KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 6, 2025

Just a sophomore at Kennesaw State University, Aliyah Johnson is well on her way to becoming a leader in the community.

She holds numerous student leadership roles while balancing the rigorous courseload in the Wellstar-Tom and Betty Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars program. Her name can be found in the rosters of various registered student organizations, and her commitment to her studies has landed her five competitive scholarships.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that she also aspires to find a career that involves her leading the way.

“I believe if you have the opportunity to serve and to lead, you take it,” she said. “I’m committed to making an impact at Kennesaw State and beyond, and I’ve had so many great opportunities to do so already.”

Johnson belongs to the President’s Parliament Scholar Ambassador program, is an Honors College Senator in the Student Government Association, is the vice president for the Honors Advisory Council, and is an Honors peer mentor. She also was crowned as a member of the Homecoming Parliament in the fall.

“She was always very engaged and came to class prepared,” said Amy Roach, an assistant professor of nursing who has worked extensively with Johnson. “She has accomplished a lot in not even two years on campus, and I know she’s not done yet.”

Ever eager to advance her studies, Johnson recently earned five external competitive scholarships – the APPEAL Foundation Achievement Scholarship, the Executive Leadership Council UnitedHealth Group Scholarship, the Carver Alumni Association Scholarship, the Pilot International Scholarship, and the College Gurl Foundation Scholarship. After graduating from high school, she received the Hope Scholarship from the State of Georgia, and the Wellstar-Tom and Betty Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Scholarship also helps defray some of the costs of college.

She attributes her success essentially to smart shopping.

“I check Scholarship Universe and Fast Web once a week, and somehow I’ve gotten in contact with scholarships on Instagram, so I follow those accounts,” she said. “I always encourage my classmates to do the same.”

Through the First-Year Scholars program, Johnson has conducted research into post-traumatic stress among palliative care nurses during COVID-19 with assistant professor of nursing Kawther Hamash. She won first place at the Georgia Highlands College Annual Nursing Science Symposium and second place at Wellstar College of Health and Human Service’s Research and Engagement Day with her poster presentation.

Johnson will begin her upper-level nursing classes in the fall along with clinical rotations. Upon graduation she hopes to find a specialty before working as a travel nurse for a couple of years. Eventually, she will seek master’s and doctoral degrees, all the better to pay it forward to the next generations of future achievers.

“I look forward to serving my campus community and telling my story both at Kennesaw State and beyond,” she said. “I’ve had so many great experiences here that have positioned me for success in the future as a nurse and as a leader.”

– Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Darnell Wilburn Jr.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.