NSU pair named to Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40

A pair of Northeastern State University alumni who have been making a name for themselves and helping fulfill the mission of their alma mater, were recently named to Oklahoma Magazines 40 Under 40 for 2011.

Stephen Highers, a field representative for U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, and Lisa Stierwalt, campus director for Clary Sage College in Tulsa, embody the socially responsible global citizens NSU seeks to create by empowering its students through a culture of learning and discovery.

Highers, 28, graduated from NSU in 2005 with a bachelors degree in mass communications. Today, he travels the counties represented by Boren to meet constituents when the congressman is in Washington, D.C.

I also meet with elected leaders and officials, Highers said. I act as a liaison and try to be eyes and ears for the Congressman's office. I get to work with a lot of great people.

Vice president of NSUs Alumni Association board of directors and chair of the Young Professionals Club of Tahlequah, Highers is active in the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce and sits on its board of directors. He and his wife Cami, also a 2005 NSU graduate, are expecting their first child later in 2011.

I live in Tahlequah and am able to stay engaged with NSU and its alumni, Highers said.

Tahlequah is a great community and living here allows me to be fully engaged in community involvement.

Highers said Northeastern was instrumental in pointing him toward success because he was able to immerse himself in the university culture and its people.

Seeing examples of the caring spirit and atmosphere at NSU forged me into someone who wanted to engage with the community rather than float through it, he said. Also, my education prepared me to step into my role with the congressmans office. It gave me the skills I needed to move out, move on and move upward.

Stierwalt, 37, graduated from NSU in 2000 with a bachelors degree in industrial operations management and earned a masters in college teaching in 2003. As campus director of Clary Sage College, a school specializing in cosmetology, fashion and interior design, she is the chief administrator responsible for daily operations.

I love being in higher education, period, Stierwalt said. I love being able to interact with students, but as an administrator I am able to utilize my leadership skills, participate in decision-making and the overall direction of the institution. There is something different happening every day, we welcome change, and are currently experiencing a very exciting time of growth. I tend to get bored with routine, so this is the perfect position for me.

Stierwalts career path is anything but routine. She served more than seven years in the Marine Corps Reserves, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. She has worked for NSU at Tahlequah and Broken Arrow, Arkansas-Fort Smith, Arkansas Tech and Oklahoma State-Tulsa. She was hired in February 2010 as director of learning resources at Community Care College in Tulsa before taking her current position in July 2010. She and her husband Stephen are married with three children.

During her time at NSU, Stierwalt participated in the Miss NSU pageant and trained for singing, but said she was initially petrified before crowds. However, she credits those early on-campus experiences for helping her overcome her apprehensions. Today, she is a classically trained vocalist.

Those things that happen in college shape your future, she said. As a singer, I found my mentor teacher in Joey Martin, who took me from a level one to a level 10. Im always thankful because that doesn't always happen. It is important to have someone see your potential and believe in you. Being a vocalist is such a huge part of who I am and learning how to properly use my voice gave me a confidence that also launched me forward as a person. Overcoming my fear of speaking in a public forum is something I certainly credit to my experiences at NSU.

To see Oklahoma Magazines full list of 40 Under 40 for 2011 with photos, visit Oklahoma Magazine's site.