SNHU Spotlight: Lilian Ongaki, MS in Healthcare Administration Grad

Even before she found her way to Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), Lilian Ongaki ’24 had called many places home.

From Africa to Oregon, Colorado to Texas — and of course, New Hampshire, this SNHU grad’s latest self-professed “home ground”— Ongaki is always on the move.

Yet even as locales changed, the relationships she’s made along the way have stayed strong.

“This is an awesome and gracious moment for me and the people watching online,” she said, as she stood at SNHU's 2024 fall Commencement in November. “Now I am here, family’s here, friends are here. You feel the moment. All the joy comes flashing back.”

In fact, it was her family that motivated Ongaki to start her online Master of Science in Healthcare Administration in the first place.

“Choosing to do this program, first of all, it has been a dream for me,” she said. “I grew up in a family that has been having a lot of health challenges. In part, it’s the mismanagement of our healthcare condition. I thought, ‘I will make a difference with this degree that I’ve chosen.’ In starting this journey, I want to fulfill that dream that I started 4 years ago.”

Focused on her goal, Ongaki found a team of supporters at SNHU.

“Any time I call, my academic advisor is right there,” she said. “They direct me to the right resources so I can get the answers that I’m looking for.”

And through the “hard-toiled work,” Ongaki has laid a foundation to reach even loftier goals. Namely, to start her own healthcare business.

“My dream has been to take care of our seniors,” she said. “At their golden age, they need somebody to look up to them and walk with them with empathy.”

Now, as she celebrates this part of her journey, Ongaki wants to make it clear that no one’s ambitions are out of reach. “Today, I’m telling you, you can do this,” she said. “It is doable.”

Spencer Hensel '21 is a copy director at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). He is passionate about helping people own their power, and has channeled this passion as a storyteller, manager, mentor and EDI leader at work. A professional writer for over a decade, he’s had the pleasure of writing for Boston startups in the education, food and tech industries.

A lifelong learner, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Communications at Emmanuel College, along with a graduate certificate in marketing at SNHU. He has also volunteered as a TEDx speaker coach and organizer since 2022. Want to learn more? Connect with him on LinkedIn.