NATE GRASZ

Nate Grasz is the Executive Director of Nebraska Family Alliance (NFA), the largest Christian public policy organization in the state. NFA promotes and defends the foundational principles of life, family, and religious freedom by influencing policy, mobilizing prayer, and empowering people to impact government and culture for the good of our neighbors.

Nate served as Policy Director at NFA from 2016-2024, where he successfully led efforts at the state capitol to pass significant legislation, including laws banning dismemberment abortion, prohibiting transgender surgeries on children, combatting human trafficking, and protecting children from online pornography.

Nate was the lead lobbyist on the passage of the First Freedom Act, one of the strongest religious freedom laws in the country, and helped author Nebraska’s first-in-the-nation law creating commemorative birth certificates for babies lost to miscarriage.

He is the author of “Would the Pilgrims Still Come to America Today? The Deteriorating State of Religious Liberty in America,” and his writings have been published by National Review and The Washington Examiner.

Nate hosts “The Nebraska Family Alliance Report,” a weekly statewide radio show and podcast on Bott Radio Network, and is a frequent guest speaker at churches teaching on faith, politics, and Biblical worldview.

Prior to NFA, Nate was an Associate Producer for the nationally broadcast Hugh Hewitt Show and a Program and Policy Analyst at the Centennial Institute. He graduated from Colorado Christian University with degrees in Political Science and Business Administration and is an alumnus of the Alliance Defending Freedom Arête Academy.

In 2024, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen appointed Nate to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Nate and his wife, Brenna, live in Lincoln with their children and are active in their local church, where Nate has served on the Elder Board.

As a fifth-generation Nebraskan, Nate’s passion for the truth of God’s Word and his desire to see Nebraska be a state where God is honored, families thrive, life is cherished, and freedom flourishes drive him to advance the mission of Nebraska Family Alliance every day.

DAWN WITT

Dawn graduated from UNL in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. She has worked in public accounting and as a Certified Internal Auditor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also served as the Treasurer and Financial Secretary at Southview Baptist Church for 25 years.

Being blessed with husband Brian and four wonderful children, Gracey, Christian, Matthew, and Faith, Dawn enjoys the quiet moments in the morning to hear from God, attending fitness classes at the gym, reading, and cheering on her children in their activities.

She is excited to be part of the team at NFA, which truly is a team focused on God and serving together in a Christ-like way. She feels blessed to be able to help NFA with the important work of influencing policy, mobilizing prayer, and empowering people.

MARILYN NEWLAND

A Kearney native, Marilyn graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2018 with dual degrees in political science and multimedia communications. During college, Marilyn worked for several policy groups and elected officials. She served as National Right to Life’s Federal Legislation intern in 2015, paged for the Nebraska Legislature in 2017, and interned for U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, and Congressman Adrian Smith from 2014 to 2016. She was NFA’s 2016 Torchbearer Intern.

Marilyn joined the Nebraska Family Alliance team in 2019. In her role, Marilyn oversees NFA’s communications, using graphic design, copywriting, visual media, audio production, web development, digital marketing, and email outreach to advance NFA’s mission and empower Nebraskans.

Marilyn is one of five children and a fraternal triplet. An avid pun enthusiast, she loves Nebraska politics, black coffee, and her miniature Yorkie named Chanel. Marilyn’s husband, Edward, serves in the United States Air Force, and the two have been married since 2021. In their free time, they enjoy thrifting and hiking with Chanel.

KELLY LANKA

Kelly graduated from Bryan College of Health Sciences in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Diagnostic Ultrasound. She worked at the Pregnancy Center in Lincoln from 2014-2018 before joining the Nebraska Family Alliance team.

Kelly is married to her husband Troy, and they have four kids. In her free time, she enjoys reading and attending her childrens’ activities—especially baseball. Her hobbies include photography, quilting, and scrapbooking.

JOHN HORSECHIEF

John is a Native American and affiliated with tribes that include Pawnee, Otoe Missouria, Hopi, and Creek. He has a bachelor’s from Creighton University and a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in non-profit and non-governmental organizations.

Prior to NFA, John worked in different development and operation capacities at a non-profit homeless shelter in downtown Omaha.

John has been happily married to his wife Tabitha for seven years, and together they have four children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, staying active in his church, going fishing, studying politics, and watching movies.

ELIZABETH NUNNALLY

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. After graduation, she worked as a designer and communications director. She is now the Advocacy & Engagement Coordinator for Nebraska Family Alliance.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, doing creative projects, and being involved in her local church.