Arriving at Morningside in 2007 from Ida Grove, Iowa, Heather Appel quickly immersed herself in campus life. While majoring in Business Administration with specializations in accounting and finance, she also took on significant leadership roles, serving as the head resident of Dimmitt Hall and, in her senior year, as student body president.

After holding several different roles in Sioux City, she was asked in 2014 to relocate to Des Moines for a unique position. “I became a revenue cycle informaticist, which sounds like a made-up word, but I promise it’s a real job title,” she laughs.

This move propelled her into the heart of healthcare technology. Today, she serves as the Training Manager for the electronic health record (EHR) system across the entire UnityPoint Health enterprise, a role that combines her business acumen with her deep understanding of healthcare operations.

With a successful career and a busy life, which also includes teaching as an adjunct professor, what prompted her to pursue an MBA? For her, it was a “trifecta of perfect timing.”

First, after years of dedicated work for a not-for-profit healthcare system, she achieved Public Service Loan Forgiveness for her undergraduate loans. Second, her employer, UnityPoint Health, offers tuition reimbursement for continuing education. The final piece fell into place when she saw a social media announcement from her alma mater.

“I had been looking at MBA programs across the country for a long time, many of them virtual,” she says. “I even considered combined MBA/MHA degrees. But when Morningside announced its own MBA program, I knew that was where I was meant to be. The timing was perfect.”

As a working professional and educator, she needed a program that could accommodate her demanding schedule. The Morningside MBA delivered. 

She found the program structure to be a thoughtful blend of collaborative and self-directed learning. Her marketing class with Dr. Eastman featured virtual connection points that allowed her to meet and network with her cohort. In contrast, her accounting course with Dr. Uhl was structured to be flexible. 

Returning to academia after nearly 15 years could have been daunting, but she credits program lead Dr. Darrel Sandal with making the transition seamless. “Navigating the process of coming back to school is different as an adult,” she notes. “Darrel has been so available and great with any questions we’ve had. I really appreciated that.” 

With an enduring sense of pride, the choice felt like coming home. Her involvement with the alumni community has remained constant, and her enthusiasm for the university is infectious.