Years before she stepped into a classroom to pursue a nursing degree, Dalayna Stevenson was already caring for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
As a paramedic, Stevenson has spent years responding to emergencies. Now, the Palos Hills resident is taking on a different kind of responsibility after being sworn in as Moraine Valley Community College’s student trustee for the 2026-27 academic year during the board’s June meeting.
The position gives Stevenson the opportunity to represent the college’s students, serve as a liaison to the Board of Trustees and advocate for issues affecting campus life.
For Stevenson, helping others has always been more than a career goal.
She credits her mother, a retired firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Chicago Fire Department, for inspiring her interest in medicine. Watching her mother’s dedication to serving others planted the seeds for a future she has pursued for years.
Stevenson explored that interest while attending Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, where she enrolled in health science courses. After graduating in 2012, however, financial realities forced her to postpone those plans. She worked in retail and real estate before deciding to return to health care.
In 2018, she became a paramedic with Elite Ambulance, a position she continues to hold while working toward her college degree.
“I felt being a paramedic would be a great pathway going into medicine, starting in ambulances and pre-hospitals, and then going to long-term care,” Stevenson said.
After moving from Chicago to Palos Hills in 2024 with her daughter, Dream, Stevenson began taking prerequisite nursing courses at another community college before transferring to Moraine Valley in spring 2025. She said the college’s nursing program made it the right fit for her educational goals.
She plans to begin nursing program classes this fall and expects to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in nursing in spring 2028. Looking further ahead, Stevenson hopes to continue her education through bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs before eventually opening her own midwifery practice.
As student trustee, Stevenson hopes to use her experiences as both a working mother and a student to help classmates overcome obstacles that can derail their education.
One issue she hopes to address is financial hardship, which she said prevents too many students from finishing their coursework.
“There are so many bright minds walking across Moraine Valley’s campus,” Stevenson said. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen brilliant students drop out of classes due to financial constraints, and that’s not okay. I want to bring more awareness of the financial resources available at Moraine Valley and to be a voice for students afraid to wave a flag for support.”
During her term, Stevenson will represent students enrolled in degree and certificate programs, attend campus events and learn more about community college governance while serving on the board.
She hopes her own story encourages others who may feel their goals have been delayed.
“My message for students is to be as bold as a lion. Don’t let anybody or any circumstances stop you from what you believe you’re supposed to do in life,” Stevenson said. “Every student at Moraine Valley has the potential to be great; you just need to silence the noise and let your actions speak for themselves. In summary, be stubborn, but in a good way.”