A Dream Fulfilled
By Dr. Sharon Willis (‘23)
As a girl, I had the dream of becoming a nurse like Clara Barton or Florence Nightingale. At the same time, I also dreamed of becoming a mother – a strong desire to live out my own story of Cheaper by the Dozen. Neither goal came easily.
Nursing school was challenging, but I knew it was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears – nursing is one of the greatest careers! My quest to become a mother was an even greater challenge; we went through several long years of infertility. I was not given much hope that I would ever have a baby, so I decided to go back to school to become a medical doctor. Just months later, our prayers were answered when I found out I was pregnant. In that moment, I felt God telling me that I should not pursue medical school. He told me to pour my efforts of motherhood into the life of the children He would give me, and that someday our first child would fulfill my dreams and become a doctor. I followed God’s will and dedicated myself to motherhood; along the way, God blessed us with three more amazing sons! As they grew up, I worked as a part-time nurse, but I always put my family and their needs first.
GOD IS FAITHFUL
My journey to the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership (DNP) was challenging. There were times I thought it was going to be impossible to achieve during this season of my life. I had given up hope until a dear friend and fellow classmate, Dr. Rebecca Poore, grabbed my arm and told me, “We’re going to enroll in a DNP program together!”
Willis (‘23) spent three weeks working at a mission hospital in Ghana.
Along the way, God provided the finances, wisdom, guidance, favor, and open doors I needed at each step of the journey. Over my two years in the program, I grew immensely in the nursing profession and gained so much practical knowledge in the field. My studies affirmed my desire to stay a lifelong learner, no matter how old I get. Through the courses, I gained valuable knowledge I utilize in my current role as a nursing professor at the University of Tulsa. My passion is to train and empower the next generation of nurses.
“The OKWU Department of Nursing has been built on the foundation of Christ and His ministry to heal individuals, communities, and nations.”
I am so grateful for the spiritual worldview at OKWU. The OKWU Department of Nursing has been built on the foundation of Christ and His ministry to heal individuals, communities, and nations. When I told the nursing administration of a desire to implement my DNP Quality Improvement project in Ghana, they were very supportive. In the summer of 2023, two of my classmates and I spent three weeks working at a mission hospital in Ghana, where we implemented what we were learning in our classes. It was truly a life-changing experience for which I will be forever grateful.
In December 2023, I received a doctoral degree 39 years after God’s promise. My firstborn son is now a successful dentist, and my third son and his wife are medical doctors. God always does more than we can ask or dream! I have experienced His faithfulness at every step, in every class, and every moment that led to me completing the program and officially becoming Dr. Sharon Willis.