PUC’s Second MBA Student Graduates from Program

In June, Parfait Migisha became the second student to graduate from the MBA program at Pacific Union College. Before attending, he was deciding on his next career step as a nurse. At the same time, his friend at PUC mentioned the MBA program after considering nurse practitioner and anesthesia programs when they brought up healthcare leadership as a possibility. When Migisha researched the program, he was intrigued by PUC’s online format and small class sizes, and he heard that instructors are easily accessible.

In 2023, Migisha began his two-year journey with PUC as the second student to enroll in the newly established MBA program. While earning his MBA, Migisha worked as a full-time nurse. After 10 years out of school, the program pushed him out of his comfort zone. He recalled returning to studying and writing essays, which he found challenging, and the program's courses were tough, but it helped rebuild his confidence in tackling complex problems.

“Living in Oakland, CA, for six years, I'd met many PUC undergrad alumni who spoke highly of their experience,” he said. “During the pandemic, I realized healthcare needs more clinically minded people in management, and with 13 years of bedside experience, I wanted PUC's Christian values to guide me into leadership roles.”

Migisha was so dedicated to completing the MBA program that he canceled multiple trips overseas to focus on his studies. During his classes, he enjoyed conversing with his classmates from academia to business, sharing how their non-healthcare perspectives offered views and thoughts he wouldn’t have considered on his own.

He found the course Integrating Faith and Leadership to be one of his favorite classes, hoping that these biblical leadership principles would shape his management approach. One of the most impactful lessons he acquired during the program was learning about Robert Greenleaf's concept of servant leadership: serving others first, then leading — a powerful approach to change management he had not considered before. This lesson discussed the leadership of Jesus and His exemplified act of washing the feet of His disciples and avoidance of the pursuit of status, instead leading with humility. This practice also highlights the importance of practicing empathetic listening and prioritizing others' interests, which aligns with Migisha’s career in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of building trust with patients, their families, and colleagues.

“The integration of Christian values throughout the curriculum stands out,” he said. “Small classes enabled meaningful discussions and personal attention from faculty. The program accommodated working professionals well, and they even added a summer course in my first year to help me graduate on schedule for a fellowship opportunity.”

With not only the accommodation provided by the program, Migisha credits PUC MBA Program Advisor Vivian Geow as a sole supporter, being incredibly responsive and accessible. He said whenever he had a question, she had answers and connected him to the right person, which is very crucial for online students. When Migisha applied for a fellowship, Geow helped him navigate the conferral timeline and was also offered a reference letter from Professor of Business Scott Perryman.

As Migisha moves into leadership positions, he shared that the MBA courses have prepared him well for service and plans to use his papers and research as a reference. He will also take his classmates' diverse perspectives and the Christian institutional values from PUC into the workforce. “Looking ahead, this foundation positions me to potentially move into broader healthcare administration roles where I can help drive system-level changes that improve both patient care and organizational effectiveness,” he said.

PUC Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications Gene Edelbach was one of the key minds behind creating the MBA program and is proud to see Migisha succeed at the college and in the healthcare field. “It's very exciting to have Parfait as our first student who has completed the program completely with us,” said Edelbach. “With more than 20 students currently in some stage of the program and a significant number more ready to start this fall, Parfait is leading the way to a new, strong alumni group that will be impactful in the business world. We're so appreciative of Parfait and the others who jumped into this program early and had faith in the quality and usefulness.”

Since graduating from PUC, Migisha’s role involves health plans and informatics, allowing him to utilize project management skills while building quality initiatives. Although he was not initially seeking a nurse leadership role, the MBA program introduced courses that he enjoyed, focusing on broader organizational impact.