74th Annual MONSA Convention
October 15, 2026 in Columbia, Missouri
at the Courtyard by Marriott
About 2026 Convention
The Missouri Nursing Students’ Association (MONSA) requests your attendance to the 74th Annual Convention. This exciting event will be held Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, Missouri.
Courtyard by Marriott
3301 Lemone Industrial Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: (573) 443-8000
We request your attendance on this day of learning and fun-filled events.
Agenda
Note: Schedule subject to change. Check www.monsa.org for updates.
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Continental Breakfast
Silent Auction begins
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Call for Nominations for Board of Directors for 2027
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Theme: The Power of Nurses: Advocacy, Healing, and Innovation
Panel Speakers
Asa Palmeri
President, Missouri Nursing Students’ Association
Dr. Cynthia Aurentz
President, Missouri Nurses Association
Favour Nwozor
Director, National Student Nurses’ Association
Ryan Barrett, RN
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Trevor Wolfe, BSN, RN
Flight Nurse, AirMethods
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Visit Exhibit Hall and win!
Bid on Silent Auction items
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Presented by Dr. Gregory Alexander
Centennial Professor on Health Policy and Director of the Center for Health Policy at the Columbia University School of Nursing in New York, NY.
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MONSA Awards Presentation
Exhibits, Networking, and Door Prizes
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The Silent Auction and Exhibits both wrap at 2:00 PM, so be sure to participate before they finish for the day. Don’t miss out!
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Your Patient Is Crashing. Now What?
Presented by Deanne Blach, MSN, RN, CNE
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Introduce final candidates for election
Voting will be done post presentations
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Pause for the cause and win!
Silent Auction items available to winners!
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Nurse Specialty Panel
Hot Topics and Transition into Nursing Practice
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Election results announced
Door prizes, surprises, and more
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Old/New Board to meet immediately after convention
Featured Speakers and Sessions
Opening Keynote/Panel Session - 9:00 AM
Dr. Aurentz is tenured faculty at Missouri State University where she teaches future Nurse educators, research, and provides consultation and guidance for doctoral projects. She serves as the President of the Missouri Nurses Association, where she actively advocates for nurses across the state. With over 30 years of experience in nursing—spanning Emergency Care, Pediatrics, and Vascular Access—she has dedicated the past 15 years to shaping future healthcare professionals as a Nurse Educator. Dr. Aurentz earned her master's in nursing education from Southwest Baptist University in 2011 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Leadership and Innovation from the University of Missouri in 2018. Her research interests focus on Best practices in Teaching & Learning, Interprofessional Education, and Policy/Advocacy.
D. Ryan Barrett is serving a second term as the 2026-2027 NSNA President. As NSNA President, he serves as chair of the NSNA Board of Directors and Executive Committee; as a member of the NSNA Finance Committee; and as ex-officio member of the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association Board of Trustees. Prior to his election as NSNA President, Mr. Barrett served as Ex-officio Director on the NSNA Board of Directors and Chair of the Council of State Presidents Committee (2024-2025). He also served as the President of the Kentucky Association of Nursing Students (KANS) from 2023-2025.
In the 2026-2027 term, Mr. Barrett wants to focus on strengthening NSNA chapters, elevating student advocacy, and investing in developing the next generation of nurse leaders so they are ready to lead with compassion, advocate with courage, and shape the future of healthcare. "I want NSNA to be more than a place where students are represented. I want it to be where the future of nursing is formed."
Mr. Barrett is a student nurse at Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY. Currently, he works as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department.
In 2025, Mr. Barrett received the honor and title of Kentucky Colonel designated by the Governor of Kentucky, recognizing his work as State President of KANS. He also received the NSNA DAISY Award for Extraordinary Student Leader at the NSNA 73rd Annual Convention, in Seattle, WA. Mr. Barrett graduated from Madisonville Community College, Madisonville, KY with an associate degree in nursing in December 2024.
Currently, Mr. Barrett works as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department. This is his second term as NSNA President and Mr. Barrett served as Ex-officio Director on the NSNA Board of Directors and Chair of the Council of State Presidents Committee (2024-2025). He also served as the President of the Kentucky Association of Nursing Students (KANS) from 2023-2025.
Trevor Wolfe, BSN, RN has over 25 years in Emergency/Trauma/Flight nursing with broad experience in both hospital and prehospital care and 10 plus years of combined leadership experience, not including 10 years as a Navy officer in the Navy nurse corps. He is a graduate of Bradley University and is a gubernatorial appointment to the Missouri State Board of Nursing currently serving as President.
Trevor has extensive experience in government affairs with a passion for reducing workplace violence and mitigating its negative effects on healthcare. He is an advocate for change and has been able to educate others on this issue, being a champion for and create legislation that has been signed into law. His advocacy has enhanced public and regulatory awareness which addresses safety and wellness throughout healthcare. Trevor was awarded the Missouri Legislative Advocacy Award from the Missouri Nurses Association in 2022. He has worked for Mercy Health as Manager of EMS Quality and Education. Trevor currently works for AirMethods as a Flight Nurse. In addition, he proudly served as a Lieutenant in the Nurse Corps United States Navy 2002-2011.
Focus Session I - 10:45 AM
Dr. Alexander is the Centennial Professor on Health Policy and Director of the Center for Health Policy at the Columbia University School of Nursing New York NY, USA. Alexander’s background is in human factors, informatics, gerontology, patient safety, quality measures, survey development and psychometrics. Alexander is currently completing a third national U.S. study assessing the impact of information system maturity on nursing home quality measurements and care environments where nurse practitioners work.
Focus Session II - Your Patient Is Crashing. Now What? - 1:15 PM
Deanne Blach is the Enterprise Account Executive for Hurst NCLEX® Review Services, where she partners with nursing programs and healthcare organizations across Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In her role, she works closely with nursing faculty, administrators, and healthcare leaders to support student success, NCLEX readiness, faculty development, and program outcomes through Hurst's comprehensive suite of educational solutions.
A nationally recognized nursing educator, Deanne has taught NCLEX® review courses for more than 27 years throughout the United States and internationally. Prior to joining Hurst, she served in nursing education and leadership roles and continues to be a passionate advocate for preparing practice-ready graduates and promoting clinical judgment development.
Deanne served as an NCLEX® advisor for Rosalinda Alfaro-LeFevre's work on critical thinking and clinical judgment and has presented faculty workshops focused on the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), clinical judgment, curriculum design, and student success strategies.
Recognized as an expert in concept mapping, Deanne provides workshops and consultations for nursing faculty and students nationwide. She is the co-author of Teaching Nursing Using Concept Mapping with Linda Caputi and has contributed to numerous nursing textbooks, including the last five editions of Marilyn Oermann's Clinical Teaching in Nursing Education. Her concept maps have been featured in multiple nursing education publications, and she recently published her third book on concept mapping.
Deanne has also collaborated extensively with nationally recognized nurse educator Donna "Iggy" Ignatavicius. As a nurse planner, she has facilitated 23 Boot Camps for Nurse Educators® conferences, supporting faculty development and excellence in nursing education. Most recently, she contributed three chapters to Ignatavicius' Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) Exam Prep, 1st Edition.
Drawing on decades of experience as an educator, author, presenter, and consultant, Deanne remains committed to helping nursing faculty empower students, improve outcomes, and achieve NCLEX success.
Focus Session III - Nurse Specialty Panel - Emergency Nursing - 3:15 PM
D. Ryan Barrett is serving a second term as the 2026-2027 NSNA President. As NSNA President, he serves as chair of the NSNA Board of Directors and Executive Committee; as a member of the NSNA Finance Committee; and as ex-officio member of the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association Board of Trustees. Prior to his election as NSNA President, Mr. Barrett served as Ex-officio Director on the NSNA Board of Directors and Chair of the Council of State Presidents Committee (2024-2025). He also served as the President of the Kentucky Association of Nursing Students (KANS) from 2023-2025.
In the 2026-2027 term, Mr. Barrett wants to focus on strengthening NSNA chapters, elevating student advocacy, and investing in developing the next generation of nurse leaders so they are ready to lead with compassion, advocate with courage, and shape the future of healthcare. "I want NSNA to be more than a place where students are represented. I want it to be where the future of nursing is formed."
Mr. Barrett is a student nurse at Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY. Currently, he works as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department.
In 2025, Mr. Barrett received the honor and title of Kentucky Colonel designated by the Governor of Kentucky, recognizing his work as State President of KANS. He also received the NSNA DAISY Award for Extraordinary Student Leader at the NSNA 73rd Annual Convention, in Seattle, WA. Mr. Barrett graduated from Madisonville Community College, Madisonville, KY with an associate degree in nursing in December 2024.
Currently, Mr. Barrett works as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department. This is his second term as NSNA President and Mr. Barrett served as Ex-officio Director on the NSNA Board of Directors and Chair of the Council of State Presidents Committee (2024-2025). He also served as the President of the Kentucky Association of Nursing Students (KANS) from 2023-2025.
Sponsors
