OCU LAW - Senior Ambassadors

Got Questions about Law School?

OCU LAW's Senior Ambassadors introduce themselves below and invite you to I-M or email them with your questions or concerns about law school. The ambassadors also staff the front desk of the Admissions Office during regular business hours. Call them at 405-208-5076 or stop by for a tour or just to visit.


Anitra Abdullah-Levy	Bridgett Barton	Ray Denecke	Patricia Garza


Keanan Matthews	Andrea Painter	Whitney Robison	Paul Wright

Anitra Abdullah-Levy

Email:	Aabdullahlevy.stu@okcu.edu	Office Hours:	Varies
IM Yahoo, AOL, MSN	anitraOCU on Yahoo	IM Hours	Occasional evenings
Undergraduate University	Texas State University - San Marcos	Undergrad Major	Theatre Arts; MA - Legal Studies
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full-time May 2008
Hobbies	Traveling, photography, cooking, dancing
Favorite Movie	Legally Blonde
My OCU Law Experiences	Black Law Student Association Historian, Texas Legal Society, American Bar Association - Law Student Division, Oklahoma Bar Association - Law Student Division, Native American Law Student Association
Family	Married to my partner in crime and best friend, Jose.
Favorite Song	I love most types of music, except techno.
Career Goals	Immediately after law school, I would like to be a law clerk for a federal judge. After my clerkship, I would like to litigate for several years and then later become a judge.
Strengths	Outgoing, Open-Minded, Optimistic
Quote of Encouragement	"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Bridgett Barton

Email:	bbarton.stu@okcu.edu	Office Hours:	Monday, Wednesday and Fridays
Undergraduate University	University of Texas at Tyler Texas A&M University	Undergrad Major	B.A. English; minor Speech Communications
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full Time- Day
Hobbies	Cooking, Reading
Favorite Movie	Jaws, Amelie, Sixteen Candles, the Breakfast Club, and anything with Doris Day.
Family	Single, one child
Career Goals	My goals are somewhat non-traditional. I'm increasingly interested in Alternative Dispute Resolution. I've taken a position as a mediator this summer and look forward to pursuing an ADR Certification. I'm also very interested in the administrative side of law school. The Admissions Office, Student Services and Career Services have been such an asset to me in my short law school career, and I am interested in serving others as they take this journey!
Strengths	I'm both organized and flexible. I think of myself as a great communicator. I'm creative, but love learning "systems." I'm open-minded, practical and constantly seek to expand my understanding of people.

Ray Denecke

Email:	Rdenecke.stu@okcu.edu	Office Hours:	Varies
Yahoo IM	redenecke
Undergraduate University	The Florida State University	Undergrad Major	English/Criminology
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Part-time evening; anticipated graduation: Dec. 2008 or May 2009
Hobbies	Reading, Movies, Musical Theatre, Music, Travel (although difficult to do on a Law Student's schedule)
Favorite Movie	Zardoz, Bear Cub, Sling Blade, Napoleon Dynamite, Shaun of the Dead, Kinky Boots, Goonies, Harry Potter
My OCU Law Experiences	President, Lesbian and Gay Law Student Association; Internship: Native American Legal Resource Center; Senior Ambassador - Admissions
Family	Partnered
Favorite Song	Anthem from the musical Chess, or Fee by Phish
Career Goals	To obtain a position as a public defender, or with an organization such as the Human Rights Campaign
Strengths	I am a motivated individual.
Quote of Encouragement	Forthcoming.

Patricia E. Garza

Email:	patricia.garza@gmail.com	Office Hours:
Undergraduate University	The University of Texas - Pan American	Undergrad Major	Biology; Minors - Chemistry & English
Graduate University	The University of Texas - Pan American	Undergrad Major	Master's of Business Administration
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full-time Day
Hobbies	Hunting, Traveling, Golf, Spending time with my family and dog
Favorite Movie	When Harry Met Sally
My OCU Law Experiences	Hispanic Law Student Association - Vice President; Phi Alpha Delta; Minority Liaison Senior Ambassador
Family	I am married and have one dog (Mia - Great Dane) and one cat (Prasad - Grey Tabby)
Life Before Law School	I worked as the Strategic Manager for an independent pharmacy while I got my M.B.A. I hunted, fished and travelled...a lot. Life was good.
Career Goals	My husband and I want to start our own business in our hometown providing financial services including financial planning and estate planning for small and medium businesses.
Strengths	Determined, Well-rounded, Organized, Happy home life
Quote of Encouragement	Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued. - Socrates

Keanan Matthews

Email:	khunter.stu1@okcu.edu	Office Hours:	Tuesdays
Undergraduate University	University of Texas at Arlington	Undergrad Major	BA Political Science, minor Criminal Justice MA Political Science/Public Policy Administration
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full Time Day, May 2007
Hobbies	Golf, reading (other than law textbooks!), cooking
Favorite Movie	Dodgeball, The Color Purple
My OCU Law Experiences	Black Law Students Association - President Employment & Law - Secretary Native American Law Students Association National Women's Law Students Association American Bar Association - Student Division
Family	Married, 1 child, 1 dog
Favorite Song	Too many to name!
Career Goals	Upon graduation, I would like to clerk for a federal judge for a year or two and then work in a small to medium size law firm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Strengths	Outgoing, Organized, and Driven
Quote of Encouragement	"I think, therefore I am"

Andrea Painter

Email:	apainter.stu@okcu.edu	Office Hours:	Varies
AOL IM	andreaocu
Undergraduate University	Washburn University	Undergrad Major	English; Minor in French
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full-Time; May 2008
Hobbies	Reading, spending time with my husband, walking my dog
Favorite Movie	Tommy Boy
My OCU Law Experiences	Phi Delta Phi; Dean's Honor Roll; National Women's Law Student Association; Corporate Law Association; Senior Ambassador; Oklahoma Bar Association Student Law Division; Law Clerk at Homsey Law Center; Law Review Candidate; CALI Award in Legal Research and Writing
Family	Married/no children
Favorite Song	Way too many to list, but I love Country Music!
Career Goals	My goal is to become a successful corporate attorney in Oklahoma.
Strengths	Dependable, Organized, and excellent at writing
Quote of Encouragement	When you don't think you did as well as you should have, remind yourself that you did your best and that is ALL you can do.

Whitney Robison

Email:	wrobison.stu@okcu.edu
AOL IM	whtnydenise	MSN Messenger	whitney_cr@hotmail.com
Undergraduate University	Oklahoma City University	Undergrad Major	Criminal Justice & Sociology
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full-Time Day Student, Expected Graduation May 2008
Hobbies	Hanging out with friends and family, going to concerts, watching sports, reading, listening to music, playing with my dogs, watching Grey's Anatomy and Boston Legal
Favorite Movie	The Shawshank Redemption, The Life of David Gale, A Time To Kill, A Few Good Men, The Negotiator
My OCU Law Experiences	Merit Scholars Secretary, Employment and Labor Law Association President, Oklahoma Bar Association-Law Student Division, American Bar Association-Law Student Division, Federal Bar Association, Senior Ambassador I would encourage all incoming students to participate in the 1L Moot Court Competition. At first, I was nervous about it. However, once the competition started, I found I really liked the challenge of thinking on my feet. And what a great way to prepare you for a career in litigation.
Family	Single. Parents and brother Russell who is a junior at University of Central Oklahoma. 3 German Shepherds: Baron, Bosch and Deacon.
Favorite Song	Too many to name, but I like Country-Texas, Red Dirt and Nashville
Career Goals	I currently work part-time at a small firm downtown. We practice primarily the plaintiff's side of employment law. I plan on joining the firm upon graduation and passing the bar.
Strengths	Caring, hard-working, dedicated, outgoing and organized
Quote of Encouragement	"Getting ahead in a difficult profession required avid faith in yourself." "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."

Paul Wright

Email:	Mwright.stu@okcu.edu	Office Hours:	Varies
Undergraduate University	University of Tennessee, Knoxville	Undergrad Major	Advertising, B.S. Minor in Business Administration
Program (Full/Part) & Graduation Date	Full-time May 2008
Hobbies	Sports-- Huge college football fan (GO VOLS) traveling, reading, painting
Favorite Movie	Too many to count, I love movies... but my favorite genre is epic movies like Gladiator, Braveheart, Troy
My OCU Law Experiences	Student Body Association-- 2L Class President, 1L Section Representative; Sports and Entertainment Law- Treasurer, American Bar Association-Law School division, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Family	Mom, Pop, older sister, Jennifer, older brother, Brian
Favorite Song	I love most types of music, except heavy metal
Career Goals	After I finish my JD, I would like to spend a few years working for the Public Defender's office, I think it would be a good way to give back to society and the community. After that, I might like to follow a political track and run for an office, or move over to the private sector. My career goals are evolving, but I do know I want to love what I do, and work in something I'm passionate about.
Strengths	Outgoing, Open-Minded, Optimistic, easy going, and love to laugh