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 and an emphasis in Accounting. She worked in public accounting and as a Certified Internal Auditor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and served as the Treasurer and Financial Secretary at Southview Baptist Church for 25 years. Dawn joined the NFA team in 2016.

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 central Nebraska native, Marilyn graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with dual degrees in political science and multimedia communications. She is an alumna of Cornhusker Girls State and the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.

Early in her career, Marilyn gained hands-on experience in advocacy and state and national public policy, working in National Right to Life’s federal legislation office in Washington, D.C., and a legal correspondence role at a law firm. She paged for the Nebraska Legislature and interned for U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith, and the Nebraska Department of Labor. She was NFA’s 2016 Torchbearer Intern.

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

Guided by her faith and convictions, Marilyn is passionate about protecting life and strengthening families, and actively engages in Nebraska politics. She was recognized as a “Leader of Tomorrow” by the Nebraska Republican Party in 2015, and in 2021, she was named a Nebraska Admiral by then-Governor Pete Ricketts. She previously served on a young professionals advisory council for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and her writings have been published by Wayne Grudem and The Daily Signal.

Marilyn is one of five children and a fraternal triplet. Her husband, Edward, serves in the United States Air Force, and the two have been married since 2021. After completing a three-year assignment at Ramstein, Germany, they returned to Nebraska to continue working to preserve family values and pass down faith and freedom to the next generation. In their free time, they enjoy thrifting and hiking with their miniature Yorkie, 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 in 2020.

Kelly is married to her husband Troy, and they have four adult children. In her free time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks and spending time with her children. Her hobbies include photography, quilting, and scrapbooking.

JOHN HORSECHIEF

John holds a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in non-profit and non-governmental organizations. John joined the NFA team in 2022. He is Native American and affiliated with the Pawnee, Otoe Missouria, Hopi, Creek, and Seminole tribes.

Earlier in life, John experienced homelessness and struggled with addiction. By the grace of God, he found lasting sobriety and healing—something he continues to walk in today. That transformation led him to spend five years serving individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Omaha, working in development and operations roles within a non-profit shelter.

John has been married to his wife, Tabitha, since 2015, and together they are raising five children. He enjoys spending time with his family, staying active in his church, reading the Bible, watching UFC, fishing, playing guitar, attending cultural community events, 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 joined the Nebraska Family Alliance team in 2023 and serves as the Advocacy & Engagement Coordinator for NFA.

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