Board of Directors

Dr. Maria Robinson DNP, MS, BSN, RN has been a nurse for over 20 years. She earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Prince George’s Community College. She continued her education at University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), earning her BSN, MS, and DNP. Dr. Robinson is an Assistant Professor and Course Director at University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). She has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings such as gynecology, oncology, step-down neuro, medical-surgical, comprehensive care manager bilingual (Spanish), inpatient, and home care hospice. Dr. Robinson is a proud U.S Army National Guard Veteran. Also, a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the National League for Nursing, Maryland Nurses Association, and American Nurses Association.

Dr. Roxanne Mirabal-Beltran, PhD, RN is an Assistant Professor at the Georgetown University School of Nursing (GUSON). Her research interests include reproductive health inequities with a focus on patient-provider communication. She is particularly interested in the use of Community-Based Participatory Research to facilitate access to health and health education in underserved and minoritized communities.

She practiced as a labor and delivery and women's services nurse at the Medstar Washington Hospital Center from 1999 to 2020. While practicing as an RN in DC, she pursued a Master of Science in Health Services Leadership and Management and a Post-Master's Certificate in Education from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing, Baltimore. Dr. Mirabal-Beltran received her PhD in Public Health from the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

Dr. Melissa deCardi Hladek PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC is the current President of the NAHN DC Metro Chapter. Dr. Hladek is also an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and a researcher-clinician focusing on how stress, self-efficacy, and sociocultural factors influence the biology of aging, chronic disease, and frailty. Her research goals are to further understand these factors and develop novel strengths-based, person-environment strategies and policies to mitigate these effects and center the patient's voice in modern healthcare. Her grant work is currently funded through the NIDDK, NIA and the Hartford Foundation. Dr. Hladek has worked clinically with primarily Spanish-speaking communities and is currently a family nurse practitioner at Esperanza Center in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She is also the advisor for the Latinx Health Advocacy Group at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.

Laura P. Spagna, RN, BSN, CPHQ, is a dedicated healthcare professional and member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). Her passion lies in advocating for Latino/a professionals and advancing nursing education opportunities to serve the growing Latino community. With experience in acute care, data and quality management, and community health, Laura currently works as a care manager in the DC area, serving low-income individuals, families, and children. She recently achieved her CPHQ certification and aims to increase awareness and member engagement within the NAHN DC Metro chapter. Laura's commitment to equitable healthcare and her expertise in quality improvement make her a valued asset in her field.

Tiffany Covarrubias-Lyttle is a nurse from Virginia. She is a first-generation Mexican American originally from South Texas. She has had the unique privilege of a diverse career path and experiences which have ignited a passion to promote equitable access to health and wellness. Covarrubias-Lyttle is a nurse who serves as the Patient Education and Nurse Wellness Coordinator for her system in rural Central Virginia. Covarrubias-Lyttle has professional experience as a social worker, counselor, writer, nurse, and organizational leader. As Covarrubias-Lyttle passionately believes that being a nurse means being an advocate, she serves the National Association of Hispanic Nurses as the DC Chapter Bylaws Chair and on the National Level on the Policy and Advocacy Committee. She also serves on the Virginia Nurses Association as DEI-Co-Chair and Secretary. Locally, she is active in advancing health, wellness, and safety in climate changes within her community. Covarrubias-Lyttle graduated from Centra College of Nursing with her ADN and later her BSN. She is currently working on her MSN through Johns Hopkins University in healthcare and organizational leadership. In 2023, Covarrubias-Lyttle has given regional and Commonwealth-wide presentations on Nurse Burnout, Health for Healthcare Teams, Workplace Violence, Code Lavender, Hispanics in Healthcare, and Climate Change’s Impacts on the Health of our Virginia Hispanic Communities.

Karen Cornejo, BSN, RN, is currently pursuing her nurse practitioner degree in adult gerontology primary care. With 5 years of nursing experience, Karen began her career at Johns Hopkins, completing her nursing residency on a med-surg/telemetry floor before transitioning to her current role as a home care nurse. In this role, she leads education and training efforts, interviews clinical staff, and fosters effective communication with caregivers to ensure they feel supported, confident, and equipped to provide high-quality care. Karen also conducts televisits for patients to promote safety at home and focuses on preventive care, reducing the need for hospitalizations. Born in El Salvador, she is bilingual in Spanish and a certified medical translator, which helps her connect deeply with her patients. As a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau, Karen is committed to fostering trust and educating her clients about their health, inspired by her family's experiences navigating the healthcare system.