staff stories

When Oklahoma State University-Tulsa’s Black Wall Street History course launched in August, instructor Quraysh Ali Lansana didn’t anticipate the majority of his students would have a direct connection to that history.

Linda Raska isn’t used to the spotlight.

“I don’t like too much attention drawn to me,” she said. “When I found out I won this award, I was honored – but surprised.”

As a Faculty Support Services administrative assistant, it’s her job to make sure both resident OSU-Tulsa faculty and commuting faculty from OSU-Stillwater have everything they need to accomplish their tasks and duties.

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.

Sheena Perez probably knows more about the historic Route 66 than anyone on campus.

As digital services librarian for the OSU-Tulsa Library, she maintains the university’s archival collections related to Cyrus Avery, known as the ‘Father of Route 66,’ and Michael Wallis, historian and author of Route 66: The Mother Road.

It was only recently that Oklahoma State University-Tulsa assistant professor of aviation Dr. Mallory Casebolt uncovered a deep connection to aerospace right in her own family tree.

It’s not really a surprise that Pam Jackson ended up working in a police department.

Her dad, now retired, was a state trooper. Her husband, recently promoted to commander, is a police officer with the Jenks Police Department.

“I guess you could say I come from a police family,” she said. “I kind of gravitated toward it.”

As the first member of her Mexican family born in the U.S., Dr. Claudia Maldonado-Otto knows what it is to be considered outside the norm.