Orange Pride: Jessica Bradley

It’s a rare moment if you run into Jessica Bradley and she isn’t sporting something orange.

Hardly surprising, since Bradley is not only a proud OSU alumna but also recently marked her 10th year as an OSU employee.

She is the most recent recipient of the Orange Pride Award for Employee Excellence which recognizes an OSU-Tulsa employee who embodies the Cowboy spirit and goes above and beyond their job duties.

As OSU-Tulsa’s Career Services Coordinator, Bradley provides students with resources and connections while helping them develop important skill sets to get the job they want.

Building confidence in students is Bradley’s favorite part of her job, but it isn’t the only aspect she’s passionate about.

“I love that I get to wear a lot of different hats here. Not only do I get to meet with students one on one, but I get to show my creative side when it comes to planning the career events each semester.”

She also enjoys serving as a board member for the campus pet therapy program, Pete’s Pet Posse Tulsa.

Building confidence through encouragement

Bradley brings dedication and positivity to her role and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Jessica is an invaluable asset to OSU-Tulsa students. She is focused on helping them successfully navigate the job market in order to obtain the job of their dreams,” says OSU-Tulsa Student Services Assistant Director JJ Smith. “Her greatest gift is her ability to awaken a student’s belief in themselves.”

Words of encouragement are posted throughout Bradley’s office and perhaps the most important is her own purpose statement—found scrawled on a sticky note taped to her computer screen.

purpose statement:
to develop and strengthen the potential in students through kindness, encouragement and authenticity so they believe in themselves

The fulfillment Bradley gets from building and fostering relationships is integral to her work. She maintains an open-door atmosphere to help students feel less intimidated to come in and chat.

Developing and moving to the new Career Services location in North Hall 103 is also helping build that welcoming atmosphere.

“We are working on making this space inviting because I want students to just come hang out, says Bradley. “You don’t have to have an appointment that day. Come study, watch tv, visit with us and just feel at home because this space is for you.”

Helping with unique insight

Bradley understands that navigating school and entering a new career or new phase of a career is not always straightforward, giving her unique insight to what students are experiencing.

“My path to get here had a lot of interesting twists and turns, but I ended up finding a job that encompasses bits and pieces of passions that I’ve discovered along the way.”

She’s worked for OSU in many different capacities: from student worker in OSU Stillwater’s Animal Science Department to residential advisor and even working briefly in high school recruitment at OSU Center for Health Sciences

But it was her time working as a graduate assistant in OSU Career Services while studying for her master’s in counseling that made the biggest impact.

Although she planned to pursue a career as a high school counselor, Bradley discovered that college students were also looking for guidance towards building their future.

This discovery is ultimately what led her to apply for the OSU-Tulsa Career Services Coordinator position four years ago.

Bradley has had many notable moments in her time at OSU-Tulsa and has even bigger things in the works.

She’s increased employer presence and gained sponsorship for the OSU-Tulsa Career Fair and is excited about the upcoming launch of a Career Closet for OSU-Tulsa students. Providing students with access to free professional wardrobe options is one more way she hopes will build their confidence.

When asked what she would want students to know Bradley says, “There are just so many untapped resources that students aren’t taking advantage of, like our online job database and free resume paper. Come stop by and I’ll help guide you through it.”

To recommend an OSU-Tulsa staff member for the Orange Pride award, complete a nomination form. Orange Pride recipients are selected quarterly and receive a framed certificate and $100.