Dr. J.C. Casey recently announced that she would be retiring from USAO at the end of the Spring 2026 semester. She has been an educator at this university for 34 years.
Dr. Casey joined the USAO staff in the fall of 1992. Her educational experience includes her bachelor’s in speech from Northeast Louisiana University, her master’s in speech from Northwestern State University in Louisiana, and her Ph.D. in public communication from the University of Maryland. Additionally, Dr. Casey has been named the Regents Superior Teacher of the Year twice and has served as the President of the USAO Faculty Association. She has also written numerous successful grants for the Academic TV Lab and The Trend.
Dr. Casey has been the advisor for The Trend since 2000.
Before joining the staff at USAO, Dr. Casey had experience in teaching from Stephen F. Austin State University, and adjunct teaching experience at the University of Maryland.
Originally, Dr. Casey wanted to begin teaching after she received her master’s degree, since at the time she could teach with just a master’s, but then she became interested in working in news. She worked for a newspaper and in public relations in the rodeo circuit in her hometown of Monroe, LA. She would eventually move to the Washington, DC area to work on her Ph.D. Afterward, her rodeo work brought her to Oklahoma, and she found the teaching job listed here at USAO.
“I had done a lot of work writing for a national rodeo magazine, and a lot of my work was based here in Oklahoma. I looked for a job after I got my Ph.D., and I saw this one, and the only thing that it didn’t have was “J.C. Casey, you should apply for this job,” she said.
When she first came here, Dr. Casey didn’t quite understand the mission of USAO.
“I thought it was like every other school, but we have really always tried to help students academically and students who struggle financially,” she said.
Over the course of her time here at USAO, Dr. Casey has taught a multitude of communication courses. This includes, but is not limited to: Mass Communication, Rhetoric and Public Speaking, Professional Speaking, Communication Research, and Foundations of Communication Theory. She taught alongside previous Video Production professor, David Duncan, for several years in classes such as Podcasting.
Over the duration of her time at USAO, Dr. Casey expressed that she loved every moment. She says that students were the most rewarding part of her career.
“The interaction with students, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you’ve helped change somebody’s life. I don’t even have the words to describe it. I can’t imagine anything being more satisfying than teaching is, it’s just outstanding. It’s a great profession,” she said.
Dr. Casey has had an impact on countless communication students during her time here. One such student is junior Karen Jones.
“Having classes with her stretched my views of life, it made me see different viewpoints. She encouraged her students to see more than the world around you,” she said.
Jones began her degree in 2000. She had many of her classes with Dr. Casey, who was also her advisor at the time. Jones returned to USAO to complete her degree and was thrilled when she saw that Dr. Casey was still at the university.
“Her being here my first year back after all the life that has transpired in the last 25 years, getting to come back with that familiar face has been really cool,” Jones said.
Junior Kassidy Pameticky is another student who has been impacted by Dr. Casey.
“Dr. Casey has done so much for me. She has been that tough love professor, and she’s really helped me to grow in so many aspects. She has impacted me in so many ways, I feel like I’ve learned so much from her and her work ethic, how she talks, and how she presents herself,” she said.
Pameticky has felt that Dr. Casey has been like a rock to the communication department. She described that Dr. Casey has left a mark on the students of communication, and that she will be missed.
Dr. Casey has also left a lasting impression on graduating senior Kiera Beecher. She described that Dr. Casey has been a level-headed person for her and has given her the support that she has needed throughout her academic journey.
“Dr. Casey had a huge impact on this university, and it is absolutely sad to see her go, but I am very excited for her to get to do her road trip and just enjoy retirement,” Beecher said.
The university plans to host a retirement party for Dr. Casey on Monday, April 20, from 3-5 p.m. The party will take place in the Regent’s Room, which is located in the Student Center. Refreshments will be provided, and all students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend.
At the current time, there is no information as to the potential replacement for Dr. Casey.
Whitley Brown is a third-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
