Young Professional Q&A: Claire Painter

Meet Claire Painter, Associate Director of Student Leadership at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) who has made significant strides in the realm of higher education and student leadership development. Passionate about guiding college students to realize their full potential, Claire has built a rewarding career at UCO while also being deeply involved in the community.

Q: Do you live in Edmond, work in Edmond, or both?

A: I live in Oklahoma City but have worked in Edmond for six years as of this past February. I’ve worked at UCO in my office, Leadership Central, for the duration of that time period.

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school? 

A: I am originally from Norman and attended Norman North High School. From there, I attended the University of Oklahoma for my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. After teaching first grade for a year, I realized that my true passion rested in working with college-age students, which led me to pursue my Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education at OU.

Through a practicum experience in my master’s program, I was connected to UCO and decided I wanted to focus my sights on working here, and thankfully, I found what I now deem my dream job. Currently, I’m working toward my PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at Oklahoma State University.

Q: What did you do before getting involved at UCO?

A: I mentioned this in my previous answer, but before getting into higher education, I taught first grade in the Norman Public Schools system. During graduate school, I worked as a Graduate Assistant in OU Graduate Student Life, where I managed the prospective graduate program and coordinated fifty-plus annual special events, programs, and services for graduate students before I landed my job at UCO in Leadership Central in 2018. Since that time, I have remained in the same office but have moved up in positions.

Q: How did you start at UCO?

A: In my master’s program we were required to complete a practicum experience to give us higher education experience outside of our graduate assistantships. Previously in the program, I wrote a paper that cited someone who worked at UCO named Emily. My professor was an adjunct who worked full-time at UCO and knew her, so he connected us for a project I was working on, and then later, I reached out to her to see if I could complete my practicum in her office. Much to my gain, she agreed, and I spent the fall of my last year with her office, Student Advocacy called Student Success at the time.

I instantly fell in love with the campus and the community here and knew that I wanted to spend more time here. In the spring of that year I began job searching since I was about to graduate, and Emily knew I was hoping to work at UCO. She sent me possible positions that seemed like they would be a good fit for me and helped me to prepare and I was lucky enough to land in Leadership Central!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Hands down, the students.

I work in a position that is focused on college student leadership development. We do this in a variety of ways like classes, meetings, trainings, student organizations, and more. All of which are efforts to develop the whole student and make them ready to be not only impactful leaders during their time on campus, but more importantly, once they leave here and start playing bigger roles in their greater communities.

Each day, I am meeting with students to discuss plans for upcoming happenings or trainings or give them advice about current situations in their life. My greatest joy and passion in life is developing others and helping them find what they are truly passionate about as well as helping them find success in these areas. There is no one cookie-cutter type of leader, we need all types in all fields, and I truly love helping students see that in themselves and embrace their unique capabilities.

These interactions are what fuels me, what fills my cup daily, and I learn SO much from each and every one of my students. The leaders and visionaries that are present in today’s population of collegians makes me truly excited for the future. I cannot wait for others in society to meet and work with them! Until then, I’m extremely grateful for them to be such a big part of my day to day life.

Q: What’s something you’re passionate about in your personal life?

A: The thing I am most passionate about is, first and foremost, my family. I am fortunate to be a part of a very close-knit family and also married into a close-knit family.

My husband and I are high school sweethearts and have been married for five years, but together for fourteen years. We spend every spare moment we can with our three nieces and the rest of our families.

Secondly, I am passionate about serving and leading in the community. I would be a fool if I sat here all day telling my students the importance of community involvement and the need for good leaders if I did not also challenge myself to uphold the same.

I am engaged with the Junior League of Oklahoma City, Leadership Oklahoma City’s LOYAL (Linking OKC’s Young Adult Leaders), Edmond VIBES volunteer committee, Edmond Young Professionals Advisory Board, and serve as the chairwoman of the board for Youth Leadership Edmond. In my spare time, I love to go to the lake, make new playlists on Spotify, read, and go to concerts!

Q: What’s an accomplishment you’re the proudest of?

A: It sounds cheesy, but I am the most proud when those I love and have invested in succeed. Not just in their career, but overall “success” in life, whatever that means to them. Nothing compares to seeing my nieces master a new skill or a student accomplishing a lifelong dream because of their confidence in their abilities as examples. Being the champion and support for others and watching them shine makes me more proud than any personal accomplishment ever could.

Q: What is one of the big goals you’d like to accomplish in the next decade?

A: I’m at a point in my life where I’m not really sure what the future holds and I’m learning to be okay with that. I’ve lived a life of timelines and next steps, and it feels good to be in a place where there’s not a looming expiration date on the things I do and love which gives me time to invest fully. Out of everything, I think that is my biggest goal: to continue to invest deeply in the areas I find myself in each aspect of my life and to be intentional with each step.

Q:What do you like about Edmond?

A: What I like most about Edmond is the sense of community here! Everyone I have come into contact here is so friendly and willing to help however they can should the situation arise. There is truly a spirit of loving one’s neighbors here.

Q: What is your number one tip for other young professionals, either for work or life?

A: Get involved in the community outside of your company. There is so much benefit that can come from meeting others and forming relationships with them. You never know what could come from taking that leap. At the least, you’ll get a chance to make a difference for others in your community!