Ruth LeFan has built many memories at Oklahoma Christian University. From meeting her husband to being a founding member of a social club, Oklahoma Christian allowed LeFan to grow and find herself in a Christ-centered environment.
From student to staff, LeFan now helps run Oklahoma Christian’s Ethos program. I visited LeFan in her office located across from The Brew on the second floor of the Mabee Learning Center. This interview was conducted as part of my weekly feature of profiles over professors and staff.
Was this your first choice in school?
Yeah it was; I had family that went here so just from that, [Oklahoma Christian] had always been on my radar.
Where are you from?
I moved around a lot growing up, but ultimately, we settled in Jenks while I was in high school.
What was your major while you were at Oklahoma Christian?
Family science with a minor in Spanish.
So, you speak Spanish?
Yes, I do.
What is your ultimate goal that you want to do with those two areas of studies?
I am in grad school now getting my Master’s in Social Work. And when I started in family science, I thought I wanted to go into adoption and foster care. But now that I’m working on my master’s, my plans have changed a little bit; I’m now more interested in clinical work such as therapy. I would really like to do play therapy and work with kids and families.
Do you think working around Summer Lashley and Jeff McMillon, who are both licensed therapists, has kind of changed your direction a little bit?
That probably did affect me a little bit indirectly, but I also had decided that before I started working in the Ethos office. But they definitely did influence me.
Do you want to stay in the states, or would you want to go out of the states and do therapy in that sense?
I’m not sure. My family did do mission work outside of the United States when I was growing up. We lived in El Salvador for a little bit, and that is where I learned to speak Spanish. So, that is not in my plans right now but who knows.
How did you meet your husband?
My husband and I met at the Memorial Road Campus Ministry Super Bowl Party in 2016.
What do you remember from that day?
It’s actually a funny story. My friend was talking to me about this guy who she wanted me to meet. She said she was going to introduce us to each other later in the week, and I made a joke about why wasn’t he at the party for me to meet him right then. Ironically, as soon as I made that joke, he walked in and [my friend] points him out. She went to go get him to introduce us, and when she brought him to me, I had just taken a big bite of a cookie, so when she tried to introduce him to me I got so embarrassed. He, instead of making me feel awkward about it, made a joke and was like, ‘Hey, I’ll make it even.’ And took a bite of pizza too so that I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
Did you swoon?
I thought it was really sweet that he made me feel comfortable. He doesn’t really remember that moment, but it made an impact on me.
What has been the greatest experience or memory you have had at Oklahoma Christian?
I’m probably most thankful for all the people I met while at OC, my friends and professors and faculty who have influenced me.
Were you in club?
I was in Phi. I was one of the founding members my sophomore year, but I was not in club my senior year. So, I am not really involved anymore.
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