As we enter the final stages of the spring semester of 2023, we are highlighting students spanning multiple colleges and hailing from different places. Each student, with their own unique story and diverse background, share one thing in common -- the University of Oklahoma. Learn more about each graduate to get a glimpse about the experiences of an OU student.
Musical Theater Performance
Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts
Luke Brodersen found his calling for musical theatre during high school and knew immediately this would be an art he wanted to pursue after graduation. Luke was accepted into the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at OU where he participated in multiple student productions and will now graduate with the Class of 2023 with a degree in Musical Theatre Performance and move to Germany to continue his love of performing on Germany's Broadway.
International Studies and Classical Studies
David L. Boren College of International Studies
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
Angelora Castellano is a graduating student from Atlanta, Georgia. As with many OU students who call a state outside of Oklahoma home, Angelora adapted quickly to life in Norman. With a resumé that would mirror a young professional's, Angelora took full advantage of her OU opportunities by immersing herself campus life as an ambassador for the Honors College, studying abroad in Rome, Italy and working towards her dual degree in international relations and classical studies.
Communication
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
Karen Castro is concluding her undergrad at the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Communication, and minors in Nonprofit Organizational Studies and Sociology, but her journey to OU is anything but ordinary. Karen, a native of El Salvador, was selected among 250 other students as a Davis United World College Scholar and relocated to Pune, India, on a full-ride scholarship for high school. Due to her academic excellence in South Asia, Karen then earned a full-ride to OU as part of the Davis UWC Scholars Program and instantly knew OU was a place she was proud to call home and a place that would forever be a part of her unique story.
Doctor of Pharmacy
College of Pharmacy
Eric Edwards is a doctoral of pharmacy student who came to OU Health Science Center from Philadelphia. Edwards' journey is an inspirational story for people not wanting to be confined to their present surroundings. Improvement is in Edwards' DNA and he brought it to the University of Oklahoma.
Biochemistry
Public Health
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
Maya Ferrell joins the Class of 2023 earning her degrees in Biochemistry and Public Health with a Pre-Med focus from the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences. As a native of Edmond, Oklahoma, Maya’s love for her home state and passion for serving her community led her to OU to sharpen her skills and deepen her knowledge on ways she can change the world. Maya’s involvement with the FYRE Program and Withrow also helped her to form a lasting community on campus that encouraged her to become the caregiver she is today. As Maya ventures into the healthcare world following graduation, she knows she’ll always have a special place as part of the OU Family.
Philosophy
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
During his senior year of high school, Daniel Li did not think attending the University of Oklahoma was even an option. A non-native English speaker, Daniel didn’t have a top GPA in his class or competitive ACT scores. After a period of consideration, he decided to apply — and to his surprise, he was accepted. His next four years at OU turned into a long period of self-reflection, trying new things, relationship building and achievement.
Public Relations
Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
As Zack Lissau was finishing up his high school career in Tulsa, his eyes were looking east. Zack had dreams of going to college in the nation’s capital and eventually working in politics. However, a trip just two hours from his hometown forced a change of plans. Zack, now a public relations graduate from the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, came to the University of Oklahoma with butterflies in his stomach, but has never looked back.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
OU-Tulsa Campus
Cori Loffer found herself needing a new career and dream. After serving her country in the U.S. Air Force and pursuing a career in pharmacy, Cori had rejoined civilian life with her family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she got a job at Saint Francis Health System’s Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Mental Health Hospital. There she found her calling – working with people with eating disorders. But she needed more education to continue to serve this population. Despite her initial concerns about going back to school as an adult, Cori is graduating from OU-Tulsa with her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. And she couldn’t be more proud to be a Tulsa Sooner!
Art, Technology and Culture
Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts
The class of 2023 has overcome challenge after challenge during their educational career. The University of Oklahoma prides itself on attracting students who are able to overcome those challenges and come out on the other side prepared for life after school. These student graduate stories represent multiple spaces, colleges and backgrounds from the class of 2023.
Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
Following graduation, Maria will pursue a Master's of Science in Cancer Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention from Harvard University (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing
Kelly jas accepted a job in Tulsa at Hillcrest Medical Center in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and will be joining the NICU team. Kelly also hope to provide unending support to her patient's families as they walk through the difficult road of having a child in the hospital, and she hopes to step in and make a positive contribution to her community as a registered nurse.
OU College of Medicine
After graduation from the OU College of Medicine’s MD Program, Akriti will be heading to Tampa, Florida, to complete her Med-Peds Residency program, allowing her to become double board-certified in taking care of adults and kids in the future.
Michael F. Price College of Business
After graduation, Alex will be attending the OU College of Medicine starting next fall to kickstart his medical career.
OU College of Medicine
Daniel will be continuing his medical training in a combined Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is one of a handful of graduating medical students across the country to pursue this unique endeavor.
