Spring 2026 commencement speaker announced
National policy advisor and UIC Nursing alumna Alison Hernandez has been selected to speak at the May commencement ceremony.
About Alison Hernandez
National policy advisor and alumna Alison Hernandez, PhD ’18, RN, FAAN, has been selected to speak at the UIC Nursing commencement ceremony on May 7.
A committed advocate for the nursing profession, she is passionate about empowering nurses to engage in public policy and shape the future of health care and the nursing profession.
“Returning to UIC as a commencement speaker for the Class of 2026 is a tremendous honor,” Hernandez says. “Since graduating, my career has taken unexpected turns—from bedside care to shaping health policy. Being invited back to speak with students as they begin their nursing journeys reflects UIC’s commitment to preparing nurses not only to deliver exceptional care, but to lead, advocate and propel the profession of nursing forward.”
Hernandez is currently senior policy advisor on the American Nurses Association’s Policy and Government Affairs team. In this role, she leads national efforts to shape and advance policies that strengthen the nursing profession, improve health care delivery, and promote health equity. She works closely with federal agencies, key stakeholders, and ANA members to drive both regulatory and legislative priorities that support nurses and the patients they serve.
Before joining ANA, Hernandez served on Capitol Hill, contributing to health, aging and disability policy in both chambers of Congress. In the U.S. House of Representatives, she worked for Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada and Rep. Donna Shalala of Florida, helping advance a broad portfolio of health policy issues. She later served as a policy advisor to Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who chaired the Senate Special Committee on Aging, where she helped craft legislative solutions to improve the lives of older adults and people with disabilities.
Hernandez began her nursing career as a medical-surgical nurse. Her doctoral work at UIC Nursing focused on physical activity and chronic health conditions.
In 2024, she was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and last year, she was included in a nurse.org list of “19 Trailblazing Nurses Who Changed History (Who Weren’t Florence Nightingale).”
The commencement eremony will be held at Credit Union 1 Arena at 2 p.m.