Faces of NLU: Meet Berneice Mills-Thomas

A working mother uses her degrees from NLU to become a champion of healthcare accessibility for underprivileged communities.

We often say that our programs at National Louis University (NLU) are “career-focused,” because they are designed to get you from the classroom to a rewarding job while accommodating life’s responsibilities along the way. However, we know that a career isn’t just a means to earn money. At NLU, we love when our students channel their passion and purpose into their careers to make them more than just jobs. That is exactly what Berneice Mill-Thomas did after she earned her B.S. in Health Care Leadership and her M.S. in Management at NLU. A lifelong Chicagoan, Berneice was not only able to turn her education at NLU into a leadership position at a local healthcare organization, but she was able to use the skills and knowledge she gained to improve access to healthcare for underprivileged Chicago communities.

Berneice was already a working mother when she decided to enroll at NLU. She says that both the financial support the University offered and the schedule flexibility convinced her it was the right choice:

“I attended an informational session presented by the college and I liked what I heard. I was a working parent at the time, and National Louis was willing to work with me in terms of both the flexibility of courses and financial support and this made all the difference.”

The bachelor’s and master’s degrees Berneice earned at NLU gave her both the job-specific knowledge and general critical thinking skills that have helped her advance in her career:

“I credit National Louis University with being the gateway to my successful career in healthcare. The master’s degree that I achieved at National Louis helped me secure a competitive fellowship grant program that launched my career in healthcare leadership. Additionally, I learned about critical thinking at NLU, and this skill has been one of my strongest assets throughout my career.”

Beyond helping her transition to a new career, Berneice’s degrees have put her in a position to make an impact on underprivileged communities in Chicago through her organization: 

“I was determined to execute our mission of providing access to high quality health care to improve the health and well-being of the diverse communities we serve. My goal was to be a healthcare champion to thousands of low-income families and individuals, and I have led the organization in growing to nine community health centers and two Women, Infant and Children centers located throughout Chicagoland. The biggest obstacle that I’ve had to overcome on an ongoing basis has been finding and securing funding to support our growth.”

Berneice further explains that her leadership position allows her to set crucial policies that can impact communities beyond Chicago:

“I have enjoyed being in a leadership (decision-making) position in the healthcare industry that allowed me to set policies that have positively impacted the communities we serve. I have been able to set critical healthcare policies at the local, regional and national levels. I am humbled by the many honors and awards I’ve received throughout my career, including being inducted into the National Association of Community Health Centers Hall of Fame. My time at National Louis University was a pivotal beginning of my career. Thank you for the opportunity!!!”

Berneice encourages current NLU students to “leverage the opportunities that an education at National Louis provides. Set and stay focused on your goals and stick with it and don’t let anyone discourage you from reaching your goals.”

If you’re interested in learning more about our health care programs, check out NLU’s B.S. in Health Care Leadership and the Master’s in Health Services Administration degree programs, and our Medical Assistant certificate within Accelerate U: a program that offers affordable, rapid training experiences that come with college credit, industry credentials and a path to a full-time job immediately. You can also contact an Enrollment Specialist online or by calling (888) 658-8632 to discuss your career and educational goals.