For James Mwangi, nursing isn’t just a career path—it’s a calling born from personal experience, military service, and a desire to help others.
Originally from Kenya, James came to the United States through a Rotary exchange program and reunited with his family in St. Louis where his father, an engineer, had already relocated for work. James had earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in Kenya and soon after arriving in the U.S., landed a full-time job with Boeing Defense Systems. For the past five years, he’s worked as an accountant supporting the F-15 and F-18 military aircraft programs.
But everything changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when his grandfather became ill.
“A nurse would come over to help us take care of him,” James recalls. “I was able to learn from her and give him care. It really stayed with me.”
His military background also played a role in his pivot to nursing. Along with his position at Boeing, James serves as a Specialist (SPC) in the U.S. Army Reserves in a medical unit, where he's responsible for logistics in a hospital setting—including the supply of critical medications. He joined the reserves in 2020 and was most recently deployed to Jordan from August 2023 through September 2024. During that time, he worked in a hospital environment and faced the trauma of real-world conflict. His unit sustained casualties, including a medic who was a close colleague.
WEO student and Army Reserves James Mwangi.
James began his nursing journey in the Weekend Evening Option (WEO) at Goldfarb in September 2022, drawn by the program’s flexibility. “I checked several nursing schools in the area,” he explains. “Goldfarb stood out because it allowed me to continue working.”
Though Goldfarb students typically can’t take courses while deployed, the school made an exception for James. He wanted to continue his studies and was able to complete courses like Leadership and Evidence-Based Practice online while serving overseas.
He’s on track to graduate in summer 2026 and says the most difficult part of nursing school is balancing it all—his job, military responsibilities, schoolwork, and family. Still, he’s optimistic and grateful. He received a scholarship to attend Goldfarb—reflecting the school’s commitment to affordability. Seventy-seven percent of Goldfarb students receive grants or scholarships.
Mwangi and his wife, whom he met through church and the Kenyan community in St. Louis, are building a life here together. While his plate is full, it’s exactly where James wants to be.
“Working in a hospital, I’m able to give direct care to patients when they need it, to make a difference in their lives at their most vulnerable moments,” he says. That selfless service keeps him going.