Cardinale-Powell Honored with Outstanding Faculty Award
Film Department Chair Bryan Cardinale-Powell was named the winner of the 2024-25 OCU Outstanding Faculty Award. The award represents the highest honor for an OCU faculty member, and award recipients reflect academic achievement across multiple areas: mastery of the discipline, excellence in teaching, distinguished scholarship and professional performance, and outstanding service. Cardinale-Powell is in his 17th year at OCU.
The 2025 Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series Featured Adam Bradley
OCU welcomed Adam Bradley, a bestselling author, a professor of English and African American Studies at UCLA and founding director of the Laboratory for Race & Popular Culture (aka, the RAP Lab), for the 2025 Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series. Bradley hosted OCU students for an informal Q&A session and gave a public presentation on hip hop, answering the question, what happens when a music centered on youth culture reaches middle age?
Thatcher Hoffman Smith Poetry Series Hosts Poet Laureate
In April, the Thatcher Hoffman Smith Poetry Series, now in its 26th year, hosted U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Lim贸n. Lim贸n was awarded a MacArthur Genius Fellowship in 2023 and named a Time magazine Woman of the Year in 2024. Her work, 鈥淭he Carrying,鈥� won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, and 鈥淏right Dead Things鈥� was a finalist for the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. Lim贸n鈥檚 visit to OCU included a workshop for local teachers and poets followed by a public poetry reading and book signing. During the poetry reading, she shared favorites 鈥淭he Raincoat鈥� and 鈥淎 New National Anthem鈥� in addition to other works.
Research to be Published in the International Journal of Developmental Science
Psychology professor Yi Shao, former Psychology professor Bill Sharp and former Psychology doctoral student Linda Chempanal had a paper accepted to the International Journal of Developmental Science. The paper, 鈥淎ttachment and Cultural Practices Among First- and Second-Generation Asian Indian Americans,鈥� originated with Chempanal鈥檚 master鈥檚 thesis project. Chempanal graduated with her Doctor of Psychology degree in August 2025.
Four-Part Performance Series Hosted at Norick Art Center
This fall the Norick Art Center hosted a four-part performance series, 鈥淩efractions of Light: A Sonic + Visual Experience,鈥� featuring 鈥�1 m3 light,鈥� a work on loan from Christian Keesee by world renowned artist Olafur Eliasson and the work, 鈥淕host,鈥� by 91看片-based artist Andy Mattern. Music featuring 鈥淐ube of Light,鈥� a post-classical visual album created by local musicians Christina Giacona and Patrick Conlon through their label Onyx Lane, was incorporated into several evening events featuring both artist talks and live performances.
Inaugural Sports Media Clinic Held by the Department of Mass Communications
The Mass Communications Department and Nick Gallo, broadcast reporter and digital editor for the 91看片 City Thunder, hosted their inaugural Sports Media Clinic in August. During the two-day clinic, Gallo offered hands-on training in writing, podcasting, interviewing, play-by-play and sports documentary production. Students learned to create game recaps, conduct athlete interviews, record podcast segments, pitch documentary ideas and practice live commentary. Guest professionals, including senior NBA writer for The Athletic, Fred Katz; sports podcaster and interviewer for the OKC Thunder, Paris Lawson; documentary filmmaker, Michael Zuback; and play-by-play broadcaster for the OKC Comets, Alex Freedman, provided industry insights, and students developed media skills vital for success in today鈥檚 evolving sports communication landscape.
Inaugural Stars Health Professions Mentorship Dinner Held
During the spring 2025 semester the Department of Biology and Petree College of Arts & Sciences hosted the first Stars Health Professions Mentorship Dinner. Current students and Petree College alumni from a variety of health professions gathered for this networking event. Noted oncologist and Petree College alumnus George Selby served as the keynote speaker.
