School of Nursing graduate focuses on building belonging and centering Latinx voices
May 7, 2026 Lauren Powers
For Leilany Munoz, nursing education has always been about more than mastering clinical skills. It has been about creating space, opportunity and a sense of belonging for others. Throughout her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) journey at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, she has been a powerful advocate for Latinx nursing students, working intentionally to elevate representation, community and the student experience.
Munoz’s passion is rooted in her own lived experiences as a bilingual and bicultural student. She recognized the challenges Latinx students can face in nursing education — from navigating academic spaces where representation is limited to finding culturally responsive mentorship and peer support. Rather than accepting these gaps, she became determined to address them.
That commitment came to life in spring 2025, when she co‑founded the Emory Latinx Nurses Association. What began as a vision to foster connection and belonging quickly became a thriving, student‑led organization dedicated to supporting Latinx nursing students academically, professionally and personally.
Through intentional programming, mentorship opportunities and leadership development, the organization is a place where students can see themselves reflected, supported and empowered.
In Munoz’s additional roles as a student ambassador, Undergraduate Student Council senior representative and peer tutor, she consistently centered inclusion. In each opportunity, Munoz uplifted her peers, amplified underrepresented voices and strengthened the nursing student experience.
Advocacy in action
Through Munoz’s work as a community‑engaged student researcher, she partnered with agricultural workers in her Volusia County, Florida, hometown, applying principles of cultural humility and trust‑based engagement to ensure research efforts were both ethical and meaningful. This work reinforced her belief that culturally responsive care and representation within nursing must begin long before students enter clinical practice.
She also contributed to Emory’s 2HEAL project. Funded through a Health Resources and Services Administration grant, the project is dedicated to developing culturally responsive educational materials in order to strengthen community‑based health promotion.
Munoz’s ability to bridge academic scholarship with community needs reflects her clear understanding of how inclusive nursing practice can create lasting change.
As she prepares to graduate, Munoz leaves an impact deeply woven into the fabric of the School of Nursing. Her work has reshaped how students connect, support one another and lead with cultural humility.
She leaves Emory not only as a highly accomplished graduate but as a trailblazer whose dedication to Latinx nursing students will continue to shape the community for years to come.
