Azucena Zecua Herrera

UConn School of Nursing

I am a second-year nursing student at the University of Connecticut, intending to graduate in 2026 with my bachelor’s degree in nursing. I was born and raised in West Haven, CT, and have obtained my high school degree from Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, CT.

I’ve worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the Sacred Heart Manor Assisted Living Facility in Hamden, CT. I am currently working as a student research assistant with an academic professor in the UConn School of Nursing, analyzing and collecting data by transcribing current interviews with residents from Middlesex County, CT, and neighboring towns. The focus of the research is on palliative care, access, equity, and communication among providers and citizens about barriers to end-of-life care.

My desire to collaborate, learn, and be involved in programs like UST/AS is a driving reason why I am a nursing major. I want to make resources accessible for those from underserved communities. In the United States, it is difficult for many to have access to affordable, good quality healthcare, so it’s important that there are programs like this that not only help those communities directly, but also teach the participants the importance of the work.