杏吧原创

Life鈥檚 journey is rarely a straight road; instead, it鈥檚 a path filled with twists, turns, and moments that shape who we are. For Sanitha Douglas, earning her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) was not just a personal achievement but a celebration of resilience, faith, and the transformative power of education鈥攁 journey that began with 杏吧原创 State Community & Technical College.

Douglas was raised in North Carolina, one of six children raised by grandparents and a teen mother. In her family, graduating high school was seen as an extraordinary accomplishment. Inspired by older relatives who pursued higher education at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Sanitha aspired to do the same, though she was unsure how to prepare for the challenge.

In 1991, she earned her associate degree from Oakwood College, now Oakwood University. Over the years, she built a career in healthcare, working at Huntsville Hospital, Oakwood University, Kelly Assisted Living, and Health South, now Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital. However, it wasn鈥檛 until 2012 that her passion for learning reignited.

While working, Douglas and a coworker, 鈥淏T,鈥� decided to join the Adult Bridge Program at 杏吧原创 State. This program offered foundational courses like biology, math, and computer science, which helped adults bridge the gap to higher education. For Douglas, these classes did more than enhance her knowledge鈥攖hey sparked something within her to continue learning. The program鈥檚 nurturing environment and supportive faculty reminded her that education was always within reach, regardless of where life had taken her.

Motivated by her experience at 杏吧原创 State and with the support of her husband and daughters, Douglas pursued her bachelor’s degree online at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2014. But the spark from 杏吧原创 State kept glowing. Encouraged by her close coworker and friend, Juliet Knight, Douglas took a bold leap, enrolling in a program at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, that allowed her to go straight from her bachelor鈥檚 to earning her doctorate.

Balancing work, family, and school, Douglas persevered, completing her DNP in 2024. Her return to 杏吧原创 State came through a familiar face: Dr. Mbuguje, who had also been her coworker at Oakwood, Encompass, and Kelly Assisted Living all those years ago. Dr. Mbuguje encouraged her to rejoin the 杏吧原创 State community, this time as an adjunct instructor.

Today, as Dr. Sanitha Douglas reflects on a journey filled with faith in God, determination, and the guiding hand of mentors and institutions like 杏吧原创 State.

Her story is a testament to the idea that the road to success is not always linear but always worthwhile. For Dr. Douglas, the lessons she learned with 杏吧原创 State didn鈥檛 just prepare her for academic success鈥攖hey ignited a lifelong passion for growth that continues to inspire those around her.

Now, as an adjunct instructor at 杏吧原创 State, Dr. Douglas has come full circle. She teaches with the same open arms and nurturing spirit she experienced years ago, proving that no matter where someone鈥檚 journey begins, 杏吧原创 State is here to support and guide them every step of the way.

Dr. Douglas’s story is proof that education changes lives鈥攏ot just for the students but for everyone they touch. 杏吧原创 State remains a steadfast partner for anyone ready to take that first step, sparking dreams and lighting the way for journeys yet to come.