Student Life hires new staff member
By Lindsey Burleson, News Writing Student
Katie Treadwell has recently been hired this summer as the new Service Learning and Student Life Programs Coordinator at the Student Life center at OCCC.
Among the jobs her title entails, Treadwell will direct the new civic honors program, coordinate the lecture series, cultural awareness programs, volunteering opportunities.
She will also focus on developing new and different ways to use service learning inside and outside of the classroom.
“Katie Treadwell is an excellent professional and we are happy to have her on our team,” said Service Learning and Student Life coordinator Jon Horinek.
Treadwell grew up in Oklahoma City, attended Putnam City North High School, and graduated in May with an educational affairs degree from Baylor University.
Treadwell said she has decided to come back to her roots to pursue her career. “This is home,” said Treadwell of Oklahoma City, who has lived in Texas, New York, and Florence, Italy.
The uniqueness of Oklahoma City Community College and the student life program intrigued Tread-well and drew her here, she said.
“The OCCC students are more non-traditional, and the student life program, meets them where they are,” she said.
In New York, Treadwell participated in Teach For America, a non-profit organization that recruits graduates, mostly non-educational majors, to teach in inner-city schools. “It opened my eyes, I saw the big picture,” she said.
One opportunity Tread-well organizes is Service Saturdays, when all students are given the opportunity to volunteer with local agencies, such as Habitat for Humanity and the regional food bank, on Saturdays, “which is a great way to get involved if you haven’t done anything,” she said.
“Service learning is very much about the experience,” Treadwell said.
Student Zach Kanaa said, “It’s kind of hard to put yourself out there and find those opportunities on your own, so I’m glad OCCC has someone that kind of does it for you.”
Treadwell said, “Whatever their academic program relates to, we can find a service for that.”
Anyone interested in any kind of service, or wants to volunteer, can call Treadwell at 405-682-7523.
