CIS and IAS Staff Bios
Director of Development
College of International Studies
E-mail: ryanbowling@ou.edu
Phone: 405.325.1095
Hometown – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Your job description - I am part of a great team that connects the goals of the college and the aspirations of our students with the generosity and leadership of a great community of friends and supporters.
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Pepe Delgado's may be the best Mexican food in Oklahoma, lucky for us its right on Campus Corner.
Favorite place to travel – Italy seduced me.
Favorite book/author – Hemingway is my truest, most stalwart friend.
Favorite Quotation - Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say "Why not? - Bobby Kennedy
Best part about OU - knowing that no matter where life takes you, one always has a home and a family in Norman and at OU.
Best part about working at CIS – Some may say location, location, location but at CIS its people, people, people. We are always happy and ready to help.
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - I have been lucky to travel to a lot of cool places but Iceland and Croatia still elude me.
Marketing/PR Specialist I
College of International Studies
E-mail: jbraun@ou.edu
Phone: 405-325-4953
Hometown – New Holstein, WI
Your job description - I design and mange all the marketing and media materials for the College of International Studies including website and social media.
Favorite place to eat in Norman - Right now it's the Big Tuna Fish Joint
Favorite place to travel - Washington D.C.
Favorite book/author - Jodi Piccoult
Favorite Quotation - "Happiness is not real unless shared" from Into the Wild
Best part about OU - The beautiful campus and OU Football
Best part about working at CIS - All my wonderful co-workers and the ablility to be creative every day!
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Italy
Director of Administration
College of International Studies
E-mail: pbroadway@ou.edu
Phone: 405-325-1621
Hometown – Meno, OK
Your job description - Managing the budget and personnel for the college
Favorite place to eat in Norman - The place doesn't really matter as long as I'm with friends!
Favorite place to travel - Home sweet home
Favorite book/author - Stephen King
Favorite Quotation - "When you arrive at the fork in the road, take it." by Yogi Berra – not because it's terribly inspiring, but because it makes me laugh.
Best part about OU - Listening to students tell their stories about studying abroad.
Best part about working at CIS - Someone always, and I mean always, has chocolate!
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Rome, Italy
Marketing Assistant
College of International Studies
E-mail: colecarter@ou.edu
Hometown – Edmond, OK
Your job description - website maintenance, social media
Favorite place to eat in Norman - Raising Canes
Favorite place to travel - Florida
Favorite book/author - "Prey" Series by John Sandford
Favorite Quotation - "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" - Gandalf the Grey
Best part about OU - Football and tailgating, of course
Best part about working at CIS - All the great people
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Ireland & Spain
Managerial Associate
College of International Studies
E-mail: merla@ou.edu
Phone: 405.325.1020
Hometown – Born in OKC, raised around Seminole, OK
Your job description – Pay the bills for the college
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Tarahumara’s
Favorite place to travel – any place tropical
Favorite book/author - The Thornbirds
Favorite Quotation - "I’m so Happy," the immortal words of Droopy Dog
Best part about OU – students, the people and Football
Best part about working at CIS – The Dean and the people I work with
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Australia
Administrative Assistant II
College of International Studies
E-mail: dmcmom@ou.edu
Phone: 405.325.3581
Hometown – Norman, OK
Your job description - Schedule appointemens for the Dean, schedule conference room and event space, personnel actions, event planning.
Favorite place to eat in Norman - Too many places! I love to eat!!
Favorite place to travel - The mountains (i.e., New Mexico, Colorado)
Favorite book/author - Danielle Steele
Favorite Quotation - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
Best part about OU - The beautiful architecture
Best part about working at CIS - The people of course!
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - USA: Alaska International: Canada, Europe, Middle East
Academic Counselor
College of International Studies
E-mail: tracyholloway@ou.edu
405.325.1429
Hometown – Moore, OK
Your job description - I’m the College’s Academic Counselor. I see students throughout their academic career who may be struggling or have certain concerns. I also see all graduating seniors throughout their final year, and organize the convocation ceremonies.
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Ted's
Favorite place to travel – Disney World in Orlando
Best part about OU – It feels like home
Best part about working at CIS – See above :) And, the students are very motivated and passionate.
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Europe
Account & Budget Representative, Italy Programs Administration
College of International Studies
E-mail: ljlee@ou.edu
Phone: 405-325-1739
Hometown – Trussville, AL
Your job description - I make sure the funds flow between Norman and Arezzo, Italy for all of our semester and summer programs
Favorite place to eat in Norman - It's difficult to choose a favorite place to eat! Local is always delicious but I also like The Garage, Thai Thai, and Midway
Favorite place to travel - Italy is my second home but I also really like Liverpool
Favorite book/author - "The Dark Tower" series by Stephen King
Favorite Quotation - Choosing a favorite quote is almost as difficult as choosing a favorite place to eat! "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" -The Beatles or "You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll find you're left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays" -Harold Hill, The Music Man
Best part about OU - The best part of OU is that the colors are Crimson and Cream, allowing me to show allegiance to both of my alma maters, The University of Alabama and The University of Oklahoma, without conflict
Best part about working at CIS - The best part of working at CIS is the people. No lie, this is the best group of people I have ever called colleagues. There is never a dull moment in this office.
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Australia first, because they have Tiger Island at the Dream World theme park. Then, Austria to see the house where "Sound of Music" was filmed and do some singing in the hills…
International Programs Advisor
College of International Studies
E-mail: jarulevi@ou.edu
Phone: 405.325.8799
Hometown – Mangum, OK
Your job description - Create intercultural, educational, and professional programming for both CIS students and OU's international student population.
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Pink Elephant
Favorite place to travel – anywhere and everywhere in sub-Saharan Africa
Favorite book/author – Dostoyevsky (author), book: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Favorite Quotation – "Ubuntu ungamntu ngabanye abantu" Xhosa proverb, trans. "A person becomes a person through other people"
Best part about OU – The Sooner culture
Best part about working at CIS – Seeing other students broaden their horizons and expand their perspectives through travel and multicultural experiences.
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Timbuktu, Mali
Development Officer
College of International Studies
E-mail: lray@ou.edu
Phone: 405.325.1913
Hometown – Broken Arrow, OK
Your job description - Fundraising and alumni outreach
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Greek House, Blackbird, Victoria’s
Favorite place to travel – Domestic: New York City; International: Spain
Favorite book/author – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Favorite Quotation – “Words mean things!” – Kyle Felty
Best part about OU – Campus in October
Best part about working at CIS – All my coworkers love to eat
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Greece; southern France; Kauaʻi, Hawaii
Flagship Program Coordinator
College of International Studies
E-mail: chase.smithburg@ou.edu
Hometown – Overland Park, KS
Your job description - Organizing Flagship events, leading weekly seminars for Flagship students, promoting the program, and coordinating with both students and professors
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Cafe Plaid
Favorite place to travel – US State and National Parks
Favorite book/author – The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Favorite Quotation – "A person is a person because he recognizes others as persons" - Desmond Tutu
Best part about OU – The warmth and community of a small college with the resources and benefits of a major research university
Best part about working at CIS – Being surrounded by diverse interests and an international outlook
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Tunisia
Academic Advisor
Department of International and Area Studies
E-mail: kwatkins@ou.edu
Phone: 405.325.2337
Hometown – Tipton, OK
Your job description - Academic Advisor in the Department of International and Area Studies. I advise students with less than 75 credit hours (including current enrollment), students minoring in IAS, BA/MA students, and MAIS students.
Favorite place to eat in Norman – Pepe Delgados and Van's
Favorite place to travel – Anywhere with mountains and snow!
Favorite book/author – To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee. (Probably no coincidence I call my dad Atticus and he calls me Scout…)
Favorite Quotation – "Nothing great was every achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Best part about OU – There is a strong sense of community at OU that I really enjoy. From the students to faculty/staff to the fans, everyone is proud to be part of the university.
Best part about working at CIS – My favorite part of working at CIS is the students that I see. Everyone is motivated to make an impact by learning about the world around them and traveling to gain first-hand insight into other regions. The diversity in what the students go on to do with their IAS degrees shows how valuable and marketable this global education can be.
Place would you like to travel (that you haven't been) - Vienna, Austria