Rachel Ewing

Rachel Ewing believes meaningful change begins right here at home. Originally from Fort Smith, Arkansas, she now calls Tulsa home and is pursuing a degree in Social Work at OU-Tulsa, with plans to continue into the advanced standing master’s program after graduation.

“I wanted to go into social work because I wanted the chance to create change and immediately impact my community,” Rachel said. “I genuinely believe change starts here. It starts with each other and our local community, and social workers help make that happen.”

She began her college journey at Tulsa Community College while carefully planning her transfer to OU-Tulsa using university transfer maps. Thanks to articulation agreements with partner institutions, these maps help to ensure students have clear pathways into OU-Tulsa’s programs.

“Honestly, it was fairly easy,” Rachel said. “I used the university transfer maps and saw that an associate’s degree in psychology would transfer into the social work program. I printed the guide and checked off classes each semester so I could have a seamless transition.”

At OU-Tulsa, she found that the smaller campus environment helped her feel more connected to her peers and professors while the flexible class schedule helped her balance the responsibilities of school, work, and experiential learning opportunities.

“Having evening classes is really beneficial because my job takes place during the day,” she explained. “The evening schedule helps a lot, especially since I’m also completing my practicum this semester.”

For Rachel, the most rewarding part of social work is witnessing personal growth in others.

“You get to support someone and watch them discover the strength they already had within themselves,” she said. “That’s what makes this work meaningful.”

As she continues her education at OU-Tulsa, Rachel is building the skills and experience needed to make a difference in her community.

The OU-Tulsa Application is open until June 1, visit ou.edu/tulsa/admissions for more information.