Alumni Spotlight: LaSheba Hampton

LaSheba Hampton, Human Resource Specialist at Mount Carmel Health System.

Welcome to Baker College’s Spotlight feature, a series of brief interviews with notable BC students, faculty and alumni who are making news and reaching new heights in their educational and professional pursuits.

This edition of Spotlight features Baker College alumna, LaSheba Hampton, a Human Resource Specialist at Mount Carmel Health System. Hampton was recently promoted from Human Resources Solutions Specialist 1 in the Talent Acquisition Department to her new position in Operations.

Baker College (BC): Tell us, what degree did you earn from Baker College? Which campus did you attend?

LaSheba Hampton (LH): I earned a Bachelor’s of Health Service Administration at Baker College Online. I started in 2016 and graduated in 2019.

BC: Why did you choose Baker College for your educational pursuits?

LH: I was traveling in and out of Ohio frequently at that time. I needed a school that was low-cost, flexible with my personal and work schedule, and able to accept my previously earned credits. I was familiar with Michigan schools and that’s how I came across Baker College.

BC: What is your current job title/professional role?

LH: I’m a Human Resources Specialist at Mount Carmel Health System.

BC: What drove you to pursue a career in Healthcare Administration?

LH: Being able to help our community and our staff from a non-clinical perspective was the drive that opened my eyes to healthcare.

BC: You’re looking into obtaining your MBA with Baker College, what made you decide to pursue your Master’s degree?

LH: After landing in my new role, I realized that being part of an executive leadership team I had the real possibility of making improvements to our best practices. I am surrounded by experts in their field of healthcare. For the first time, I feel that I have someone to admire, someone to look up to. I can Master healthcare.

BC: That’s so inspiring! What were your career goals when you enrolled at BC?  How do they compare to where you are today?

LH: Initially I was interested in becoming a licensed nursing home administrator. Upon graduation, I realized that I had no real hands on experience leading a healthcare setting. Without guidance, logically starting in human resources seemed like a great idea. Compared to today, I still feel that to be a good career goal. I am learning so much about healthcare in this new role that I realize that I am not limited to any specific department within healthcare or HR.

BC: What do you like best about your job/career path?  What do you find most challenging?

LH: The beauty of healthcare administration is again, I’m not limited to a specific job title for the rest of my life. What’s challenging is age discrimination/lack of experience. It’s hard to fight your way into a leadership position because no one thinks you can do it because your resume reads that you’re a new grad. It's hard to find an organization that’s willing to take a chance to develop you.

BC: How do you feel your time at/degree from Baker College has contributed to your professional successes?

LH: My first job in healthcare as an HR Solutions Specialist 1 only required an associate’s level of education in which the area of study did not matter. The job was very entry level. A bachelor’s in healthcare administration or related field was required for my promotion.

BC: You volunteer to work lots of overtime at your Health Care System, what drives you to go above and beyond?

LH: The world hit a staffing crisis this year due to Covid. With flu and holiday season among us, many of our staff are out on quarantine or paid time off. I have volunteered to pick up non-clinical shifts not because of the pay, but because I know my fellow colleagues and community needs me.

BC: What best piece of advice would you share with current college students? 

LH: Networking. Networking. Networking! Ask around about opportunities. Try to set up job shadows to see what the field is like before you spend 4 years studying something you’ll hate. Take money out of the picture, would you be able to get yourself up every day and go to that job and be happy?

BC: What would you want others to know about Baker College?

LH: My experience with Baker College Online was amazing. The staff is great, and the resources are there. The functionality of the online structure was easy to follow.

BC: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

LH: Be that example you never had.

For more information about Baker College’s Healthcare Administration program, please visit our Program Page.