Each year, Students for Life’s National Leaders Collective (NLC) accepts a limited number of students for one of eight Students for Life of America (SFLA) or Students for Life Action (SFLAction) fellowships. These fellowships equip students to make the greatest possible impact on their campuses and provide yearlong support, networking opportunities, and training to strengthen students’ leadership skills. Time and time again, we have seen our NLC launch students into impactful pro-life careers. Below are the stories of three NLC students, in their own words, who have become Regional Coordinators for SFLA!

Olivia Murrey

My name is Olivia Murrey, and I was homeschooled in Indianapolis. Believe it or not, I identified as pro-abortion when I was 15 years old. Everything changed when a friend convinced me to attend a pro-life education day hosted by a local Students for Life high school group.

At that event, I heard Kristan Hawkins, president of SFLA, and another SFLA team member speak about abortion from both a scientific and faith-based perspective. It was the first time I had truly been exposed to the reality of abortion, and I left with a completely different perspective. From that day forward, I became a pro-life activist.

One of the biggest highlights of my time with SFLA was helping lead my city’s pro-life march. Through speeches, tabling, and rallying others to take action, I gained confidence as a leader and advocate.

My involvement with SFLA opened doors I never expected. After my former Regional Coordinator prompted me to apply for the NLC, I was accepted and gained valuable training and leadership experience. Later, both my mentor and my future boss encouraged me to apply for a role with SFLA, which ultimately helped launch my career. I am now serving as the Indiana Regional Coordinator!

Some of my favorite moments have been seeing students excited to visit our table at conferences and watching student leaders succeed in difficult situations. One particularly memorable experience was seeing mothers and young children interact with our fetal models at an event. Moments like those remind me why this work matters.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to help establish a women’s care cabinet at Whiteland Community High School, which will provide pregnancy and hygiene resources to students in need. I’m also looking forward to working with a homeschooling group in South Bend, Indiana to start the legal process of testing the local water for mifepristone.

For students nearing graduation, my advice is simple: build relationships. Stay connected with your local Right to Life groups, Pregnancy Centers, and especially your Regional Coordinator. I would not be where I am today without the mentors who invested in me and the opportunities that came from volunteering and staying involved.

You never know where one conversation, one event, or one opportunity to serve might lead. For me, it changed my life.

Joshua Wilson

My name is Joshua Wilson, and I will graduate from Missouri Baptist University (MBU) in December 2026. Looking back, I never expected that joining a small campus group would lead me to a career in the pro-life movement.

I first discovered SFLA during my freshman year. The president of Spartans for Life, the Students for Life group at MBU, happened to be in one of my classes, and she invited me to consider taking over leadership of the group since she would be leaving the following semester. At the time, the group was very small, but I saw an opportunity to make a difference on campus.

One of the most memorable moments from my time leading Spartans for Life came during the 2024 election season. After a mandatory chapel service, our group had the opportunity to distribute literature opposing a radical abortion ballot initiative to nearly the entire student body. It was incredible to see our group engage so many students in an important conversation about protecting preborn children.

For most of my college career, I never imagined working full-time in the pro-life movement. That changed when I joined the NLC. Through fellowship projects and deployments, I began to see how a career dedicated to defending preborn children could become a reality. The experience equipped me with practical skills and showed me that there are opportunities to turn a passion for protecting Life into a vocation.

Today, I serve as SFLA’s Ozarks Regional Coordinator. One of the greatest joys of my work is meeting with students throughout my region and helping them prepare for the upcoming school year. Their enthusiasm and commitment to defending preborn children continually encourage me. Every conversation reminds me that the next generation of leaders is ready to make an impact.

Outside of campus activism, I also participate in prayer outreach with church groups outside an abortion facility in Granite City, Illinois. Gathering to pray there serves as a reminder that this movement is about both action and compassion for the women, families, and preborn children impacted by abortion.

For students who are approaching graduation and considering a career in the pro-life movement, my advice is simple: If you are passionate about defending preborn children and feel called to this work, pursue it wholeheartedly. We have the unique opportunity to devote our lives to protecting the most vulnerable members of the human family while helping build a future where abortion is unthinkable and unavailable.

Take advantage of the opportunities God places before you, trust Him with the details, and be willing to say “yes” when He opens a door. You never know where that first step of involvement might lead.

Gabriel Dionisi

My name is Gabriel Dionisi, and I graduated from Bridgewater State University (BSU) in May 2026.

My journey with SFLA began long before college. In October 2019, I attended a pro-life rally where SFLA’s New England Regional Coordinator at the time, Abigail Young, was speaking. After the event, she invited me to attend a training on the Five Pillars of Anti-Abortion Activism. I accepted the invitation, and that experience became the starting point of my involvement in the pro-life movement.

Over the next several years, I stayed connected with SFLA and eventually joined the Students for Life group at BSU. Later, I had the privilege of serving as the group’s president. Looking back, one of the greatest highlights of my student leadership experience was being selected for SFLA’s William Wilberforce Fellowship during my final year of college. The fellowship challenged me to grow as a leader, strengthen my convictions, and prepare for the next chapter of my life.

My time as a Students for Life group president and Wilberforce Fellow played a major role in preparing me for my current position as SFLA’s New England Regional Coordinator. Many of the challenges my student leaders face today are challenges I personally experienced as a student activist. Because of that, I can often relate to what they’re going through and help them navigate obstacles with confidence.

One of the things I love most about my role is that every day looks a little different. The work is meaningful, exciting, and requires a great deal of creativity. I also consider it a tremendous blessing to serve alongside faithful Christians who are committed to serving others and protecting preborn children. Being surrounded by people who share that mission makes the work even more rewarding.

Outside of SFLA, I founded a ministry in high school called ProLifeStickers.com. The ministry provides pro-life bumper stickers and educational materials to help raise awareness in communities across the nation. What started as a simple idea has continued to grow over the years.

This February, I received my first report that one of our stickers had helped save a baby’s life. Hearing that testimony reminded me that even small acts of advocacy can have a real impact. Moving forward, I hope to bring more volunteers into the ministry so it can continue growing while I focus on my work with SFLA.

As the New England Regional Coordinator, I have the opportunity to serve the movement in many different ways. I spend much of my time focusing on education, whether that means leading trainings, tabling with Students for Life groups, or organizing Summer of Service door-knocking trips. I enjoy helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to advocate effectively for preborn children in their communities.

For students who are approaching graduation and considering a future in the pro-life movement, my advice comes from my background in economics. Think about the marginal benefit of the path you’re considering. The nation certainly needs computer programmers, bankers, business leaders, and professionals in every field. But it also needs passionate pro-life advocates who are willing to dedicate their talents, relationships, and energy to ending abortion.

Every person should carefully consider their own gifts and calling. But for many students who feel drawn to this work, the opportunity to directly defend preborn children and help build a culture that values every human life is difficult to match.