Ann Marie Andersen once dreamed of Broadway. Today, she commands a different kind of stage — the executive boardroom of Astria Sunnyside Hospital, where she serves as human resource director for a network of rural health centers stretching from Prosser to Yakima.
A 2025 graduate of 鶹Ƶ’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management (BASM) program, Anderson’s journey highlights strength and the power of local education.
“I wanted to be a stage actress,” Andersen said. “I was in Running Start back in high school, working toward a general associate degree. Then life happened.”
After stepping away from school, Andersen spent years in the restaurant industry. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she found herself — like many service workers — at a crossroads.
“I got really bored,” she said. “So, I looked into what I needed to finish my AA. Turns out it was just two math classes.”
Learning she was close spurred Andersen to act. Conversations with YVC advisors and other students led her to the BASM program, where she discovered a new passion for business — and a new path forward.
“I realized a business degree made sense,” she said. “I knew I’d end up in business somehow. Plus, my best friend has two degrees so I figured she may end up needing someone to run the business side, if she opens her own winery.”
Andersen thrived in the BASM program, crediting it with giving her both the language of business and the interpersonal skills to lead in a complex, people-centered field like health care.
“The curriculum gives you terminology, but the real bread and butter is in the networking and communication,” she said. “Health care is incredibly diverse and those day-to-day interactions in class helped me prepare for that.”
Now, as human resource director for Astria Health, Andersen oversees operations for a system that serves some of the most rural communities in Central Washington. It’s a role that blends strategy, compassion and a deep connection to the Yakima Valley.
TOP: Ann Marie Andersen takes a break from the 2025 Career & Transfer Fair to pose for a photo on YVC's Yakima Campus. ABOVE: Andersen (left), along with her colleague, manages the Astria Health booth during the fair, held on May 8.
“We don’t have multimillion-dollar facilities or the latest equipment,” she said. “What we do have is a passion for the valley and the people in it. That’s why our partnership with YVC is so important — we find talent close to home.”
Andersen’s ties to YVC remain strong. She frequently returns to campus as a guest speaker in business classes and hopes to one day teach as an adjunct instructor. She also recently participated in sharing employment opportunities available across the Astria network.
“I tell people all the time — anybody can do it,” she said. “You don’t have to go to a big, fancy institution. You can stay close to home and get an even better education.”
Her journey wasn’t without challenges. As a single mother of a daughter with autism, Andersen needed a program that fit her life. YVC delivered.
“I was surprised to find a program that catered to working adults,” she said. “Evening classes, supportive instructors — it made all the difference.”
Financial barriers and the demands of full-time work meant she had to extend her coursework, but Andersen said the flexibility and support she received helped her succeed.
She also found mentors who shaped her path, including instructors Emily Oldham and Brock Eubanks.
“Brock helped me figure out my next step — a master’s in organizational leadership at Eastern Washington University,” she said. “Emily and I are still close. She’s the reason I stay connected to YVC.”
That connection to her instructors and classmates is more than professional — it’s personal.
“Our cohort has stayed really close,” Andersen said. “When I walked into the building for this interview, I ran into three or four people I knew. It’s like a home away from home.”
As she looks to the future, Andersen hopes to continue building bridges between YVC and the region’s health care system — and to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
“I’ve talked to people who’ve gone to big universities or online schools,” she said. “But what’s special about YVC is the community. The networking you get here bears fruit a lot quicker. It’s rooted in the valley — just like me.”
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Matt Barton, graphic designer/multimedia content producer.