Staying Involved [and Sane] After Graduation
I am a 2010 Industrial Engineering graduate, currently living in Tulsa and working as an IT project manager in healthcare, specializing in the Epic platform. For the past year, I’ve been consulting on a population health software implementation and data integration project in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The goal of our project (titled Whole Person Care) is to help their Department of Public Health create a new program that uses data to identify a specific group of high-utilizing patients, and then gives them the software and tools needed to provide personalized care coordination. The ultimate goal is to use predictive modeling and targeted case manager intervention to significantly reduce avoidable emergency room visits and hospital admissions. It’s really neat to have found a career that combines my interests in technology and healthcare delivery and to be part of this type of project from the ground up.
The goal of our project (titled Whole Person Care) is to help their Department of Public Health create a new program that uses data to identify a specific group of high-utilizing patients, and then gives them the software and tools needed to provide personalized care coordination. The ultimate goal is to use predictive modeling and targeted case manager intervention to significantly reduce avoidable emergency room visits and hospital admissions. It’s really neat to have found a career that combines my interests in technology and healthcare delivery and to be part of this type of project from the ground up.
As you can imagine, working and traveling between Oklahoma and California doesn’t leave much time for extracurricular activities. I know from being involved in organizations at OU like CAC, Crimson Club, and E-Club, community involvement is important and fulfilling, but volunteering does get harder to prioritize post-college.
These days, I have to focus on quality over quantity. I am passionate about establishing equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, so I put my extra time and money towards causes that share those values. For example, I mentor a local STEM student (at another university in Oklahoma that shall not be named) through a national scholarship organization called The Point Foundation. Mentoring doesn’t take much time, maybe an hour each month, but she knows I’m always there to help with an application or to have a chat about one of her projects. It’s a blessing for both of us.
These days, I have to focus on quality over quantity. I am passionate about establishing equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, so I put my extra time and money towards causes that share those values. For example, I mentor a local STEM student (at another university in Oklahoma that shall not be named) through a national scholarship organization called The Point Foundation. Mentoring doesn’t take much time, maybe an hour each month, but she knows I’m always there to help with an application or to have a chat about one of her projects. It’s a blessing for both of us.
I’d be mistaken not to mention how rewarding it is to stay involved with the university after graduation, too. The Alumni Association and Engineering College make it easy to locate local alumni clubs or specialized groups that keep you connected to what’s going on in Norman and with other like-minded Sooners around the world.
For example, I serve as the VP of the OU LGBTQ Alumni Society. Our organization hosts events like an annual OU/UT alumni soiree in Dallas the Friday before the OU-TX football game. This will be our fourth year, with last year having over 150 attendees from cities across the country; it’s a great way for us to network and make new friends.
Our alumni club has also created a scholarship for current students who are interested in interning or volunteering for a company that focuses on gender or LGBTQ+ advocacy. Through the scholarship and events, we strive to be a political voice for equality in Oklahoma, even playing an instrumental role last fall in pressuring former university Regent Kirk Humphreys to resign for his insensitive remarks on television regarding gay people. I believe in a respectful and inclusive Sooner Family, so for me, that was a big win for us and for all students at OU, and felt amazing to be part of a movement.
For example, I serve as the VP of the OU LGBTQ Alumni Society. Our organization hosts events like an annual OU/UT alumni soiree in Dallas the Friday before the OU-TX football game. This will be our fourth year, with last year having over 150 attendees from cities across the country; it’s a great way for us to network and make new friends.
Our alumni club has also created a scholarship for current students who are interested in interning or volunteering for a company that focuses on gender or LGBTQ+ advocacy. Through the scholarship and events, we strive to be a political voice for equality in Oklahoma, even playing an instrumental role last fall in pressuring former university Regent Kirk Humphreys to resign for his insensitive remarks on television regarding gay people. I believe in a respectful and inclusive Sooner Family, so for me, that was a big win for us and for all students at OU, and felt amazing to be part of a movement.
Whatever you do, do something: donate, join an alumni club, volunteer, mentor. I know how easy it is to get wrapped up in work, family, or other important responsibilities, but nothing is more fulfilling than contributing to a cause you care about and seeing that goodwill paid forward to the generations that follow. If you ask me or anyone in my class, graduation in 2010 doesn’t feel that long ago. The time flies, so make a point to give back to the world sooner (forgive the pun). It's worth it!
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