OSU-OKC to celebrate National STEM Day, real-world impact

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Media Contact: Matthew Price | Communications Manager | 405-945-6733 | matthew.l.price@okstate.edu

As National STEM Day approaches on Nov. 8, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City is highlighting the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the lens of real-world experience and student empowerment.

Dr. Tim Pillar-Little, assistant professor of chemistry at OSU-OKC, believes STEM is more than just a collection of academic disciplines — it’s the driving force behind societal progress.

“My belief that STEM is the engine that drives society forward,” Pillar-Little said. “Whether that's through scientific discovery or developing a new medicine to heal some kind of disease, STEM has to be involved in some way, shape or form.”

National STEM Day serves as a platform to raise awareness and celebrate the contributions of STEM professionals. For Pillar-Little, the day also represents inclusivity.

“It makes STEM accessible to everybody regardless of your ethnicity, your socioeconomic class, your legacy,” he said. “It really doesn't matter as long as you're doing the STEM part of it.”

Pillar-Little’s journey to OSU-OKC began with a mix of academic and industry experience. After completing graduate work, he moved to Oklahoma City and worked as a consultant while using instruments at the University of Oklahoma. He later managed STEM labs at the University of Central Oklahoma during the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually transitioning into teaching full-time.

At OSU-OKC, Pillar-Little emphasizes a real-world approach to education, blending theory with practical skills. He said the university’s instructors bring career experience into the classroom, making the curriculum workforce-ready.

“We have some of the best instructors in that regard, because these are people who have been out in the field applying their real-world skills into the classroom,” he said. 

Pillar-Little’s own chemistry courses are designed to prepare students for immediate employment.

“In general chemistry 1, I teach very heavily how to prep solutions,” he said. “You could go out literally once you finish that class, get an entry-level job prepping solutions.”

Beyond academics, Pillar-Little is committed to student success. He’s introduced “success sessions” to connect students with campus resources like advisement and student support services.

“When I don't have visitors, I am just telling students, ‘Here's some ways you can improve, like study skills or time management, or how to succeed through failure kind of stuff,’” he said. “Because chemistry is a really hard discipline.”

As OSU-OKC prepares to celebrate National STEM Day, Pillar-Little hopes the event will inspire students to see themselves in STEM fields and recognize the broader impact of their studies.

“We're always all working together in our STEM disciplines to push that engine forward, to make a better engine overall, to drive us forward into the future,” he said.