Born and raised in Ghana, 36-year-old Haverhill resident Hikma Tunteiya Mohammed may be a long way from home but says she feels like she is exactly where she is meant to be. The General Studies: Health Specialization major wants to ensure that others find that same sense of belonging at Northern Essex Community College, so she decided to run for the student representative position on the Board of Trustees. Mohammed won the election in May and officially began her term on July 1, 2024.

Hikma Tunteiya Mohammed is the new student trustee.

“It’s not about succeeding alone, but succeeding together,” says Mohammed of her outlook.

Mohammed first came to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in Health Administration, at Murray State University of Kentucky. Not long after enrolling in January of 2023, owing to her passion for caring for people, she felt a pull to explore a career in holistic health in caregiving instead, even though that would essentially mean starting her college career over.

“Sometimes you have to pull back to go forward,” she says of her decision to switch her focus.

Mohammed also decided a change of scenery would help in her fresh start. With friends living near Boston, she moved to Haverhill and first enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College as a nursing major – before realizing she had a much more convenient option practically in her backyard.

“If there’s a good thing in your neighborhood, why go elsewhere? I transferred [to NECC] and it was one of the best decisions. It’s one of the most beautiful places and it’s been a beautiful experience thus far.”

Her first semester at NECC was this past spring and she wasted no time getting involved. With a heavy course load of at least 12 credits on her shoulders, required of her a semester– she would often maximize her time by staying on campus to study. She says a representative from the Student Government Association (SGA) noticed her and invited her to use the SGA study room. They soon began talking about student leadership opportunities and Mohammed realized she could use her voice and experiences to help others.

“When elections came around, my friends in SGA encouraged me to run. And I thought ‘I should contribute. I should ensure that students know we have the resources for them to achieve their goals.’”

Mohammed is also focused on finishing her degree and hopes to become a nurse practitioner. She plans to then return to Ghana and her family- including a young son. She says she’s determined to ensure that her time at NECC is worth the sacrifices she’s made to pursue her calling.

“Nothing good comes easy, no matter what. I would work assiduously with the leaders of NECC to push the course of students forward in every given opportunity and to ensure that all students unite as a single, successful tribe, finding beauty and meaning in their differences and or diversity. When I go back home, I will be happy I made an indelible mark on my fellow students and contributed my quota to the greater Haverhill area of Massachusetts.”

Mohammed is undergoing training right now and looks forward to the Board of Trustees’ first meeting of the academic year in September. In the meantime, she is busy getting input from her fellow students on how she can best address their needs. So far, she’s identified addressing food insecurity and answering student feedback as top priorities.

Mohammed is also a member of the Community Outreach Group and is a certified National Adult Mental Health First Aider.

The NECC Board of Trustees includes nine members whom the governor of the state appoints to a maximum of two five-year terms, as well as an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of ten years, and the student trustee who serves for two semesters