Flying Toward Her Future: Student pilot pursues criminal justice

"When you are flying, you feel free," says Muna Ibrahim, a junior criminal justice major at Minnesota State Moorhead. While Muna is passionate about criminal justice, she's equally drawn to aviation, and Moorhead gives her the chance to combine the two.

Before beginning her college journey, Muna earned her student pilot license.

"The sky presents freedom for me. Everything in the sky is free to me. That's what made me want to become a pilot," she says. "And when I saved up enough money, I told myself I was going to fly."

BA in Criminal Justice

Her ultimate goal? To become a Federal Air Marshal, a role that combines her love for flying with her interest in law enforcement.

"While being a pilot, I also wanted to do something with investigating and understanding law enforcement. Criminal justice gives me that chance," she explains.

Finding a Home at Minnesota State Moorhead

Born in Somalia and raised in Kenya, Muna moved to the United States with her family in 2012. The Moorhead area quickly became home and when it came time to choose a university, Muna said, "MSUM stood out for its diversity, supportive community, and the opportunities it offered."

After attending several universities while pursuing her pilot training over the past three years, Muna finally found her academic home at Moorhead. "MSUM is the best school I've been to. I've attended multiple universities and colleges, but here, I feel like I belong," she says.

Muna credits her advisor and professor, Dr. Geraldine M. Hendrix-Sloan, assistant professor of criminal justice, as a key mentor in her journey.

"The most influential person has been Dr. Sloan. She encourages us to do better and is always there if you need something. She made me love criminal justice even more."

Muna recalls how supported she felt when sharing her goals with Dr. Sloan.

"I told her where I wanted to go with my degree, and she said, 'We're here for you. We'll help you however we can.' That made me feel seen. It made me want to stay here and finish my degree."

Overcoming Obstacles

Muna's journey hasn't been easy. As a first-generation college student and pilot, she has faced financial and emotional challenges.

"I didn't have the same support systems as others," she shares. "But I told myself, if I could become a pilot, I could do this, too."

She's also determined to challenge gender stereotypes in aviation.

"What excites me most is that nobody would guess I'm an agent," she says. "I get to be undercover and still fly. That's what sets aviation security apart from other criminal justice roles."

Muna feels her multilingual skills, speaking Somali, Swahili, and English, equip her to thrive in diverse airport environments and global aviation roles.

Looking to the Future

Graduating in May 2026, Muna plans to continue her flight certifications while preparing for a career in aviation security.

For students with big, unconventional dreams, Muna offers this advice, "Your background doesn't define your limit, your mindset does. You don't have to have it all figured out. Start with what you have, believe in what you're building, and outwork your fears."