“I’ve been a recruiter in corporate, healthcare, and education. At the end of the day, I help people find the
next right thing for them.”– Ronda Riden-Wilson
RSU Bartlesville staff
When the Next Step Isn’t Up, But In
There was a plaque on her desk—DeVry’s most prestigious honor, the PRIDE Award—engraved with her name as the company’s top recruiter. The award was given to colleagues who consistently performed at a high level and embodied the company’s core values, known as TEACH.
For Ronda Riden-Wilson, it was more than a trophy. It validated her ability to see people clearly, match them with opportunity, and help them believe in what was possible.
She had outpaced everyone in the field. It was a perfect role—fast-paced, people-focused, deeply intuitive. The next step seemed obvious: move to Chicago. Accept a promotion. Keep climbing.
But her path was about to shift.
In 1994, life opened a door to Bartlesville—a town she already knew and respected. It wasn’t Kansas City, but it offered something she was ready for: a new chapter rooted in family, possibility, and purpose.
Ronda was Oklahoma through and through—born in Pawhuska, raised in Miami, and a proud Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) alum. She had launched her career unofficially by connecting with students in rural high schools, telling them about the possibilities of college and helping them see a future they hadn’t imagined.
Tulsa may have seemed like the safer bet to some—larger employers, more positions, better pay. But Ronda wasn’t looking for a bigger pond. She planted herself—and set out to make the pond bigger.
“I could have taken the next big promotion and moved to Chicago,” she reflects. “But I followed what I felt was the right path for my life at the time. It wasn’t about climbing higher—it was about staying rooted in what mattered.”
And that clarity would shape every step that followed.
Finding Her Place
Bartlesville didn’t roll out a red carpet. When Ronda applied for a recruiter position at the local hospital, she joined a pool of 112 applicants. It was a highly sought-after role with months of interviews. She was new to town, unknown, and up against seasoned candidates.
But her gifts made room for her.
As the hospital’s physician recruiter and continuing education coordinator, she quickly learned she could do more than just fill positions. She could build trust, bridge relationships, and connect people to something larger than themselves. She even took on the Glitz Gala, the hospital’s high-profile annual fundraiser—discovering a knack for event leadership and community partnerships.
Her first hire, Dr. Gerald Reed, became a meaningful connection. She became friends with his wife, and years later, she watched two of the Reeds’ children—and their daughter-in-law—walk the graduation stage at Rogers State University.
“It was a full-circle moment,” she says. “A reminder that what we do matters—sometimes long after the papers are signed.”
A Season of Home
When her hospital position was eliminated, Ronda didn’t scramble for the next title. Instead, she embraced a season she had long wanted: staying home with her daughter, Morgan, until she started school.
“I always planned to go back to work,” she says. “But I never regretted that time. It gave me more depth—and helped me understand what really matters.”
Even while at home, she kept connecting—taking side projects, staying plugged into the community, and waiting for the next step.
“I want to be remembered as someone who saw people. Someone who helped others find what they didn’t even know they had in them.”
A Door Back In
“I’ve been a recruiter in corporate, healthcare, and education. At the end of the day, I help people find the next right thing for them.”
For Ronda, that next-door came in 2007 through a word-of-mouth opportunity at RSU Bartlesville. She interviewed in the very office she now calls her own. At the time, she was told she was overqualified.
But she wasn’t looking for a title. She was looking for meaning. Something close to home. Something where her instinct for building trust and helping others move forward could flourish.
Leadership with an Open Door
Today, as Director of RSU Bartlesville, Ronda leads a campus with her door open—literally and figuratively. She calls students by name. She knows their stories. She listens for what’s underneath the words.
Sometimes that listening changes a life.
She recalls a single mom who was about to withdraw from the university.
“You could just tell she was about to break,” Ronda says. “I pulled her aside, we mapped her semester hour by hour, worked with professors, and now she is thriving as an RN.”
Another student arrived shy, escorted by grandparents.
“I told them—‘Give me one semester. I will break her out of her shell.’”
And she did.
Ronda’s leadership doesn’t stop with students. She’s cultivated strategic relationships with local leaders—from ConocoPhillips to Ascension St. John Jane Phillips—to understand workforce needs and place students in internships and jobs. Her approach is relational, not transactional. She makes introductions. She follows up. She stays engaged.
“We don’t just talk about student success,” she says. “We walk them toward it—together.”
Grit with Grace
Ronda’s warmth is paired with grit. As a woman surrounded by highly credentialed leaders—ten of the thirteen people listed in the RSU bulletin hold doctorates—she has learned not to shrink.
She used to wrestle with intimidation, but experience shifted her mindset.
“I’ve learned to step back and breathe. To not be a reactor. To remember—they’re human too. We’re all here for the same reasons.”
She’s also let go of people-pleasing.
“I thought speaking up was disrespectful. Now I know better. I lead with empathy, but I don’t shrink.”
“I’d think of one thing I loved, then add another, and another. When you have enough good to think on, it changes your outlook.”
A Culture of Connection
Ronda’s leadership has built more than programs. It has built culture.
Low staff turnover. High morale. Cookouts, Christmas parties, handwritten notes, and a shared sense of mission.
She even launched a campaign among her staff—Simply Engage—to encourage students and staff alike to show interest in others, spark conversations, and see each other.
“I try to acknowledge one person a day in a new way,” she says. “Even a small comment like ‘You look pretty today’—it changes people. We forget how powerful that is.”
Her open-door policy isn’t symbolic. It’s operational. She meets regularly with professors to hear what’s working and what’s not. She adapts class offerings based on student and employer feedback. She bridges student life with workforce development—and believes it’s all part of helping students thrive.
Keeping the Spark Alive
Ronda keeps her own spark alive by choosing perspective. In difficult seasons, she trains her mind to focus on what’s going right.
“I’d think of one thing I loved, then add another, and another,” she says. “When you have enough good to think on, it changes your outlook.”
Ask her what kind of legacy she hopes to leave, and the answer comes with no hesitation:
“I want to be remembered as someone who saw people. Someone who listened. Someone who helped others find what they didn’t even know they had in them.”
That’s the spark she’s carried from Miami, to Stillwater, to Kansas City, and to Bartlesville.
That’s the leadership she’s built at RSU Bartlesville.
And that’s the gift she gives to everyone who walks through her door.
This Blog contains the full version of Ronda’s story. [Download an abbreviated Story with permission*]
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About Ronda Riden-Wilson
Ronda Riden-Wilson is the Director of Rogers State University’s Bartlesville Campus, where she is known for her open-door leadership and people-first approach to student success. Born in Pawhuska and raised in Miami, Oklahoma, Ronda is a proud alum of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). Her career has spanned corporate, healthcare, and educational sectors—including national recognition at DeVry University as a top recruiter and PRIDE Award recipient. Since moving to Bartlesville in 1994 and joining RSU Bartlesville in 2007, she has cultivated lasting relationships with students, parents, employers, and community leaders to expand access to education and workforce opportunity. Ronda’s passion lies in helping others see their own potential and step into it with confidence.
About the Writer
Angie Thompson is a fundraising strategist, storyteller, and consultant who believes that words and images can spark transformation. As the founder of Angie Thompson Consulting, she partners with nonprofits, community leaders, and creative entrepreneurs to craft stories that move people to action. Her writing spans four decades and includes award-winning work in film, television, and philanthropy. Angie lives in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where she continues to help leaders turn vision into legacy through storytelling, strategy, and connection.
Disclaimer
The narrative presented in this story is based on a personal interview and reflection with Ronda Riden-Wilson. The views and memories shared are her own and are included with permission. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations, institutions, or individuals mentioned within the story.
This feature is part of the Women Who Say YES to the Spark series and is intended to celebrate Ronda’s leadership, influence, and commitment to community.
*© 2025. Angie Thompson Consulting LLC. This story is shared with permission and remains the creative property of Angie Thompson Consulting. If you’d like to share or publish all or part of this story, please reach out. Contact: Angie Thompson. Thanks for honoring the work and the storyteller.