Q & A With Nick Aguilera

OU Class of 2014
Major: International and Area Studies  
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
Current City: Golden, CO
Now: Working for the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program.

After visiting several schools around the country, the first time I stepped on OU's campus it felt "right." This was a feeling that was reinforced with every single person I interacted with on campus, from my campus tour guide to the faculty in the College of International Studies to the staff in Student Life to the advisors in the Honors College. I was astounded by the academic and extracurricular opportunities on campus and I felt like there were faculty, and staff who wanted me there and would help me grow. I was also incredibly impressed by the performance of OU's academic programs. The campus catchphrase "What Possibilities!" seemed to ring true as I read stories of student success after OU. I'm lucky to say that it's proven true for me post-OU! 

I miss the international community on campus! As an incoming freshman, I had no idea I'd be able to meet and befriend people from all over the world through OU Cousins and other international programs.  Along the same lines, one of the absolute best experiences of my time as an OU student was the chance to study abroad. I spent a semester studying the Spanish language and South American literature in Montevideo, Uruguay. OU works really hard to make global experiences available to students regardless of whether or not you study abroad. These transformed the way I view and understand the world. 

I also enjoyed the leadership development opportunities around campus, from the chance to help lead student organizations and put on student-led events to the chance to learn from and listen to well-renowned speakers from all over the world coming to speak on campus. The campus itself was also one of my favorite things! I miss a lot of my favorite study spots, but I might miss the Union Courtyard the most. It was my favorite spot to sit and talk with friends or to read, write, and study. 

Where to start!? In my current job I'm working to improve Colorado communities' access to parks and recreation opportunities outdoors. This has been motivated by a desire in community development and my desire to help build healthy, active, sustainable communities in the United States and around the world. This interest was sparked when I attended the OU Institute for Quality Community's s bi-annual Placemaking conference late into my college career, although it built heavily on my studies of international development, history, anthropology, the environment, and urban poverty as a student in the College of International Studies. 

Many of the skills that my job requires were taught and reinforced in Norman, from my abilities to quickly synthesize research into reports and professional documents to my public speaking, presentation, and event management strengths.  Whereas my professors polished up my writing and research abilities, the chance to lead and work with student groups as we completed consulting projects in the OKC community or hosted campus events taught me to be a better leader and how to empower others to do the same. When I graduated from OU, I was admitted into one of the country's top graduate programs and studied City and Regional Planning at UC-Berkeley.

OU has a strong and spirited alumni network that I've been able to tap into. My professors and mentors in Norman have continued to be invaluable as I ask for help and advice on my path to ongoing personal and professional growth. 

I'm guilty of Boomer Sooner's back and forth with other OU fans I see dressed in crimson and cream as recently as this afternoon and I'm proud when OU excels on the sports field, but being a part of the OU family as an alumnus means so much more to me. It means that we've all have experienced incredible personal, academic, and professional growth over many years in the shared space of OU's beautiful campus. We've all worked in some capacity to make OU, Norman, Oklahoma, and beyond a better place! This is a powerful bond and a great place to start a conversation with OU alumni you meet around the world! It makes me very proud to be a alumni when I see how my classmates and fellow alumni are contributing to the Oklahoma community and well beyond! 

Q & A With Leah Clemenson

OU Class of 2017
Major: Public Affairs and Administration
Minor: Psychology and Nonprofit Organizational Studies
Hometown: Edmond, OK
Current City: Oklahoma City, OK
Now: Project Coordinator with a federal project management firm called Public Strategies

It wasn't my first choice, I wanted to go out of state but I was offered a scholarship and knew I would want to go out of state for graduate school so figured I could save money. It was the right choice for sure!  

I had the ability to get involved in just about anything I wanted to. OU grew with me, I started off heavily involved on campus involved in many organizations and as I decided to branch out to internships OU still supported me with class credit options and the Ewing Fellowship to go to DC and intern. I also just love the campus. To be honest, tearing up right now thinking about walking around campus. 

I felt pretty well prepared for my career and a lot of that is because of the courses offered. I really appreciated my adjunct professors because they were able to give you a real perspective of the world. I also had professors who challenged me when it came to data organization and presentation and that has really paid off. Through groups like TOG, I also learned about consulting which is a lot of what I do in my new job. 

I like that being a Sooner can mean a lot of things. To some people, it's attending all of the alumni events, going to every football game, and remaining constantly in the know with OU. For me, it's the close group of friends, mentors, and professors I still keep up with. It's the advice I was given that will stick with me forever. For me, being an alumni may not mean going to all of the football games or the events, for me it is carrying on the quality of education I gained as I move forward in my career and hopefully impact the world in some way. It may be a small amount of public good, but it's public good and public service. OU afforded me the opportunity to learn how I can make a difference. 

Q & A With Rebecca McNeley

OU Class of 2015
Major: Marketing & Advertising
Hometown: Keller, TX
Current City: Dallas, TX
Now: Marketing Analyst

I had always wanted to attend a university with a reputation for excellence. With the intention of going into the field of advertising, the accolades of the Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication initially caught my attention. And as an out-of-state student, the wide availability of scholarships was also another driving factor in my decision to choose OU. But most importantly, I think it was the feel of campus that really sold me. After a campus tour, I knew I would love it there because it was the perfect balance between a big & small. A large campus with a diverse population, but a small tight-knit, community feel. Close enough to Oklahoma City to take advantage of the cool city, but the main campus nestled in the smaller town of Norman. It was just the perfect place for me. 

My four years as a student at OU were easily the best four years of my life. I thank the Center for Student Life on campus for facilitating so many campus-wide student organizations. There really is a club or group for almost every interest, and having the ability to meet and learn with people outside of the classroom, was monumental for me. The people I met through the variety of organizations I was involved with was easily my favorite part of the OU experience. Second favorite, OU Football Season, obviously. I sure am missing those student tickets these days. 

OU had so many different student organizations and resources specific to my majors that helped prepare me for exactly what I'm doing today. The student organizations in the Price College of Business and the required BAD classes were both instrumental in preparing me for a career in the field of business. Of course, I learned the how-to's of writing a resume and what not to wear to an interview, but with the practice of many of these skills through student organizations, I gained the confidence that I could do it out in the real world. So after graduation, I went out, got a job, and did exactly that. 

It's hard to explain what it's like to be a part of the Sooner Family. Whether it's a "Boomer" from a random stranger in an airport or being together with 85,000 others in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, we've all shared this wonderful experience at this wonderful place. Joined together as a family, it's a sense of community that lives on long after graduation.