91̽»¨

One Job, Two Careers

OUAZ Alum Fighting Both Crime and Fire

The Department of Public Safety in Sunnyvale, CA, is one of a handful of stations across the U.S. that provides joint fire and police services to the community. Instead of having separate firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and police officers, the city’s public safety officers are cross trained to respond to any type of call that comes in, allowing for seamless and efficient mitigation of safety concerns.

Tyler Souza '21/MBA ’23 is a rookie in the Sunnyvale department, completing the police academy in May of 2024 and transitioning to the fire academy in mid-October after four months on patrol. Having grown up Morgan Hill, CA, around friends and family who were public servants, it wasn’t a stretch when Souza chose a career in law enforcement and firefighting. It was a bit of a stretch, however, that the path took him through OUAZ.

In 2018, OUAZ was in its start-up phase. No dorms, few facilities, fledgling athletic teams, and growing academic programs. Interestingly, it was that “getting in on the ground floor” excitement that drew Souza to OUAZ football and the University as a whole. He was intrigued with helping build the University and seeing what OU’s upcoming years might have to offer.

That desire was compounded when Souza got a part-time job in the school’s facilities department while working toward his BA in Human and Social Services. Due to COVID rules that extended his football eligibility for another year, he decided to stay on at OUAZ to play one last season and begin pursuing his Master of Arts in Leadership.

Following that last semester of football, Souza went to work full time in facilities, which allowed him to develop deeper relationships and become involved in behind-the-scenes operations of the new University. He loved working toward a common goal, but he also relished the struggle innate in new beginnings. And it showed in his work ethic.

“Tyler’s dependability and effort set him aside,” said Facilities Coordinator Rey Samudio. “He sought input frequently, welcomed new challenges, and was constantly eager to gain new skills beyond those required for his current position. Tyler had a drive for solving difficult problems, taking the initiative, and motivating others, especially in high-pressure situations, which made him a vital member of the team.”

“I grew a ton as a young adult at OUAZ,” Souza reminisced. “Being involved as a student, athlete, and employee, I saw things from many different perspectives and came to appreciate the difficult decisions that often had to be made. Even when it was hard for the administration to figure out the best way forward, they always kept the long-term success of students and the vision of the University in mind. I learned how important it is to keep your goals in mind, even when you face obstacles and have to work through them. The example OU set in that was priceless.”

OUAZ set another example for Souza that became a critical part of his career path. Deeply entrenched in the community since it started in 2017, the University partners in numerous ways with the City of Surprise, AZ. One way is to invite local police officers and fire fighters to eat in the school’s cafeteria, which allows students to interact with them.

Souza took full advantage of the opportunity, speaking regularly with fire fighters and the assistant fire chief, in particular. Those conversations led to a relationship with the Goodyear Fire Department, where Souza became a cadet for eight months in 2022. He was assigned a mentor and completed a number of ride-alongs. He also learned how to operate, load and unload hoses; assisted with medical calls; participated in training exercises; and experienced the impact fire fighters have in the community. 

Upon graduation in 2023, Souza took the job in Sunnyvale, and he knows without a doubt that he chose correctly. “This doesn’t feel like a job,” he said passionately. “It feels like helping my community. Just like at OU, I am surrounded by an amazing group of people that are all working towards the same goal. And when you see that smile on a family’s face when they know they are safe now, or that kid gives you a hug and just wants a sticker because you are a police officer, it’s the best affirmation in the world.”

While it will be some years before Souza’s degrees will lead to opportunities for leadership roles within the department, he utilizes them every day on the job. “My human and social services background helps me work with diverse groups, whether it’s the unhoused, the mental health community, trauma and abuse situations, or interacting with everyday citizens. And even though I’m a newer officer, I use my leadership skills to help manage and organize things during high intensity calls. I add knowledge and insights that often help with positive outcomes.”

A little over a year ago, Souza returned to the OUAZ campus to see how the University was doing and reconnect with old friends. “The University seems to be doing well,” he shared. “The vision the administration had for what they wanted OUAZ to become is coming full circle. I am so glad to see it thriving, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.”

Likewise, Souza has come full circle in realizing his initial career goals, and, just like the University, he has his sights set to the future and continued growth by maturing in his roles and gaining more experience. Eventually, he wants to grow into a great leader and mirror the wonderful mentors and leaders that impacted him.

“I want to become one of them,” intimated Souza. “I want to give back to newer officers who exhibit the same motivation and drive that I currently have as a rookie. I want to use my education and life experiences to help develop them into future leaders who want to make their communities safer and better.”

Faster, Higher, Stronger

Croson Runs Performance Lab of California

Morey Croson ‘14 went into his junior year at OUKS without having declared a major. When pressed by his advisor, he initially chose education because of a work study program he was doing within the department, but by the next semester, Croson had transitioned to be an exercise science major and added the newly developed concentration of strength and conditioning. It was the right fit. Not only did it allow Croson to follow in the steps of his father, a longtime football coach in California, but it also capitalized on his own strengths as a Braves football player who liked to analyze the nuts and bolts of performance.

His head coach at the time, Kent Kessinger saw the bent Croson had towards coaching and dissecting his and other athletes’ play. “Morey was always a hard worker who had a great desire to learn the ‘ins and outs’ surrounding performance as an athlete,” he said. “Coaching was in his blood, and he had a knack for seeing subtleties in movement.” To build on that interest, Croson volunteered to do strength and conditioning for the 91̽»¨ High School football team during his time at OU.

Croson also credits several professors who made an impact on him and helped steer him towards his current career. For example, Pete Townley was a professor in the Exercise Science department. “We would have great conversations about training methodologies and ways to help out the 91̽»¨ football team,” Croson recalled. The late Coach Andy Carrier was also a big influence. “He provided a ton of value and extra time to help me in any way that he could. Coach Carrier was a great coach, as well as a great professor and mentor in my early 20s.”

Following an internship he completed at Dynamic Athletics (now DARI Motion) in Overland Park, KS, during his senior year, Croson knew that he wanted to open a business that focused on helping athletes improve their performance. “Working with their technology and starting to put objective data behind human movement was something I loved doing,” he said. And even though he wasn’t a business major, an OU economics professor took an interest in his plans. “I told Dr. Russ McCullough about the concept, and he helped me with a business plan to get organized with what was most important for starting the business.” 

Ready to go the distance, Croson combined his natural ability and his newly earned degree right out of college to open Performance Lab of California (PLC), a Los Angeles based comprehensive sports training facility that specializes in athlete health and performance optimization.

PLC offers programs to help athletes do such things as run faster, throw farther, hit straighter, and jump higher by collecting and analyzing biometric data. PLC then creates individualized training strategies to help athletes achieve their personal goals in any sport.

“PLC will give you the ultimate perspective on your body’s function and performance,” said one of Croson’s clients. “This is an amazing facility and is the future of getting more in tune with yourself and getting more accurate details about what you want to do with your body. I’m seeing the calculations of my flaws and seeing what wasn’t being used right so I can see where I’m limited and what needs to be corrected.”

Kessinger has kept tabs on Croson’s work and success since leaving OU. “Having followed the evolution of PLC over the past several years, you can tell Morey does a tremendous job of taking what can be a complicated movement and presenting it in a way that helps those he works with become much better,” he explained. “In my role as a professor, I have often referred to Morey’s videos as great examples for some of our movement analysis courses. It’s awesome to see how he has turned a passion of his into a way to help athletes of all ages.”

There have been challenges, Croson acknowledges, mostly on the business side of things. “It is a constant learning experience when running a business and being able to figure out what works and what doesn’t,” he said, whether in relation to adding employees, facing skill challenges, or continuing to scale and grow. PLC currently has five employees and works out of one location. That doesn’t mean the company isn’t expanding, however.

“I was able to grow fairly quickly, eclipsing six figures within the first three years,” Croson shared. Then he began capitalizing on the tremendous competition and change in the health and fitness industry by pivoting from a strictly technology-based business to a robust media and online platform of sports performance and health. His is approaching 100,000 subscribers, and PLC has been featured on a variety of different media outlets including NBC, Voyage LA, Daily News, TrainHeroic, and others.

Croson’s goal is to grow his YouTube channel to over one million subscribers and break the seven-figure mark for yearly income. “I can’t help but believe God led me to 91̽»¨ to help me get to where I am today,” he affirmed.

His advice to current OU students with big dreams? “Maintain a singular focus; keep an open mind and look for opportunities and reasons why you can achieve something - don’t focus on problems or reasons why you can’t; and make mistakes when you’re young, learn from them and make adjustments.”

Advice that Croson has clearly taken to heart as he continues to improve his own performance as an entrepreneur in a rising field of athletics.

Baseball in Finland

OUKS Alum Leading National Team

When Paul York ’02 moved with his family to Finland at the end of 2023 to support a promotion and three-year career opportunity for his wife, Sarah, he was mostly along for the ride. He temporarily left his job in Kansas City to be Mr. Mom, caring for and chauffeuring their two sons, Alex (12) and Mac (9), to school, activities, practices, and games. Unfortunately for the boys who had played throughout their youth, baseball wasn’t one of those activities, since little league baseball is not offered in Finland.

When York went searching for any potential American baseball opportunities for his sons in their new country, he found himself communicating with the president and vice president of the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation. Though he had no success on the youth side, their conversations turned to the Finnish National Team and York’s prior experience playing and coaching the sport.

York was soon invited to a meeting with the Federation president to discuss options and left with an offer to work with the players in their baseball development league. However, he mentioned that there might also be an opportunity for York to help with the National team. The president shared that they were in negotiations with the assistant general manager of a Major League Baseball team to find a professional coach for Team Finland.

A couple of weeks later, York was surprised to be summoned to a meeting with the coaching staff of the National team, who were all former National team players. At the meeting, the Federation president went around the table to identify the role each would fill on the coaching staff.

“This was where I expected to be named something like the assistant to the assistant to the manager,” York recalled with a laugh. “Or maybe a consultant of some sort. Or maybe in charge of chasing foul balls. One guy said he was going to take charge of the pitchers, one said he’d focus on hitters, one said he’d take first base coaching duties. And then they get to me… ‘And Paul, we’d like you to be the head coach of the Finnish National Team.’ What went through my brain was, ‘Are you flipping serious!?’ But I think what came out of my mouth was, ‘Well, okay. Let’s do this.’”

York spent eight years playing baseball for the Black and Gold, four with the Turner Bears at Turner High School in Kansas City, KS, and four with the 91̽»¨ Braves. Though he played injured during his senior year of high school, his showing was strong enough in his sophomore and junior seasons to get noticed by several colleges. He eventually settled on OUKS for one reason – Coach Jarrod Titus.

“He was the coach that has had the biggest impact on me,” said York. “He wasn't signing 5-star recruits. In a lot of cases, myself included, he took guys he saw potential in but that not many others wanted. He then trained us to be mentally and physically stronger than the competition and pushed us to be the absolute best baseball players we could be.” York started all four years at OU as a right fielder.

Following graduation in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services, York went into law enforcement, with stints as a police officer in 91̽»¨, KS, a probation officer in both Cincinnati, OH, and Kansas City, KS, and most recently as a government auditor in KC. When his family moved back to the Kansas City area from Ohio in 2008, York had the opportunity to return to his former high school as a baseball coach for eight years over two separate periods.

And now, he’s the head coach of Team Finland. “I know I wasn’t the guy they wanted, and kind of ended up as the guy they’re stuck with, but I’m honored all the same, and I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”

As head coach, York develops the National players by directing their practices and working with the coaching staff to grow the teams’ skills and confidence while preparing them for international competition.

“The Fins are hard workers naturally,” explained York, “and that trait shows up when they practice. Keep in mind that these are not kids. These are men with jobs, families, and sometimes military responsibilities, as that is a required service. They play baseball as a hobby, and those that play for the National team are proud to represent Finland in international competition.”

In addition to leading the National team, York is also responsible for developing more inexperienced players in Finland’s lower divisions. “We understand that to someday be a program of sustained success, you have to develop younger players,” he explained.

Speaking of younger players, York’s sons have diverged on their baseball interests since moving to Finland. Though both are pursuing tackle football with the East City Giants and ice hockey with team Helsinki Kiekko-Tikkerit (Puck Tigers), younger son Mac is holding on to his love of baseball by attending occasional practices with the National team. The two boys categorically rank their dad in the “cool” category as the new head coach of a national baseball team. “As you mature as a parent and as your children continue to grow, you find out how few opportunities there are for you to be considered ‘cool’ to them,” York said. And he readily admits it’s an opportunity he lucked into.

“If ever there was a story of Forrest Gump’ing your way into a cool situation, this is it,” he joked. “It’s almost a feeling of embarrassment, if I’m being totally honest. Like, Finland deserves better maybe? As I’ve had time to absorb this situation, those feelings haven’t really subsided all that much, but I am completely flattered and honored to represent Finland and be entrusted as the head coach of its National baseball team. Who would’ve thought?” 

On Mission

From Battlefield to Business Powerhouse via 91̽»¨

It could easily have been the whole story. Instead, it was just the beginning of the real story.

Anthony “Doc” Ameen enlisted in the U.S. Navy after 9/11 and became a Hospital Corpsman who provided medical care for 170+ Marines during patrols in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2008, he was critically wounded while running to render medical aid to a severely injured Marine, costing him his left leg. It took 34 surgeries and almost three years of physical therapy to get back on his feet.

While that trauma could also have left Ameen paralyzed from moving forward in his life, he chose to use the same courage and determination he exhibited on the battlefield to cultivate a passionate drive for success, personal development, resilience, and spiritual growth. He chose to use the experience he went through on the patient side of government health care as an opportunity to identify administrative and care shortfalls and develop strategic ways of improving them. In short, he determined to let the past empower him, not define him.

Today, Ameen is a seasoned, accomplished entrepreneur and keynote speaker who uses his God-given talents to better the lives of veterans, grow health care organizations and small businesses through innovative leadership, and educate and inspire audiences with his powerful story and message.

Ameen’s path to business success has been winding, diverse, and challenging, but always future-focused. His first post-military venture grew partly from the red tape he encountered while securing his rightful benefits from the government, and, he realized later, partly out of the survivor’s guilt he felt at making it off the battlefield alive when the Marine he tried to save didn't.

In 2010, even before he was fully recovered, Ameen founded Wings for Warriors (W4W), a non-profit that helped more than 6,500 veterans, caregivers, and military families across the U.S. with a wide array of services, including securing the financial and health care benefits to which they were entitled.  Based in Phoenix, AZ, W4W navigated the ins and outs of the Department of Defense (DOD), Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Social Security Administration (SSA), and TRICARE to procure those benefits.

“Founding W4W was much deeper than being denied and gaining my own individual benefits as a combat-disabled veteran,” said Ameen. “It was also being able to provide some type of care to the wounded because that’s what being a Hospital Corpsman is all about.”

As CEO of W4W, Ameen led 20+ internal members, including six rotational board of director teams, in the development and execution of the organization’s vision and business strategy. But it was “Doc” who personally counseled at least 5,000 of those veterans, listened to their stories, and initiated their assistance. Over the 12-year tenure of the non-profit, W4W secured benefits for disabled veterans that, over their lifetimes, will accrue to more than $100MM in value.

“This very accomplishment pushed me to realize time and time again that, although I wasn’t able to serve some warriors directly on the battlefield, I was able to serve myself and countless others off of it,” he shared. “Giving back pays big; W4W was a small organization that made a huge impact.”

That was due in large part to Ameen’s passionate leadership. He labored tirelessly to identify gaps and design solutions while working cross-functionally across the organization to scale operations and drive growth. He recruited 1,000+ volunteers across 30 U.S. cities; delivered strategic sales/marketing presentations at 100+ nationwide events; and developed C-Level relationships with over 100+ well known corporate brands/sponsors, including 25 multinational Fortune 500 companies.

Wings for Warriors accomplished its vision in ways that were beyond his wildest dreams. Because of that, Ameen ignored the occasional thought that it was time to move on - or to start something new. It wasn’t until he began returning to his Christian roots and diving into the Word of God that he realized the final component of his healing lay in his full surrender - not to the enemy, but to Jesus Christ. Finally, his guilt was gone, and he immediately saw God opening new doors.

As though running a wildly successful non-profit weren’t enough, Ameen had a passion for growth that led him to seek additional business opportunities during that same period to expand his skillset, inform his leadership style and nurture his entrepreneurial spirit. In 2014, in conjunction with his continued role as CEO of W4W, Ameen became the director of marketing for New England Financial, a MetLife company, where he managed four marketing coordinators out of four states, facilitated and refined the southwest region’s marketing programs for optimal effectiveness, and coached 200+ financial advisors on business development and marketing strategies. He also served, simultaneously for a time, as director of business development for Dayak United Energy, where he headed all global business development initiatives. At this point, Ameen was carrying three separate business cards!

The origin of his role at Dayak United Energy was an unexpected twist in his career journey that took Ameen back to an old military friendship. Edwin Daniel was a fellow-Corpsman that Ameen trained with and was stationed with throughout his service in the Navy. He was also the one who helped rescue the wounded Marine on the day of Ameen’s injury. In 2014, with five years since the two had seen each other, Daniel surprised Ameen at a Diamondback vs Dodgers baseball game. The two reconnected, and not only did Daniel solicit Ameen for the role in his family’s new company, Dayak United Energy, but he also joined the board of W4W, which eventually led to Ameen’s biggest “second-job” yet.

It came about in 2017 when the two met with a potential W4W sponsor who explained to them that they could be leveraging their military service awards to procure government contracts. That knowledge led to the blueprint, first drawn on a restaurant napkin, for the duos’ start-up, Taylor & Lawrence, for which Ameen happily gave up his two former side ventures.

Named using their firstborn children’s middle names, Taylor & Lawrence was a boutique health care consulting firm and supply chain subcontractor that specialized in serving the DOD and the public health sector by unearthing strategic business partnerships for increased performance and quality patient care. Over the next five years, Ameen and Daniel liaised with C-Suite health care executives and worked as an extension of more than 800 clinics and hospitals to identify risks and opportunities, connect them with appropriate partners across the health care system, and design solutions aligned with their unique issues, strategic goals, and business objectives.

Along with adding Taylor & Lawrence to his very crowded resume, Ameen was increasingly being highlighted in the media. He was featured on Entrepreneur’s TV Show “Elevator Pitch,” as well as in People Magazine, the New York Times, the Huffington Post, Pain Pathways, and the Invisible Project Magazine. He also played the role of “Wounded Warrior” on TNT's television show “Agent X,” played the role of “Doc” in a short film called “Sovereign,” presented on Pivot TV with Meghan McCain, had the lead role in a national PSA for the “Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Program,” presented on NBC's “Last Call with Carson Daly,” and a host of others.

Beyond the publicity, there were the awards. Starting with the Purple Heart he earned in 2008 for his extraordinary bravery in risking his life to save another’s, Ameen received a number of additional honors:

• Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Valor Distinction – United State Navy (2008)
• Nominated Veteran of the Year (2012) − Salt River Fields
• Veteran of the Year Award (2017) − Vets on Track Foundation (Presented by NSA Director, Admiral Michael S. Rogers)
• Inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (2018)
• 40 Under 40 Award (2021) - Phoenix Business Journal

But Ameen was hungry for more, and that’s where 91̽»¨ entered his story. “One of our many corporate sponsors during this period was Rotary Club International,” he recounted. “Tony Redendo out of Chandler, AZ was also a member of the club and an adjunct business instructor in OU’s adult and online division. He’s the one who planted the seed for me to earn my degree. So, in 2019, I stepped down from my role as W4W CEO to pursue OU’s fast-track online bachelor’s degree in health care management. Nine months later, I completed the program.”

The degree only fed Ameen’s drive to lead and inspire, this time through his first book, “Non-Profits S.U.C.K. – A Love Letter to Future Founders,” which was released in 2021. His second book will publish in the coming months. He also became a rotating guest on K-Love Radio and a special guest on Business RadioX, while continuing to share his unique brand of spirited honesty, accountable growth, inspired recovery, and motivated soul-searching as a keynote speaker for such events as the Salt River Fields’ Independence Day Music Festival (15,000 attendees), West Point Quad State Herf (seven consecutive years), Arizona State University (five consecutive years), Intel (a virtual international conference for 3,000 employees), Rotary Club International, Facebook (panelist), American Express, SRP, University of Southern California – Navy Trauma Training Center, Kaiser Permanente Healthcare, University of Phoenix, Naval Medical Center – Balboa & Camp Lejeune, and more.

In 2022, still in the throes of the COVID pandemic and with growing speaking opportunities as income, Ameen determined it was the right time to permanently walk away from his highly successful start-ups - Wings for Warriors and Taylor & Lawrence – and continue his education.

“Being the business nerd that I am, I wanted to sharpen my skill sets even further,” he said. “I also wanted to use the remaining GI Bill benefits that I rightfully earned with my dedicated service. With extra time on my hands, I enrolled in OU’s online MBA with a concentration in Strategic Innovation. After founding/co-founding two businesses and helping launch several others, I realized how much I like to build out visions for companies in real-time, surround myself with impactful teams, and strategically lead them to organizational victories.”

Ameen graduated in May and is now fully equipped with both the top shelf business acumen and the advanced education to take his career to the next level, perhaps as an “intrapreneur” that works as an integral part of a corporate entity where he can build something from the ground up.

Whatever the future has in store, Ameen holds to Proverbs 3:5-6 as his guiding mantra: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”  (NKJV)

He will also tell you definitively: “That is who I was; this is who I’ve become.  And I’m just getting started!”

From Curve Ball to Home Run

Reynard Experiences Major Change-up at OUAZ

When Chandler Reynard ‘20/OUAZ was scouted by an 91̽»¨ Arizona recruiter as a center fielder at Gateway Community College, he was soon offered a sizable scholarship. He visited the campus with his parents and signed with Coach Tim Montez (Monty) a week later. With his commitment to OUAZ, Reynard was slated to be part of the inaugural class on the new Surprise campus - and part of the inaugural 91̽»¨ Spirit baseball team.

Seemed like a perfect gig, that is before Reynard got into his own head. “The summer before school started, I was working a lot,” he said. “We are a close family, and I wanted to support my younger brother and sister, so I decided I wasn’t going to go to OU. When training camp started, I only went for a couple of days. Then I didn’t show up to practice for a whole week. I wasn’t in the right head space. That’s when I wrote a letter to Coach Montez telling him I was leaving.”

Montez recalled their next meeting. “Chandler was definitely struggling on and off the field with a lot of ‘stuff,’ he said. “I remember him coming over to my house after he thought he had thrown away his second chance to be part of our program. Instead of separating, I welcomed him with open arms; he was emotionally spent as he wept.”

Reynard was blown away by the coach’s response. “I thought he would get mad and kick me off the team,” he reminisced. “Instead, he just treated me like a human and cared about me as a person. He said he saw an incredible amount of talent in me, and that if I would commit and give my all over the next few weeks, he would give me another chance. He made it clear that he believed in me and wouldn’t give up on me. That personal attention and care from Coach Montez made all the difference.”

The opportunity to return to the team would prove to be the catalyst for the greatest change-up in Reynard’s life. “From that point on I sincerely felt that the Holy Spirit was working through Chandler the rest of the time he was at OUAZ,” said Montez.

Reynard, who transferred to OUAZ as a junior in 2018, did, indeed, give his all and became an integral part of the new team as a center fielder. In fact, the team impressively made it all the way to the College World Series in South Carolina that first season, where they won a couple and lost a couple. Reynard was named to 1^st Team All-Conference that same year.

But it was something beyond baseball that made the most impact on Reynard at OUAZ. In the fall of 2019, the team took a mission trip to Cuba where they worked side-by-side with a Christian non-profit that brings in materials for kids to play baseball. The team played baseball with the children, as well as with some Cuban teams. They also explored Cuba and went to a few local churches.

“The Cuba trip was a voluntary baseball mission trip organized by a good friend of mine, ‘JJ’, and his ‘Honor thy God’ ministry,” said Montez. “About 20 OUAZ baseball players and coaches went to Cuba to share the gospel to hundreds of young baseball players from different areas/villages across the region. On this trip, not only did we see many young Cuban men accept Jesus as their Savior, but many of our own players took that next step in their spiritual journey, as well.”

Reynard was one of those players. “It was very eye opening to see how they lived,” he recalled. “I was especially struck by their worship – they worshipped like crazy – like it was the last time they ever could.

“Even though we were there to present the Gospel to the kids, I began to realize that I didn’t really know Jesus. That I was the one who needed to accept the Gospel, because before I came to OU, I wasn’t very religious. I grew up Episcopalian, but I had questions that no one could answer. There I finally understood my need for Jesus. So, me and five other guys on the team committed ourselves to Christ on that trip. It was a major moment. When we got back, we were all baptized in the pool of one of the coaches. After that, we got to follow Jesus together as friends and teammates.”

The season after Reynard gave his life to Christ was the season he earned a personal best baseball record, with his highest ever batting average and greatest number of hits. He was also selected as team captain and made 1^st Team All-American his senior year.   

“I saw Chandler grow from a very insecure young adult into a confident mature Christian man in his time at OUAZ,” shared Montez.  “As he grew confident in himself, his natural leadership abilities flourished. He was quiet and mostly led by example, but he was at peace for the first time in his young life. That was reflected in how he handled himself and the relationships he built with his teammates. I really believe the Holy Spirit was working within Chandler.”

Before graduating in 2020 with his degree in Business Administration, Reynard was already doing his career homework. Extremely competitive and ambitious, he began researching the fastest growing industries with long-term career potential over the next 50 years. Health care showed the most promise, and the niche of pharmaceutical sales even more so. He landed on applying to Alcon, one of the largest vision care companies in the world.

Despite being rejected, he didn’t give up. “I saw a lot of opportunity in this industry,” said Reynard. “I was going after it with my whole heart!” Two interim jobs and multiple applications later, his persistence paid off.

Reynard started out as an inside sales representative and was promoted to territory account manager after six months. He now uses all he learned in and out of the classroom and on and off the field at OUAZ as he visits clients to sell contact lenses, eye drops and other eye care products to optometrists, large retailers, and private companies.

“My courses at OU had the advantage of being small – maybe 15 students,” said Reynard. “So I was able to personally interact with the professors and spend extra time with them to gain specific tools and assets that I could take into the job. Most of them owned their own business or had a high level of professional experience, so they could provide insight into real-life work situations. It was career game changer.”

It also provided inspiration for his own career goals, which are to develop as much he can in his current role, earn a promotion or two, and eventually start his own company within the next 5-10 years. Whatever the future holds, Reynard hopes to one day give back by helping other young college-age students who are struggling as he once did. Coach Reynard, perhaps?

OUAZ Alum Joins Faculty

McMorris Transitions from Student to Teacher

When Jack McMorris arrived in Surprise, AZ from Scotland in 2017, he became part of the inaugural class of 91̽»¨’s newly opened Arizona campus. Initially lured by a golf scholarship, McMorris soon proved that he wasn’t there simply to compete on the golf course but that he was also hungry for what he could learn through his academic courses. He excelled in the classroom and decided to take advantage of OU’s accelerated MBA program, earning both his BS in Engineering and Master of Business Administration in Accounting in 2022.

Those five years on the OUAZ campus gave McMorris the foundation he needed to enter the working world. “OUAZ provided excellent preparation for my life post-graduation,” he said. “I think that professional development is prioritized at OUAZ, and those skills I developed in the classroom, and on the course, allowed me to hit the ground running after college.”

And where did he land? Right back where he started, only this time he wasn’t in a classroom seat but behind the podium. “When looking for engineering positions after college, I was interviewing with some local opportunities. Then I was offered the chance to become an adjunct professor back at OUAZ.” McMorris initially served as an adjunct professor in accounting before teaching diverse courses across multiple disciplines. In July, he will join the faculty full-time in the engineering program.

“For such a talented individual, it's heart-warming to me that Jack has chosen OUAZ for his place of employment while he continues to pursue advanced degrees in the field of Electrical Engineering,” said Campus President and Engineering Professor Dr. Dennis Tyner. “He was an outstanding student both in and out of the classroom, and OUAZ turned out to be a great place for him to hone his leadership skills, academically and athletically, in preparation for entering the work force. We are extremely fortunate to have him preparing the next generation of students.”

It seems to be a natural fit for McMorris. “It is a real pleasure working at OUAZ, and I have enjoyed every moment of teaching,” he said. “The students at OUAZ are articulate, polite and engaged, and I thoroughly enjoy working through material and concepts with them, especially when they are challenging. I think becoming a professor at a young age gives me a good sense of what students are going through. As a former college athlete, I can also relate to the challenges of juggling sport and academics, particularly in the sciences.”

Tyner echoes that assessment. “Though he has high standards in the classroom, Jack is loved by his students because he is an excellent classroom instructor who prepares diligently for every laboratory experiment and lecture that he delivers. Students know when they have Prof. McMorris as a course instructor, he's going to dedicate himself to ensuring that they can easily access him when they need assistance outside of class hours. Whether it's one-on-one sessions in his office, group meetings with students in an available classroom, or evening review sessions before an upcoming exam, Jack is seemingly always available to meet the learning needs of his students.”

McMorris actually attributes much of his teaching success to Tyner, who played a pivotal role in his OUAZ education and influenced the teaching style he utilizes. “I had many good instructors while at OUAZ, but having President Tyner as a professor and guide was instrumental to my success. He had a great ability to get his students engaged and excited about engineering and prioritized student development and understanding. Now, I have a close working relationship with Dr Tyner, and I am grateful for his guidance. His teaching style definitely contributed to my own as he led by example.”

McMorris looks forward to seeing what opportunities may open up in the field of engineering as he pursues advanced education. But for now, he is wholeheartedly embracing his career as an educator at OUAZ and to life in Surprise. “I love living and working in Surprise,” he said. “I am fortunate that I have made a new life here with the support of my family back in Scotland. I have a good relationship with many officials in the City who work closely with our campus, so I think I have a lot of opportunities here going forward.”

Anderson Stays Local for Career Path

Markets Self Back to Hometown

Originally from Lawrence, KS, Jasmine (Brown) Anderson ’15/MBA ‘17 came to OUKS in 2011 on the recommendation of several of her high school choir friends, securing a choir scholarship to begin her educational journey. She was also on the cheer team, and in the spring of her freshman year Anderson decided to forego choir to pursue cheer exclusively to both spur on the OU Braves and compete in that arena.

As fate would have it, she wound up cheering for her future husband, Donald Anderson, who played football at OUKS and now serves as the Dean of Student Life. The two met her very first day on campus when the football team helped move new students into the dorms. “He remembered me from move in day,” Anderson recalled, “but I was too focused on fleeing the nest and making sure my parents left ‘on time!’ He reintroduced himself to me a few weeks later in the caf and we have been together ever since.” The couple tied the knot in the OU Fredrikson Chapel in 2017.

While earning her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing, Anderson was involved in both DECA and PRSSA and completed a campus marketing internship with Sudexo Food Services. She also completed two internships with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) in Lawrence, KS, which laid a strong foundation for her future career. The first GCSAA internship was in general management during her sophomore year. It focused on how to plan and manage a 12,000-person trade show. Anderson’s second internship was a marketing internship during her senior year through which she learned how companies position themselves at an event of that size and caliber so that they stand out to their target audience.

“I think that internships are essential to a student’s professional development,” stressed Anderson. “It doesn’t always lead to a job, and that is okay. Sometimes, you learn what you don’t want to do through an internship. If someone isn’t able to secure an internship, I highly recommend asking to shadow someone in your preferred field of work so you can learn that way.”

Anderson went on to earn her MBA in Organizational Leadership from OU, serving as a graduate assistant in the University’s Adawe Lifeplan Center.  “I think I learned the most about my preferred work environment through the master’s program,” she shared. “In the master’s program, there are so many people from different backgrounds, including those with international experience. Each class had elements of group work, which was my least favorite thing in my undergraduate program. I really think that it helped me prepare for the real world and helped me to understand how to meet deadlines effectively while capturing the personality of multiple people.

“I also learned the most about myself in the capstone course. In fact, something still sticks with me to this day as I navigate new projects. [Dr.] Marylou [DeWald] told us before starting our capstone projects – ‘go with your gut feeling.’”

Following graduation, Anderson secured a job in 91̽»¨ at the East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (ECKAA), where she served as the organization’s marketing and outreach specialist. As she progressed in her experience and skills, Anderson transitioned to the Miller Retirement Group, back in her hometown of Lawrence, KS, where she was the director of marketing and first impressions for the financial advising firm. After four years with the Group, an opportunity arose to work for the organization she had interned with back in college, GCSAA, as the senior manager of marketing.

“I always wanted to work at GCSAA because my mom has been there for 30 years and loves it,” shared Anderson. “So, I took a chance on myself even though it felt like big shoes to fill.” She started in July 2022 and has been there since.

“It is a good fit for me because the job is different every day,” said Anderson. “I work with all of the departments within the association, whether that be government affairs, membership, the foundation, workforce development, the conference and trade show, or the magazine. I love being able to stay creative with an ever-changing environment and people who are passionate about what they do.”

Anderson also loves her hybrid schedule – three days in the office and two days from home each week – because it allows her to accommodate her other passion, coaching gymnastics part-time at Skywalkers in 91̽»¨. Living in 91̽»¨ also keeps her connected with her alma mater. “I still take a ton of pride in being an OU alum,” she said. “I love to be able to provide students what the school provided me. I constantly recommend 91̽»¨ to any high school seniors I know and let them know the value it provided me in my life. And because the cheer program is what really tied me to the school, I look forward to watching them each year at their competitions and performances.”

As to Anderson’s future goals: “I’d love to put my marketing expertise to the test some day and start my own clothing boutique!”

Accounting for Career Success

OUKS Business Graduates Secure Jobs with Local CPA Firm

Going from classroom to career can be daunting, but one local accounting firm is giving top graduates from OU’s Angell Snyder School of Business (ASSB) a leg up by providing internships and jobs that not only immerse them in real-world tasks on day one, but also give them the support and mentoring they need to succeed.

MarksNelson LLC is a licensed independent CPA firm in Overland Park, KS, that provides attest services to its clients; its MarksNelson Advisory LLC branch and subsidiary entities provide tax, advisory, and business consulting services to their clients.

Nicole Eshnaur is a partner at MarksNelson (MN) and since 2021 has been instrumental in placing five OU students in internships at the firm in collaboration with ASSB faculty, three of which were later hired. Two additional graduates were direct hires, despite not interning with the firm.

“We compete for strong talent with firms of all sizes,” shared Eshnaur, who also supervises the interns in the Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) department. “We look for students with strong GPAs who have completed tax and early accounting courses, have good communication skills and demonstrate their ability to manage time effectively. The students from 91̽»¨ have all carried a strong work ethic and a disciplined schedule. They strive for continued learning and improvement by asking good questions and seeking mentorship for their personal and professional growth.”

To assist interns and new hires in achieving that growth, MN connects them to a coach program as soon as they start in order to establish goals and understand what they want in their career. “When the relationship starts early, we have the opportunity to meet the student one-on-one to learn about him/her and to share all that MarksNelson can offer,” she said.

Partner Rachel Hartnett, who serves as an intern supervisor on the tax side of the house, elaborated. “We don’t pigeon-hole someone into a department. If [interns and new hires] have a passion or want to explore a different group, we give them the opportunity to do so. Graduates are more likely to stay if they are plugged into a department where they are excited to work and can add value.”

Dean of the ASSB Dr. Marylou DeWald couldn’t be happier with the success of OU’s relationship with MarksNelson. “It’s always validating to have businesses reinforce what we think we are doing right by telling us that our students are outstanding hires,” said DeWald. “Our graduates are killing it at a top-notch firm that asks us for more top-performing students every year. That tells us that our academic programs provide students with the professional preparation that directly correlates with their intended career path and gives them the necessary tools to enter the accounting world and be successful.”

Three of the OU graduates turned MN associates are Bryce Capron, Ava Taton, and Kaylen Ashley. Capron holds both a BS ’22 and MS ’23 in Accountancy from OU and interned twice with MN –for three months in 2022 on the tax side, then from June 2022 through July 2023 on the CAAS side. He was hired as a staff accountant in August of 2023 to complete monthly and quarterly bookkeeping, prepare sales and use tax returns, and help with other accounting projects as needed.

Before his first internship, Capron admitted, “I was somewhat coasting through my senior year at 91̽»¨, but when Professor George Eshnaur reached out and gave me the opportunity to intern with the tax department at MarksNelson, I really started to think about my future and what I wanted my career to look like moving forward.”

His personal intern experience corroborated what both [Nicole] Eshnaur and Hartnett described. “MN is extremely helpful and treats interns just as they would a full-time employee,” said Capron. “I’m someone who doesn’t really learn something until I put it into practice, and my internship here helped me learn a ton, not just accounting related but also the professional world in general. As an intern at MN, there are no ‘coffee run tasks;’ you get to do real work that pertains to the department you are a part of.”

Taton ’22, secured a part-time internship in the CAAS department at MN in June and July of 2021. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from OU with a BS in Accounting and Business Administration, Taton went to work for MarksNelson as an associate in May of 2022.

“My educational journey at OU shaped me into a well-rounded individual with additional expertise and focus in the accounting profession,” explained Taton. “It provided me with a solid foundation as to what I would learn on the job and ensured I had thebasic skills needed to succeed in my line of work. My professors, along with OU’s connections and support, also helped expedite my employment process and involvement in the industry. This experience has allowed me to outcompete those in my field [at OU] and obtain a position at an equally competitive firm.”

Taton was promoted to senior associate in January of 2024 and is currently pursuing her CPA license. She prepares and reviews financial statements, prepares sales and use tax returns, and works directly with clients to assist with various accounting issues and questions they have.

Ashley did not intern with MN but was hired in November even before she graduated in December 2022 with a BA in Accounting and Business Economics. She has been with the firm since January of 2023. Unlike her fellow-graduates, she prepares income tax returns for MN.

“You either love or hate taxes – okay, mostly hate,” acknowledged DeWald. “But that’s not Kaylen. She thrives when preparing federal, state and city income tax returns. She is doing extremely well on the tax side of the MarksNelson house and seems to have found her niche.”

MN clearly shares that sentiment. “It was easy to see Kaylen had the right work ethic and drive to hire as a full-time associate,” said Harnett. After just 10 months with the firm, MN promoted Ashley to senior tax associate in December 2023.

“I have had every resource at my disposal that I could possibly need to succeed in this field,” shared Ashley. “My department heads have always made sure that I am being challenged and given opportunities to improve myself and my work. You learn a lot about yourself during a 60-hour work week, so I think that MarksNelson has helped me grow both as a tax preparer and as an individual. I will always be grateful to OU for giving me the opportunity to land my dream job.” Looking to her future, Ashley plans on sitting for the CPA exam and working her way through the ranks at MN.

“Internships are always a great way for students to test-drive an industry and for a business to determine if the students are a good fit within the organization,” said DeWald. “They give students real-world, high-level experience that opens up doors for them and even launches their careers. We are thrilled to have these opportunities for the students and look forward to cultivating more in the future.” 

Beyond the Workout

McKeefery Leadership Style Sets Him Apart as S&C Coaching Giant

Known internationally as one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the business, Ron McKeefery ’99 is currently the head strength and conditioning coach for football at the University of Washington, where he has helped lead the Huskies to a 25-3 record, a 2024 National Championship appearance and Pac-12 Championship.

With a highly decorated career (see below), McKeefery utilizes a leadership style that goes far beyond the tactical and technical, incorporating principles of management, education and human dynamics that have served up success for Olympians, NFL football teams, university football teams, and athletes just out of the gate.

After graduating from OUKS with a degree in exercise science, McKeefery served as an intern with the KC Royals before transitioning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a part-time and then full-time assistant. He quickly saw that succeeding as an S&C coach required more than being an athletic technician. It required finesse in management, leadership, and social dynamics, especially if he was going to be the kind of coach he aspired to be. 

“Because I came from a broken home, coaches raised me, in a way,” McKeefery intimated. “The father figure I needed fell to my coaches. That’s why I take my role as a coach very seriously because I know the impact a coach can make. Everything I do as a coach I do with developing myself and giving back in mind.”

Despite a lack of undergraduate training in the areas of management, leadership, and education – which he would later pursue through a Master of Arts in Adult Education and soon-to-be-completed PhD in Christian Counseling – McKeefery attributes his ability to see the big picture, incorporate multiple disciplines, and pursue continual growth to his liberal arts education at 91̽»¨. 

“There are things you don’t get taught in strength and conditioning programs,” he said. “But my OU education gave me so many well-rounded experiences educationally, exposed me to different professions, and connected me with great coaches and examples. I believe that’s why I became a lifelong learner, especially in regards to leadership. Now I look at S&C as a business, developing myself as a manager of time, people, and resources. I am an entrepreneur who is forward thinking and constantly sharpening the sword. That’s how I have become known for thinking outside the box when it comes to strength and conditioning.”

That coaching and leadership style has opened up some amazing career opportunities for McKeefery. At the young age of 23, he spent four months as the head strength coach for NFL Europe in Berlin. He spent the next 10 years at the University of South Florida (USF), where he built the program from the ground up and helped take the team to six bowl games. While at USF, McKeefery and his wife, fellow OU alum Angie (Hamilton) ‘98, adopted three children from Ukraine. 

The next leg of McKeefery’s career took a detour from football when he was tapped as the human performance coordinator (head S&C coach) for all of U.S. Army Special Ops – yet another feather in his hat.

From there, he went to the University of Tennessee (UT) and then to the Cincinnati Bengals before a connection from his college days led to a major career change. While playing football at OU, McKeefery experienced a disappointing 1-8 season his junior year (1996-97). That changed when Chris Creighton took over as head football coach his senior year and produced one of the biggest single season turnarounds in NAIA history, guiding the team to a 9-2 finish and capturing its first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) title since 1972.

Not surprisingly, that made a huge impression on McKeefery. “Creighton’s leadership style, his vision, commitment, and goal-setting all helped pave the way for the coach I am today. In fact, I told my wife when we left 91̽»¨ that I would leave a Division I job to follow Chris Creighton anywhere. After I started making a name for myself in the S&C world, that promise led me to Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where Creighton was head football coach. At the time, the team had not had a winning season in over 20 years, but I got to help him turn the program around and take them to a bowl game in year three. He’s sustained that success ever since.” Creighton is in his 10^th year at EMU.

Despite his rising career, McKeefery and his wife determined that when their children reached high school, they weren’t going to live apart as they had been doing since his stint with UT. So, for several years he took a position as vice president of performance and education with PLAE, which allowed him to work with elite coaches, athletes and teams around the world - Chinese Olympic teams; football teams in Poland, Mexico, and Ireland; USA Team Football; Georgia Swarm of the National Lacrosse League; and many more. Once his children were college-bound, McKeefery returned to college football, joining Fresno State’s program to work with former EMU colleague Kalen DeBoer. He then followed DeBoer to UW in 2022, where he remains today. 

His heart always returns to OU, however, especially when the family is back for a visit. “91̽»¨ is a home base for us in a lot of ways,” he shared. “It’s where my wife grew up, and a lot of our family has gone through OU. It’s where we formed lifelong relationships. Even though we travel around the world, when we go through 91̽»¨, it still feels like home.”

Many of McKeefery’s connections with OU alumni, faculty, staff and classmates, indeed, continue to this day, with several helping him along his life and career journey. And he has returned the favor many times over – whether with teammates, co-workers, or other coaches – by giving them advice or a leg up in their own careers. He even helped his alma mater when OU was looking to add a S&C weight room to campus in 2015.

“I reached out to get his opinion on the best vendor to approach about equipment,” said Interim Director of Athletics Bruce Tate, who was a football teammate of McKeefery’s. “He mentioned Sorinex equipment as what he used and made some personal recommendations. We connected with the rep, and the rest is history.”

McKeefery appreciated the opportunity to give back. “It was phenomenal to see OU invest in a strength and conditioning coach and facility, and I was happy to help in any way I could,” he said. OU is now taking its commitment to S&C to the next level, with a fundraising campaign underway for the University’s strength and conditioning program.

“It’s really great to see that,” said McKeefery. “Strength and conditioning is an element that touches every aspect of athletic programming. By giving to strength and conditioning rather than selecting just one sport, donors are making the most impact, because strength and conditioning touches every single team, every single athlete.”

It has even touched his own children, all three of whom attended his alma mater for a time and participated in OU’s wrestling, lacrosse, and power lifting programs, making use of the very equipment McKeefery advised the University to procure. When COVID hit, however, their educational plans changed and only daughter Ava continued her education with OU. She is slated to complete her B.A. in Education through the online program this semester.

Career Success

McKeefery’s success in sports development is world-renowned. He has twice been named Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year – in 2008 by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Society, as well as by Under Armour, and in 2016 by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). In 2013 he was honored as a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa), the profession’s highest certification and honor. Then, in 2019, McKeefery received the highest designation possible by the NSCA by earning the Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus (RSCC*E).

He has had the privilege of working with over 100 players that have gone on to play in the National Football League, including 1st round draft picks and Pro Bowlers Mike Jenkins and Jason Pierre-Paul, along with Cordarrelle Patterson and Ja'Waun James.  He has also had numerous All Americans, NFL Free-Agents, and All Conference Selections.

Beyond the athletes, McKeefery has mentored numerous strength and conditioning coaches who have become highly recognized in the field, such as World Champions Dana Cavalea - Head S&C New York Yankees; Jake Beiting - Head S&C Houston Astros; and Derek Millender - Head S&C Cleveland Cavaliers. Two coaches have gone on to be named Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year: Kaz Kazadi - Head S&C Baylor; and Lew Caralla - Head S&C Buffalo.  To share his expertise and life lessons, McKeefery hosts a podcast, “Iron Game Chalk Talk;” has written two bestselling books - "CEO Strength Coach" and "Weight Room Wisdom;” has been published in the NSCA Journal, American Football Monthly, and numerous other publications; and is a highly sought-after industry speaker at conferences, colleges, non-profits, businesses, and professional organizations around the world.

to learn more about McKeefery, listen to his podcast, or book a speaking engagement.

​

Quiring '43 Commemorates 80th OU Homecoming!

Virginia Ready Quiring, class of ’43 OUKS, not only received an excellent education at 91̽»¨ but also gained some interesting stories to tell along the way. As one of a very few ’43 graduates to witness an 80th (!) Homecoming, it seemed appropriate to share some of the warm OU moments that helped mold Virginia’s “life of significance.” These stories were relayed through her daughter, Susan Quiring ’73 OUKS, who reached her own 50-year alumni milestone this year.

Virginia grew up during the Great Depression. Like many others, her family lost their farm, so they moved to Wichita, KS, from Missouri when she was about 11. She came from an education-minded family (her parents met at college—Valparaiso University.) They instilled the love of reading and books in their children and the importance of education. It wasn’t “do we go to college?” It was “where do we go to college”?

Her father couldn’t afford it but wanted his two daughters to go to college. So, the family was excited one Sunday when Virginia was in high school and staff from OU came to Westside Baptist Church to recruit students. The recruiters visited with Virginia and her parents and offered her a scholarship, which was the only way she would have been able to attend college. Virginia gladly accepted. However, when it was time to leave for OU, she needed a suit, which they could not afford. With Depression-inspired creativity, her mother took one of her husband’s old wool suits, turned the fabric inside out and tailored a beautiful blazer and suit for Virginia. She used it throughout all four years of school.

Once on campus, Virginia became a member of the Iota Psi house. When she needed a formal for a special event, her mother came to the rescue again, sewing and mailing her a lovely dress. The other girls in the house were amazed when she pulled it out of the box and it fit perfectly.

Later, when she needed a typewriter, her boyfriend, J. Melvin Quiring, who eventually became her husband, bought her a Smith Corona typewriter for Christmas. She was still using it periodically through the late 1990s.

Besides meeting her husband, Virginia has other fond memories of OU. For example, she was part of the tradition of climbing out on the roof to paint the dome of Tauy Jones Hall, now the oldest surviving building on the OU campus. 91̽»¨ was also where she began her love of libraries.

When there was an opening at the library on campus, she applied, got the job, and worked there for four years. She started out shelving and ended up as the librarian’s assistant, so she had a good idea how the whole library was run. When the librarian suddenly resigned the first semester of her senior year, business manager Bob Bundy asked if she thought she could run the library through the rest of the school year or until they could find a new librarian. “Sure, I can do it,” was her reply. Virginia finished her senior year with straight As and ran the library until graduation.

That experience served her well, as her first career job was at the Wichita Public Library. She was married in September of 1943 while her husband was a 2nd Lieutenant and fighting in Germany during WWII. 

Though Virginia became a stay-at-home mom during the 1950s, she continued her education, receiving a Master of Arts in Library Science from Emporia State University in 1970. She then moved to Manhattan, KS, to accept a position at Farnell (now Hale) Library at Kansas State University, where she remained for 20 years. Virginia left as Associate Dean of KSU libraries.

In 1987, Virginia was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award from Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management. Then in 1997, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award presented by the College and Universities Section of Kansas Library Association.

Virginia’s love of libraries went beyond her career. Once, on a mission trip to Haiti, she established a library in one week so the people of Haiti could have books to check out. What began as a campus job at 91̽»¨ led to a lifetime of learning and ultimately to sharing her love of libraries with others with fewer opportunities to explore the wonder of books.

Many thanks to Susan Quiring for sharing her mother’s stories. After graduating from OU, Susan went on to have a career (25 years and counting) teaching ballroom dance. She is the owner of Susan’s Ballroom Dance in College Station, Texas.

Double Alum Personifies the “Care” in Her Name

Patt Carrington could be the poster child for 91̽»¨-WI. Not only is she a double graduate (’06 MBA in Health Care Administration; ’16 MA in Professional Counseling), she has been an adjunct instructor in the human services and professional counseling programs since 2018. She also tutors students in the writing center, as well as those who are preparing for their COMPS national professional counseling exam.

The kicker? Teaching for OU-WI is Carrington’s side, side job. Her other two jobs allow her to fill the deep desire she has always had to help people. As both a social worker and a therapist, Patt truly embodies her name of Car(e)rington.

After earning a degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee over 30 years ago and working in urban communities, Carrington wanted to deepen her knowledge of the business side of care. That’s when she earned her MBA from OU-WI. As an advocate case manager/social worker for Children’s Wisconsin in their Milwaukee Child Advocacy Center, her new degree was particularly helpful in understanding care administration and coordination of services. But over time, the work felt more and more like putting a Bandaid on the abuse, trauma and neglect rather than getting to its root. 

Now that she has added the MAPC to her credentials, she continues to work as a social worker by day and as an online mental health therapist for BetterHelp.com by night. “I must say that my jobs as a social worker and a private therapist bring fireworks to my soul,” said Carrington. “I am naturally a giving person, and I really want the best outcomes for everyone.  When I am helping someone feel better by connecting them with a needed resource or service that will help them on their healing journey, I really feel good.”

BetterHelp.com pairs people with therapists who provide services via video, phone or text chat. Carrington uses the BRIEF therapy method, a short-term, solution-focused approach that works with a person’s strengths to help create the future they desire.  After about eight weeks, the client cuts back until they “graduate,” with the option of re-entering therapy as needed. “This work is so rewarding because it meets people where they are,” said Carrington. “They get the help they need from the comfort of their homes in an online format.”

Carrington maintains around 25 online clients, except when she is teaching one of her 8-week courses, which is also extremely satisfying to her. “I can say it has been wonderful for me to help teach ‘baby social workers’ and ‘baby therapists’ what to expect from the real world so that they know how to avoid pitfalls and burn-out,” she shared. “I really emphasize self-care throughout each course because this is hard work, and in order to do it, you have to also be able to care for yourself continuously.” Regarding her own self-care, Carrington confessed to being a closet sci-fi geek. “I hear some of the worst things that humans can do to one another as a social worker and therapist, but reading about foreign worlds and experiences and watching sci-fi television shows and movies help me to relax.”

In 2022, Carrington received OU-WI’s Ambassador Award for promoting 91̽»¨ in the community. “I love this school and what it represents,” she admitted. “I want others who are seeking higher education to know that they can also feel welcomed and at home within this University to help them achieve their career goals and live a ‘life of significance.’ My career roles allow me to help people heal, feel balanced or find their way. That makes me feel like I am doing the work I was meant to do, and I feel fulfilled each day.”

What Time Is It?  It's "Black:30!"

For Taylor Overton (OUKS ’18), there is no time like the present to advocate for black and other minority entrepreneurs – and teach them to advocate for themselves. It’s why she and childhood friend Davante Green modeled entrepreneurship by co-founding their own 501(c)3 – Black:30 – in Lawrence, KS, in December of 2022, with the goal of creating “an environment where every business and entrepreneur, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to exist and thrive.”

Originally from Lawrence, Overton comes from a family of entrepreneurs, so starting things and taking risks are in her blood. However, the journey to creating Black:30 was not a straight path. Nor was her education route. While she was originally recruited to play tennis for OUKS in 2012, Overton chose to play Division 1 tennis at Morgan State University in Baltimore instead. She soon found that she was unprepared for life in the inner city, and following a school shooting, she accepted a re-extended offer from OU, where she played tennis for one season. That’s when her former high school cheer coach, Shayla (Jacobs) Siebenthal, began working at OU and recruited her for the cheer team, where she stayed and developed deep ties until mid-way through her senior year, when she left to help support her family. 

But she wasn’t done with OU yet – far from it. Two years later, Siebenthal remembered Overton’s skills and passion and actively recruited her as a graduate assistant in 2018. Eager to accept, Overton completed her undergraduate degree online and enrolled in the MBA program to qualify for the role, which she held for a year and a half while also working fulltime at a construction company in Kansas City.

Then along came the COVID pandemic. As with so many, the pandemic took its toll on Overton’s mental health, so she and husband John decided to shake things up and move to San Diego, CA. Following various entrepreneurial endeavors, both she and John accepted remote positions with Tesla – Taylor as a recruiter and John as a battery storage engineer. It wasn’t long, however, before the couple longed to be back near family, so they returned to Kansas within a year, with John continuing remotely with Tesla.

And Taylor? OU once again became her destiny when she was offered the position as head dance coach at OUKS. “That year (2021-22) was one of the best, exciting times of my life,” said Overton, under whose leadership the program won its second ever national championship. And had Tesla not issued a return-to-work directive for John, she may be there still, but in early 2022, the couple surprisingly found themselves returning to California, this time to San Francisco. Taylor was fortunate to join The Western Regional Minority Council out of Oakland, CA, as their director of minority business and corporate development – another remote position - but it wasn’t long before the San Francisco cost of living became unsustainable.

Weary of the moving and career disruption, the couple decided to move one last time – back to their hometown of Lawrence, KS. John landed another remote position, while Overton continued with The Western Regional Minority Council. That is, until last month, when she left to devote 100% of her time as president of Black:30.

Overton knew she had found her true calling in Black:30, a BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) focused entrepreneurial support organization (ESO). As a professional with a passion for supplier diversity and the utilization of minority business enterprises (MBEs), she became committed to supporting procurement teams, as well as developing, engaging, and advocating for MBEs through Black:30, which received 501(c)3 status in May.

Black:30 strives to do this in four primary ways: promote economic growth; increase competition in the marketplace; showcase generational diversity; and act as corporate educators. “The strength of our community lies in our diverse tapestry to keep our markets competitive,” said Overton.  “As we have these large corporations like Panasonic or events like the World Cup come to our area, we want minority businesses to be considered as suppliers. We want to create an environment of highly competitive minority businesses that are better prepared to bid any size contract with any company or event coming into the region. We saw so many of these opportunities offered in California. Now we are motivated to offer these best practices of inclusion here at home.”

One of the primary benefits that Black:30 offers minority entrepreneurs is a learning management system (LMS), which is scheduled to launch next month. Compiled in response to the poverty reduction plan for the county, it will be the first database of minority businesses in Douglas County and will encourage corporations to consider BIPOC organizations for meeting their supply needs.  

To prepare the MBEs to meet these demands, Black:30 provides free education on all aspects of starting and running a business, both from a business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) standpoint. Black:30 also works with the Department of Commerce to help minority businesses navigate the certification process, educates corporations on partnering with MBEs for supplier diversity, holds events to promote MBEs, works with Network Kansas to provide funding opportunities and loans for businesses, and collaborates with local and state government to further the cause of BIPOC businesses and promote conscious consumers across the entire state.

Already Black:30 is making headway. For example, the organization already boasts 500 members from Douglas County alone, including 250 minority businesses.  And with August nationally recognized as Black Business Month, Overton worked with the mayor of Lawrence to declare August 20-26 Black Business Awareness week, during which 35 local vendors were showcased on social media through city and county sponsors. Black:30 also hosted a Black Business Market on August 25 in Lawrence, which featured previous and current black business leaders, black artists and vendors, food trucks, music, dance lessons and more as a way to inspire the next generation of black business innovators. And on September 1, the organization is hosting Black & Bankable, a one-day business intensive for black entrepreneurs ready to grow and scale.

“We want to break down barriers for entrepreneurs who traditionally experience hurdles of some type,” said Overton. “We want to make them hyper-culturally competent, and we want consumers across the state to become allies for black and brown businesses in the community.” She encourages everyone to go to to find minority-owned businesses in Douglas County for anything they may be looking to purchase. In addition, general membership is free through filling out a form on the website, as is minority business membership and corporate membership. Sponsorships are available for those wanting to market specifically to Black:30’s minority businesses. 

And what of Overton’s OU connections? They are as strong as ever. “If I can fill a need that they have, I will be there in 20 seconds flat,” she said, and then explained why. “The number one thing that I learned at OU is grace - giving people space to create their own path and journey. Without Shayla calling me to give me a chance - without even having my undergraduate degree yet - I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet the girls and make the impact that I made. Our paths aren’t always linear. But 91̽»¨ has always been my constant and given me grace to come back and make a difference.”

In recognition of the difference she has made in the lives of students on the OUKS campus, President Dr. Reggies Wenyika presented Overton with the President’s Certificate of Commendation in April 2023 during the annual Grad Banquet.

Based on her history, we’re guessing that won’t be the last we hear of Taylor Overton at 91̽»¨!

Life of Signficance Resonates with 3X OU Alumnus

“OU taught me that we are all connected in this world, and when you do your part by working hard and believing in yourself, you have the power to inspire and motivate others.”

This quote by Tracy Morris, three-time alumnus of 91̽»¨, encapsulates one of the main missions of 91̽»¨.

After transferring to 91̽»¨ in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Morris quickly found that her new campus met the needs she had, enabling her to establish connections with her professors while at the same time establishing her values.

“Because of OU’s mission and solid message of creating a life of significance, I was able to do just that by mapping out my courses, attending small classes in-person, and taking advantage of virtual classes, as well,” Morris said. “These experiences changed and molded me … as I’ve learned to view life through a different lens entrenched in the importance of empathy, perseverance, reliance, and service to others.”

Morris earned her undergraduate degree on the Wisconsin campus. She then went on to earn two master’s degrees remotely while she worked to establish her career and family.

“After graduation, I felt an overwhelming sense of being prepared to take on anything that came my way,” shared Morris. “I grew exponentially as a person, exuding assertiveness and confidence in my abilities, and taking pride in myself for being disciplined and inspirational to others I meet.”

These skills have developed into an ability to form deep relationships, which helps within Morris’s career as a human resource officer.

“I learned many important lessons at OU that will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I’ve passed them down to my son,” she said. “My biggest lesson is to keep going— even if you take it slow at times— because working on your goal consistently will take you where you want and need to be.”

Morris’s advice to current students is to keep sight of their goals, despite what happens in life.

“...As you keep trying and believing in yourself, you will be just fine, no matter what someone else is doing— everybody’s journey is different,” she intimated. “You will look back on your journey and be proud of all the lessons you learned along the way, and it’ll be more than worth it.”

 

This Friendship Was No Accident

OUWI Students Bond Through Hardship

It’s a mystery sometimes when the convergence of time and place puts you on a path that alters the course of the rest of your life. When Amy Forsberg enrolled at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) in Wisconsin at the same time as Michelle Leaman, who is 12 years her junior, they could never have predicted what was to come or how their friendship would become the glue that held them together through some particularly difficult times.

“We met in our first year in the human services program at WCTC,” recalled Forsberg. “By our second year we had become friends. When we discuss the evolution of the beginning of our friendship, we acknowledge that we sensed something about the other one; we had common thoughts and ideas in class and just seemed to gel. As we went along, we realized our birthdays were a week apart, and there were other parallels between us. We could almost read the other’s thoughts, and we understood each other’s moods in a way that we never had with other friends before.”

With that kind of connection, it’s no surprise that the Forsberg/Leaman duo decided to pursue their bachelor’s degrees at the same time, in the same field, at the same school. In August of 2020, they enrolled in OUWI’s Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services. OU was an easy choice for them, not only because of the generous credit transfer policy, in-person classes and liberal arts focus, but also because of friends who highly recommended it and the fact that some of their favorite WCTC faculty taught at the University, as well.

Before they could begin classes, however, their friendship was put to its first test. Forsberg, who describes herself as a caretaker who “does it all,” underwent brain and spine surgeries that made her largely immobile for six weeks in the midst of the COVID pandemic. “Michelle helped me get through my surgeries and was a huge part of my healing” she said. Likewise, when Leaman later experienced a mysterious illness, it was Forsberg who advocated for her and supported her through it.

Between those two trials was sandwiched a much bigger tragedy that ultimately served to forge their bond in fire and make it unbreakable. On a fateful night in 2022, about halfway through their bachelor’s program, the two were driving home from class together as they did each week. When they were about a mile from Forsberg’s home, they were t-boned in a construction zone by someone going 45 MPH.

“We were hit and spinning multiple times,” Leaman recalled. “I remember feeling Amy grab me. We knew that we hit heads after my head slammed off my side window. Both of us had multiple contusions on our heads and both of us were diagnosed with concussions later on.”

Forsberg flashed back: “All I could think of was gas tanks and explosions, and I started saying, ‘We have to get out.’ I had no idea what condition Michelle was in at that point, but she acknowledged me, and I knew she was at least conscious.”

People quickly came to their aid, and the two were able to contact their families. Forsberg was whisked off by ambulance to the hospital, while Leaman, underestimating the extent of her injuries, rode to the nearest hospital with her partner, Chris. Both were terrified, however, not only for themselves, but for the other.

In the end, their injuries were significant but not life-threatening, and they slowly began to mend. What they quickly began to realize, however, was that the physical healing was going to be the easier part of their recovery.

“When you are in the moment, it is hard to see things for what they are, but the social workers and counselors inside us both recognized as the weeks stretched into months that we had been permanently altered inside,” acknowledged Leaman.

Forsberg agreed. “I did not realize how bad my PTSD was until I found myself flinching as soon as I got in the car,” she said. “We spent a long month trying to figure out how not to be terrified every time we got into a vehicle. However, what affected me more than I realized was the fact that I had fallen into a deep depression after being hurt in the accident. I have lived with years of chronic illnesses and debilitating pain and had struggled to come back from those issues. So being laid up in bed again and going through all the emotions that went with it was taking a huge toll on me. If Michelle had not been there, I truly believe I would have given up. We had a unique way of building each other up, but also of holding each other accountable when we felt really lost.”

Leaman explained further: “We knew we had a great relationship before the accident, but the accident brought about an understanding that the two of us alone shared – a sense of ‘I feel what you feel. Amy and I depended on each other to get through the worst of the times. I know both of us felt that the other one was integral to getting through not just school, but through what seemed to be endless effects from that accident - like my own depression, which just kept getting worse because I could not figure out how to make my body do the things I needed it to in order to take care of my family, work, and school life. Ultimately, I was out of work for 8 months.”

Despite the debilitating physical and emotional effects of the accident, this dynamic duo only missed eight weeks – one term – of classes. Because they weren’t able to attend in person, the administrators and faculty at OUWI stepped up to make sure that the ladies had what they needed to complete their assignments and stay on track to finish their degrees, which they did in June.

It was challenging, but again, they joined forces. “The cognition issues from our concussions presented themselves more and more,” said Forsberg, “but we just continued to work together to find ways to accommodate our ‘new brains.’  It was some of the hardest work we’ve ever done. We had to push ourselves, and we both firmly agree that we could not have done it without each other.”

More determined than ever, Forsberg and Leaman are headed into OU’s Master of Arts in Counseling in the fall. “With the twists and turns our lives have taken since the accident, we are both still overcoming what happened to us and trying to figure out where we will go next,” said Forsberg. “One day, though, we would love to be able to hang out our own shingle as licensed counselors and work with families in our community to do our part in the career we have been long waiting for.”

And that will be no accident, either.

Alum's Capstone Project to Become OU Standard

Diane Flerlage is a recent graduate of 91̽»¨’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Leadership and Management program. The final requirement for the program is the completion of a comprehensive practicum and capstone project. Flerlage’s project focused on developing a standard process for the onboarding and orientation of OU’s adjunct clinical nursing instructors in various regions of the U.S. The project is so relevant to nursing instruction that international nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau has invited her to personally present it at its Sigma Global Nursing Excellence Conference in San Antonio, TX, in November.

The organization’s vision is to empower nurse leaders to work together globally to transform the future. Flerlage’s capstone project is doing just that, right at OU. When working with Director of Nursing Dr. Ruth Burkhart and other department leaders to research what was being done nationally in this area and identify the need, Flerlage found that there are schools that utilize some type of remote onboarding but none that has adopted a comprehensive standardized process. That’s why her project will soon become a permanent part of the University’s onboarding process for remote adjunct nursing instructors.

Why is such a process needed, you may ask? Flerlage explains: “Higher education is one where students can attend nearly all classes virtually, but, in nursing, there may be times they need to complete a clinical course in person. The University needs to have adjunct instructors near those students so they can finish their clinicals. With my project, the hope is that nursing programs in higher education will be able to implement this program and find adjunct instructors near their students, as well as complete their onboarding and orientation remotely with ease.”

After becoming a Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) in 2000, Flerlage worked for St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, KS, before moving to Stormont Vail Health in 2003, where she continued as an LPN until 2017. That’s when she obtained her Associate of Nursing at Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC). Flerlage’s OU journey began in 2019 when she took advantage of a partnership MATC has with OU that provides a scholarship for anyone who goes on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

“OU had visited during my time [at MATC] and I was impressed at how organized the recruiters were and especially how kind they were,” said Flerlage. “Then, when it came time to get my Master of Science in Nursing, I knew I wanted to stick with OU as I already knew the program, I knew the professors, and I wanted to keep that familiarity and stability I felt as a student.”

Her continuing education has paid off. Starting off in the Medical Surgical Unit at Stormont Vail Health as an RN in 2017, she was promoted to Clinical Manager in 2019 while in the BSN program. “This is where I began to understand that while caring for patients was my number one priority, the career path I wanted to take was to be a leader,” said Flerlage. “I wanted to have a team that I could work with, encourage and support. I also wanted to be a part of change in the future of nursing.”

And that’s what prompted her to pursue her MSN. After earning her graduate degree, Flerlage was promoted to Nurse Manager over primary care in two clinics. “Diving deep into the specialty MSN Leadership courses gave me direction on how to handle certain situations as a leader, how to critically think as a leader, and how to implement and navigate process changes in my clinics,” Flerlage shared. “As I become a stronger leader, I would like to continue rising the ladder and possibly be a Director of Nursing at some point or eventually a Chief Nursing Officer one day.”

For anyone else considering earning their BSN or MSN from 91̽»¨, Flerlage has some encouraging words: “You will build a special connection with your classmates as well as the professors. If it were not for Dr. Ruth Burkhart or Dr. Diann DeWitt, I would not be where I am today. I am forever grateful as they gave me a chance and they supported me every step of the way.” 

 

Norwood L. Jones Series Marks 50 Years at OU

In 1973, the Norwood L. Jones Convocation Fund was established on the OUKS campus by Mr. and Mrs. Norwood L. Jones, Carolyn Jones Fletcher, and Anne J. Mills for the purpose of hosting distinguished individuals that stimulate and inspire students in their religious life and involvements. In February and March of 2023, the Norwood L. Jones Convocation Series marked its 50^th year as part of 91̽»¨’s liberal arts tradition.

Added to the Surprise, AZ, campus in 2018, the Series has hosted speakers Jerry Steele (2018), Sam Acho (2019), and Jason Romano (2022), with 2021 and 2022 omitted due to the COVID pandemic. However, the Series returned this year, and through the leadership of Director of Major Gifts Wynndee Lee ‘89KS, was expanded to the Overland Park, KS (OP) adult campus, as well.

“My sister and I are pleased each of the campuses continues to provide speakers consistent with the original intent of the Convocation Fund,” said Mills. “It validates the universality across the decades of helping students grow in their values and well-being.”

On February 15, 2023, students, staff, and trustees on the OUAZ campus had the opportunity to be inspired when they heard Norwood L. Jones speaker Riccardo Stewart in the Faith Arena of the O’Dell Center. Stewart shared his life story and spiritual journey with students, describing the emptiness he experienced in pursuing his athletic and career dreams void of Christ when he “thought as a child.” He then contrasted that with the joy, purpose and growth that have filled his life since he began “thinking as a man” and living for Jesus instead of for himself (1 Cor. 13:11).

Stewart played football at Arizona State University where he was a four-year starter, team captain and three-time All-Conference honoree. After playing college football, he served as a youth football coach, high school football coach, the Character Coach with the Arizona State football team, and Defensive Back Coach at the University of Nevada. He was also the lead pastor of Redemption Church of Tempe for 10 years. Stewart has a Master of Arts in Global Urban Leadership and is now in wealth management. He has used the game of football and his spiritual journey as an opportunity to lead, develop, and inspire young people to grow in their faith and as leaders in their family and community. Stewart and his wife Holly have two boys, Noah and Eli.

The OUKS campus hosted its Norwood L. Jones event on March 29, with Kevin Honeycutt ’91KS as the guest speaker. In addition to the main event, “Helping Kids Climb,” in the Fredrikson Chapel at 7:00 p.m., Honeycutt spent the day conducting classroom sessions across the OUKS and OP campuses on such topics as “Taking Your Talent Global,” “Speaking & Training to the Highest Level,” “The Hero’s Journey,” and “Reaching Learners Wherever They Are.”

Kevin Honeycutt grew up in poverty and attended school in more than 20 states before becoming the first high school and college graduate (OU) in his family. Following graduation, he taught K-12 art and facilitated summer art camps throughout Kansas. Honeycutt also wrote and directed high school plays for 13 years. He has been selected as a Sallie Mae Master Teacher, nominated for Kansas Master Teacher and been awarded the Making IT Happen Award, in conjunction with being published in art education journals.

Following his career as an educator, Honeycutt became a staff developer and keynote speaker at an educational non-profit service agency for the next 17 years. There, he conceived and developed multiple research-based programs in the areas of project-based learning, trauma/poverty informed instruction, SEL, STEM/STEAM education, and Digital Legacy. His podcast, Driving Questions in Education, was the number one rated podcast in K-12 video education for multiple years. He was an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2011, delivered a TEDx talk in 2015, and has become a worldwide speaker.

Honeycutt co-authored “Midnight Run,” a collection of stories from his trauma-informed childhood, and he continues to present podcasts, write music, and engage as many people as he can. The 91̽»¨ Alumni Association awarded Honeycutt the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2022. He is married to his wife of 32 years, Michele Evans Honeycutt, ’91KS and has two sons, Ben and Gibson.

“Because of additional funding for the Norwood Jones Convocation Series, we have been able to bring amazing guests to 91̽»¨ who engage with our students and share their stories of integrating their faith with the challenges and triumphs they have encountered in their lives,” said OUAZ President Dr. Dennis Tyner. “Students, student-athletes, and employees at both campuses resonate well with these guest speakers, and I am delighted that funding for the speaker series will allow future generations of 91̽»¨ students to have a similar experience.”

MBA Cohort Surprises with Results

Nearing its six-year anniversary, the OUAZ campus in Surprise, Arizona, has enjoyed a partnership with the City from its inception - a partnership that has seen significant growth over the half decade of collaboration. The addition of new facilities has been a major part of that partnership success, including the iconic O’Dell Center; Scholar’s Hall, which provided the City’s first student housing; the recent naming of Eichner Hall; and the construction of Veritas Hall, which is slated for completion in the fall of 2023.

The greatest impact of the OU-Surprise partnership isn’t found in its buildings, however. It’s found in its people and what they accomplish together; it’s found in the academic excellence and talent that is collaboratively being infused into the expanding Surprise market. To grow that impact, over 20 City employees joined an OUAZ MBA cohort in late 2018 that was designed specifically for municipal employees. It was the city’s first cohort partnership with an institution of higher education, and in December, those students became the City of Surprise’s most recent OUAZ alumni.

Cohort students ranged in age from 20s to 50s and came from departments as diverse as solid waste and finance. The MBA program also welcomed city partner organizations from Sun Health and the Surprise Center Development Company.  

Professors from across OU’s campuses participated in the program, including Dr. Gary Berg (Arizona) and Dr. Stephen Weiss (Wisconsin). Students enjoyed both face-to-face and Zoom instruction when they met once per week in Eichner Hall. City cohort liaison Mike Hoover confided that there was anxiety from most of the city employees who were going back to school after many years away from a formal classroom. “The 91̽»¨ approach of meeting with each student and learning about their needs alleviated much of the initial apprehension,” he said. City colleague Kendra Pettis echoed Hoover’s observation: “Seeing my friends at work pursue an advanced degree was motivating and watching how 91̽»¨ assisted each of us with our own challenges or concerns reassured me I had the support to be successful.”

Gina Neria was also in the cohort. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she had put her continuing education on hold for 20 years while she started a family. Then she heard about 91̽»¨ coming to Surprise. “I had quite a few friends and coworkers signing up for the cohort, and I felt like this was the right time. I was ready to move forward in my career and show my kids that goals can be accomplished when you work hard and have a good mindset.”

Neria believes the cohort model played a large part in her MBA success. “We were all in it together and we relied on one another. We would have group texts asking opinions and questions, and we told jokes once in a while to keep the smiles on our faces - and to remind each other of the end goal. The friendships that were built over those two years are irreplaceable. I believe that being in a cohort while getting my degree made it so much easier to complete.” 

Neria began her degree as a Customer Service Administrative Assistant. After earning her MBA, however, she was promoted to the position of Recreation Coordinator, where she now works with the Surprise Youth Council and teen programs.

Neria wasn’t the only one whose MBA paid off. Of the 20+ employees who entered the program, 80% of them earned a promotion. “Now we are witnessing the 91̽»¨ Spirit moving into the offices and meetings spaces at the City of Surprise,” said Hoover. “The education we received from 91̽»¨ was top-flight, and the relationships formed over the two-year program are now helping our city take flight.” 

To learn more about OUAZ’s MBA program, or to explore a learning cohort for your organization, contact Chief Enrollment Officer Brian Sandusky at brian.sandusky@ottawa.edu.   

The Jazz Business

If you looked at the calendar of Eboni Fondren ’00 OUKS, you would need a nap. It is jam packed with vocal and theater performances, styling consultations, voiceover recordings, guest appearances, and regular travel.  She also serves as her own agent, chief marketing officer, scheduler, contract negotiator, and accountant, which she does skillfully thanks to her double major from 91̽»¨ in business communication and broadcast communication.

Since leaving OU, Fondren has taken her vocal gift, her passion for jazz, and her sense of style and turned them into a diverse career that marries her creative side with her business savvy. After paying her dues in the corporate world for 20+ years while building a name for herself, Fondren’s incredible success allowed her to finally quit her day job in 2021 to become a fulltime entrepreneur and pursue the business of jazz.

Currently, her career consists of four primary ventures. The first is called Jukeboxx Media, a music and entertainment company for which Fondren has served as bandleader for their signature popular band Lost Wax for the past 10 years. The group’s specialty is creating mash-ups of songs from nearly every genre to perform at weddings, corporate events, galas, and more.

The second venture is JzzyStyle, a company that Fondren created as a result of her 10 years in corporate marketing, 12 years as a styling consultant for a bridal gown company and her love for fashion. After styling brides for their wedding day and women for magazine shoots and talent agencies, JzzyStyle began helping women embrace their unique body types by finding the styles that showcase their beauty. As word got around, Fondren started serving as a styling consultant for local Kansas City artists and costumed theater shows, as well – shows like “Memphis” at the White Theater, “After Midnight” at the Black Repertory Theatre and the upcoming “A Raisin in the Sun” at the White Theater (March 2023).

Not to be bored, Fondren pursued a third creative opportunity in 2012 when her co-workers convinced her to submit a voiceover audition tape to the Exposure Model and Talent agency. You have most likely heard Fondren’s polished voice without even knowing it. One of her biggest contracts is with AMC Theaters, where she is heard nationwide announcing upcoming movies, advertising drink specials for MacGuffins Bar, and highlighting concession items. A large former voiceover job was as the “Diva” for Wendy’s pretzel bacon cheeseburger in an online advertisement. Fondren also consistently does voiceover work for a number of clients in the Kansas City area.

Then there is the foundation for her career – the jazz. To promote herself as a performer, Fondren established Eboni Fondren Music & Entertainment, LLC. She works regularly with her band, Eboni & The Ivories, and collaborates with the best of the best in Kansas City jazz. While she does do other music genres, it’s the jazz that speaks to her soul. She performs in Kansas City two to three times each week and can often be seen at venues like The Phoenix, Uptown Lounge, the Blue Room, and Fountain Haus.

Fondren has become a vocalist favorite for the KC Jazz Orchestra, performing multiple times at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center in downtown Kansas City. As if that weren’t enough, she also does musical theater. Recent show credits include “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” at the Black Repertory Theatre and “Newsies” at the J (Jewish Community Center).

Then, of course, there are her singular appearances. Fondren is highly sought after for special events of all kinds. She has performed the national anthem at the Women’s Gymnastics Championships, the NCAA Big 12 Tournament, and Sporting KC; sang “Hero” to Buck O’Neil when he was honored at 91̽»¨ during a Hostetter DeFries Cultural Event; represented Kansas City in Chicago with the VisitKC city takeover; performed for the groundbreaking of Kansas City’s new airport; has represented Kansas City in ; has performed with The Salina Symphony and The Lyric Opera of Kansas City; has been a featured performer at The Folly Theater; and was a favorite during KC Fringe Fest as “Ella” with The Mighty Mo Combo in 2017. In February, Fondren will be featured with the Turner Center Jazz Orchestra for their “Jazz for Lovers and Friends” concert in Des Moines, IA.

All of her hard work and success have not gone unnoticed. As one of the premiere jazz vocalists in Kansas City, Fondren has been featured twice on the cover of The Jam Magazine, as well as on the cover of VisitKC; she was recognized as the 2021 Favorite Jazz Vocalist by KC Jazz Ambassadors and was named a Woman to Watch in KC by the same group; Eboni & The Ivories was selected as the Best Jazz Band in 2021 by The Pitch KC; and she was nominated for Best Female Vocalist of 2021 by KC Magazine.

Fondren received a particularly high honor in 2022 when she was featured in the Kansas City episode of the recently released docuseries which was produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. Interviewed for her role in the deep and meaningful history of Kansas City jazz, Fondren also showcased her original song “Ain’t Nobody Like My Baby” in the film. She previously performed the song with the KC Jazz Orchestra during the COVID pandemic as part of the new Kansas City PBS show “,” which was introduced as a way of bringing local entertainment to the community while venues were shuttered.

“I feel so humbled and blessed that I get to do this for a living,” says Fondren. “I got my start with the late Everette DeVan, who took me under his wing until I was ready to fly on my own. Since then, I have been privileged to work with so many other jazz greats, like Joe Cartwright, Charles Williams and Bobby Watson. My passion will always be jazz, and it’s amazing that I get to share it with so many people.”

Bringing it back to her OU roots, Fondren and her quartet performed in 91̽»¨, KS, in September at the city’s Legacy Square as part of a community event sponsored by Advent Health. It is an example of the wide range of events at which she headlines: weddings, corporate events, conferences, festivals, galas, benefits, openings, community events, museums, private parties, sporting events – you name it. You can learn more about Fondren, hear samples of her music, see a schedule of upcoming shows, and book her for a performance through .

McMorris FastTracks Career Opportunities for Students

We’ve all heard of speed-dating. Now picture the same scenario, only for students with prospective employers. That’s the concept of a new career networking firm launched by Jack McMorris ’22 OUAZ. Where did he get such an idea? From his experience at OU.   

As the third student to sign at 91̽»¨ – Arizona’s (OUAZ) new campus in 2017, Jack McMorris ’22 was also one of a handful who enrolled in the engineering program that was still being developed. That worked to his advantage, however, when the University later allowed him to fast track his education, earning both an undergraduate degree in engineering and master’s degrees in business administration and accounting in just five years.

It was his job search following graduation in May that first gave McMorris the idea for the new business venture. “When I started looking for a job, I had no real guidance when it came to networking,” he said. “I didn’t know the process for contacting employers and getting my name and skills in front of them. That’s when I decided to explore starting a company that would help other students with that problem – that would put them in touch with employers ahead of graduation and during the job search. By improving the process, I felt I could give both students and employers a leg up.”

Pitching the idea to three fellow OUAZ graduates, Justin Tanquist '21, Mason Domec '22, and Andrew De Leon '22, the group launched FastTrack Career Connections in June of 2022, with McMorris as the founder. After building up a network of 10-12 employers, FastTrack worked with OUAZ’s Career Services to hold its first speed networking event in the Union on November 17. In a round-robin format, businesses like American Express^®, CBRE^®, the City of Surprise, Involio^®, and State Farm Insurance^® spent five to seven minutes with each student that attended, learning about their interests and skills and allowing students to ask questions like, “How can I position myself most effectively for opportunity with your company?”

Both students and employers were pleased with the format and substance of the networking event, with each of the employers agreeing to give OUAZ students priority consideration for their spring and summer ’23 job opportunities. They also agreed to return for a repeat event in the spring with other companies like Charles Schwab^®.

“The model worked very well,” said McMorris. “This was sort of a test drive, and now I believe we can replicate the model elsewhere for students and other job seekers. I see this almost like a personalized, face-to-face replacement of GlassDoor and Indeed, where employers can interact with candidates in a different setting before an actual interview.”

McMorris also believes the timing of his start-up has some advantages. “Surprise is a fast-growing community with a lot of new businesses coming in,” he said. “In this job market, many of them are having a hard time finding good talent. They have an outreach problem. I believe FastTrack can help solve that problem by connecting them with good candidates.”

FastTrack hopes to partner with universities throughout Arizona before expanding to other areas of the U.S. They also plan to add a recruiting side to the business in the near future. But McMorris won’t forget that he got his start at OUAZ, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor of accounting. “91̽»¨ has given me a good foundation,” he said, “and I look forward to working with Career Services going forward to help students successfully maneuver their first professional job searches.”

If your company would like to work with FastTrack to meet its hiring needs, contact Jack McMorris at 602-625-0324 or jackmcmorris0808@gmail.com.

 

OU - Wisconsin Celebrates Homecoming, 30th Anniversary

This year’s homecoming at 91̽»¨’s campus in Brookfield, Wisconsin, on October 6, 2022, was a special one as it was also the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the OU - Wisconsin campus. The University has been impacting lives of significance in the Milwaukee area since 1992 with its unique model of accelerated courses geared toward the adult student.

Alumni President Dr. Carla Rutley was thrilled with the turnout, with over 80 in attendance. Hosted at the Brookfield campus, the 30th Anniversary included campus tours, a celebration and awards ceremony, and a food drive for the Native American population being served from the Siggenauk Food Pantry.

After a special welcome by the new OU chancellor Dr. Bill Tsutsui, those in attendance, including alumni, students, staff, faculty, and community partners, heard from keynote speaker Dr. Richard Barnhouse, who is president of Waukesha County Technical College. WCTC is one of several local two-year colleges where students earn their associate degrees before moving on to the University. Other special guests included two former campus directors: Dr. Donald Clausen and Dr. Wade Mauland.

A highlight of the celebration was the announcement of campus award winners. Brian Patterson received the campus’s first ever Life of Significance Award for his important contributions to the life of the University. Patterson came to OU - Wisconsin at age 19 and, after graduating in 2004, has given over 21 years of service to the University in various roles, including finance advisor, campus leader, head of the Alumni Association, and currently as the director of Wisconsin campus operations.

“I am truly honored and surprised to have received this award,” Patterson said. He added, “Here at 91̽»¨ we don’t recruit students, we recruit future graduates, and I’m proud that the Wisconsin campus, in just thirty years, has recruited over 2,500 graduates who are now part of our alumni association.”

Other award winners included Charles Stevenson, Volunteer Award; Patricia Carrington, Ambassador Award; and Debra Adamus, Outstanding Achievement Award.

“The OU Office of University Advancement appreciated the opportunity to attend this great 30th Anniversary Homecoming event to meet alumni and supporters of the OU - Wisconsin campus,” said Janet Peters, vice president of University advancement. “It was really a pleasure to help celebrate the stories of success of the alumni award recipients, support the staff, and acknowledge the amazing sponsorship of this campus by the members of the OU - Wisconsin Community.”

The 30th anniversary of the campus was also commemorated by the State of Wisconsin with an official proclamation, which recognized OU - Wisconsin for enhancing the lives and careers of its nearly 3000 graduates since 1992.

Floyd Daniels: Always Wanting More

Floyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office. He was 39, had worked his way up to management level with only a high school education, and was now at a crossroads.

He realized education needed to be his priority, so he decided to pursue an associate’s degree in business administration and enrolled in Everest College.

Nearly two years later, with only two courses left to complete his degree, Everest filed for bankruptcy and closed all its campuses nationwide.

“Needless to say, I was devastated and discouraged. I just felt hopeless,” Daniels said.  “This is when I was introduced to 91̽»¨’s Arizona campuses. I remember meeting with an 91̽»¨ admissions representative, who encouraged me by saying, ‘It’s not over. Let me help you complete your degree.’ I was defeated at the time, thinking maybe I wasn’t meant for school, so that’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

Daniels took the information shared with him about 91̽»¨’s flexible, online adult education offerings, which included an opportunity to finish his two outstanding associate’s degree courses and a transfer opportunity to get his bachelor’s degree from 91̽»¨.

Although he thought of taking a break, he received a call from the admissions department at 91̽»¨-Arizona asking if he was ready to finish his education.

“Even though I wasn’t yet convinced about my plan of action, something made me say, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ By the summer of 2015, I was enrolled and taking my first class at OUAZ’s Phoenix campus.”

Now 41, Daniels was on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was also working again, full time, putting in a minimum of 55 hours per week.

“There were many times I wanted to quit,” Daniels said. “I figured I made good money, so why did I need to continue? I came to the realization that this was not about the money. It was something I needed to do for myself. Not having a degree and working around many that did, made me feel inadequate. This frame of mind really motivated me to push forward.”

In 2017, Daniels experienced what he says was “one of the proudest moments of my life”: He walked the commencement stage after completing his bachelor’s degree.

“I can remember saying, ‘God, please let me get through this,’ and with his grace I did,” Daniels said.

There was something inspiring about the accomplishment and his experience at 91̽»¨: He wanted more.

“I never would have thought I’d consider pursuing another degree after what it took to get my bachelor’s,” Daniels said. “But that’s exactly what I did. In 2018, at the age of 44, I decided to take the leap once more and get my master’s in leadership from 91̽»¨.”

Daniels completed his master’s in 2019. He could have just moved on to the next chapter in his life. But he wasn’t quite finished yet.

“The strangest thing happened: I enrolled yet again!” Daniels said. “This time, I am pursuing a second master’s in human resources. I completed my last two classes at the end of April 2021 at the age of 46. I won’t say this time that I’m done, because obviously I have developed a passion for continuing my education. 91̽»¨ instilled that passion in me and really changed my life.”

Daniels is the first and only member of his immediate family of eight to have completed any type of degree. He said he will be forever grateful that “91̽»¨ took a chance on me and allowed me to live up to my potential.”

“It has truly been an honor, and I sing 91̽»¨’s praises every opportunity I get,” Daniels said.

Breaking Barriers: The Legacy of Tuskegee Airman Asa Herring

Breaking barriers was just a part of life for Asa D. Herring, Jr. ('87AZ), who passed away May 27, 2022, at the age of 95. It started early when he graduated high school at age 16. It continued as a student in the Tuskegee Institute’s Aircraft Maintenance program and when he passed the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet exam at 17. When he turned 18, immediately upon becoming eligible in December 1944, Herring was inducted into the elite group of African American aviation fighter pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps (AAC), a precursor to the U.S. Air Force. Collectively they flew more than 15,000 raids in Europe and North Africa during World War II.

Herring’s active duty came near the end of the war, and upon its conclusion, the Tuskegee Black aviator program was slated for elimination. Since he had volunteered for service, he was given the option to receive an honorable discharge. Primarily because of continued segregation, Herring chose the discharge. He took full advantage of the next few years, however, graduating from several topnotch technical schools and becoming a certified Aircraft and Engine (A&E) Mechanic and Aircraft Ground Instructor. Despite his impressive credentials, he was unable to find employment in aviation. That’s why in 1949, when the Air Force became its own military branch and segregation was banned, Herring again volunteered for duty. He retired in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Herring continued to break barriers throughout his 22 years of service and 350 combat missions flown across the globe, despite multiple harrowing crashes. According to granddaughter Martina Blasingame, Herring’s “cool and calm demeanor” reflected how he handled those intense situations, and it paid off in his career. He became the first Black Squadron Commander at Luke Air Force Base, where he trained pilots from several European countries in the F-104G Jet Fighter Gunnery Program. He was also appointed an honorary Command Pilot in the German Luftwaffe. For his exemplary service, Herring received numerous medals and honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star, an Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, a Vietnam Service Medal, and the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, among many others.

The drive for excellence, education and service came from Herring’s mother, Lucy. “She was an educator, author, historian, and civic leader,” says granddaughter Jenna Herring. “She instilled in him the importance of educational opportunities, human relations, and the contributions Black people have made in their communities. To have such an influential person like his mother, he was destined for success.”

Herring entered civilian life at 44, where he held various management positions with Western Electric Co. (original parent company of AT&T) for the rest of his career. Education remained important to him, and just two years before retiring in 1989, he earned a degree in business administration from 91̽»¨.

“He was a man of great integrity and honor,” says granddaughter Herring. “It was his small choices and everyday conversations [where] you learned he was honest and practiced what he preached. He treated everyone with fairness and kindness. His light spread through his service to the community and his family.”

Even into retirement, Herring maintained a love for aviation and service. He served on numerous community, business, and education boards and committees and was a strong promoter of STEM education among youth. Wanting to foster a new generation of barrier breakers, Herring became a founding member of the Tuskegee Airmen Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter to inspire youth to not only pursue their educations, but also to seek careers in aviation. To honor the legacy of Tuskegee Airman Asa D. Herring, Jr., his family has asked that people donate to the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter’s scholarship funds for high school students wanting to pursue careers in aviation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.