Javen graduated in 2011 with a degree in chemical engineering and double minors in chemistry and history. He graduated with the magna cum laude distinction. While at OU he was involved with the student chapter of the Chemical Engineering Professional Society at OU and was very active with the Honors Reading Groups.
For Javen, the Honors College allowed him to have a small college experience while still being a part of the greater campus area. Honors College classes gave Javen the chance to think deeply and critically about things both within and outside of his major and also required him to hone his communication and writing skills. These skills have been extremely helpful to him since graduation. Mr. Weston says that the combination of the small classes with the Honors College and the large classes across the university prepared him to thrive in either situation or one in between.
The Honors College also gave him some of his favorite college memories. To this day he still keeps in touch with the friends he made in the first Honors class he took. He also grew close to Professor David Ray, the Dean of the Honors College at that time, which led to Dr. Ray officiating Javen’s wedding!
Life after the Honors College for Javen began with earning a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. After that, he spent three years as a post-doctoral researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is currently an assistant professor at The University of Tulsa in the Russell School of Chemical Engineering. One of his main goals is to continue building a research group focused on surface science, nanoparticles, and non-Newtonian fluid flow. His biggest accomplishment since graduation is winning a National Science Foundation grant that has allowed him to purchase a $700,000 scientific instrument to be housed at the University of Tulsa. This instrument is the first of its kind in the state.
Congratulations, Javen, on your continued success. We can’t wait to see what you do next!
Shagah Zakerion is a 2010 summa cum laude graduate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a double minor in political science and women’s and gender studies.
Ms. Zakerion stayed busy while at OU. She was involved in the leadership of the Film Series and the Campus Activities Council, a member of the President's Community Scholars, and a Sooner Promise Mentor. She was also a Boomer Bytes blogger, where she covered student recruitment and experiences. In 2009 she became a Cortez A.M. Ewing Fellow, through which she worked for a summer in the office of Congressman John Sullivan in Washington, D.C.
The Honors College provided a great experience for Ms. Zakerion. The courses were rigorous and demanding but also deeply rewarding, helping her prepare for life after graduation by honing her critical thinking skills, making her an effective communicator, and a confident leader. She also took part in the Honors at Oxford summer study abroad program which she remembers fondly. Of the program, she says, “It brought together a diverse group of students who shared a passion for learning and adventure, and it offered an unparalleled opportunity to explore Europe’s rich history and culture. The sense of camaraderie and connection that I developed with another program member during that short time has continued for years after, and I am proud to say that I have attended fellow program members’ weddings and baby showers.”
Since graduating from OU, Ms. Zakerion's biggest achievement has been serving as the Director of Tulsa’s Young Professionals, the nation’s largest and most impactful young professionals’ organization. In this role, she was able to develop innovative programs and initiatives while fostering community and connection among young people in the Tulsa area. Since leaving that role she has transitioned into a consultant career, where she specializes in providing strategic growth and support to businesses and nonprofits.
Nathan is a 2022 graduate, making him one of our newest alumni. While here he double majored in Computer Science and Economics with a minor in International Security Studies.
During his time as an OU student, Nathan was involved in several student organizations such as the Economics Club, the Science Olympiad Alumni Club, and the Model UN Club, and he was a frequent participant in Honors Student Association events and Honors Reading groups. He was also able to study abroad on two separate occasions, once in Glasgow, Scotland, and the other with the Honors at Oxford program in 2019.
When asked about his time in the Honors College, he reminisced about the friendships he made through his Honors classes and his Honors at Oxford experience. He also highlighted the Honors course "Reacting to the Past," taught by Dr. Alpers, as his favorite class. Mr. Preuss says he especially misses the Reading Groups since he is an avid reader and he has yet to find a similar program at Cornell.
Currently, Mr. Preuss is a Ph.D. student in Systems Engineering at Cornell University, working on evaluating the economic and environmental benefits of alternative poultry manure management technologies. He was recently awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Ashley is a 2015 summa cum laude graduate. While at OU, she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a health and exercise science minor.
During her time at OU, she was an active participant in intramural sports as well as being a member of Chi Alpha campus ministry and active at The Wesley. Ms. Hart took a multitude of Honors College classes, such as Modern Protest Movements with Dr. Johnson, American Social Thought with Dr. Alpers, and Music and Culture in Everyday Life with Dr. Minks. She was not only an Honors student: she also worked as a student clerk in the Honors College front office. While holding that position she says she learned a lot from Honors Dean Dr. Rich Hamerla.
Ms. Hart says, “The Honors College did a tremendous job of preparing me for life after graduation by showing me that I am capable of doing difficult things and that even when things get tough, I can persevere and see them through to the end.” She considers completing her Honors Thesis one of the hardest things she had to do as an undergraduate, but also one of the most rewarding.
Since graduating from OU, Ms. Hart earned a master’s degree in Education at the University of North Texas. She currently works as a high school math teacher at a private school in Texas, teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. She is also certified to teach Dual Credit courses.
Mars graduated in 2012 with a major in Geography and a minor in German, earning the summa cum laude distinction. As an OU student, he had the opportunity to spend his junior year studying abroad in Graz, Austria. He considers it the highlight of his university experience.
Mr. Chapman has a plethora of memories from his time as an Honors student. As a resident of David L. Boren Hall in his freshman and sophomore years, there were countless nights spent studying in the Honors library with fellow students who became lifelong friends. He is also still in contact with his former honors advisor, who helped him throughout his time as a student, and he speaks highly of a class he took with Dr. Brian Johnson. His most treasured memory, however, is meeting his future wife, a fellow Honors student, at a lecture in 2010.
Mars' Honors experience was significant for him because it served as a boost in confidence. He says that although he only earned mediocre grades in high school, at OU he excelled academically and thrived in courses that challenged him. He graduated feeling empowered and confident that he could go anywhere or do anything he put his mind to.
Mr. Chapman is currently a co-owner at Casey's New Orleans Snowballs in Austin, Texas. The business is his family's legacy. He is a strong advocate for workers' rights and fair wages. His goal is to teach his staff, who are mostly first-time employees, that if a shaved ice business can pay well, treat people with respect and dignity, and outperform the competition on almost every benchmark, then surely larger employers they work for later in life can, too.
