Muna Habib, BA, BSN, RN

Certified Nurse-Midwifery (CNM) Program | DNP Class of 2024

I was born to Filipino and Iraqi immigrant parents and grew up in a large family on the Eastside of WA. My educational background with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Washington provided me with essential knowledge on the necessity for diverse perspectives in order to address the health needs of a global society. As a multiracial woman raised in a suburb of Seattle, I am provided with multiple dimensions of experiences which play a role in the healthy living of diverse groups. Navigating through society with this multiracial lens has also afforded me the ability to understand that cultural differences are important considerations to take when providing holistic care to populations.

My commitment to caring for women, birthing individuals and families is furthered by the educational opportunities that I have been fortunate enough to have gained in the APNI-DNP program at Seattle University. I chose to pursue this graduate degree at SU because of its commitment to tackling the social injustices faced by populations, providing holistic care, and developing global nurse leaders. I am grateful to this program for having enhanced my knowledge and skills as a BSN-prepared Obstetrics and Perinatal Registered Nurse now working in a community health clinic serving underserved individuals and families throughout Seattle. My hope is that as a future Nurse Midwife, my professional and educational experiences will provide me with the necessary knowledge and skills to bring about change to the health outcomes of both local and global populations. I aspire to serve communities in hospitals and birth centers where I can organize in ways to find tangible solutions to issues that diverse groups of women and birthing individuals face.

Myriam P. Oluyinka, MPH, BSN

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program | DNP Class of 2024

I was born in a community in Miami, Florida called Little Haiti and was raised in a Haitian household. My upbringing played a pivotal role in helping to connect me with people from all around the world--with no passport required. These personal experiences were influential in my learning about the challenges that various cultural groups face.

So, when I decided to obtain my BSN at the University of Miami, I knew that by becoming a nurse I could create an opportunity to be an advocate for those belonging to diverse or disadvantaged communities. After working in various nursing roles, I decided to become a nurse care manager and collaborated with diverse patients dealing with chronic clinical needs. In this role, I found that these patients not only needed help with their clinical needs, but they also needed help managing their mental health. These patients had a lot of fears and hesitancy when it came to addressing their mental health. They would share feelings of being misunderstood, judged, or stigmatized inside and outside their community due to their mental health challenges. So, when the opportunity came for me to pursue an advanced degree, I knew that becoming a PMHNP would help to address a critical need in the community.

Overall, it has been a divine journey for me to be back in school--especially at Seattle University. Not only was I given an opportunity after being out of school for so many years. But also, I was able to take a mini break from my doctoral studies to get married and live in Berlin, Germany. After I graduate, I would like to work amongst disadvantaged and diverse communities, to educate them on the importance of their mental health and to instill hope when it comes to addressing their mental health challenges. My hope is to eventually have my own mental health practice.

Maddie Sherwood, BA, BSN, RN

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program | DNP Class of 2025 

My passion for mental health ignited in college. I attended Carleton College in Minnesota where I received my BA in Psychology. During my summer breaks, I was lucky enough to work at the University of Chicago Medical Center as a psychiatric research intern. I found purpose there working with the psychiatric patient population. The patients often spoke about their struggles with access to care and feelings of shame about living with mental illness. It was then that I knew I wanted to pursue a degree as a Psychiatric Mental  Health Nurse Practitioner.

In search of the school with the right fit, Seattle University’s College of Nursing stood out because of its commitment to promoting health equity and emphasis on social justice. The aspect of the program that excites me the most is its partnership philosophy. This focus on working collaboratively with vulnerable populations aligns with my values on proper courses of action toward implementing interventions. In order to best serve these individuals and families, we must work together so we can improve patient health outcomes. I believe the values of SU will prepare me to assume diverse clinical, educational, and leadership roles in service to vulnerable populations.

Outside of the classroom, I love exploring the PNW outdoors, spending time with my friends, and painting! I am also very passionate  about working with LGBTQ+ community.

Ezinne Ufomadu, BA, BSN, RN

Certified Nurse-Midwifery (CNM) Program | DNP Class of 2024

I am from the western part of Africa, Nigeria. During my past experiences in health care, I have witnessed how the system has downplayed the BIPOC communities in providing equal health care opportunities. As a registered nurse, I have been able to advocate for patients, provide quality care amongst the underserved communities to the best of my abilities. But I have been faced with barriers to eradicate the disparities faced by these communities, as change must occur at the primary level where decisions are being made. I am currently working towards getting a DNP degree from Seattle University which will equip me to become a health care provider who is fair and just in providing equal care for all my patients. Hence, being able to influence changes in health care will help bridge the gap between the less privilege, vulnerable and underserved communities. Thus, my career goal is to have a non-profit organization that provides care at low or no cost for women in underserved communities so that they can attain better health and make best decisions for their health.