For Heavyn Harris, opportunity has never existed in just one lane.
A Tulsa native, Harris chose The University of Tulsa for reasons both personal and practical. Growing up just minutes from campus with family nearby, she saw UTulsa as a place where proximity to home met academic rigor. Since arriving, she has used that foundation to build a wide-ranging portfolio spanning finance, advocacy, entrepreneurship and student leadership.
Harris is a management major in the Collins College of Business with concentrations in finance and innovation and entrepreneurship, along with a minor in media studies. She transferred to UTulsa from Tulsa Community College with nearly two years of credit. What stands out most, however, is not the pace of her progress, but its breadth.
“I would describe myself as busy,” Harris said, laughing. “Busy, productive and very involved.”
That involvement earned early recognition. During her second semester on campus, Harris received UTulsa’s Rising Advocate Award from the Office for Resilience & Belonging. She is deeply engaged with the Association of Black Collegians, helping lead Black History Month programming and supporting students across campus.
“That award showed me I was having a real impact,” she said. “It made me feel embraced by the UTulsa community.”
Harris is also a campus leader through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Xi Chapter, where she serves as vice president. In that role, she oversees six key program initiatives, hosting monthly events focused on community empowerment and service. She also assists with chapter revenue management and leads outreach efforts on and off campus.
“For me, sorority life is about service and leadership,” Harris said. “It’s about building community and creating programs that actually make an impact.”
Her leadership extends beyond campus organizations. At the end of last year, Harris was accepted into Girls Who Invest, a nationally competitive program that prepares women for careers in finance and investment management. She is a Thunder Fellow, participating in a statewide leadership program through the Oklahoma City Thunder that introduces students to careers in sports business, marketing and management.
In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Harris operates a makeup artistry business and hopes to expand it into a product line. After graduation, she plans to continue her studies in law or business.
“I see finance, law, entrepreneurship, even media,” she said. “I’m exploring what fits best, but I know I want to build something meaningful.”