Meet our Leadership
The Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) is governed by a Working Board model, led entirely by volunteer nursing students.
Scarlett Montserrat Sanabria-Ramos
PresidentScarlett is a third-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the University of Ottawa–Algonquin College and serves as President of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Mexican and Indigenous Mexica (Aztec) heritage, she speaks Spanish, English, and French. She is passionate about nursing leadership, student advocacy, health equity, and strengthening the future of nursing in Canada.
Her clinical interests include maternal health, labour and delivery, and cardiology.
Rhoda Ghebregzi
Director of Advocacy
Rhoda Ghebregzi is a third-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the University of Alberta and serves as Director of Advocacy for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Eritrean heritage, she speaks English, Tigrinya, and Arabic.
She has a particular interest in oncology nursing and is passionate about student advocacy, health equity, and ensuring nursing students' voices are represented in decisions shaping the future of healthcare in Canada.
Alicia Pongracz
Director of Indigenous Health Advocacy
Alicia Pongracz is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student in the University of Victoria–Selkirk College nursing program and serves as Director of Indigenous Health Advocacy for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Haida and Hungarian heritage, she speaks English and French.
With a particular interest in community health nursing, she is passionate about Indigenous health advocacy, culturally safe healthcare, and advancing health equity for Indigenous communities across Canada.
Katie Chapman
Ontario Regional Director
Katie Chapman is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at Laurentian University and serves as Ontario Regional Director for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
She is Canadian and speaks English.
With a particular interest in critical care nursing, she is passionate about student advocacy, strengthening connections between nursing programs, and ensuring that nursing students across Ontario have a voice in shaping the future of nursing education and healthcare.
Damilola Akinbehinje
Prairie Regional Director
Damilola Akinbehinje is a third-year Bachelor of Nursing student at the University of Manitoba–University College of the North (Thompson Cohort) and serves as Prairie Regional Director for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Nigerian heritage, she speaks Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English.
With interests in public health, intensive care, and nursing informatics, she is passionate about student advocacy, strengthening nursing education, and ensuring nursing students across the Prairie provinces have a voice in shaping the future of healthcare in Canada.
Brooklynn Bellislee
Vice-PresidentBrooklynn is a fourth-year bilingual Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the University of Alberta and serves as Vice President of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Ukrainian, Russian, and Métis heritage, she speaks English and French.
She has a particular interest in critical care nursing and is committed to supporting nursing students and contributing to the future of the nursing profession in Canada.
Joy Alogi
Director of Membership Development
Joy Alogi is a fourth-year Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) student at the University of Regina and serves as Director of Membership Development for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Nigerian-Canadian heritage, she speaks English, Yoruba, and Pidgin English.
She has a particular interest in cardiology and labour and delivery nursing and is passionate about strengthening student engagement, fostering an inclusive nursing community, and connecting nursing students across Canada.
Hugo Tam
Director of New Graduate Engagement
Hugo Tam is an Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate from Ontario Tech University and serves as Director of New Graduate Engagement for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of his Chinese heritage, he speaks English and Cantonese.
With a particular interest in nursing education and health policy, he is passionate about supporting nursing students as they transition into professional practice, advocating for new graduates, and strengthening the connection between nursing education and the healthcare workforce in Canada.
Catherine Mah
Western Regional Director
Catherine Mah is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the University of Alberta and serves as Western Regional Director for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Chinese heritage, she speaks English and Cantonese.
With a particular interest in critical care nursing, she is passionate about student advocacy, strengthening connections between nursing students across Western Canada, and ensuring their voices are represented in shaping the future of nursing education and healthcare.
Dr. Jean-Daniel Jacob, RN, PhD,
C-Level Rotating sHolder
Dr. Jean Daniel Jacob, RN, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) and serves as CASN's National Stakeholder Representative on the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) Board of Directors.
He previously served as Director of the School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa.
With extensive experience in nursing education, research, and academic leadership, he is committed to advancing excellence in nursing education, strengthening collaboration between academic institutions, and supporting the development of Canada's future nursing workforce.
Ryan Cristoff Tandiama
Director of CommunicationsRyan Cristoff Tandiama is a third-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the University of the Fraser Valley and serves as Director of Communications for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of his Filipino heritage, he speaks English and Tagalog.
He has a particular interest in emergency nursing and is passionate about student engagement, effective communication, and amplifying the voices of nursing students across Canada.
Sierra Punchard
Director of Membership Development
Sierra Punchard is a fourth-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing at Trent University and serves as Director of Research for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
She is a member of Kenhtè Kanyen’kehà (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) and is a lifelong learner of the Kanyen’kéha language.
With a particular interest in emergency nursing, she is passionate about advancing nursing research, supporting student involvement in evidence-based practice, and strengthening the role of nursing students in shaping the future of healthcare in Canada.
Sophia Zhao
National Conference Director
Sophia Zhao is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student in the French stream at the University of Ottawa and serves as National Conference Director for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of her Chinese heritage, she speaks French, English, Mandarin, and Spanish.
With a particular interest in critical care nursing, she is passionate about nursing leadership, student engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for nursing students across Canada to connect, collaborate, and grow professionally.
Samuel Proietti
Atlantic Regional Director
Samuel Proietti is a third-year Bachelor of Nursing student at Dalhousie University and serves as Atlantic Regional Director for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA).
Proud of his Ojibwe First Nations heritage, he speaks English and French.
With a particular interest in intensive care and travel nursing in Indigenous communities and reserves, he is passionate about Indigenous health equity, student advocacy, and strengthening the representation of nursing students across Atlantic Canada.
Keith Beriault
Adminstative Officer