SNHU Spotlight: Philip Hensarling, BS in Healthcare Administration Grad

When Philip Hensarling '24 enrolled in his program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), he was determined to finish what he started more than a decade prior.

"This is a journey that I've been on for about 17 years on and off, multiple attempts," Hensarling said at his Commencement ceremony in Manchester, New Hampshire.

He traveled from the neighboring state of Vermont to celebrate and mark the culmination of all those years of work — a bachelor's in healthcare administration from SNHU.

"It meant something to my family to show up in person," he said. "Everyone has an incredible amount of energy and just gratitude."

According to Hensarling, this attempt at finishing his degree was different for two main reasons: a shift in his mindset and a new support system. "I just had this attitude of never giving up and I had a really great advisor," he said, shouting out his academic advisor Michelle Bazile.

His coursework also proved beneficial as he started a new position running a substance abuse center. "I was taking over a failed business in my career, so I was able to apply things that I was learning in real-time," said Hensarling.

He said "Organizational Behavior" was one of the most impactful courses in his program. "Running a substance abuse center, I'm presented with new things every day, new challenges," he said. "The way I've been able to tackle those challenges, I've learned a lot through my journey here at SNHU."

Hensarling noted that he initially chose SNHU because of the school's reputation. "And, the fact that I could do it while I was working full-time," he said, referring to the flexibility of learning online.

Ultimately, he decided that completing a bachelor's didn't mean he was finished with his education. Now, Hensarling is enrolled in SNHU's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

"I've just discovered more resilience and dedication," he said, "I knew that was already there at some level, but it really kind of showed itself throughout this journey."

If you think finishing school sounds like too much, Hensarling wants you to know that it's possible. "We can make time for this," he said. "It is totally worth it."

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. They're currently writing their debut novel, which was Longlisted for The First Pages Prize. Connect with them on LinkedIn.