For Nayla Benyamine, Houston Christian University (HCU) did more than prepare her for success in the business world鈥攊t strengthened her faith and shaped the values that now bring her back to make an impact where her journey began.
A 2007 graduate of the Archie W. Dunham College of Business (DCOB), Nayla earned a double major in Business Administration and Marketing when the University was still known as Houston Baptist University. As a student, she gained more than a business education. She found a community that challenged her, shaped her values and planted a vision for leadership grounded in service.
鈥淗aving been a student there, I鈥檓 deeply motivated to help make the college even better. My time at HCU was transformative, not just in terms of education but also in forming lifelong friendships and connections that I still hold dear,鈥� shared Benyamine.
After graduation, Nayla joined a Houston-based medical missions nonprofit, where she discovered a passion for healthcare administration and purpose-driven work. The experience set her on a path toward a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management from The University of Texas School of Public Health鈥� and eventually to Baylor College of Medicine.
At Baylor, Nayla stepped into one of the most formative seasons of her professional life. Serving in the President鈥檚 Office during a time of significant institutional change, she helped advance strategic planning initiatives and cross-campus collaboration. Working closely with executive leadership, she witnessed firsthand how thoughtful, servant-minded leadership can guide organizations through complexity while honoring the people who make the mission possible. Those lessons stayed with her, shaping how she leads today. Eventually, that path led her back to where it all began.
Now Chair of the DCOB Advisory Board, she brings her experience, perspective and passion home to HCU. In this role, she helps guide the College鈥檚 strategic direction while building meaningful bridges between students, faculty and industry leaders.
鈥淎t HCU, I put this into practice by intentionally creating opportunities for board members to participate in the College of Business, engaging them in discussions where their industry experience can directly benefit the DCOB and meeting with them one on one to better understand their perspectives and connect their strengths to the needs of the college,鈥� shares Benyamine.
From career panels and mock interviews to internships, site visits and signature events like the Commercial Real Estate Forum, Nayla and the Advisory Board work intentionally to connect classroom learning with real-world experience. The goal is simple but powerful: to ensure students graduate confident, prepared and ready to lead.
Benyamine鈥檚 leadership was especially impactful during the College鈥檚 recent Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accreditation, a milestone she views not as a finish line, but as a promise.
鈥淎ccreditation really opens doors on multiple levels. For students, it means they鈥檙e part of a program that鈥檚 recognized for its excellence, which can attract top employers who are eager to recruit from a well-accredited school. For external partnerships, it makes the college a more attractive collaborator, whether that鈥檚 forming alliances with other universities or partnering with industries,鈥� says Benyamine.
DCOB鈥檚 recent accreditation signals that the College is a place where continuous improvement and high standards are the norm, paving the way for even more opportunities.
Looking ahead, she believes that the DCOB is poised for an exciting future. With strong leadership, engaged faculty and an increasingly involved Advisory Board, the Dunham College of Business is positioned to expand its influence and deepen its impact.
She views her role as Advisory Board Chair as a calling shaped by gratitude and purpose. 鈥淗CU invested in me at a formative time in my life,鈥� she reflects. 鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 a privilege to invest back, to help open doors and to be part of the story that鈥檚 still being written.鈥�
What makes Benyamine鈥檚 role even more meaningful is witnessing the remarkable progress DCOB Dean Mike Rome and his team have made since her graduation. Their commitment and achievements continue to inspire her, and she feels honored to give back, offer her perspective and learn alongside the distinguished members of the advisory board.
鈥淭ogether, we鈥檙e helping shape the future of the college in a deeply rewarding way.鈥�