Shelley Tummons

For Shelley Tummons, a nurse from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, compassion has always been at the heart of everything she does. As her calling to care for others grew, she returned to OU-Tulsa to pursue an undergraduate degree in Social Work and broaden the ways she can serve others.

Now in her first semester, returning to school has been smoother than she expected, and the flexible class schedule allows her to balance her difficult job responsibilities with her education.

“It’s going really well, a lot better than I expected,” Shelley said. “I work two jobs full time and then come to school in the evening. It’s hard so you really have to want it, but if I can do it, then it’s definitely doable.”

Now that Shelley is pursing her undergraduate degree, she feels drawn to serving populations she believes are often overlooked.

“I’m a little different than most,” she said. “I’m looking at corrections, or hospice, but corrections is really my main goal because it’s kind of a forgotten area.”

For Shelley, social work represents an opportunity to reach people who may not always receive the support they need. She sees the profession as a way to bridge the gap between systems and individuals, connecting people with resources that can help them.

“Caring for others is definitely the main part of it, but it goes so much deeper,” she said. “You’re helping people find resources, get what they need to go home safely, or connect them with programs that help them move forward. You really wear a lot of different hats.”

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