Oklahoma State University-Tulsa alumna Erin Woodward almost didn’t go to college. Now she works at Google.

“At first, I was just trying to find a path that made sense,” she said.

Erin Woodward didn’t start her college journey with a plan. She wasn’t even sure she would go.

College felt out of reach and uncertain. But with encouragement from a high school counselor, she took a chance on Tulsa Community College, then transferred to OSU-Tulsa.

What started as a practical decision became a path defined by unexpected opportunities, leadership and a career she never imagined.

OSU-Tulsa recently caught up with Woodward to discuss her journey.

Q: What originally brought you to OSU-Tulsa?

A: I started at Tulsa Community College because it was affordable. At the time, I was working at the TCC West Library to help pay for books and commuting. One night during a closing shift, I talked to someone involved with the College Park program. She asked if I would be interested, and I said yes.

That one conversation ended up changing everything. It led me to OSU-Tulsa.

Q: What were you hoping to achieve at the time?

A: Honestly, I was just trying to find something that made sense.

I chose business because it felt practical. My dad studied business, and I saw how versatile it could be. But I also had a background in mobile app development and computer repair from Tulsa Tech, so I knew I wanted to do something with technology, too.

Management Information Systems gave me a way to combine both. It felt like I finally found something that fit.

Q: How did your experiences at OSU-Tulsa shape your direction?

A: I worked part-time in several departments, including Marketing, IT and Fiscal Affairs, so I was constantly learning and meeting people across campus.

But one moment that really changed things for me started with a late-night class conversation.

A classmate and I realized that OSU-Tulsa students don’t always have the same opportunities to be involved as students on a traditional campus. A lot of people here are working or have other responsibilities.

We both liked programming, but there wasn’t really a space for that here. So we decided to create one.

That’s how I ended up founding the Management Information Systems Club.

That experience helped me grow a lot. I learned how to lead, build trust and create a sense of community. It also showed me that I enjoy helping people come together around something they care about, not just the technical side of things.

Q: What helped you turn your experience into career opportunities?

A: A big part of it was the environment.

OSU-Tulsa creates a lot of natural opportunities to connect with people. You’re meeting professionals through events, guest speakers, and even just being involved on campus.

I went to things like the OSU Datathon and built relationships with people who later helped me get my internship at Williams. They had already seen my involvement and what I could do.

I also built strong relationships with professors like Dr. Basu, who gave really practical advice about transitioning into a career.

When Career Services reached out about applying to Google, it felt like a targeted opportunity. Not something lost in a huge pool of applicants, but something I actually had a shot at.

From there, it came down to preparing and putting in the work to get through the interviews.

Q: What opportunities made the biggest difference for you?

A: One of the biggest moments for me was deciding whether to go straight into the workforce or continue my education.

I talked to a lot of people, but Dr. Burkman was someone I really trusted. He gave me honest advice and introduced me to the 4+1 program, which lets you take graduate-level courses during your senior year.

That made continuing into a master’s program feel much more possible.

Even now, I still keep in touch with a lot of the people I met at OSU-Tulsa. They’re not just professional connections anymore; they’re people I genuinely care about.

Q: What would you say to students who are balancing school, work and other responsibilities?

A: Your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

A lot of students here are balancing work, school and other responsibilities, and that can make things harder. But those experiences also teach you a lot.

Stay open to opportunities, even the unexpected ones. You never know which conversation is going to change your direction.

Q: Looking back, what does your journey mean to you now?

A: It showed me that success isn’t about having everything figured out from the start.

I didn’t have a clear plan. I just kept taking the next step, paying attention to opportunities and putting in the work when they showed up.

Now I’m working at Google and continuing my education, and that’s something I never would have expected at the beginning.