Ahrin Mishan, MPA, MA, FAAN, is the Executive Director of The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation, one of the nation’s leading philanthropies dedicated to advancing health through nursing. Under his visionary leadership, the Hillman Foundation has built a robust pipeline of support for bold, nursing-led models of care for vulnerable populations, cementing his place as one of nursing's most generous champions.

Mr. Mishan oversees the foundation's grantmaking efforts, which focus primarily on the education of nurse innovators and the advancement of cutting-edge, nurse-driven models of care that address the needs of marginalized populations. Under his stewardship, he has spearheaded the transformation of the foundation from a regionally focused philanthropy – with a single grant program and four grantees – to a nationally recognized organization with multiple grant initiatives that serve a diverse set of populations across multiple sectors. His leadership has helped champion the importance of nurses leading innovative transformation. Notably, Mr. Mishan drove the creation of the Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation, an integrated BSN-PhD design that has proven foundational to producing the next-generation of nurse scientists.

Well before becoming an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2020, Mr. Mishan, through the Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation, had established himself as a consistent supporter of the Academy’s Edge Runners program, working to amplify nurse-led models of care. In 2025, he also stewarded a gift from the foundation to advance the Science Adds Value for Everyone (SAVE) campaign, helping to elevate the profession’s voice and visibility during a time of uncertainty regarding future research funding for the profession.

Beyond his work at the Hillman Foundation, Mr. Mishan has extended his influence widely across the nursing and philanthropic landscape. He served on the board of the American Nurse Foundation and is a member of the American Nurses Association's Innovation Advisory Board and the Spence School Board of Trustees. He co-led the New York Future of Nursing Action Coalition and remains a sought-after, regular speaker at conferences and symposia on nursing innovation and philanthropy, where his insight and experience continue to shape the field's thinking on what is possible when philanthropy and nursing leadership align.