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Before she had a degree, Haneen Muthana already had a mission: improve healthcare for the people who need it most.

Her family moved from Virginia to Lafayette in 2011, but their roots extend across the globe to Yemen, where many of her relatives still live. 

Those ties would later shape how she saw healthcare, and what she hoped to change about it.

Muthana originally planned to pursue nursing at the University of �鶹������ý at Lafayette in 2020. But just before classes began, she realized something didn’t feel right. 

“I knew I wanted to be in healthcare, but I didn’t want to deal with blood and wounds,” she says. “I came across �鶹������ý Lafayette’s Health Services Administration online program, and that’s when I knew this is what I want to do.”

So, she pivoted, enrolling in the fully online program that would help her discover her voice and define her future in healthcare.

Building Confidence and Connection Online

As the eldest in her family, Muthana balanced online coursework with helping younger cousins transition to life in the U.S., guiding them through everything from school registration to doctor’s appointments. 

“They were transitioning from a different country, so I considered myself their spokesperson,” she says. “During the day, I’d help them. At night, I’d study.”  

That balance was made possible by the flexibility of the online format and a program culture that encouraged connection. 

“I was always a quiet student who only asked questions after class. But with the online program, I could message professors directly or talk in our Teams groups,” she says. “It helped a lot with confidence and just doing well academically.”

Smaller class sizes and hands-on faculty made a lasting impact. Several instructors brought real-world healthcare experience to class, opening the door for one-on-one conversations about assignments and career goals. 

“Some of our professors worked in hospitals and shared real experiences,” Muthana says. “I’d review my tests with them, and they’d walk me through what I could’ve done better. Having that connection and input really helped me.”

That sense of support became even more important when Muthana lost both her grandparents just weeks apart in fall 2023. 

“I had to be there for my family, but I also wanted to finish college because that’s what my grandparents always wanted for us,” she says. “They wanted us to excel.”

As a first-generation college student, Muthana leaned on �鶹������ý Lafayette’s for guidance.

“My parents didn’t go to college, so if I was confused about anything, I would always go to them. They were so helpful,” she says.

Through grief and growing responsibilities, she remained focused on the goal her grandparents had always encouraged her to achieve.

Finding Her Calling in Health Reform

Muthana’s passion for health equity came into sharper focus during her internship with SCP Health, a national health solutions company based in Lafayette that partners with hospitals and health systems to improve patient care. 

Through department rotations, she explored the business side of healthcare, and one visit stood out.

“I asked to meet with the company’s lawyer, and she told me about going to Capitol Hill and advocating for healthcare reform,” she says. “That’s when I knew healthcare remediation is my goal.”

For Muthana, the stakes are personal. On visits to Yemen, she saw how limited access to care shaped the lives of those around her — including one cousin whose condition might have been treatable with timely medical intervention. 

“Knowing she could’ve had a different life — it made me think, I don’t want it to be like that here. We have the resources in �鶹������ý and across the U.S. We can do better.”

Motivated by that belief, she pursued opportunities beyond the classroom. 

She earned a human rights consulting certification from the and served as a research assistant on Instructor of Health Sciences Tierney Beebe’s dissertation project on interprofessional education. 

“Dr. Beebe put so much into that project. We even got feedback that it should go national and take it to Capitol Hill,” she says. “It was one of my favorite experiences.”

Her commitment to advocacy and equity earned her both the for Diversity and Social Justice and the .

A Shared Accomplishment

With her degree complete and a growing list of credentials, Muthana is taking a brief pause before pursuing her next step in healthcare policy or reform. 

She’s exploring opportunities with the same purpose that’s guided her from the start: improving access to care and outcomes for underserved communities. 

“Every person will need healthcare at some point. If someone dies because there wasn’t a doctor around, not because of the illness itself, that’s a bigger problem,” she says. “We need to make it better.”

She encourages students in the health services administration program to start making connections early. 

It wasn’t until her final semesters, when she joined student organizations and got more involved, that new opportunities started opening up.

“If there’s any opportunity to be a research assistant, take it,” she says. “I was hesitant about signing up at first, but it ended up being one of my best experiences.”

And while her journey was filled with personal milestones, Muthana sees her success as a family effort.

“My parents are my biggest supporters, and I truly don’t think I could’ve gotten through college without their support,” she says. “Although they didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, this was a shared journey. I dedicate all my accomplishments, and my degree, to them.”

Ready to find your place in healthcare administration? Explore the University of �鶹������ý at Lafayette’s 100% online health services administration program. 

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