Meghan Mueller
Spanish, Minor in International Area Studies, Class of 2009
President & CEO, Homeless Alliance
The foundational education that I received from OU set me up for success in my career, which in turn has made me a better friend, wife, mother, and person. All of my time at the Homeless Alliance has been formative. I get to work with some of the most caring and compassionate people I have ever met, many of whom are also products of the social work program at OU. I get to witness the impact that OU has in the community on a daily basis when I see my team members working with some of the most vulnerable people in our community. It is so powerful to see how each year, new graduates are truly changing lives and the world for the better.
For Meghan Mueller, joining the OU Family was more than just taking a step forward after high school—it was the continuation of a legacy. As a third-generation Sooner, she built on the traditions of those who came before her to create a future rooted in purpose.
“I didn’t apply to any other colleges. I just always knew OU was it for me,” Meghan said.
Since graduating in 2009, Meghan’s career and dedication to service led her to her current role as the president and CEO of Oklahoma City’s Homeless Alliance, a 501(c)(3) with the mission to end homelessness. There, she leads with compassion and vision to create a lasting impact for her fellow Oklahomans.
“Working in homeless services was not my initial career plan, but now I cannot imagine doing anything different,” Meghan said.
After completing her undergraduate degree in Spanish with a minor in International Area Studies, Meghan returned to OU in 2011 to pursue a Master of Social Work through the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work. It was there that she discovered a new calling.
“I thought I wanted to be a teacher,” Meghan said. “But when I learned about social work, I could not believe that I could get paid to help people. I signed up for the program and have never looked back.”
During her MSW program, Meghan interned at the Homeless Alliance, where her practicum placement turned into a full-time job.
“My graduate practicum was at the Homeless Alliance, and I was hired straight out of my internship,” Meghan said.
Over the next decade, Meghan held nearly every role at the Homeless Alliance, working under founder Dan Straughan, who became more than a mentor—he became a friend. In 2023, when Dan retired, Meghan was selected to carry forward the mission and serve as president and CEO.
“Being the President and CEO of the Homeless Alliance became my goal in graduate school, and achieving that goal has been the honor of a lifetime,” Meghan said. “I get to do something I care deeply about, and that feels really rare.”
Meghan credits OU not only for her degrees, but for helping her develop into a confident and compassionate leader.
“My time at OU made me a more confident and compassionate person and gave me the tools I needed to be an effective leader,” Meghan said.
Meghan's professors saw something in her before she saw it herself, encouraging her to take chances that helped her grow into the person she is today. Now, as a field instructor for social work students, Meghan continues to pay forward what she learned.
“I still work with OU regularly. I’m a field instructor for students in the Social Work program and have had over 100 interns come through the Homeless Alliance,” Meghan said.
As she continues to shape the next generation of social workers, Meghan encourages students to keep an open mind as they move through their journey at OU.
“It’s okay to not know exactly what you want to do,” Meghan said. “Follow what excites you, be curious, and trust the path that will make sense in the end. You won’t graduate as the same person you were when you began, and that is what makes it so exciting.”
