Hello Prospective Sooners! I am an alumni blogger, and in my first entry here I would like to share some of my experiences as a student in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Art and Art History.

I hail from Plano, Texas and I graduated from OU in 2007 with a degree in Art History. After graduation, I moved to New York City to attend NYU for graduate school, and in 2009 I earned a Master’s in Museum Studies. Currently, I work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I can honestly say that I credit much of the success I’ve had in my life so far to my experiences at OU. The four years I spent in Norman encompassed so many fulfilling and meaningful moments, and OU will always hold a special place in my heart–ask anyone who’s ever encountered me–I never stop talking about the University of Oklahoma!

During my tenure at OU I was able to forge some incredible relationships with my professors, and I think that is one of the keys to making the most of the college experience. One of the greatest things about OU is how accessible professors are to students–there was nary a time when one of my professors was not able to make some time to discuss what we were learning about in class, or even just to chat. I might be biased, but I think the School of Art is a gem, and the enthusiasm the professors impart on the subject matter they teach is palpable in every class session.

For those of you who are thinking about majoring in Art History, or even if you just have to fulfill an arts requirement, I would recommend taking a class with Professor Victor Youritzin. This man could make a discussion about plywood and paint chips seem as lively as a description of the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. When I arrived at OU, I was majoring in another subject, and I enrolled in an Understanding Art class for my arts requirement. Professor Youritzin was the teacher, and not more than a week into the course I changed my major and never looked back. Once I was a part of the Art History program, I traveled to Renaissance Italy with Dr. Alison Palmer, explored China with Dr. Alan Atkinson, spent time with some of art’s most famous women with Dr. Susan Caldwell, and learned about some of the local Native American arts traditions with Dr. Mary Jo Watson–doing all of this from a darkened classroom in the Fred Jones via slide projector. My world had been infinitely expanded and I had not even left campus!

While I did participate in several of OU’s many study abroad programs (which is an entry of its own!), the options and opportunities to expand your horizons on campus are ample, and a big part of this for me was the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art. This museum is an incredible resource, as it features the most important collection of Impressionist art at an American public university. The Fred Jones also boasts a tremendous collection of Native American art, as well as different art forms ranging from Medieval icons to Contemporary Art. The museum also offers film screenings and symposia on different art and architectural topics, as well as concerts on Tuesdays at noon–something students from all disciplines can enjoy! If you are coming to visit campus, a trip to the FJJMA (and OU’s fabulous natural history museum, the Sam Noble) will only further illustrate the excellence of the university.

There are so many other things I would like to share about my time at OU, and I hope to elaborate more about my experiences at the university in future posts. I also want to hear from you–if you have questions or specific things you would like to hear about let me know in the comments!

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