EMBA alum takes leadership role at new School of Public Health

Sunghei Han, EMBA 2023, describes herself as “a social worker with a business mind.”

That combination is proving useful in her new role as associate dean for administration at WashU’s School of Public Health. It’s the latest step in a WashU journey that began in 2002, when Han enrolled as a master’s student at the Brown School of Social Work. Now she’s helping launch the first new school at WashU in a century, drawing on her social work background — and the business education she got at Olin.

Tell us how you came to WashU and Olin. 

I’m from Seoul, Korea; WashU brought me to the United States. I earned a master’s in social work from the Brown School, and after graduating, managed a small nonprofit in St. Louis. I came back to WashU to work in admissions at the Brown School before becoming the manager of operations. Leading operations during the pandemic made me realize I needed a deeper understanding of business, which ultimately inspired me to pursue my MBA.

For the past three and a half years, I’ve had a great opportunity to serve as lecturer and field faculty at the Brown School. I’ve taught our MPH (master’s in public health) and MSW (master’s in social work) students across a variety of subjects: practicum classes, social work practice with organizations and communities, leadership class, and PIE (planning, implementation, and evaluation) class.

So over the nine years I’ve been at WashU, I’ve gotten a 360-degree view — as a student, as an alum, as staff, as faculty. I believe this well-rounded experience makes me a stronger leader in building a new school at WashU.

What does your new position involve?

My portfolio includes all administrative aspects of the school: finance, grants administration, admissions and recruitment, and human resources or our “people service.” I also am the primary liaison with central university shared administrative resources. 

You can see the balance sheet right there. Income coming in and expenses going out.

What excites you about your role with the School of Public Health?

It’s incredibly exciting because this is a big, bold mission — one that I can’t accomplish alone. I love creating streamlined, efficient systems where efforts are aligned with a clear goal and measurable outcomes. Building a new school in a creative and innovative way is both a challenge and an opportunity that truly energizes me.

How does your Olin EMBA support your work?

My nontraditional path, combined with the business skills I have gained from the EMBA program, allows me to approach this work in a unique way. I am very systematic and logical, and my social work background fuels my higher purpose of helping create a healthier world. With the business knowledge I have developed at Olin, I can do that in a way that is not just impactful but also efficient and sustainable.

My lived experience and intersectional identity shape how I approach building healthier systems. I know that improving systems starts with understanding and empowering people. My main goal in getting an MBA was to deeply understand the business world – how it operates, how decisions are made, and the language it speaks.

For example, a student from Olin and a student from the Brown school might both talk about equity and agree that it is important. But they may be defining it in completely different ways. Since I navigate both worlds, I need to be fluent in both languages. My goal in life, whether I am in business, social work arena, or public health space is the same: to focus on making a positive impact on people’s quality of life through innovation.

What was your EMBA experience like?

It was very exciting; I learned so much. It also gave me a great network. The weekend classes were tough but so rewarding. The rich conversations and class discussions pushed me to think in new ways, and I learned a lot from my classmates’ diverse perspectives. Those of us in Cohort 57 still meet regularly, and our discussions continue to be just as insightful. Having a network like that means having people you can lean on for their expertise. I can say, “I don’t know about this; what do you think?” and trust that I will get valuable perspectives. 

I truly miss those class weekends! And I know everybody thinks their cohort is the best, but let’s be honest — Cohort 57 really is the best! The EMBA program was a game-changer for me, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

As Olin collaborates with the School of Public Health, what does the business school add to that relationship?

Olin adds tremendous value. It’s truly a partnership, much like how the public and private sectors work together for a higher purpose. Take this fitness watch, for example (pointing to the device on her wrist). A private business developed it, but it serves a critical public health function - collecting health data, detecting falls, and even calling emergency services for seniors. That is a powerful example of how business and public health intersect to create a healthier society. 

We can’t achieve large-scale public health goals without the private sector, and that is why collaboration is key. This idea was a big part of my purpose in going to Olin, and now, I am excited to be a bridge between Olin and the School of Public Health. 

— Sunghei Han

 By working together, we can create solutions that are both impactful and sustainable.