On a mission to serve: Riverside grad hopes nursing degree will advance his military career

Photo Credit: Joshua Sudock for UMass Global

IRVINE, Calif. (May 23, 2022) – National Guardsman Hanif Lila, who applied for nursing school while serving on active duty orders, on Sunday celebrated the completion of his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. He now aspires to make the most of his new knowledge by seeking an officer’s commission in the Army National Guard providing opportunities to deliver healthcare services while in uniform.

“It’s great knowing we’re finally done,” Lila said.

Lila and more than 100 other University of Massachusetts Global nursing graduates gathered Sunday at FivePoint Amphitheatre for commencement celebrations. The assembly included the first students to complete UMass Global’s pre-licensure accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which launched in September 2019 from the university’s San Diego campus.

UMass Global renovated its San Diego campus to provide Lila and other students with a modern simulation lab preparing them for clinical practice. He and the other students also completed several clinical learning experiences on the way to earning their degrees. Lila discovered that helping patients dealing with mental health issues was particularly rewarding.

“I liked mental health the most,” he said. “That was because you had ordinary people that just fell on hard times. When you talk to these patients, you just see where they’re coming from.”

Sunday’s ceremony honored Marybelle and S. Paul Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions graduates preparing to enter the nursing profession as well as registered nurses who upgraded their education by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and nurses who qualified for a high level of service by earning Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.

“I stand before you in complete admiration of your steadfast determination in these very challenging times,” UMass Global interim Chancellor David Andrews said.

Photography of Sunday’s ceremony is available. To request photo assets, or to request an interview with Lila or a representative of UMass Global, contact Andrew Edwards in the Office of Advancement, Alumni Relations, and Public Affairs via Edwards1@umassglobal.edu or 949-383-3156.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS GLOBAL
University of Massachusetts Global, formerly Brandman University, is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, credential, and certificate programs designed to be relevant to more than 90 career paths. UMass Global serves nearly 23,000 students, about 16,000 of whom are enrolled in academic credit programs, at 25 physical campuses in California and Washington, as well as online. UMass Global offers fully online courses for students anywhere in the United States and for military personnel serving abroad. For more information, visit the university’s website.

Media Contacts:

Terri M. Carbaugh, UMass Global Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs: Carbaugh@umassglobal.edu

Andrew Edwards, UMass Global Senior Multimedia News Writer: Edwards1@umassglobal.edu