May
24
When College of Liberal Studies alumnus John Hammons was 8 years old, his mother let him mark her ballot for the 1996 presidential election. That was all it took to spawn a dream. Just over a decade later at age 19, John was elected mayor of Muskogee, Okla., becoming one of the youngest mayors in American history.
At an age when many young adults are just learning to juggle work and school or a social life, John began searching for an educational program that could allow him to balance his new high-profile gig with his lifelong desire to graduate from the University of Oklahoma. The OU College of Liberal Studies online bachelor’s degree was the answer.
But how, you may be wondering, did an 8-year-old’s dream become a reality so quickly? Following his “participation” in the 1996 election, John started studying history and found most of his favorite historical figures were political leaders. So, in 2008 when the incumbent mayor of Muskogee announced her retirement, John jumped at the chance to step into a political role. With the encouragement of his family and mentors, he entered the race, and on May 13, 2008, won with the largest margin of votes in Muskogee’s election history. Read more
May
16
When many CLS students walk across the stage at convocation, it’s a moment that most of them have rehearsed in their minds for years.
Not to downplay the sense of accomplishment that “traditional” students feel at graduation, but many graduates of the College of Liberal Studies greet convocation day with an extra bounce in their step.
The road that has led to this occasion is often long, bumpy and riddled with u-turns, wrong-ways and detours. But on convocation day, those old roadblocks are just a fading dot in life’s rearview mirror.
April Jackson, one of our most recent grads, had her own winding journey to the convocation stage, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Administrative Leadership in May 2011. The 39-year-old mother of three now has much to celebrate after years of hard work. Read more
May
9
The College of Liberal Studies convocation Banner Carrier honor is a decades-long tradition. Each semester a small committee of faculty and advisers bring their nominations and from all the names submitted, and after much deliberation, one candidate is chosen. Though we know every student has had their own challenges and spectacular achievements, the final candidate is chosen for their extraordinary story of accomplishment.
This Saturday, graduates attending the College of Liberal Studies convocation will be led in by Suzanne Boettcher, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies graduate whose journey reflects the spirit with which our college was founded 50 years ago. Read more
May
2
Kathy Kyler isn’t satisfied simply trotting through life.
With a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology, this ambitious woman has worked in research and research administration for more than a decade. Even with all her education and experience, she realized she needed formal training in how to effectively manage these diverse groups. In her own words, “I am great at getting things done and paying attention to all the tiny details, but not so good at delegating or knowing how to train and empower people.” But where could she find the time? For a working adult with a very full calender like Kathy, our Masters of Arts in Administrative Leadership degree fit perfectly into her life. With the program’s 100% online classes, her time management hurtles of balancing work, play and another degree became much more manageable. Read more
Apr
25
Mention the phrase “Oklahoma Sooners” to anyone, whether they’re from around here or not, and the topic of sports is sure to come up. Our school’s athletic prowess, particularly in football, is well known far beyond our borders.
Sooner football is so hallowed that, without exception, every season is ushered in with great expectations and lofty predictions. With the team’s spring game under its belt, the topic of autumn Saturdays is already hot on any fan’s mind.
One alumnus of the College of Liberal Studies is a college football aficionado. George Schroeder, a 2006 Bachelor of Liberal Studies graduate, is a nationally known sports writer. We chatted recently about the topics of CLS, football and Gordon Riese.
Apr
20
Sunday is Earth Day, and this past week OU has celebrated its arrival with Green Week. Here at OU, we have all sorts of great initiatives that are not only good for our environment but also good for morale. We have friendly recycle bins, reminders to turn off lights, cardboard crates, policies on keeping electronic documents rather than paper ones … all to help our little blue planet and maintain a beautiful campus. Melissa and I are both big recyclers (Norman’s curb-side pickup makes it so easy!) but we have some handy reminders from around your wonderful University of Oklahoma campus…
Apr
4
Well, folks, the weather is completely unpredictable and everything is in bloom… spring is finally upon us! And what better way to welcome the new season than with an adorable, kid-friendly, and messy edible craft?! I first made these in fourth grade and have loved them ever since. They’re easy and require no baking – great for these unusually warm weekends we’ve had lately.
Mar
29
Are you on the lookout for some fun (and cheap) family entertainment this weekend? Well, the odds are in your favor, as it’s time for the annual Medieval Fair of Norman!
When:
Friday, March 30 – Sunday, April 1
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Where:
Reaves Park (Google Map)
2501 S. Jenkins Ave., Norman, OK
Park at Lloyd Noble Center – one block southwest of the park. Parking is $5 per car. Handicapped parking is available on the park grounds.
Mar
23
Many of our readers won’t immediately recognize the name Jenny Lang, but she is one of our newest and most important College of Liberal Studies staffers… she handles the money! Well, sort of. She is the Payroll and Personnel Specialist for the college. That means she has the all-important job of paying the bills and making sure our faculty members are paid correctly (and on time!) for the work they do with our students.
On top of all that, starting next week she can also be found defending the White Queen as a rook on the Human Chess Board at this year’s Norman Medieval Fair. How amazing is that?! Very amazing.
So how do we know Jenny’s not just another imitator trying to pass as a true enthusiast? Apparently, she’s loved it her whole life. “I have always been interested in history and different cultures; Medieval Europe has been a particular interest since childhood.”
Mar
12
To the surprise of many, I’m actually a pretty big basketball fan. Everything about it is exciting: the constant rhythm of the game, the skill of the players, the squeak of rubber soles on the hardwood, the passion of the fans. The atmosphere of a basketball game is electrifying.
March Madness starts this week, and so begins the month when many of us will be glued to the TV (during non-working hours, of course). Because we know this is a big deal for a lot of our students, Laura designed a couple of awesome tournament brackets. The men’s bracket may be found here. The women’s bracket is available here – and congrats to our Lady Sooners on their #6 seed spot!
