USAO Alumni Association honors Hall of Fame inductees, Young Alumni Award winner

The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Alumni Association recently honored the 2023 inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame as well as the recipient of the Young Alumni Award.

Dr. Michelle Blake, of Monroe, La.; and Dr. Stanley Brown, of Muskogee, were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Scott Parkinson, of Seattle, Wash., received the Young Alumni Award.

A 2003 graduate, Blake came to Oklahoma from Canada and earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and physical education, with minors in chemistry and liberal arts. During her time at USAO, she was inducted into the Beta Beta Beta Honor Society, in addition to serving as captain of the Drover women’s soccer team, where she achieved NAIA scholar athlete honors. She was presented with the Honorary Citizen of Oklahoma Award by Governor Frank Keating in 1999, while attending USAO.

After surviving a rare medical condition her freshman year of college, Blake was inspired to become a physician, completing her medical doctorate from the Medical University of the Americans on the Caribbean Island of Nevis. After completing a residency in internal medicine at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma, La., she subspecialized in nephrology, the study of the kidneys, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is currently the associate medical director of the hospitalist program and associate program director of the internal medicine residency program, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, La., where she also serves on the board of directors. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Monroe and preceptor at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, Physician Assistant master’s degree program, in Baton Rouge.

A dedicated scholar, educator and physician, Brown is focused on impacting the lives of students, patients and families through his practice of medicine. He graduated from USAO in 2002. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biology, he played for the USAO men’s basketball team for four years and was part of the very first conference championship in program history, earning All-Conference honors his senior year. During his time on campus, he was a member of many academic, student and social organizations including the Student Government Association, Presidential Leadership Council and Phi Lambda Chi national fraternity.

After graduation, Brown followed in the footsteps of his parents and entered the field of education. He moved to West Palm Beach, Fla., where he was an instructor of high school Advanced Placement chemistry and physics, obtaining a master’s in educational leadership at Florida Atlantic University during his tenure.

Inspired by former students and the desire to seek additional methods to positively influence the lives of others, Brown left the classroom in 2014 to pursue a career in medicine. He returned to his home state of Oklahoma for his medical training, graduating from the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2018. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa in 2021.

After completion of his training, Brown began his medical career serving the U.S. veteran patient population as a nationally board-certified internal medicine physician at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, in Muskogee, where he continues to this day. While a full-time inpatient hospital physician, Brown returned to his roots as an educator, and continues to work directly with the internal medicine residency training program at OSU Medical Center and the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. He serves as a clinical instructor of both internal medicine resident trainees and OSU medical students. During his time outside of the hospital and the classroom, he travels to universities and high schools throughout Oklahoma, Florida and Georgia speaking on his experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Parkinson resides in Seattle, Wash. Where he is a professional soccer coach in the National Women’s Soccer League for OL Reign. Parkinson is the only coach in league history to have worked at four different WSL teams: OL Reign, Gotham FC, Chicago Red Stars and Utah Royals FC. In 2021, he took Gotham FC in New York City to their first playoff appearance, going unbeaten in league play from his hiring to the end of the season. That year he was also nominated for National Coach of The Year.

Prior to joining the professional ranks in 2018, Parkinson was a college, high-school and youth soccer coach in Oklahoma. Chickasha Youth Soccer Association and Chickasha High School were his first ever exposure to coaching.

Parkinson graduated from the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in physical education. During his time at USAO, he also played on the soccer team under Coach Jimmy Hampton. Parkinson’s teams made the NAIA National Tournament all four years and he was named as the program’s first ever, NAIA 1st Team All American as well as NAIA 1st Team Academic All American. He was also named NAIA 3rd Team all American a different year.

Founded in 1972 with the induction of famed Chickasaw storyteller and Oklahoma College for Women alumna Te Ata Fisher, membership in the Hall of Fame recognizes professional achievement, service to society, honor and distinction brought to the university. It is the highest honor the Alumni Association can bestow on graduates, faculty, administration and staff of the institution. The Young Alumni Award uses the same criteria to recognize students who have attended the university within the past 15 years.

Born on the afternoon of May 18, 1917, the Alumni Association is a member-driven non-profit organization uniting alumni of the Oklahoma College for Women, Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts and University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma. Anyone who has attended at least one semester at the university is automatically a member of the association, which confers multiple benefits and regular communication on alumni reunions, class projects, programs benefitting current students and more.

For more information, visit usao.edu/alumni.