Saying goodbye: Amy Roberts looks back on her time at OC

Director of Freshmen Experience Amy Roberts is preparing her goodbyes for her final days as an Oklahoma Christian University employee.

Roberts will be leaving due to her husband Daniel’s recent job change to youth minister at Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, Texas.

“This was an incredibly hard decision,” Roberts said. “We have family here, and on top of that, OC is my second family. I needed a place to belong and OC gave me that. To leave after 12 years is huge, but there was a lot of prayer. Then, there was a moment that I knew this was right.”

Although Roberts has no definite plans for employment currently, she said she plans to follow the passion she developed at Oklahoma Christian.

“I think I will find a job eventually because I do love working in higher education,” Roberts said.“I love being at home and that’s a gift I’ve been given, but OC has given a passion for helping students be successful. I really can’t imagine not doing that.”

Roberts said she hopes to continue to share the story of her time at Oklahoma Christian after she leaves and moves to the Dallas area.

“The Dallas alumni chapter is huge and they do such good things for OC, so I’m looking forward to that,” Roberts said. “I want to give back to all the OC has given me. I can look a parent in the face and tell them their child will be taken care of at OC and that’s something not everyone can say.”

During her time at Oklahoma Christian, Roberts worked alongside Dean of Student Life Neil Arter, a relationship that Roberts said is something she appreciates most about her time on campus.

“Working with Neil Arter was the education beyond my MBA,” Roberts said. “He’s the one that taught me how to be a good boss and how to love students through hard times. Students are made to be good stewards when they go out from here, and that doesn’t happen at other places. There is no value I can put on what he has taught me, and that is the hardest thing to leave.”

Roberts said she will miss working with the faculty on campus, specifically Amanda Watson.

“I will miss the family I made here,” Roberts said. “I’ve been with Amanda through all of my time at OC, and I will miss seeing her every day. There is just a family you create here. They’ve seen me through some of the hardest times in my life. Those are things that I will miss most.”

Working with students, Roberts said, was the most rewarding aspect of her job.

“The success stories are my favorite part,” Roberts said. “Walking away and seeing a student succeed thinking ‘Wow they did it’ and knowing you had a small part in that: that is where this job becomes a mission and a calling, and you realize this is so much more than a job.”

Sophomore Kale Thomas worked with Roberts as freshmen social service director last year and as an assistant director for next year’s Earn Your Wings. Thomas said Roberts opened the door to his continued student involvement.

“Amy has a gift of making work fun and easy,” Thomas said. “Working with her the past two years has taught me what genuinely caring about people looks like. I think that is one of the many reasons people love working with her. She is going to be missed, but I think Kirby has a great example to follow.”

Roberts most recently worked with Kirby Killen and Kendall Mayes as freshmen counselors. Mayes recently left Oklahoma Christian to pursue other professional endeavors, however, Killen will become the new director of freshmen experience following Roberts’ last day on May 6.

“I’m most excited about empowering my freshmen counselors, being so fresh off of being a freshmen counselor,” Killen said. “I know what it’s like to have a boss that motivates you to be a good source for the freshmen. I’m excited to encourage our freshmen counselors to be the best they can be.”

Killen said she owes her involvement and passion for her work to Roberts’ example since her first year as a student at Oklahoma Christian.

“I keep telling people that everything I’ve done at OC so far has prepared me for this role I am taking on,” Killen said. “Right when I got here, Amy helped me get involved. Right away I was plugged into Student Life and Freshmen Experience. She always encouraged, motivated and empowered me, and she has always paved the way by example.”

Killen said she is most looking forward to planning events such as Earn Your Wings and Take Flight.

“I’m excited to have more responsibility,” Killen said. “I love the event coordinating side of this job, so I am excited to put my own spin on things. I have a really great foundation to build off of what Amy created.”

Roberts said she is confident in handing over the reigns to Killen.

“Earn Your Wings is one of my favorite weeks of the year, and I am so thankful for Kirby because she will do a great job,” Roberts said. “Kirby does not need any advice from me, she is going to be an amazing director of freshmen experience.”

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