Valerie Howard. The summit brings together baccalaureate and graduate nursing students from AACN member institutions to learn about the federal policy process and nursing’s role in professional advocacy.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have recently visited Washington, DC, as part of an unforgettable experience with the UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing,” Lillywhite said. “I was honored to be selected to attend alongside our Dean, Valerie Howard, and to represent our school at a national level.”

During the summit, Lillywhite and McArthur participated in sessions focused on healthcare policy, federal programs supporting the nursing workforce, and strategies for engaging with policymakers. The program included discussions on translating policy into practice, the role of nurse scientists in advancing health, and approaches to effective advocacy.

“What stood out most to me was gaining a clearer understanding of how advocacy at the federal level actually works,” McArthur said.

At the end of the summit, Lillywhite and McArthur joined students from across North Carolina, including the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke University, and traveled to Capitol Hill. “Together, we met with the congressional staff of the offices of Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, where we advocated for increased funding and policies that will directly impact nursing students and the nursing workforce nationwide,” Lillywhite said.

Eight women stand smiling in a hallway in front of an office door with a sign reading “Walter B. Jones Jr. 2452.” One woman holds a green tote bag; an American flag is visible behind them. — North Carolina nursing students, including Randi McArthur and Alicia Lillywhite, are pictured with Dean Valerie Howard outside the office of Congresswoman Valerie Foushee during Capitol Hill visits at the 2026 AACN Student Policy Summit.

The AACN Student Policy Summit is designed to prepare nursing students to engage in policy discussions and advocate for the profession. Participants take part in educational sessions and conclude the experience with visits to Capitol Hill.

“Calls and emails to congressional offices are tracked and shared with representatives,” McArthur said. “What makes advocacy truly effective is pairing those messages with personal stories that clearly illustrate the real-world impact of policy decisions.”

“This experience reinforced the importance of nurses having a voice in policy and decision-making spaces,” Lillywhite said. “I am so thankful for this opportunity and look forward to carrying what I’ve learned into my future career as a nurse.”

For more information about the AACN Student Policy Summit, aacnnursing.org/sps.