Melissa Little
Professional Background
As a graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 2002, I started my career in ad design in Michigan, where I worked at several newspapers in the advertising departments. As my family moved around the country following ministerial appointments, I had a wide range of vocations. Our family landed back in Bartlesville in 2013, where I accepted a position at Bryan, Little, Haley and Kent CPAs as a tax return processor until 2020, when I was offered a position at OKWU to join the Nursing Department as the Office Manager. I am currently in the Master’s Program at OKWU, seeking my degree in Strategic Leadership, and I expect to graduate in December, 2025.
How does your work contribute to OKWU’s mission?
As the office manager in the Nursing Department at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, my work plays a crucial role in supporting and enabling the university’s mission to “prepare students for character, leadership, and service through a Christ-centered education.” And to be the hands and heart of Jesus in every room they walk in.
I help create a smooth and efficient operational environment, allowing the Nursing faculty to focus on its primary goal of providing a Christ-centered education. Organizing daily operations and ensuring that administrative functions run efficiently allows Nursing faculty and students to engage more fully in the university’s mission.
My role often involves being the first point of contact for various stakeholders, and through my actions, I try to exemplify the values of honesty, kindness, and respect. This contributes to the broader character-building goals of the university as students witness and experience these values in action.
By handling logistics, supporting departmental needs, and helping coordinate projects and events, I enable Nursing faculty to focus on nurturing students’ educational needs and clinical resources. My ability to coordinate and manage resources effectively means that Nursing faculty can focus more on shaping students’ leadership and educational potential, whether it’s through academic courses, mentorship, or extracurricular programs.
As the office manager, I often serve as a welcoming presence for visitors, prospective students, and current students. By providing excellent customer service and maintaining a positive atmosphere, I contribute to creating a space where all feel valued, heard, and respected—an essential element in fostering a Christ-centered community.
In essence, my role supports the entire department’s ability to fulfill its mission. My attention to detail, organizational skills, and professional demeanor all help ensure that OKWU Nursing Department is a place where students can grow in character, leadership, and service, all within the context of a Christ-centered education.
How do you integrate faith into your teaching or daily work?
My faith is a part of many conversations I have. It pushes me to work for God’s glory daily, even when I don’t want to. It pushes me to be better than I am on my own. I never shy away from sharing with anyone who walks into my office what God has done for me and how he can help them, too.
What makes OKWU a special place to you?
What advice would you give to a prospective student?
Enjoy every moment. Four years will go by in a flash. GO TO CHAPEL; when the opportunity for it is gone, you will miss it. You never know what messages are meant for YOU. LISTEN to those speaking directly to you; God is using people around you to speak truth into your life. Have FUN and try new opportunities! Meet all the new people you can. The four years of college is a unique experience that goes by too fast. Live in the moment; don’t count down the days til they go by, or you will miss out on so much if you do.