Graduate College Welcomes DeKock as Director of Career Advancement

OBU's College of Graduate and Professional Studies recently welcomed Ashley DeKock as director of career advancement. The college is located at 3800 N. May in Oklahoma City, with classes held at that location, on the OBU campus in Shawnee and online. The college offers a Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Business Administration and Master of Family Therapy, with plans to offer a Master of Arts in Christian Studies and Intercultural Studies beginning this fall.

DeKock assumed the role of director of career advancement in early December 2014. In that role, she serves as the first point of contact for inquiries and walks applicants through the admissions process. She is also involved in social networking initiatives, public relations and the college's ethics seminar which will launch in the near future. She will likewise establish relationships with businesses regarding opportunities for their employees to further their education and careers through OBU's graduate degree programs.

Prior to joining the OBU staff, she worked at Zondervan, a division of Harper Collins Christian Publishing, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before moving into the publishing field, she served as a teacher, missionary and marketing coordinator in Yantai, China, from August 2011 to January 2013. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications with a minor in religious studies from Oklahoma State University.

"I'm excited to grow the College of Graduate and Professional Studies by meeting and partnering with members of businesses and organizations around Oklahoma," she said. "I hope to provide more opportunities for people to advance their careers and grow their understanding of the world around them. I take a sincere interest in our students, listen to the goals they have set for themselves and provide them with a detailed opportunity to further their education."

Rhonda Richards, dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, is excited to welcome her on board. "Ashley brings energy and innovative thinking to this position. She has a heart for the Lord and a desire to help people achieve their goals. With the launch of our new degrees and the regional impact our online offerings will bring, we are very excited to have Ashley here to help us grow and impact the world."