Khadeja Al-Khelaifi
Inspired to Lead
Khadeja Al-Khelaifi decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Haslam for two reasons—to further her own career and as a gift to her daughter and son. Al-Khelaifi grew up in Knoxville and became a mom at 18. Finishing her senior year of high school with the help of a teen parenting program, she became a single mom of two young children while in her early 20s.
She began a part-time job as a receptionist at a local medical clinic and, with determination and a strong work ethic, climbed the ranks from medical assistant to office manager over the ensuing nine years. “This growth happened while I was in the thick of raising my kids,” Al-Khelaifi says. “I wasn’t really setting goals, but looking back, I was advancing almost every two years.”
In 2019, Al-Khelaifi realized she wanted more and decided to be strategic with her goals. She completed an associate’s degree at a local community college while working full-time. After that, with her children older and more self-sufficient, she contemplated the next step. “Haslam seemed beyond my reach,” she says. “But I knew I wanted to pursue a degree in management, so I applied.”
Now a senior in business management with a collateral in international business, Al-Khelaifi plans to graduate in May with a valuable degree and several enriching experiences under her belt. She traveled to Chile with a faculty-led business study abroad program, mentored younger students through the Haslam Student Engagement programs, and participated in the college’s Diverse Organization of Business Students (DOBS).
In fall 2024, Al-Khelaifi met with professor Jake Livesay to ask for career advice. Livesay connected her with Russell Crook, head of Haslam’s Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, who recommended Al-Khelaifi for the Moll Anderson Scholarship, earmarked for single mothers. “My mom was single through some of my formative years, and I was impressed that Khadeja came back to school to prove to her children that it could be done,” Crook says. “Scholarships like this are so impactful because, simply put, they are life-changing.”
After graduation, Al-Khelaifi wants to pursue a management role that fits her strengths. “I love to inspire and encourage people, and to mentor and teach, but I also enjoy timelines and structures.” Her courses and professors at Haslam have helped her to sharpen all those skills. “I love getting to share with my children what I’m learning and pave the way for them,” she says. “I’m thankful for the faculty reminding me that I belong here, and for giving me the knowledge I need to go after my dreams.”
