USAO Foundation launches mentorship program
Last fall, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Foundation launched an innovative mentorship program, pairing trustees with current students. The initiative provided more than networking opportunities for students, it fostered genuine connections between the mentor and mentee.
As part of the launch of the program, Maggie Barnett, a senior art major from Guthrie, was paired with trustee Johnny Trammell, owner of Trammell Construction and a well-known photographer in the Chickasha community.
“Jordan Vinyard [dean of the USAO School of Visual & Performing Arts] reached out to me for the mentorship program, and at the time we didn’t know much about it,” said Barnett. “I was matched with Johnny, who is a photographer. We are both artists, so the connection was instantly there. Johnny does a lot of community photography, and we just clicked from the start. He’s introduced me to local artists like Carrie Chavers, who gave me some great advice that I’ll never forget.”
When the USAO Foundation created the program, Trammell happily accepted the invitation to become a mentor. He attended USAO in the 1970’s and has remained connected to campus throughout his endeavors. In addition to serving as a trustee, he volunteers during student move-in days and provides his photography services during graduation.
“Throughout my lifetime I’ve had some mentors that stood out and meant a lot to me, and I thought I needed to step up and do that myself for others,” said Trammell.
Despite facing homelessness and addiction early in her life, Barnett’s passion for art never wavered. Today, she pours her heart into art commissions for ministries and personal projects, but her dreams extend beyond the canvas. Set to graduate in December 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in art with a teaching certification, Barnett aims to become an art teacher, using her talent to inspire others and carry on the mission of mentoring. More than that, she wants to give back to her community, especially to those still experiencing homelessness.
“Maggie is an amazing young lady, she already articulated some life goals she had, like being an art teacher and helping the homeless,” said Trammell. I’ve really tried to introduce her and network her with some people to help her achieve those goals.”
It was Trammell who introduced Barnett to David Lewis, the founder of Earthly Dwellings a non-profit in Chickasha designed to offer affordable housing solutions for individuals and families who are recovering from addictions and other obstacles. Through that connection, Barnett has become the “face” of the organization, helping them spread awareness of their mission.
“I think her work with Earthly Dwellings will be her biggest takeaway from this mentorship,” said Trammell. “She’s showing how to overcome adversities and give hope, which was her original goal. It shows the power of change, and the power of hope.”
As Barnett nears her final semester at USAO, she takes with her a deep respect the connections she has made at USAO, crediting them for where she is now.
“None of this would have been possible without so many people pouring into me,” said Barnett. “If Jackie Knapp [professor of art and art department coordinator] wasn’t here to guide me, I would have felt lost. She has walked side by side with me throughout college and helped me in so many ways.”
But it was through the mentorship program where she found not only a mentor to guide her, but someone who has become like family.
This past Thanksgiving Trammell and his wife invited Barnett and her four children to spend the holiday together.
“During the day Johnny offered to take family portraits of me and my children,” recounted Barnett. “It was such a meaningful gesture. Having those photos means the world to us. This experience showed me the profound impact a mentor can have, not just professionally, but personally. Johnny's kindness and support have inspired me to give back and help others find hope and resilience in their own lives.”
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly changing world.