Moving for a Dream

After ten years of teaching at the University of Central Oklahoma, I am honored to begin the academic year in a new role as Professor. This title represents the highest rank a faculty member can achieve and recognizes sustained contributions in teaching, scholarship, and service.

This milestone has prompted me to reflect on the journey that brought me here. In the final year of my doctoral studies at OU-Tulsa, I began searching for a faculty position in higher education. I interviewed at several universities, including a private institution preparing to launch an early childhood program at its Tulsa satellite campus, and a public regional university with an established program located about ninety minutes from my home.

Two offers arrived on the same day, just hours apart. One would allow my family to stay in the Tulsa metro. The other, a tenure-track position at UCO, would require us to uproot our lives.

Accepting the position at UCO required selling our home, moving to Edmond, my husband leaving a career of more than twenty years, our son transferring to a new college, and our daughter leaving the Reggio Emilia-inspired school we had come to love.

The weight of the decision brought me to tears. When we sat down to discuss it, my husband asked, “Where do you want to work? Don’t think about moving. Don’t think about us. What do you want to do?” I answered quietly, “UCO.” As I started to flood the conversation with all of the reasons why I could not accept the job, he stopped me short by saying, “You have your answer. We did not sacrifice for you to turn down your dream job.”

His use of “we” reminded me that this journey belonged to all of us. Every late night, every sacrifice, every shift in responsibility had been shared. We were in this together. So, we moved.

My husband quickly found a new job. Our son successfully started classes at UCO. Our daughter started kindergarten in public school with one of the best early childhood educators I have ever known. And I joined a university community with the best colleagues and most dedicated students imaginable.

Ten years later, I am still here and more committed than ever to this work, this place, and these people. Accepting the job at UCO wasn’t just a professional choice; it was the pursuit of a dream. And today, as I move into the role of Professor, that dream continues.

(Image Credit: UCO Press Release)