Eric Edwards

The road taken by Eric Edwards to the University of Oklahoma is worthy of a best-selling memoir. Edwards – who currently holds a master of public health degree and is on track to earn his doctorate in pharmacy this May from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy on the OU Health Sciences Center campus – recently shared how his OU experience has prepared him for the next steps of his life.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Edwards came to know childhood through a challenging lens. He remembers schools and community centers that welcomed students and guests with metal detectors or bars on windows and doors. Edwards shared that the community in which he grew up was a place that did not offer or encourage many opportunities to those who sought them.

The Edwards household was dealt a tragic blow early in Eric’s life. His mother passed away when he was 2. Edwards’ shared that, because of his young age at the time, the impact did not fully impact him until he was much older. Adding to the common hurdles of childhood, Edwards’ father left the home and family behind. Edwards developed a bitter outlook toward life, but with a rare hint of hope.

“I was angry a lot as a kid,” Edwards recalled. “The absence of my parents led to a lot of bitterness. Where I grew up, there were a lot of kids from single-parent homes, so it wasn’t the best environment. But not having a dad did push me to improve.”

Self-improvement is very much in Edwards' DNA.

As Edwards entered high school, he was transferred to Bishop McDevitt High School – a predominantly white high school. Edwards, who is Black, seized the opportunity to live and learn outside his comfort zone as a benefit early on in his development as a scholar there.

“Going to a predominantly white school gave me new experiences I would not otherwise have had. Whether I was meeting new people or learning to get along with new people, seeing other people who grew up in different situations than me drove me to improve.”

Edwards started his high school sojourn believing he would pursue a career in athletics. He exceled in track and football, and he found positive role models in his coaches, which further encouraged his growth and drive for self-improvement. 

“They didn’t only want me to excel in athletics, but wanted to push me academically as well,” Edwards recalls. “I had friends’ parents and coaches all pushing me, and I’m so grateful for that level of care.”

Eventually, Edwards found himself at St. Francis University where, driven by curiosity on how the body works from a health standpoint, he pursued a bachelor of science degree in biology. Encouragement from the father of a high school friend helped further him down the path of science.

During his undergrad journey, Edwards found he was not yet ready to leave his dream of a career in athletics behind completely, and he was excited when he received a call from one of his former coaches, who proposed that Edwards join him at his new job at the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant under then-new head coach Pat Narduzzi.

“I had a group of players I was responsible for. I helped track their grades, create schedules for them and help teach them other basic skills,” Edwards noted.

Meanwhile, he continued his medical science studies, this time with the goal of earning a master’s degree in public health-epidemiology. While there, Edwards interned in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s pharmacy. It was there that Edwards would meet someone who would incentivize him to take the next big step.

“I met a woman who worked at the pharmacy. She was an entrepreneur and helped me realize I could get into pharmacy and build a business and a lifestyle I wanted,” he said.

Again, Edwards did not hesitate to leave his comfort zone to pursue his dream.

“After I graduated from Pitt, I worked as a pharmacy tech and met a recent graduate from the University of Texas who told me how schools in her region are affordable. I started looking around and came across the University of Oklahoma.”

At OU, he credits a meeting with Jennifer Richardson, director of admissions for the College of Pharmacy, for “selling” him on the idea of pursuing a doctorate at OU.

“Jennifer sold OU as a family to me,” Edwards said. “I love being uncomfortable, so moving across country didn’t scare me. I also watched a lot of Sooner football games growing up, so I had some connection to the place.”

At OU, Edwards honed his skills as a charismatic and fearless leader. He was elected vice president of the Student Government Association for the Health Sciences Center in 2022-23 and volunteered for numerous projects and organizations, further developing his skillsets for the future.

“Looking back from my first year at OU to now, I think one of the things it taught me was how to develop strong and true relationships and how to slow things down. I’ve made great relationships here and learned how to be in the present and focus on what’s important,” he said.

With the end of his OU journey now in sight, Edwards has set his compass toward a job opportunity with Pfizer Inc. Armed with valuable life and study experiences gained from his younger years through his time at OU, he stands ready to be present and helpful to those in need. He came to Oklahoma already a leader, but now he is set to make a positive difference in his community and beyond.