A Triumphant Return to Oklahoma Baptist University: Embracing New Beginnings

Returning to Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) as a new business school dean is a momentous occasion. My previous tenure as a business professor at OBU was nothing short of transformational. I felt I profoundly impacted the students, colleagues, staff, and community. My business school colleagues embraced me without any questions. I was family.

Celebrating Terri Walker’s Retirement

That said, I returned to celebrate Terri Walker’s retirement in the academic center, also known as the registrar’s office. I have discovered that the OBU registrar’s office is truly unique. OBU doesn’t know that they have gems. Other places are not as smooth and customer service-oriented. I had to celebrate her. Her husband, Larry, has become one of my best friends. He has always given me positive vibes.

Mentoring Dr. David Gambo

During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. David Gambo to celebrate his promotion to associate professor—mentoring matters, even for professors. I had the privilege of mentoring Dr. Gambo and visiting his classrooms. It was a rewarding experience to see him grow and succeed.

Celebrating Graduating Seniors

Beth Houghton: A Beacon of Leadership

Beth Houghton was a communication major; her father, Dr. David Houghton, was former boss,  dean and chair. I often joked with David that he ran his daughter out of becoming a marketing major. Both David and I taught the marketing courses, and I also taught management, seeing a variety of students. Beth found herself taking my class. She was a great student in the honors program, but she had never taken a professor like me. I took the business theories and required students to demonstrate their proficiency. Yes, I introduced micro internships into her life.

At first, I could tell that Beth was a little confused in my class. But she did something that 99% of students never do. She came to my office and shared her questions. She always asked questions in class. In my classes, students are organized into teams. Students hate group work, especially top-performing students. You always have slackers. Beth was the team leader, finding herself trying to motivate her slothful teammates. She survived and learned a lot of lessons. She took me to another class and learned to navigate my class and my humor. 

Showcase of her micro internship in my class:

I wish we had more self-starters like Beth. We would change the world.

Thomas Meadough: A Rising Star

I also had the opportunity to celebrate Thomas Meadough’s graduation from OBU. It is rare to get the chance to mentor a black male student, especially an athlete. Most of the business school has a significant athlete influence. The majority of black students are athletes in business school. Most athletes do not have time or find value in building relationships with their professors. Thomas was different. I had been his advisor since he came to OBU. His parents reminded me that we met on Zoom during the pandemic. I was pretty candid about the culture but upbeat about the opportunities for him.

Thomas felt more like a son. He was always “Yes, Sir” or “No.” He was super respectful. I tried to be honest with him. He was always candid with me about his professors and his classes. I told him to make it work, to figure it out. He did. 

Showcase of his micro internship in my class:

Seeing him graduate and move on to graduate school was a reward. My life at OBU was not in vain. He has a great family and a great support network.

In Closing

Returning to OBU to celebrate these milestones and reconnect with former colleagues and students reminded me of the profound impact of mentorship and education. Beth and Thomas, though different in their paths, exemplify the qualities of determination, resilience, and excellence. Both are dear to me, and their successes reaffirm the importance of investing in our students’ futures. My time at OBU was not just a chapter in my career but a transformative journey that continues to inspire me.