ORU Internship Program Addresses Oklahoma's Workforce Gap

Tulsa, Oklahoma, September 30, 2024-Oral Roberts University (ORU) is bolstering Oklahoma's workforce through its renowned internship program. With a focus on fields projected for double-digit growth by 2030-such as finance, accounting, marketing, strategic media, communication, and human resources development-the University's internship initiative is crucial for preparing students for professional success.

According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, jobs requiring bachelor's degrees, particularly those which lead into people and processes management, are set to expand significantly. ORU's College of Business and College of Arts & Cultural Studies have tailored their internship programs to meet this demand, partnering with local employers to address critical workforce needs.

Dr. Julie Huntley, dean of ORU's Fenimore & Fisher College of Business, stressed the program's development in response to heightened employer demand in the post-pandemic era.

"Oklahoma-based companies increasingly rely on our internship programs to fill specialized roles in accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources. Internships have become pivotal for these companies, and they offer a gateway to recruit top talent," Dr. Huntley said. "Recognizing this value, faculty emphasize internships in all business and communication majors. The program wouldn't have the impact without our faculty. They are actively involved in helping students explore careers, expand their professional networks, and secure professional internships."

Pierson Blakey, now Senior Project Engineer at the Tulsa division of Crossland Construction, credited ORU's internship for honing his skills outside the classroom.

"Throughout my senior year at ORU, I participated in the ORU finance internship class in conjunction with my work at Crossland Construction," Blakey said. "The internship positioned me in a place to gain real-world experience outside the classroom and apply my classroom knowledge to skills needed in the workplace."

Pierson Blakey, Senior Project Engineer at the Tulsa division of Crossland Construction

Brooklyn Bannister echoed the student value, attributing her ORU internship to a successful transition as a digital PR specialist at ConsumerAffairs, a SaaS-based consumer reviews' company headquartered in Tulsa.

"Often graduates come out of college with knowledge and no real-world experience, which makes it ten times harder to secure a good paying job. My internship experience helped with creating a strong work background to be appealing to employers and filling the skills-gap from college into the industry. Because public relations positions are widely based on experience, the internship was an introduction to digital PR, and it really helped jumpstart my career," Bannister said.

Brooklyn Bannister, Digital Public Relations specialist at ConsumerAffairs

Zac Carman, CEO of ConsumerAffairs, highlighted the program's impact on the company's talent acquisition strategy.

"ORU prepares students well for life in the workplace, and the internship program has consistently borne fruit in the form of interns to full-time hires," Carman said. "Oftentimes jobs are very different from academics. ORU has partnered with us to build in-class programming to quasi-test for aptitude. [The collaboration] has been very helpful and made the internships much more fruitful."

Heather Fuller, HR Director at HoganTaylor LLP, one of the largest business advisory and public accounting firms in Oklahoma and Arkansas, praised ORU's internship program for facilitating meaningful student-employer engagements.

"As a public accounting and advisory services firm, we are usually seeking accounting students. ORU professors and student leaders organize great opportunities through The Accounting Society for employers to interact with students. They also provide connections for us at career fairs," Fuller said.

Fuller praised the collaborative nature of the university, adding, "We have appreciated the internship program at ORU that allows the student to earn credit for the internship and the employer to have the opportunity to host the intern."

As workplaces evolve with technological advancements, ORU's internship initiative remains instrumental in preparing students for diverse careers. Organizations interested in learning more about ORU's internship program can contact Dr. Cristi Eschler-Freudenrich at [email protected].

Source: Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, Industry and Occupational Employment Projections, https://oklahoma.gov/oesc/labor-market/employment-projections.html

UNIVERSITY BRIEF

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 160 nations from 2019 to 2024 to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in Most International Students
• #3 in Best Value
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West