Where are you from?

I was born and grew up in rural Oklahoma about 30 miles west of Fort Smith, Arkansas. I have lived in Fort Smith, the Tulsa area, Stillwater, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and Houston for 20 years.

What do you do here at OSUIT? 

I am the mental health counselor.

Tell me a little about your experience with the university so far?

Everyone in my family lives in Oklahoma so I made many, many round trips between Houston and the Tulsa area. On one of these very long trips, I took the time to drive through the OSUIT campus and I liked what I saw. In 2009, when circumstances required me to move back to Oklahoma to be closer to my aging parents, the OSUIT campus counselor position was open. I decided to apply and was fortunate enough to be hired.

What’s been the best thing about working here?

The people who work here are talented and dedicated. I have formed some great friendships here.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

One of my favorite views is from Loop 56 where the Posse Riders are located. I also enjoy our Student Union and the library; both offer so many services and resources for staff as well as students. 

What would you tell someone who was thinking about attending or working at OSUIT?

I would say that, due to hands-on learning plus the opportunity to form connections with industry representatives, OSUIT programs are relevant to the job market in a more direct way than many traditional academic degrees.