Meet Gayle Maxwell, an accomplished alumna of the University of Oklahoma, whose journey from graduating in December 1991 with a major in Broadcast Journalism to becoming the Director of Corporate Communications for the Oklahoma City Thunder is a testament to her dedication and versatile skill set. In this insightful interview, Gayle shares her favorite memories from her time at the university, highlights key moments in her career, and imparts valuable advice to aspiring mass communication professionals. From her role in the transformative Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) vote to her commitment to community service and involvement with the OU Black Alumni Society, Gayle Maxwell's story is one of passion, connection, and the enduring impact of a strong foundation in journalism.
Kaelan Deese is a dynamic journalist with a diverse background in journalism and a keen interest in political reporting. After graduating in December 2019 with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Spanish, Kaelan's journey began in Oklahoma City and led to a move to Washington D.C. in 2020. During his time at Gaylord College, he honed his skills and cherished moments spent creating podcasts and radio clips. Kaelan's career path took him through internships at The Oklahoman and The Hill, paving the way for his role as a breaking news reporter at the Washington Examiner. Now serving as a Supreme Court reporter, he navigates complex legal matters with precision and insight. Kaelan's dedication to his craft and ability to gather firsthand sources have been instrumental in his success. His advice to aspiring mass communication professionals emphasizes seeking out diverse opportunities and honing a broad skill set. Outside of work, Kaelan enjoys immersing himself in nature, attending live concerts, and exploring the vibrant streets of the nation's capital. Read more about his background and how Gaylord helped shape his future career.
Lori Asbury is a highly accomplished media executive, entrepreneur and community leader. With over 30 years of experience in the television and advertising industries, Lori has an impressive track record of success in leading creative teams and driving revenue growth for major media organizations. Her education and hands-on experience at Gaylord College were instrumental in laying the foundation for her successful career. Her dedication to community service and involvement with organizations such as Mobile Meals and Second Harvest Food Bank demonstrate her commitment to making a positive impact in the world. Outside of work, Lori enjoys spending time with her family, competing in horse shows, and giving back to her community.
Kari Watkins came to OU as a third-generation Sooner with a deep passion for the Crimson and Cream. Growing up in Cleveland, Oklahoma, a 3A school in a town of 3,000 people, many of her freshman-year classes had more in them than her entire high school. Raised as the daughter of a weekly newspaper publisher, she loved storytelling and giving individuals recognition for their contributions to the community. Her father, grandfather and uncle were all elected to serve in the state Senate or state House, balancing a life of journalists and community giving. Her mother and aunts set the same tone for Kari and her siblings, instilling an enormous passion for OU and Norman, with her great-aunts all receiving master's degrees from OU at a time when most women weren’t afforded that opportunity. While many may remember Billy Vessels as a distinguished Cleveland, Oklahoma OU alum, Kari proves her own impact on the Oklahoma community and beyond. She currently serves as the president & CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and race director for the Memorial Marathon, taking place April 28-30 of this year.
From OU Nightly to the Market 5 news in only two years' time, Abby Foster is a force. The 2020 broadcast journalism graduate recently shared how her career path led her to writing for FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, how Gaylord prepared her, advice for current students and more, all after this commercial break...
The staff of the Oklahoma City-based company Paycom includes several Gaylord College graduates, including Adam Ballard. Ballard, who started with Paycom in 2019, has been the vice president of marketing since 2021. The 2006 advertising graduate recently shared how his career path brought him back to the state of Oklahoma, how Gaylord prepared him for his field, advice for current students and more.
If you're following the Seattle Mariners' postseason run on social media, you're enjoying content created by a Gaylord College graduate, Chris Oven. Oven, who earned a degree in creative media production in 2020, works for the MLB franchise as a social media coordinator. Recently, Oven shared what his experience on the job has been like so far, how he began a career in sports, advice for current students and more.
From working in news to starting multiple companies, Jim Dolan has applied the skills he learned while studying journalism at the University of Oklahoma. Currently, the 1971 graduate works as the president and CFO of CrossLink Composites, which develops tailored, low cost carbon fiber. Dolan recently shared about his unique career journey, how OU prepared him for his various roles, why he'd encourage all Gaylord students to also take some business courses and more.
Through hard work and dedication, Houda Elyazgi grew her career from starting as an intern at Saxum to now serving as the agency's chief client officer. The 2007 Gaylord College graduate, who had an emphasis in public relations and a minor in Arabic, most enjoys being in a role that allows her to make a difference in the world. Elyazgi recently shared more about her time on campus, what her experience has been like at Saxum, defining moments of her career so far and more.
For Ryan Welton, the skills he learned at the University of Oklahoma have been beneficial across mediums. Welton, a 1992 journalism graduate who minored in Spanish, started at OU with an emphasis in radio and TV before switching to a public relations emphasis. Throughout his career, he has filled roles for newspapers, TV and corporate communications, now overseeing digital content efforts for Griffin Communications. Welton recently shared how his time on campus prepared him for his professional life, what his day-to-day tasks look like, career moments that stand out to him and more.
From an early age, Bijan Hosseini knew he wanted to tell the stories of the people who live in the Middle East, which led to him double majoring in journalism and international security studies at the University of Oklahoma. The 2015 OU graduate is fulfilling that career goal, currently living in the United Arab Emirates and working for CNN International Productions. Hosseini recently shared more about his job, how Gaylord prepared him for his career and more.
For Bob Burke, his time at the University of Oklahoma prepared him for a writing-focused career. Whether he is practicing law or writing nonfiction books, the 1970 broadcast journalism graduate has applied the skills he learned in college throughout his career. Burke recently shared more about his time on campus, influential people he met while a student, his career path and more.
Bola Ibidapo wears multiple hats, serving as co-founder and executive director for a successful nonprofit while also working on her law degree from the University Texas School of Law. A 2015 public relations graduate, Ibidapo plans to combine her Gaylord College background with her law degree to one day work in education or for a nonprofit. She recently shared about her professional work, why she decided to attend law school, advice for those wishing to follow a similar career path and more.
Koby Harrington makes a lasting impact wherever he goes. He has a magic all of his own starting with a legacy as campus leader while an undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma to an executive at the Walt Disney World Company to currently raising funds for Oklahoma City University. The two-time OU graduate, who earned a public relations degree in 2009 and a master's degree in human relations in 2011, recently shared about his career journey, his time at OU and more.
After working in various public relations fields, Pam Campbell brought her experiences together in her current role at the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Campbell, who holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications and public relations and a master's degree in public relations and advertising, recently reflected on her public relations career so far, the skills she gained while on campus and more.
Roger Frizzell's career path has taken him to roles with well-known companies AT&T, HP, American Airlines and more before leading him to Carnival Corporation. Since 2013, Frizzell has worked as the chief communications officer for Carnival, handling public relations duties for the corporation and its nine cruise brands around the world. Frizzell, a 1983 University of Oklahoma graduate and four-time All-American wrestler, recently shared how his time on campus prepared him for his career, moments that have stood out to him so far and more.
Melea McCreary calls her professional journey "a series of fortunate events." Although she originally planned to attend graduate school for film, McCreary instead completed a fellowship with NBC, where she still works. The 2011 broadcasting and electronic media (the program now called creative media production) graduate recently shared more about her role with the TODAY Show, impactful people and moments from her time in Gaylord College and more.
Believing the newsroom was his future, Brook A. Simmons started his career as a staff writer with his hometown newspaper, The Daily Ardmoreite. The desire to see the journalistic process from the other side led him to Washington, D.C., where he served in several capacities for former Oklahoma Sen. Don Nickles. After nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, Simmons shifted to the lobbying arena serving clients in oil and gas, aviation, agriculture, community development and high-tech. His path to the Petroleum Alliance also included time as government affairs manager for an oil and gas producer where he managed federal, state and local issues. Simmons recently shared favorite memories of his time at OU and shared advice for current Gaylord students.
Hannah Allam's career has come full circle. After interning for The Washington Post right after her 1999 graduation from the University of Oklahoma, Allam worked for other publications before returning to the newspaper. Allam, who is part of The Post's national security desk, recently shared how her time in Norman prepared her for her career, memories from her time on campus and more.
"Why?" is the central question that drives Cara Kelley's career. As a client success manager for Suzy, a consumer research software platform, Kelley aims to identify the "why" for consumers and share those insights with the company's clients. The two-time Gaylord College graduate, who earned a bachelor's degree in public relations in 2017 and a master's degree in strategic communication in 2018, recently shared how her time at OU prepared her for this career path, her favorite memories while on campus, advice for current students and more.
Gymnastics season is just around the corner, and those watching coverage of NCAA women's competitions on ESPN, ABC and the SEC Network may spot a familiar face - Bart Conner. Conner, a 1984 University of Oklahoma graduate and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has combined his gymnastics background and journalism/PR degree into a TV commentary career that has spanned more than 40 years. Conner shared how he ended up pursuing a television career, how his time at OU prepared him for his career, advice for current students and more.
View past Alumni Spotlights by last name
