NAU Education Nets Student “Substantial Promotion”
By Rochelle Hagel

When John Herrera decided to pursue a bachelor’s of science degree in health care management at National American University, he had already tried one other South Dakota school and completed a course of study at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Although NAU wasn’t Herrera’s first university and it probably won’t be his last – he intends to get his master’s degree someday – it was the one where he finally found his niche and the convenience he needed to complete his studies.

“The convenience of the courses worked with my schedule,” he said. It’s tough “being a full-time employee and trying to raise my kids and go to school. My wife is like ‘I’m glad you’re doing it and not me.’”

Herrera, who was born and raised in Rapid City and graduated from Rapid City Central High School, is currently the MRI coordinator at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

“I coordinate the work-flow through the department, keep the department organized, make sure the flow is smooth,” he said. “I’m kind of like a lead technological person.”

While this is a good job that Herrera enjoys, it doesn’t present the challenges that he wants in his professional life. It also lacks the opportunities for advancement and earnings that he desires. But he knew that they were out there for him if he completed his education.

“Basically there is a lot of opportunity in the health care field for managers and a lot of those positions require a bachelor degree in science or a related degree and I took the opportunity at NAU to complete that degree.”

For these reasons and because of his family, he decided to get his degree. Largely due to the support of his family, he was able to finish.

“Going back to school was planning for my whole family,” Herrera said. “I wanted a better paying job for a better life for my family and I think the kids’ seeing me go back to school was beneficial to them. They saw how hard I was working. They will remember me going to school and they will see how much better a lifestyle you can have when you have an education. At times it was really stressful but with the support of my family we pulled through.”

The effort is already paying off. He has received a substantial promotion both in status and salary in a job that will start this spring.

“I was offered a position with a new medical imaging center, that is yet to be built, to run and operate the MRI department of that company,” he said. “The prospective start date is any time between March and April. It all depends on how fast the construction crew goes.”

The new job will offer additional responsibilities and challenges. That is important to Herrera because this is how he measures success.

“Because of the education that I’ve received here at NAU, I will have a lot more responsibility in this job and I want that because I like to be challenged. This position that I’m going into is going to be a very satisfying job for me,” he said. “I’m part of the administrative team which means I will be making administrative decisions with my coworkers.”

“I just thrive on being successful – success for me is completing the goals that I’ve set for myself,” he said.

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