APU Senior Alicia Muller Pursues Nursing with Purpose
From Anchorage to the halls of Alaska Pacific University, Alicia Muller’s journey into nursing has been anything but rushed, and that’s exactly how she wanted it.
Alicia, who is graduating with her Associate of Science in Nursing, took time to make sure she was on the right path. After spending years working in competitive sales, she realized she liked the people part of the job but didn’t enjoy feeding into a consumer culture. While that career sharpened her people skills, it lacked the deeper purpose she was searching for. Nursing offered exactly that. “I like being able to connect with patients and help them in hard times,” she says. She woke up one day and decided to see if she would enjoy nursing instead. She then worked as a nursing assistant at the Alaska Native Medical Center. Five years later, she knew she had found her calling.
“I didn’t want to get a degree I didn’t like,” she explains. “But I really enjoyed the work, so I decided to take the next step.”
Her connection to APU started at home. Her mom attended APU for a master’s in business administration. It was the university’s mission that sealed the deal. “I really liked that APU is trying to be a Tribal college. We need more Native nurses,” Alicia says.
At APU, Alicia found more than just a program—she found a community. “I enjoyed my cohort. It’s almost like a cult—I don’t know how else to describe it,” she laughs. “If I didn’t have my friends, I don’t think I would have been as successful.” Long nights studying together became some of her most meaningful memories. She also credits her professors and the collaborative nature of the program. “All my professors are amazing. They give you all the tools to be successful. Everyone works as a team in a way that makes it easier to succeed.”
This past year, Alicia gained hands-on experience participating in community health fairs, something she hadn’t encountered before. “I didn’t know anything about them,” she says. “Then participating, meeting people, and seeing how they connect communities to healthcare—like screenings, labs, and mental health resources—was really awesome.”
Scholarships, including the Trustee Scholarship, helped make her journey possible. “I’m definitely appreciative. They made it possible to focus my time and energy fully on school.”
After graduation, Alicia will begin working in medical-surgical care at Alaska Native Medical Center, with plans to eventually continue her education and earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Her path hasn’t been without challenges as she was originally set to graduate in December 2025, but persistence carried her through. Her advice to future students reflects that experience:
“It is very challenging, but absolutely worth it. Even if you don’t succeed at first, you shouldnkeep pushing.”
When she’s not studying or working, Alicia enjoys playing viola, gaming with her husband and sister, and spending time with her three cats.
