by Savannah Mayfield
Last month, the Division of Language and Literature hosted their annual Career Connection event during OBU’s Homecoming Weekend. A panel of five alumni from the division shared their experiences and advice with students.
This event is designed to connect English, Creative Writing, English Education, Spanish and TESOL students with alumni who have applied their degrees in their respective occupations. This year, students heard from Mackenzie Dilbeck, Ashely Nichols, Emma Busby-Trappier, Morgan Wheeler and Darby Church.
Mackenzie Dilbeck is a 2009 graduate with a degree in English who has held many different leadership roles in academic institutions. She initially worked as a Web Content Coordinator for OBU and has held her current position as the Executive Associate Athletics Director, Chief of Staff and Senior Woman Administrator for OU for three years.
Dilbeck, along with the other members of the panel, was asked to share how her education at OBU impacts her current career path.
“I learned to think critically,” Dilbeck said. “I knew how to inquire—I learned how to question and challenge in productive ways. It was there in Western Civ that I was first challenged about thinking deeply about what was in front of me.”
Dilbeck also shared how her time at OBU taught her the importance of seizing the opportunity. She enjoyed taking a variety of classes with professors that had so much to teach.
Ashley Nichols is a 2015 graduate with a degree in Creative Writing. She has worked for three years as the Director of Operations for a global industrial ed-tech company. After graduating from OBU, Nichols traveled to London for her MSc in Migration Mobility and Development and later moved to Iraq to further her studies, where she stayed during the pandemic.
“How diverse of an education you end up having is critical,” Nichols said.
Nichols believes that the small classroom setting provided at OBU makes students more equipped for life after graduation. Although Nichols describes herself as an introvert, networking and curiosity have had a crucial impact on her career.
Nichols’s experiences have taught her about how to respond to feedback, whether it be positive or negative.
“You don’t take everything,” Nichols said. “Not every piece of feedback is valid.”
She uses discernment to choose what piece of feedback being provided to her is good and what is bad.
Emma Busby-Trappier is a 2022 graduate with a degree in Political Science and Spanish. She shared how her experience in Spanish allows her to thrive in jobs obtained after OBU, and in law school.
Busby-Trappier began working at Blueprint Prep—an LSAT prep course—while she was still a student at OBU. Upon her graduation, she unexpectedly obtained a position as a middle school Spanish teacher. During this time, she prepared for law school and now attends Boston University School of Law.
“What I do now is reading and writing and research,” Busby-Trappier said. “The hardest thing I’ve done is write a thesis, but it prepared me a lot. It makes me feel more capable of taking on hard things like law school.”
Busby-Trappier shared advice for students who are not only interested in law school, but are looking for work after graduation.
“Be patient,” Busby-Trappier said. “Trust in the Lord. Take things day-by-day.”
Morgan Wheeler is a 2022 graduate with a degree in English Education graduate, has taught at Shawnee High School for three years. She is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma, with which she hopes to become a public school librarian.
Wheeler urges students to explore all that life has to offer them.
“Say yes is my advice,” Wheeler said. “When you are given an opportunity, especially when it scares you, that is one you should say yes to.”
Wheeler’s view of Education is mission minded—the people involved should be the focus.
“It goes much further than what’s in the classroom,” Wheeler said. “It’s getting to know [students] and their families.”
Wheeler encourages students to keep an open mind about their future.
“Life has so many possibilities,” Wheeler said. “and you can’t confine yourself to one of them.”
Darby Church is a 2022 graduate with a degree in TESOL. She has taught for two years for Muscogee Public School system. She is an English Learner Teacher and works with kids who have little to no English experience.
OBU taught Church how to interact with people, especially those of different cultures.
“It’s really important to know how to get to know someone and how not to offend them,” Church said.
As Church was also a GME student, she took many cultural ministry classes at OBU that continue to shape her worldview today. She seeks to give people hope for their future, to love them well and to meet them where they’re at.
“We’re all made in the image of God,” Church said. “But we come from very different backgrounds.”
Church advises students not to rush into the next phase of their life and to pursue what they are passionate about.
“Don’t rush it,” Church said. “It’s okay to try new things, even if you don’t like them, to find what you like.”
Career Connection allows students to learn about how those who have come before them have effectively applied their degrees and to connect with professionals in a
“Don’t rush it,” Church said. “It’s okay to try new things, even if you don’t like them, to find what you like.”
