by Tami Althoff
When OU standout softball pitcher Kelly Maxwell entered the NCAA transfer portal last year, she wasn’t just searching for a new place to play softball. She was looking for an online graduate degree program that would allow her the flexibility to play her sport and shadow at a veterinary clinic in preparation for her future veterinary career.
The University of Oklahoma checked all the boxes when it came to being a part of a winning softball team, but she wasn’t sure it would meet the mark where her education was concerned.
She had taken pre-med courses as an undergraduate with the goal of becoming a human doctor before deciding to go the veterinary route, and she had several graduate hours under her belt in OSU’s health care administration graduate program. The ability to transfer the maximum number of credits from her graduate program to her new school was important, and she found the perfect fit in OU Online’s MLS in Healthcare Law.
“When I went on visits, I needed to find something where those classes would transfer over because I didn’t want that year to go to waste. They found healthcare law, and it worked out perfectly because a lot of those same classes I took at OSU could transfer over,” Maxwell said. “I can still use what I’m learning in the veterinary profession, especially what I’ve learned about HIPPA, patient privacy, malpractice, coding, billing and all the different ins and outs on the business side of healthcare.”
Although she was the youngest student in most of her online classes and initially found it hard to connect with her classmates, Maxwell quickly settled in and found a community that mentored her through their years of experience.
“By having older classmates, I was able to find ways and experiences to connect and build relationships with them,” Maxwell said. “I think I will be able to use this experience to better connect with my own clients one day.”
Despite her busy softball schedule, the flexibility of the online program allowed Maxwell to spend a few hours a week at University Animal Hospital in Norman shadowing Dr. John Otto. She was able to observe clinical skills and access patients and their conditions.
“The convenience of the online classes was so important because I could work on assignments when my schedule allowed, and it gave the me the opportunity to shadow during the day. That was huge for me and my future aspirations to get into vet school,” she said. “Dr. Otto really just mentored me and taught me so much in just a short year,” she said. “I’m really grateful for that.
“Being busy, playing softball and going to school, I just never had time,” she added. “Having that type of convenience is really what I enjoy about the online program. When we’re on the road traveling for sports, I don’t have to worry about figuring something out for a test. Everything is at my fingertips.”
Since transferring to OU, Maxwell has proven herself a standout on both the softball field and in the classroom. She earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors and fulfilled a lifelong goal when she won her first Women’s College World Series playing for her dream school.
“I grew up wanting to go to OU. I have a lot of family in Norman, and a lot of family on my dad’s side went to OU,” she said. “I came on campus when I was younger, but the coach back then looked right over me.”
Instead, when she was just a high school freshman, Maxwell committed to rival school, Oklahoma State University, much to her family’s disappointment.
“I was recruited to OSU by a previous coach,” she said. “I knew they were good, but I never thought we’d go to the World Series every year.”
Maxwell, a native of Friendswood, Texas, played softball at OSU for five years, earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2022. Although she made three Women’s College World Series appearances as a Cowgirl, she never won a championship.
Earlier this year, Maxwell took advantage of the transfer portal. This time, the coach didn’t pass her over.
“I never thought I’d end up here at OU winning a national championship. It didn’t seem like that would ever be a reality. OU brought me so much happiness this year that it was hard not to smile,” she said. “My family ultimately wanted me to be happy in whatever school I chose. I’m grateful they are such huge supporters of the sport, the university and me.
“They would rarely miss a game,” she added. “I remember hugging them right after we won, and no words were exchanged – just happy tears and pure joy. It was a moment I will never forget.”
Maxwell spent the early part of July in Japan playing USA softball and may play there professionally in the fall while finishing her degree. She’s also applying to veterinary schools with plans to start in the fall of 2025. She hopes to one day run her own veterinary clinic in her home state of Texas.
“As painful and as hard as I thought transferring would be, it turned out to be everything I could’ve ever imagined and more,” she said. “I’m grateful to be here and finish my softball journey the way I did. I’m very blessed and very grateful.”
OU Online offers a variety flexible undergraduate and graduate degrees that can be completed 100% online. Visit our website to see which degree might be right for you.
