Melissa Oakes ’03

Professor of Business Administration and Accounting and Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting chair Melissa Oakes ’03 was the presenter for the Wednesday, January 28 Ruth Ann Miller Senior Seminar. She is also the David M. Miller ’61 H’20 Chair of Accounting. She spoke to the students about her path from Hadley, Pa. to Thiel College as a student to public accounting (audit and tax) of healthcare and not-for-profit organizations, as well as being employed as a cost accountant in an automotive (manufacturing) company back to Thiel College as a faculty member.

“I was thrilled to hear that our speaker this week was going to be someone I’ve always known as Professor Oakes. She has, hands down, been one of my favorite parts of Thiel College, and hearing her story made me respect her even more. I’ve heard bits about her from taking two of her classes, but her pop quiz about herself proved to me that I didn’t really have as much knowledge about her as I thought.” Lorene Byler ’26

“Melissa Oakes delivered a heartfelt presentation about her upbringing, college experiences, and life today. Before this talk, Professor Oakes had already greatly influenced my college journey, assisting with class planning, providing extra help in accounting, and offering guidance when I faced personal struggles. Her presentation provided me with a deeper insight into her background and what has shaped her into the compassionate person she is today.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“Rather than a conventional career-focused lecture, she spoke openly about the personal hardships and interpersonal challenges she encountered throughout her journey. Her storytelling focused on how these life-altering events contributed to her personal growth, emphasizing that resilience and a constructive outlook are essential for navigating both one’s personal life and professional career.“ Eunseo Lee ’26

“Professor Melissa Oakes spoke about her journey through life by giving a PowerPoint presentation with almost no words on the slides, instead introducing us to her life through pictures. Her presentation was very meaningful, beautiful, and was a very real and deeply personal story of how she came to be in the room and speak with us. I feel truly blessed to be able to hear her journey through life and hear what she went through on her journey back to Thiel.” Trey Grazier ’27

“She began her presentation with the acrostic DREAM, which stood for Determined, Resilient, Encouraged, Ambitious, and Motivated, qualities that became especially meaningful throughout her story. Oakes shared several defining moments from her life, including the loss of her father, her best friend, a student, and her inability to have children. Rather than allowing these hardships to define her, she remained strong and continued to maintain a positive outlook while accomplishing many great things. It takes both strength and grace to endure challenges like she has and not only share them with others but also continue living with kindness and optimism.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Professor Oakes was born in Hadley, PA, and graduated from Lakeview High School in 1999. She then chose to attend Clarion University, but after her first semester, she realized that Clarion wasn’t the best fit for her and looked at different schools over Christmas break. She ended up touring Thiel College and transferred after her first year at Clarion. She graduated from Thiel in 2003 and then worked in accounting. A week after she graduated, she and her husband Justin got married.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“She transferred to Thiel because Clarion was too big for her and because she was just a number, not a name. This resonated with me because I transferred from Slippery Rock for the same reasons. I hated how none of the professors knew my name because of how large the class sizes were.” Lorene Byler ’26

“Remarkably, just one week after graduation, at the age of 22, she got married. I am 23, so I was deeply impressed by her decision and confidence to commit to someone for life. Her deep trust and belief in her husband and the way they built their “American Dream” together with their dog Belle felt very inspiring. The Korean Dream is like the American Dream: having a stable job, buying a house, and so on.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“She explained that when we leave college, many of us carry an idealized vision of what our future will look like. But life rarely unfolds according to the script we unintentionally write, and it’s impossible to plan every moment in advance. Professor Oakes had many defining moments in her career that made her the person she is today, yet those moments were not in her original ‘dream.’ She taught us that although the initial script she had written did not unfold the way she planned, she regrets nothing of her journey.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“Another defining moment that she discussed, which hit close to home, was when her father passed away. The similarity in this sense is that I am also a daddy’s girl. Without my dad, I would be completely lost and unsure about what I would need to do in life. I could not imagine how hard this depression was to get out of. She preached that going outside for help was the best decision she ever made.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“Professor Oakes described that she was as close as one could be to her dad and losing him was devastating. At this time, she was working in the accounting profession and had trouble with her mental state and work environment. She decided that she wanted to follow her dream of being a teacher and got the opportunity to teach in the business department at Thiel in 2010.” Trey Grazier ’27

“Prof. Oakes emphasized, determination, resilience, encouragement, ambition and motivation and gave countless examples illustrating that these weren’t just words but rather her life’s motto. I was most encapsulated by her resilience. Her ability to overcome and persevere is not just resounding but also inspirational. If I could have a quarter of her heart, I’d be all the better for it.” Spencer Cleary ’27

“This was a touching and bright story, and she explained how each of these words played out in her life. Someone who you may not have expected to go through so much really has, and she has pushed through every obstacle she has needed.” Preston Leftkowitz ’27

“I had never talked to Prof. Oakes before and when I walked in, we introduced ourselves and she said how she had heard of me and was happy to finally meet me. Moments like those can make somebody feel like they belong.” Brett Channell ’27

“The most impressive lesson from Professor Oakes was her unique mindset regarding professional life, specifically her habit of saying she is ‘going to school’ instead of ‘going to work.’ This small distinction in phrasing reveals a deep passion for her role and a sense of fulfillment that goes beyond the traditional concept of labor. It suggests that finding a vocation where one feels genuine joy and a sense of contribution is a vital component of long-term career satisfaction.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“Something she and Professor Witosky touched on was the passion they have for accounting. In that experience, and through her lecture, I could tell she was passionate for everything in her life, especially her job and students, which is an incredibly heartwarming feeling.” Kendall McLughlin ’26

“She stated that one day she wants to donate her liver or kidney to someone in need because she knows what it is like for someone to receive one and the difference it can make. As she called it, it’s like they get a second life because otherwise they could pass away due to that and unfortunately it could be at a very young age.” Brett Channell ’27

“When asked how she got through all these times in her life, Professor Oakes explained that she found deep faith and that she was surrounded by all the right people to lift her up and persevere. Her story is inspiring and a notion that no matter how hard and difficult times get, you always keep going. I feel blessed and deeply humbled to hear Professor Oakes’ story, as she is such a strong woman.” Trey Grazier ’27

“Throughout her life, she had many struggles and doubts about her ability to succeed, but what kept her going were the people she had and her dedication to not giving up on anything.” Dwayne Simpkins ’26

“Throughout her presentation, I learned that sometimes in the moment, we will face hardships that seem impossible to face. However, with the support of friends and family alongside the use of faith, these moments will begin to rebuild who we are.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“I found this presentation especially impactful because it reminded me that no matter what life brings, we are never alone in our struggles and should lean on those who care about us.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“I can best relate this to part of her concluding remarks, that a ‘Dream does not work without having the right people beside you. Not every day is good, but if you have like-minded people in your circle, they can build you up, and you can do the same for them.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“I have never personally had Professor Oakes in class, but after her presentation today, I highly regret that. Her speech was so emotionally charged that I had to hold back the tears many times. Professor Oakes has had a life filled with vibrant adventures, but also tragic hardships. Yet she persisted, using those tragic moments to rebuild herself.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“Although Professor Oakes has gone through many difficult things in her life, she has become one of the strongest, caring, and most passionate people I've ever met. Learning what she has endured to become the person she is today has been one of the most inspiring things I have ever discovered. She is such a bright, positive light in this college, and now, after learning her story, I can only admire her more than I did before.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“Professor Oakes also mentioned more than once that she hopes she encourages others the way she’s been encouraged. ‘I just want to make a difference around me; that’s my purpose.’ I loved hearing her say that and being able to understand why it means so much to her to be able to influence and motivate her students to do the best they can.” Lorene Byler ’26

“I look up to Prof. Oakes as a mentor, not only because she’s my adviser but because she genuinely cares about her students.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

“She also reinforced this theme by recognizing her “Thiel Family,” specifically Professor Jesse Ligo and his belief in her. Hearing another successful Thiel story is very motivational and builds upon what we heard from our previous two speakers. Every word of what Professor Oakes had to say was memorable, and I will be sure to hold them close to my head and heart.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

Lessons Learned

“It’s okay to switch paths but never give up.” Lorene Byler ’26
“Nothing is insurmountable.” Spencer Cleary ’27
“Never stop dreaming.” Giovanna Franz ’27
“It’s okay to reach out when you need help.” Brett Channell ’27
“Find the people who can raise you in your lowest moments.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26
“Dreams do not work if you don’t have people on your side.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27
“Resilience is the key to success.” Brett Channell ’27
“No matter how hard it gets, have faith and seek help.” Raegan Nelson ’26
“Consistency and commitment are key to long-term success.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

Dinner “Dishing”

“The MOOD was wonderful, and the snowflake decorations felt very warm, even though the weather was cold. We had a salad, chicken with sweet potatoes, and raspberry cake for dessert. Last time, I was nervous learning dinner etiquette, but this time I felt a bit more relaxed. Eating while listening to stories from Professor Oakes and my friends was so enjoyable. It was a calm and peaceful dinner.” Miyeon Lee ’26.